Hungary - National Parks Aggletek, Bükk & Hortobágy
Nature Tour also suitable for children from ca. 7 years

Have you ever dreamt of a holiday that would take you through hills covered with vast deciduous forests and filled with outstanding geological wonders, ecological rarities and cultural delights unknown to the every day traveller? Look no further, this tour is for you! On this 9 day journey you will visit World Heritage sites in three different national parks. In Europe it is hard to find such a relatively small area boasting so many different landscapes with such an abundance of rare and protected plants, butterflies, dragonflies, birds and mammals. This top itinerary to the wild and unspoilt part of eastern Europe is a great experience for the all-round naturalist.

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Dates

Price includes

• Accommodation in double/single room
• Full board (packed lunch where applicable)
• Bilingual expert local naturalist guide
• All transport during trip
• Airport transfer with flight booking
• Breach of warranty certificate

Number of participants

8 – 12 persons

Note

- The tour is bookable with and without flights. Please ask for assistance if required.
- Flights are available to Budapest from London, Stansted, Luton, Bristol, Newcastle and Manchester.


price with flight
DR 1,050.00£ / SR 1,185.00£
price without flight
DR 915.00£ / SR 1,045.00£

This nature tour itinerary is particularly suitable for older children and special reductions for accommodation is negotiable.

Alterations

The programme is subject to change.




Day 1

Arrival

Upon arrival in Budapest you will be met by your English speaking guide and driven to your accommodation in the heart of the Aggtelek National Park. Depending on the time factor we might relax for a while or go for a stroll round the hotel grounds. In the evening the national park staff will present a colourful slide-show introducing you to some of the wonders of Aggtelek. Aggtelek 1 overnight

Day 2

Aggletek National Park

The park is situated in the north-eastern part of Hungary. It was one of the first national parks in the country and it was primarily created to protect geomorphological formations such as surface karst phenomena and caves. The karst landscape is dominated by extensive plateaux with an average altitude of only 600meters which is unique in Europe. They are dotted with hundreds of shallow depressions, karst valleys with rows of dolines. Other characteristic landscape features are the blind valleys with permanent or temporary water courses disappearing into sinkholes; called "sly" holes or devil´s holes by the locals. The water flowing beneath the surface hollows this fascinating underground world. Around 262 caves are registered in the national park. Baradla Cave is the most significant with a length of over 18 kilometers, and together with the other caves it is part of the UNESCO World Heritage. During the day we will visit sections of the Baradla cave on a guided tour to admire stalactites, stalagmites and other formations. We will also stop by the Visitor Centre of the national park and walk in the picturesque village Jósvafő to see traditional architecture and visit a small museum with exhibits relating to the life of the locals. Aggtelek 1 overnight

Day 3

Aggletek National Park

The diversity of birds, butterflies and wildlife in the Aggtelek National Park is also exceptional. The park is home to rare eagles, owls and woodpeckers and we might be lucky to see one of them in the nice beech and oak forests. We will spend the morning birding and then move on to some beautiful meadows that are one of the best butterfly hotspots in Europe - home to many rare species including Hungarian Glider, nine species of Hairstreaks and a long list of Blues and Fritillaries. Wild Boar, Red and Roe Deer occur in the park in good numbers, and even Wolf and Lynx are present, but of course it is very difficult to see them. We will also visit one of the oldest vineyards in the region and savour some typical Hungarian goulash. The owner prepares it himself and it is served in his garden where we can enjoy the wonderful scenery. We can also visit a small bat colony which the owner protects in one of the old buildings above the cellar. The warm climate and the caves provide a perfect habitat for the bats and the evening will be spent with mist netting around the fly-out paths of some caves or drinking areas to see the bats in hand. Aggtelek 1 overnight

