Late spring botanical tour - Black Sea coast, Eastern Balkan, Strandja and Eastern Rhodopes mountains.
The tour starts on 15 May.
Itinerary
Day
1
Arrival in Sofia and transfer to the town of Sliven. Overnight for two nights.
Day 2
Visit
“Sinite Kamani” Nature Park - impressive relief with metamorphic and dolomite
rocks and flora, rich in wild flowers.
Some species: Quercus frainetto, Quercus pubescens, Quercus cerris, Fraxinus
ornus, Carpinus orientalis, Syringa vulgaris, Iris reichenbachii, Tulipa australis,
Orchis pinetorum,, Fritillaria pontica, Alyssum saxatile, Iberis saxatilis,
Anthylis montana, Globularia aphyllanthes, Doronicum hungaricum, Doronicum
columnae, Viola siechiana, Dactylorhiza sambucina, Cephalanthera damassonium,
Alyssoides utriculosa subsp. graeca, Salvia ringens,Astracantha thracica,
Potentila rupestris, etc.
Depending on the year, it is possible to see Tulipa urumofii in flowers.
Day
3
Transfer to the Black Sea coast - town of Kavarna where we accommodate for
two nights.
Stopping near the town of Aithos, “Trite bratja” protected area, declared
to protect relict Astracantha aithosensis.
Second stop at “Pobiti kamani” protected area with astonishing standing stone
columns in Eocene sandy disclosures.
Some species: Arenaria rigida, Dianthus nardiformis, Lepidotrichum uechtritzianum,
Anchusa velenovskyi, Silene frivaldskyana, Anthemis regis-borisii, Syrenia
cana, Sempervivum zeleborii, Ephedra dystachya, etc.
Day
4
Visit to Kaliakra Steppe reserve, Rusalka and Yailata localities with impressive
sea cliffs and archeological remains. Steppe vegetation on limestone, rich
in flowers.
Some species: Paeonia tenuifolia, Paeonia peregrina, Stipa lessingiana, Artemisia
pedemontana, Agropyrum brandzae, Asphodeline lutea, Iris pumila, Silene caliacrae,
Scutellaria orientalis, Salvia nutans, Salvia argentea, Salvia aethiops, Bellevalia
sarmatica, Onosma taurica, Onosma arenaria, Onosma echioides, Potentilla mollicrins,
Potentilla bornmueleri, Nonnea atra, Ruta glaveolens, Euphorbia myrsinites,etc.,
as well as a lot of species of Vicia, Lathyrus, Pisum, Artemisia.
Short visit north of town of Balchik Đ grassy vegetation on chalk hills.
Some species: Matthiola odoratissima, Tanacetum millefolium, Achillea clypeolata,
Inula ensifolia, Aster oleifolius, Ajuga laxmanii, Jurinea stoechadifolia,
Gypsophylla glomerata, Astragalus sprunerii, Astragalus vesicarius, etc.
Day
5
Transfer to the town of Primorsko, where we will stay for the next three nights.
Stop in Eastern Balkan Mts. near Obzor village - Oak forest with beautiful
flowers: Geranium asphodeloides, Verbascum phoeniceum, etc.
Stop at Nature Conservation or Information Center for general information
for the area, plants and if there is an interest - birds observation.
Day
6
Ropotamo river and Arkutino area with sand dune vegetation, alluvial forest
- “longoz” vegetation and Arkutino lake with Nimphaea alba.
Some species: Tulipa thracica Dav., Fritillaria pontica, Scilla bythinica,
Leucojum aestivum, Heptaptera triquetra, Symphytum tauricum, Ruscus aculeatus,
Smilax exelsa, Periploca graeca, Iris pseudoacorus, Ammophylla arenaria, Leymus
racemosus ssp. sabulosus, Silene euxina, Linum tauricum ssp. bulgaricum, Hypecoum
ponticum, Pancratium maritimum, Jurinea albicaulis ssp. kilaea, Stachys maritima,
Medicago marina, Eryngium maritimum, Euphorbia paralias, Iris suaveolens,
Anacamptis pyramidalis, Orchis purpurea, etc.
Day
7
Visit to Veleka River mouth and Silistar locality in Strandja Mountain. Oak
forests and coastal vegetation.
