Bulgaria: Realm Of The Brown Bear

Start Sofia Airport. Transfer to the village of Yagodina in the remote Rodopi Mountains.

Visit the caves at Yagodinska Peshtera. Circular bear tracking walk in the forests above Yagodina; evening visit to bear hide.

Circular bear tracking walk through forests and meadows; evening visit bear hide.

Panoramic walk in rugged and rocky karst terrain, rich in birds, butterflies and orchids.

Bear tracking walk through a mosaic of bear habitats in the mountains south of Yagodina; evening visit bear hide.

Circular bear tracking walk through remote carnivore habitat. 

Forest and riverside walk in search of orchids, butterflies, reptiles and amphibians; transfer to Sofia.

End Sofia.

Spend a week in the Rodopi Mountains discovering the realm of the Brown bear. Joined by European Brown bear expert Julian Perry, this holiday gives a unique insight into the behaviour and ecology of these most iconic yet secretive carnivores. During the course of the week we take daily hikes through the heart of prime Brown bear habitat, recording tracks, scats and other signs of bear activity as part of an on-going Brown bear conservation project. On two evenings there will be the chance to visit a specially constructed bear watching hide from where there are good opportunities to see some of the bears whose activity we have been monitoring during our days in the mountains. In addition, we will also be collecting and collating images from several camera traps that will be set up in the surrounding forests. By the end of this holiday we hope you will not only have seen Brown bears in the wild but also have an understanding and appreciation of the fascinating way of life of these mysterious and often misunderstood animals.