This is an 8 day tour focusing on the rich birdlife and beautiful scenery of the Eastern Rhodopes and Eastern Balkan Mountains in Bulgaria.

We usually start the tour from the Eastern Rhodope Mountains, located in the south-east of Bulgaria, close to the border with Greece. The region is home to exceptional biodiversity – a result of the influence of both the Mediterranean and continental climates. The diversity of birds of prey is astonishing – 36 of the 39 species recorded in Europe can be seen here.

The main photographic targets in the Eastern Rhodopes are the birds of prey, that come to feed on the carcass at a feeding site, which we manage together with a local game reserve. We offer a fixed hide for 6 people, which provides excellent opportunities to photograph several species of raptors. In front of the hide you can get three vulture species – Griffon Vulture, Cinereous (Eurasian Black) Vulture and Egyptian Vulture, as well as several other birds of prey, such as White-tailed Eagle, Eastern Imperial Eagle, Common Buzzard, Black Kite. The Common Ravens are always there. An occasional Wolf, Golden Jackal or Red Fox may also appear at the feeding table. At times when there is less activity at the hide, we can go off to explore the area in search of other wildlife. We will be sure to visit the nearby reserve, where reintroduced populations of Red Deer and European Bison roam free in a setting that makes for great photography.

Here you can find more information about the photo-hide.

During the second part of the trip we head north-east to the Eastern Balkan Range, where we offer a complex of 4 wooden bird photography tower hides set in different habitats. They are within walking distance from one another. Each hide can accommodate 2 or 3 photographers. The main targets here are 7 species of woodpecker (including the Grey-headed Woodpecker, European Green Woodpecker, Syrian Woodpecker, Middle Spotted Woodpecker, Wryneck), Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Common Cuckoo, Eurasian Golden Oriole, European Turtle Dove, Red-backed Shrike, Sombre Tit, Hawfinch and others.

HERE is the list of birds that can be photographed from the hides, the time of year they can be photographed and the chances/probability of getting good shots.

Here you can find more information about the hides.

Although this tour is designed for photography from permanent hides, if there are good opportunities to photograph birds and wildlife from mobile (tent) hides and time allows, we will take advantage of these opportunities. This can result in wonderful experiences photographing a variety of attractive and colourful birds, such as the Black Stork, Black-headed Bunting, Cirl Bunting, Woodchat Shrike, Masked Shrike, Isabelline Wheatear, Eastern Orphean Warbler, Eastern Subalpine Warbler, etc, plus the cute European Souslik, etc.

If you would like to join one of our scheduled tours, please check our Early Spring Hide Photography and Late Spring Hide Photography tours.