Some species: Verbascum bugilifolium, Verbascum phoeniceum, Salvia forskaolei,
Trachystemon orientale, Oenanthe millefolia, Cistus salvifolius, Cistis incanus,
Asparagus acutifolius, Serapias vomeracea, Orchis morio, Orchis papilionaceae,
Scorpiurus subvillosus, Hymenocarpus circinalis, Iris sintenisii, Geranium
asphodeloides, Geranium sanguineum, Silene compacta, Jurinea mollis, Calystegia
soldanella, Otanthus maritimus, Crambe maritima, etc.
Day
8
A day trip to Strandja Mountain - Silkosia Nature Reserve and Kachul locality.
Oriental beach forest with ever-green scrubs. Overnight in Brachljan village.
Some species: Fagus orientalis, Quercus polycarpa, Quercus hartwissiana, Daphne
pontica, Rhododendron ponticum, Epimedium pubigerum, Laurocerrasus oficinalis,
Ilex colchica, Mespilus germanica, Pyracantha coccinea, Teucrium lamifolium,
Stachys thracica, Orchis laxiflora, Cicer montbretii, etc.
Day
9
Visit to Veleka river springs near Mladezhko village. Riverside vegetation,
oak and oriental hornbeam forests and open vegetation on limestone rocks.
Short stop in Sakar Mountain hills. Transfer to Eastern Rhodopes mountain
Đ town of Madjarovo, where we overnight next two days.
Some species: Veronica turrilliana, Hesperis theophrastii, Paeonia peregrina,
Knautia orientalis, Knautia degenii, Knautia bysantina, Vicia incissa, etc.
Day 10
Volcanic
rocky massifs along Arda River - “Patronka” and “Meden kamak” protected areas.
Walk along Arda River and visit to “Oreshari” protected area. Secondary mixed
deciduous forests on volcanic rocks and limestone. Rocky and grassy vegetation
and a lot of Mediterranean species.
Some species: Acer monspessulanum, Pistacia terebinthus, Juniperus oxycedrus,
Stefanoffia daucoides, Cephalorhinchus tuberosus, Hypericum olympicum, Steptorhamnus
tuberosus, Celsia roripifolia, Hypericum moutbretti, Silene compacta, Ononis
adenotricha, Verbascum xanthophoeniceum, Onosma thracica, Inula adschersoniana,
Campanula cervicaria, Smyrnium perfoliatum, Polygala rhodopea, etc.
Day 11
Visit
to Potochnitca village area and the nearest vulture feeding site. with an
observation of vultures on feeding place. Shrubs and stony pastures with diversity
of plants around. Short stop near Studen Kladenets reservoir, in place with
basalt rocks. Overnight in the town of Kroumovgrad.
Some species: Haberlea rhodopensis, Potentilla regis-borisii, Verbascum humile,
Scabiosa triniifolia, many Trifolium species, etc.
Day 12
Transfer to Asenovgrad area. Stop near Zvezdelina village (limestone pasture with diverse flora) and a stop in the area of Topolnitsa village with a visit to Platanus orientalis forest. Overnight in Asenovgrad for two nights.
Day 13
Visit
to Dobrostan massif - area of Martziganitsa chalet. Mountain meadows on limestone,
pastures, Juniper scrub, rocky places.
Some species: Dactylorhiza kalopisii, Campanula glomerata, Verbascum decorum,
Marrubium frivaldskyanum, Jovibarba heufelii, Dianthus cruentus ssp. turcicus,
etc.
Day 14
Transfer to Sofia Airport and departure. If there is enough time we will visit culture site on the way.
Group size: 4 -16 tourists + 2 leaders
Price: 1160 EUR per person
Individuals:
1-3 tourists + leader
Price: 1360 EUR per person
Single supplement: 130 EUR
Deposit: 100 EUR
Price includes: All ground transportation (a comfortable
bus), all meals - full board (with packed lunches when necessary), accommodation
in hotels, guides, entrance fees for all nature reserves.
The price does not include: airfares, travel insurance, hard
drinks and all items for personal use.
Official language for the tour: English. German speaking
guide is also available.
We can also offer you a great variety of customized tours according to your
preferences.
Should you have any questions or special requirements, please do not hesitate
to contact us.