Field Herping Holidays in Bulgaria
Herping in the Rodopi (Rhodope) Mountains
Balkan Trek's unique and highly rewarding field herping holiday in Bulgaria offers a thorough exploration of many of the most rewarding field herping sites in the Rodopi (Rhodope) Mountains. This field herping holiday takes you from the montane reservoirs, peat bogs, hay meadows and karst limestone terrain of the Western (Rodopi) Mountains, to the rugged volcanic outcrops, dappled deciduous woodlands, dry grasslands, scrub and river valleys of the Eastern Rodopi (Rhodope) Mountains. This field herping holiday in Bulgaria's Rodopi (Rhodope) Mountains, thus offers an ideal chance to find and photograph many of Bulgaria’s most sought after amphibians and reptiles. By the end of this field herping holiday in Bulgaria's Rodopi (Rhodope) Mountains, you will not only have enjoyed the excitement of hunting for and photographing a fascinating selection of amphibians and reptiles, but also have had a memorable insight into both the outstanding biodiversity of the Rodopi (Rhodope) Mountains, as well as the traditional way of life and rural heritage which helps to preserve the wealth of field herping habitats in this part of Bulgaria.
| Holiday Highlights - Beautiful remote mountain landscapes encompassing a great variety of amphibian and reptile habitats. - Four recently recognized and separated species: Buresch's Crested Newt, Eastern Tree Frog, Eastern Slow Worm, Eastern Montpellier Snake. - Elusive cryptic species: Eastern Spadefoot Toad, Worm Snake, Sand Boa, Cat Snake. - Two endearing species of tortoise: Hermann's Tortoise, Spur-thighed Tortoise. - Numerous lizards including the secretive Snake-eyed Skink and Glass Lizard, and the attractive Kotschy's Gecko. - Several exciting snakes: Dahl's Whip Snake, Blotched Snake, Nose-horned Viper - Remote villages preserving unique vernacular architecture. - Opportunities to observe and experience a traditional rural way of life. - Delicious traditional Bulgarian cuisine. - An experienced, knowledgeable and highly informative naturalist guide. NB: Unlike many other wildlife holiday companies in Bulgaria who attempt to cut costs by making their guides have to double up as drivers, we employ separate professional drivers with licensed vehicles for all our field herping holidays in Bulgaria as we believe it is not only safer to have a driver fully focused on the road, but also allows our guides to concentrate fully on looking after you and finding you the wildlife! Further Inspiration This field herping holiday focuses on the Rodopi (Rhodope) Mountains, one of the most important regions in Europe in terms of its herpetological diversity. Spreading across the border between Bulgaria and Greece, some 50 species of herpetofauna have been recorded in the Rodopi (Rhodope) Mountains, including 15 species of amphibians and 35 species of reptiles. We can begin our herping holiday in the Western Rodopi (Rhodope) where we will search for amphibians and reptiles amidst mountain reservoirs, limestone gorges, and also unimproved grasslands. Here we will look for several familiar species such as Alpine Newt, Grass Frog and Viviparous Lizard, which in Bulgaria are glacial relicts and restricted to higher montane regions. Other species more typically found in higher parts of the Western Rodopi (Rhodope) Mountains are Balkan Stream Frog, Adder and Slow Worm. We then move on to the Eastern Rodopi (Rhodope) Mountains, to continue our herping in a hotter, drier region dominated by rugged volcanic rock outcrops and scrubby hillsides, threaded by several major river valleys and studded with micro-reservoirs, water fountains and troughs, as well as tiny almost deserted villages. Here we will be looking for Buresch's Crested Newt, Eastern Tree Frog and Eastern Slow Worm, as well as coming to terms with the bewildering variety of lizards, including Balkan Green Lizard, Erhard's Wall Lizard and Snake-eyed Lizard, and more elusive species such as Snake-eyed Skink and Glass Lizard. We will of course also be looking for snakes, including exciting species such as Worm Snake, Sand Boa, Cat Snake, Blotched Snake and Nose-horned Viper. As well as including some of the better known herping sites in the Rodopi (Rhodope) Mountains, we will also explore some seldom visited places where new herpetological discoveries may be made. During this herping holiday in the Rodopi (Rhodope) Mountains, there is also the chance to observe and photograph a great variety of other wildlife and stunning landscapes, as well as visiting one of Bulgaria’s most beautiful monasteries, and a couple of unique archaeological sites. Further Information If you are interested in a tailor-made field herping holiday in the Rodopi (Rhodope) Mountains, then please email Balkan Trek with more details of your own special requirements and plans, and we will be happy to design and organize for you a rewarding and memorable field herping holiday observing and photographing the outstanding amphibians and reptiles of the Rodopi (Rhodope) Mountains! Responsible Tourism Promise All our field herping holidays in Bulgaria are operated in accordance with our strict Responsible Tourism Policy, ensuring that the field herping holidays we offer in Bulgaria are not only of the highest quality but also help preserve the natural habitats and traditional way of life of the local Bulgarian people. |