Day 4

Bükk National Park

We leave the Aggtelek area and drive towards the Bukk National Park where we will spend the following three days. The Bukk Hills is characterized by vast beech woods and open limestone meadows with different karst forms produced by erosion. It is a perfect area for walking, birdwatching and relaxing. It is not a rare sight to see Imperial Eagle, Honey Buzzard or Goshawk soaring above the valleys and the dense deciduous woodlands provide home for woodland species such as owls and woodpeckers including Ural Owl, Black, White-backed, Grey-headed, Middle Spotted and Syrian Woodpecker. Driving through the picturesque landscape of the Uppony Hills we reach the town of Szilvảsvảrad, the gate to the famous Bükk Plateau with its exceptional geomorphological formations. Continue our drive up the winding road to the plateau where we will take a walk along meadows and through beech forests that are home to rare plants, insects and birds. During our walk we can admire the Lipizzaner horses roaming in the meadows. Afterward we will make our way to the nearby Ancient Forest consisting of old beech trees more than hundred years old. Here is the home of the rare White-backed Woodpecker. Later on in the afternoon we continue our journey towards the southern slopes of the Bükk Hills to reach a small and tranquil village close to the park where we shall stay for three nights. Time permitting we might stop en route to visit the Roman-style Bẻlapảtfalva Benedictine Abbey. Noszvaj 3 overnights

Day 5

Hỏr Valley

Today we will visit the attractive Hỏr Valley where we can climb up to a prehistoric cave. We will then continue our drive followed by a walk further into the valley. Making our way along a creek under the lush canopy of hornbeam and beech forest we will look for owls, woodpeckers, Hawfinch, Collared Flycatcher and other forest birds. On the way back we cross the city of Eger famous for its minaret, medieval castle and Baroque and Classicistic architecture. An enjoyable walk up to the castle through the quaint streets of this lovely place rounds up the day.

Day 6

Miskolc

Today we will drive to Miskolc, the largest city of the region, and take the narrow gauge train to Lillafüred a popular place in the eastern part of the hills. Here we can visit the neo-renaissance Palace Hotel built in the early 20th century. Nearby Hamori Lake, a scenic man-made reservoir, is situated among forested hills. The scenic waterfall is also worth a visit. During the evening there is a possibility for an optional wine tasting programme. The historical wine region of Eger is famous for its red wine, the so called Bull’s Blood. We can taste this delicious wine along with other fabulous reds and whites in the old cellar of the family Thümmerer close to our accommodation.

Day 7

National Park

We leave the Bükk Hills and head towards Hortobágy crossing over the Tisza River. Being part of the Great Plain or “Puszta”.this part of Hungary is scenically very different to that what we have experienced so far, This is the westernmost piece of Asian Steppe in the heart of Europe. The world-famous, the first national park in Hungary, harbours diverse habitats: seasonal salt marshes with salt-tolerant species, aquatic sedge and rush communities, grasslands and steppe oak forests. Hortobágy is a Mecca for birders with its amazing variety of rare bird species, but butterflies, dragonflies also abound. Today we will explore the largest and most famous fishpond system - the Fishponds. A narrow gauge train will take us amongst the lakes to reach hides from where we can observe thousands of water birds feeding on the lake. These ponds are home to many rare birds including Pygmy Cormorant, Ferruginous Duck, herons, egrets, Spoonbill, Penduline Tit, as well as many colourful dragonflies, and even Muskrat, Pond Terrapin or Grass Snake. Water Buffaloes are a symbol of the place grazing or standing deep in the mud. In the afternoon we will drive to Hortobảgy village that is famous for its Nine-arch Bridge constructed in 1826. We will visit the local Herdsmen’s Museum commemorating the life of the shepherds and herders of the Great Plain. Nearby we enter the Puszta Animal Park that holds traditional breeds such as Hungarian grey cattle, the racka and cigaja sheep, the curly haired mangalica pig, puli and komondor dog. We will also visit a bird emergency unit with its rescued birds of prey. From here we will be driven by horse carriage deep into the puszta for traditional food prepared over a campfire. 1 overnight in a small hotel close to the Hortobágy National Park

Day 8

Lake Tisza

In the morning we will visit Lake Tisza by boat to marvel at the beauty of hidden oxbows and ponds covered with water lilies, Water Chestnut and Yellow Floating-heart. It is a true birding paradise. We can see flocks of geese and ducks, herons and egrets flying or hunting for fish with the large White-tailed Eagle soaring above. During the afternoon we visit a strictly protected area of the steppe whicht is home to the magnificent Great Bustard. While walking through the endless puszta we might also see Montague’s Harrier, Short-eared Owl, Red-footed or even Saker Falcon. 1 overnight in a small hotel close to the Hortobágy National Park

Day 9

Departure

It is time to leave the Hortobágy and head west to Budapest for our flight home.

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