Butterflies of Hungary

Tour Code: HUN02

An 8-day butterfly holiday, run in conjunction with Butterfly Conservation, to the Aggtelek and Bükk National Parks in north-eastern Hungary.

We hope to run this tour in the future, but have not yet finalised dates and prices. To be added to a waiting list and be informed when details are confirmed, please click on the register interest button, or phone 01962 733051.
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Highlights

Summary

Summary

Home to nearly 200 butterfly species, Hungary is sure to become a firm favourite destination with lepidopterists, as it is with ornithologists! We’ll spend two full days in Aggtelek National Park in search of the numerous fritillaries, blues, whites, coppers, hairstreaks and graylings that flourish here. For the second half of our holiday we will be based within the Bükk National Park, at the southern edge of the Carpathians. We’ll explore a variety of habitats, including Beech woods and plains, across an altitudinal range between 300 and 960 metres above sea level. Black Hairstreaks, Reverdin’s Blue and Berger’s Clouded Yellow should be among our finds, as well as a host of interesting birds, damselflies and dragonflies.

  • 10% of the tour cost donated to Butterfly Conservation
  • 3x the number of butterfly species found in the UK!
  • Pallas’s Fritillary, Purple Emperor & Hungarian Glider along River Bodva
  • Scarce Swallowtail, Poplar Admiral, Sooty & Purple-edged Coppers
  • Chequered, Turquoise, Silver-studded & Chapman’s Blues
  • Raptors, warblers, woodpeckers & shrikes
  • Rich butterfly fauna & flower-filled meadows
  • Led by expert naturalist guides

Grading

Easy day walks.

Hungary has long been established as one of Europe’s top birdwatching destinations but this beautiful land-locked country at the heart of the continent is less well known for its other wildlife treasures, amongst them, butterflies. Although modern farming practices are on the increase, many areas are still farmed using a variety of low intensity, wildlife-friendly techniques that have been passed down for generations. As a result, butterflies thrive, and dancing clouds of these colourful sprites are still a common sight over flower-filled meadows and sunny woodland glades. Nearly 200 species occur here – well over three times the number found in Britain – meaning Hungary is sure to become a favourite with the lepidopterists amongst us. Indeed, it is one of the aims of this holiday, run in conjunction with Butterfly Conservation (to whose conservation fund 10% of the holiday cost will be donated), to spark more interest in butterflies overseas.

We begin our holiday with a flight to the nation’s capital, Budapest; a beautiful city that merits a few extra days for sightseeing either side of our tour, should you so wish. From here we travel to the Aggtelek National Park, which lies along Hungary’s border with Slovakia, about a four-hour drive from the capital. Aggtelek is situated within one of the most scenic parts of Hungary, a region rich in wildlife, history and folklore. Here, amongst a landscape which predominantly consists of rolling meadows that are still mown by hand and ploughed by horse, pretty villages lie scattered, together with patches of deciduous woodland, limestone karst and, along the River Bodva, damp water meadows. This diversity of habitats is home to a wealth of butterflies, as well as other fauna and flora, and we have our first three nights here to thoroughly explore the region in search of the numerous blues, whites, coppers, graylings, hairstreaks and fritillaries that abound. Species to look out for include Pallas’s Fritillary, High Brown Fritillary, Silver-washed Fritillary, Duke of Burgundy, Map Butterfly, Camberwell Beauty, Purple Emperor, Hungarian Glider, Dryad, Great Banded Grayling, Scarce Swallowtail and many, many others. The birdwatchers among us will no doubt keep an eye skyward should a Goshawk, Eastern Imperial or Short-toed Eagle pass overhead. Meanwhile, at lower levels, such species as Barred Warbler, Red-backed Shrike, Woodlark and Rock Bunting may be seen.

Leaving Aggtelek National Park, we next drive the short distance to Bükk National Park, our base for the final four nights of this holiday. The Bükk Hills lie at the southern edge of the Carpathians and rise gently from 300 metres above sea level to a maximum elevation of 960 metres. Although an upland area, most of our time will be spent exploring the deciduous woodlands and valleys in the lower reaches of the park and thus no strenuous walks will be necessary to fully appreciate this luscious area. During our three full days here we will explore, amongst other areas, the Hoy Valley and the Nagymezo and Omassa regions of the Bükk Plateau. This park is rich in butterflies – amongst the woods and over the flower-filled meadows and verges fly Scarce and Common Swallowtails, Wood Whites, Chestnut Heaths, both Brown and Purple Hairstreaks, Poplar Admirals, Large, Sooty and Purple-edged Coppers, Queen of Spain Fritillaries, Purple and Lesser Purple Emperors, Berger’s Clouded Yellows, and Chalk-hill, Short-tailed, Chequered, Turquoise and Reverdin’s Blues, amongst many others. Woodland edges host Scarce Fritillaries and Black Hairstreaks whilst the Bükk’s fine old Beech woods are home to Camberwell Beauty and Hungarian Glider. The great Hungarian Plain begins at the foot of the Bükk Hills and we will also visit the grasslands and wetlands here in the hope of adding such species as Silver-studded Blue and Chapman’s Blue to our tally. For those with an interest in other wildlife, birds to look out for include Hawfinch, White-backed, Black and Grey-headed Woodpeckers, whilst dragonflies include Southern and Small Emerald Damselflies, Blue-tailed Damselfly, Common and Migrant Hawkers, White-tailed Skimmer and Vagrant Darter.

As an added bonus, this north-eastern region of Hungary is also famed for its full-bodied red and white wines, the fruity red ‘Bull’s Blood’ being one of its more famous exports. There will be the opportunity to try some of Hungary's best over dinner each evening... and perhaps raise a glass to the quality of the Magyar wildlife enjoyed during the week!

DETAILED INFORMATION
Itinerary

Outline Itinerary

Day 1
Fly Budapest and transfer to Aggtelek National Park
Day 2/3
Aggtelek National Park
Day 4/7
Bükk National Park
Day 8
Fly London
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What's Included

What's Included?

  • Flights
  • Accommodation: Comfortable hotels throughout; all rooms with private facilities.
  • Food: All included in the price.
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Why Naturetrek?

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