|
This part of Europe is steeped in thousands of years of history. Small towns along the southern border of the Czech Republic hide picturesque centres and cobbled lanes. The natural history of the area is no less attractive as our journey takes us through steppe lakes, prairie and forest reserves, and the oak forests of the Carpathian Mountains where birds, mammals, wildflowers and rare orchids are all around us.
After an enjoyable day in Vienna, the legendary imperial capital of Austria, we will visit Lake Neusiedl, the largest steppe lake in Europe, where our lodge is in the centre of the national park. We'll be on the lookout for a wide range of waterfowl, raptors, waders and, hopefully, displaying great bustard males.
The Devinska Kobyla Nature Reserve is where we hope to find some of the finest local flowers in full bloom, including the early spider orchid. We will also visit the neo-Gothic castle in Lednice and enjoy its surrounding park. We'll be staying for three nights in the highly rated Hranicni Chateau Hotel enjoying its Moravian wine cellar and folk music.
After touring the White Carpathian Steppe district, we will arrive in the lake region of Trebon, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, where the scarce white-tailed eagle is found. In this part of Bohemia, walled rural architecture prevails throughout the countryside and town gates, castles and ancient fortifications still abound. Our journey ends with two days in Prague, one of the most beautiful and unspoiled cities in Europe. |
|
| FACTS: |
| • | 11 days |
| • | Maximum 15 participants |
| • | Start in Vienna, Austria and finish in Prague, Czech Republic |
|
| HIGHLIGHTS: |
| • | Magnificent Carpathian Mountains |
| • | On the lookout for great Bustard males at Lake Neusiedl |
| • | The early spider orchid in Southern Moravia |
| • | The white tailed eagle in the White Carpathian Steppes |
| • | Hranicni Chateau Hotel in Moravia |
|
| ACTIVITY LEVEL: |
| • | Easy to Moderate. We will be walking at a leisurely pace, with frequent stops. Most activities will not be longer than three hours and will take place on well worn forest paths and dikes and on cobblestone streets in the villages and towns. |
|
| ACCOMMODATIONS: |
| Hotel Austria, Vienna |
| Hotel Post, Illmitz |
| Hotel Hranicni Zamecek, Lednice |
| Hotel Zlata Hvezda, Trebon |
|
|
|
| ITINERARY IN BRIEF: |
| Day 1: |
|
Arrive in Vienna |
| Day 2: |
|
Vienna, Neusiedler See |
| Day 3: |
|
Neusiedler See |
| Day 4: |
|
West Hungary and SW Slovakia |
| Day 5: |
|
South Moravia |
| Day 6: |
|
South Moravia, White Carpathians |
| Day 7: |
|
Drive to Trebonsko |
| Day 8: |
|
Trebonsko |
| Day 9 - 10: |
|
Prague |
| Day 11: |
|
Depart Prague |
|
|
|
|
 David is an expert naturalist who has travelled throughout Europe, North and South America. He is a keen nature photographer with an excellent knowledge of birds, mammals and butterflies. David has led Quest trips to Newfoundland, Texas, Colorado, England, Galapagos Islands, Tunisia, Spain and Canada's High Arctic and the Antarctic.
416-633-5666 / 1-800-387-1483
 Danube River Cruise
Bucharest to Vienna
• Independent Voyage •
Length: 12 days
Start: Bucharest, Romania
Finish: Vienna, Austria
 Spain
Mediterranean Migration
Length: 16 days
Start: Malaga
Finish: Madrid
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
