16 May 2026 - 31 May 2026 (16 days)
EUR4,695 2 SPACES AVAILABLE
Tour Leader: Local Leader
Tour Price (Per person): EUR4,695 (USD5,338 * GBP4,087 * AUD8,148)
Single Supplement: EUR420 (USD477 * GBP366 * AUD729)
15 May 2027 - 30 May 2027 (16 days)
EUR4,800 SPACES AVAILABLE
Tour Leader: Local Leader
Tour Price (Per person): EUR4,800 (USD5,457 * GBP4,178 * AUD8,331)
Pricing notes : *Prices are estimated, and dates may change*
13 May 2028 - 28 May 2028 (16 days)
EUR4,900 SPACES AVAILABLE
Tour Leader: Local Leader
Tour Price (Per person): EUR4,900 (USD5,571 * GBP4,265 * AUD8,504)
Pricing notes : *Prices are estimated, and dates may change*
Spring in Bulgaria and Greece is a symphony of vibrant bird and wildlife. Our tour offers the opportunity to explore diverse habitats and witness the spectacle of migration. We search the Western Balkan Mountains, for powerful Golden Eagle against a backdrop of lush forests and rocky peaks before making our way into Greece. Here, Lake Kerkini transforms into a bustling avian hub, where Dalmatian Pelicans and Black Storks share the stage with a multitude of migrating warblers and raptors. The coastal wetlands around Maroneia provide a haven for a wide array of waterfowl and wading birds, and a spot of seawatching may reveal Yelkouan and Scopoli's Shearwaters. The Dadia Forest are raptor rich with Cinereous Vulture, Eurasian Griffon and Golden Eagles ruling the skies.
The rolling Sakar Hills are a rich tapestry of steppe and woodland, offering up the melodious Calandra Lark and the acrobatic European Roller. We’ll spend the last week of our tour venturing into the breathtakingly beautiful Rhodope & Rila Mountains in search of Wallcreeper, several vultures, partridges and woodpeckers.
Each location offers a unique blend of wildlife experiences, creating an unforgettable journey through the natural wonders of the Balkans.
Bearded Reedling; Wallcreeper; Rock & Chukar Partridges; Hazel Grouse; Corn Crake; Sombre & Crested Tits; White-tailed, Eastern Imperial & Golden Eagles; Cinereous & Egyptian Vultures; Eurasian Griffon; Levant Sparrowhawk; Syrian, White-backed, Grey-headed & Black Woodpeckers; Spotted Nutcracker; Masked & Woodchat Shrikes; Western Rock Nuthatch; Sardinian, Barred, Eastern Orphean, Eastern Subalpine & Eastern Bonelli’s Warblers; Ring Ouzel; Great White & Dalmatian Pelicans; Pygmy Cormorant; Rufous-tailed Bush Robin; Yelkouan & Scopoli's Shearwaters; Audouin's Gull; Spur-winged Plover; Eastern Black-eared Wheatear; Goldcrest; Firecrest; Ortolan, Black-headed & Cirl Buntings.
marshes, rivers, delta, lakes, coastlines, mountains, pine & conifer forest, olive groves, Mediterranean scrub,
Mediterranean, with warm days and cool nights which can be cold at altitude. Occasional cool & wet day with afternoon thunder showers possible.
8 with local leader
UNDEMANDING: This tour is ideal for birders and wildlife enthusiasts of all experience levels. It’s suitable for most mobility levels and offers a relaxed pace, ensuring an enjoyable experience for everyone.
Suitable for all birding levels.
Comfortable.
Moderate to undemanding. Most species provide good visuals in open conditions.
Rila Monastery
Worthwhile to good +.
Both Andre and Uthai were remarkably tireless and effective in finding and identifying birds, including some of the most elusive species in Thailand. They also did a great job of organizing the logistics of the trip. Our meals were already prepared when we arrived at restaurants and all of the hotel arrangements were handled smoothly. We probably will not consider going on another standard Rockjumper trip. Birding steadily from dawn to after dark was a bit much, especially for 22 uninterrupted days. This pace is appropriate for most serious birders so I don’t fault the guides, but we plan to shift to a style of traveling in which we can set our own schedule. We might consider one of Rockjumper's relaxed tours, but we're not concerned about long hikes and muddy trails as long as the schedule allows for a little down time to read, reflect and recover.
Lev was the perfect guide- knowledgeable, professional, polite, reliable. And well-dressed for the occasion with his bird-themed T-shirts! Everything was well organized and went smooth.
Note that some of the comments I made regarding the Thailand extension apply to the main Thailand tour. I liked the sequence of sites visited; it ensured the Spoonbill Sandpiper was seen early on and then designed to minimize travel. Staying multiple nights at one site is always appreciated and seemed to be done as much as possible. The guides made special efforts to see bird species sought by the group; we saw more bird species than I expected. The drivers were excellent and also one of them, Jaime, was a good birder who helped the guides track down some species; it was an asset to have internet while in the vehicles. The drivers also produced an excellent video of the trip - a nice touch; they also did an excellent job with mid-morning breaks. I especially enjoyed visiting a hide all morning early on in the trip - it gave us a chance to see some elusive species but also several species very well. One morning was spent looking for a rare duck; I would have rather spent the time looking for a variety of Thai species. Quite a bit of birding was done along roads - it might have been better to bird trails etc. if they are available and afford good views of birds pointed out. Food was excellent (Uthai selected great dishes for the group) and accomodations were good. It was an enjoyable trip with rewarding looks at many of the bird species seen.
While the birding was more difficult, the guides knowledge on where to search for some of the key species. Helped the group find a number of very interesting species of birds.
I really enjoyed having Lev as a tour guide, he was very knowledgeable and helpful and great at giving directions to see "hidden" birds in the jungle.
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