BOTANIC HOLIDAYS IN BULGARIA
ORCHIDS OF THE RODOPI (RHODOPE) MOUNTAINS
Holiday Itinerary
Day 1: Leaving the Bulgarian capital Sofia we transfer east through the Sredna Gora Mountains and Thracian Plain to the northern slopes of the Rodopi (Rhodope) Mountains where we will be based for the next two nights.
Day 2: A full day spent searching for orchids in the 'Dobrostan' Important Plant Area. This beautiful karst limestone region of ancient coniferous forests, meadows and dramatic cliffs, shelters more than 20 species of orchid including species such as Frog Orchid (Coeloglossum viride), Coralroot Orchid (Corallorrhiza trifida), Kalopissis' Orchid (Dactylorhiza kalopissii), Violet Helleborine (Epipactis purpurata), Ghost Orchid (Epipogium aphyllum), Autumn Lady's Tresses (Spiranthes spiralis), Balkan Lizard Orchid (Himantoglossum caprinum), Violet Limodore (Limodorum abortivum), Mammose Orchid (Ophrys mammosa) and Military Orchid (Orchis militaris).
Day 3: During the morning we continue our exploration of the 'Dobrostan' Important Plant Area, following a wonderful path through the heart of 'Chervenata Stena' Biosphere Reserve which was especially created in 1962 to protect the amazingly rich flora of the region. The reserve preserves a refuge for almost 100 species of Bulgarian and Balkan endemics such as: Tulipa rhodopaea, Alyssum stribrnyi, Haberlea rhodopensis, Saxifraga stribrnyi, Scabiosa rhodopensis and Viola grisenbachiana. There are also more than 25 relict species here including two of the rarest orchids in Bulgaria, Lady's Slipper Orchid (Cypripedium calceolus) and Creeping Lady's Tresses (Goodyera repens). More typical orchids that we are likely to encounter during the walk are Pyramidal Orchid (Anacamptis pyramidalis), Fragrant Orchid (Gymnadenia conopsea), Sword-leaved Helleborine (Cephelanthera longifolia), Large White Helleborine (Cephalanthera damasonium), Red Helleborine (Cephalanthera rubra), Horned Orchid (Ophrys cornuta), Monkey Orchid (Orchis simia), Toothed Orchid (Orchis tridentata) and Burnt Orchid (Orchis ustulata). Then having visited the Bachkovo Monastery, one of the most beautiful and atmospheric monasteries in the country, we continue on south deeper into the heart of the Rodopi (Rhodope) Mountains making our way into the valley of the River Arda where we will be based in a small village at a family-run hotel for the next 2 nights.
Day 4: Today we can enjoy the excitement of botanic exploration! We will spend the day searching for orchids in a region that is little known or researched and where there is always the chance of making some exciting new discoveries. It is only recently that botanists have started to turn their attention to this region, and already some very interesting and surprising finds have been made such as Persian Helleborine (Epipactis persica), Spindly Orchid (Epipactis exilis) and Pontic Orchid (Epipactis pontica). Our goal for the day is to explore a wide range of habitats and suitable orchid sites to try and learn more about the orchid flora of this region and hopefully to make some more important new finds.
Day 5: Today we begin our first day of orchid hunting in the 'Trigrad-Perelik-Persenk' Important Plant Area. The focus of our explorations will be the coniferous forests, montane hay meadows and peaty acidic grasslands found swathing the slopes of the highest peaks of the Rodopi (Rhodope) Mountains. Some of the typical orchids for the region are Coralroot orchid (Corallorhiza trifida), Elder-flowered Orchid (Dactylorhiza sambucina), Heart-flowered Orchid (Dactylorhiza cordigera), Fragrant Orchid (Gymnadenia conopsea), Burnt Orchid (Orchis ustulata), Red Helleborine (Cephalanthera rubra) and Sword-leaved Helleborine (Cephalanthera longifolia), but we may well be able to discover a few other surprises!
Day 6: A full day hunting for orchids in the 'Trigrad Karst' region, dominated by calcareous gorges and cliffs and lush hay meadows. Typical orchid species which can be found in the region include: Coralroot orchid (Corallorhiza trifida), Large White Helleborine (Cephalanthera damasonium), Sword-leaved Helleborine (Cephelanthera longifolia), Red Helleborine (Cephalanthera rubra), Frog Orchid (Coeloglossum viride), Lesser Twayblade (Neottia cordata), Common Twayblade (Neottia ovata), Bird's Nest Orchid (Neottia nidus-avis), Early Purple Orchid (Orchis mascula), Burnt Orchid (Orchis ustulata), Toothed Orchid (Orchis tridentata), Lady Orchid (Orchis purpurea), Lesser Butterfly Orchid (Platanthera bifolia). There are also some rarer species we will be looking out for including Creeping Lady's Tresses (Goodyera repens) and Fly Orchid (Ophrys insectifera).
Day 7: Today we continue exploring the 'Trigrad Karst' region as we take a long but rewarding walk into the heart of mountains, exploring a rocky valley, lush meadows and picturesque acidic fens. This region is home to two species of orchid which are extremely rare for Bulgaria, Spitzel's Orchid (Orchis spitzelii) and Bog Orchid (Malaxis paludosa). Other more typical species of orchid found in this region are Wedge-lipped Orchid (Dactylorhiza saccifera), Bird's Nest Orchid (Neottia nidus-avis), Common Twayblade (Neottia ovata), Lesser Twayblade (Neottia cordata), Heart-shaped Orchid (Dactylorhiza cordigera), Fragrant Orchid (Gymnadenia conopsea), Sword-leaved Helleborine (Cephelanthera longifolia) and Frog Orchid (Coeloglossum viride).
Day 8: Leaving Yagodina we set off for Sofia, taking a more circuitous route through the 'Western Rodopes' Important Plant Area dominated by pseudo-boreal coniferous forests, montane meadows, acidic grasslands and mires. During the journey we can make a number of stops, looking out for possible orchid species such as Frog Orchid (Coeloglossum viride), Coralroot orchid (Corallorhiza trifida), Broad-leaved Helleborine (Epipactis helleborine), Lesser Twayblade (Neottia cordata), Early Purple Orchid (Orchis mascula) and Baumann's Orchid (Dactylorhiza baumanniana).