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This was a wildlife trip to explore the lowland area of Austria & parts of Hungary. We were based in a comfortable hotel in Illmitz and visited different areas from there. The bird life was plentiful, it was a pleasure to see Imperial Eagles, Long-eared Owl and a plethora of water birds. We travelled mainly by minibus but one morning went out by horse and cart. Walking across a bridge into Hungary & seeing the remains of the Iron Curtain border was interesting. One evening we ate in a local restaurant and sampled local produce especially the Mangalitca pig meat. The trip was led by a knowledgeable, well organised naturalist. We have travelled with Naturetrek on numerous occasions since 2015. We have always found them to be very efficient. Queries are dealt with promptly. Appraisal forms regarding the holiday are sent on our return, including a suggestions for improvement section. In my experience, any comments made are taken on board. Staff are always professional, friendly, and polite. We travel with confidence knowing that Naturetrek are there if problems should arise.
T.J. South Glamorgan, May 24
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Austria's Steppes & Wetlands
Tour Code: AUT01An exciting exploration of the rich natural and cultural diversity offered by a premier national park at the heart of Europe, Neusiedler See.
£1,450 (Inc flights)
£1,250
Highlights
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Summary
Neusiedler See National Park is one of Europe’s least known wildlife hot-spots. The park spans Austria and Hungary, protecting warm flat lowlands that are a haven for waterbirds such as herons, egrets and Spoonbills, a host of dragonflies and other insect-life, as well as swathes of wild flowers. We’ll make daily excursions into the park from our base in Illmitz, enjoying passage waders and terns, Middle Spotted Woodpeckers, Penduline Tits and Barred Warblers; there’s also a possibility of seeing raptors such as White-tailed and Imperial Eagles and Saker Falcon. On other days we’ll explore the birdlife of the Puszta plain on both sides of the Hungarian border, including displaying Great Bustards and hunting Montagu’s Harriers and Short-eared Owls.
- Great White Egrets, Bitterns, Pygmy Cormorants & White Storks
- Black-necked Grebes & Red-crested Pochards
- Breeding and migrating waders including Ruff and stints
- Learn the various warbler songs emanating from the reedbeds
- Travel by horse-drawn carriage to reedbeds
- Watch engaging European Sousliks at their burrows
- Look for displaying Great Bustards & hunting birds of prey
- Enjoy wonderful displays of orchids & other spring meadow flowers
- Led by an expert naturalist guide
Grading
Grade A/B. Short day walks on mostly flat ground.
In terms of diversity, Neusiedler See- Seewinkel National Park in Austria is one of Europe’s least known wildlife hotspots. Forget the alpine meadows and mountains of the Alps that you would normally associate with Austria! On this holiday we will be focusing exclusively on the country’s warm and flat lowland regions, more akin to the steppes to the east, and the reason we can expect to see such a range of birds, insects, mammals and plants is that we will be exploring a region that lies at a crossroads of landscapes, habitats and cultures. During our stay here we will enjoy all these highlights, but particularly the birds.
Neusiedler See-Seewinkel National Park, in fact, spans the Austro-Hungarian border and was the first bi-national park to be created in Europe, the majority of it lying within Austria but the southern part being in Hungary. To reach it we fly to Vienna then drive to our comfortable hotel in Illmitz, which is our base for the duration of the tour and situated amongst the sights and sounds of nature. The numerous Great Egrets are just one indicator of a rich diversity which also includes breeding Black-necked Grebes, Savi’s Warblers and Bee-eaters.
For our initial exploration of the region we will spend the morning of our first full day focusing on the largest of Seewinkel’s lakes, Lange Lacke, where the birds and plants are more representative of the coast. Amongst a wide range of species, we will be looking out for breeding Mediterranean Gulls and Avocets, whilst the swathes of wild flowers all around us include the purple-flowered Austrian Sage and contrasting yellow bedstraws that span the ‘hutweide’ or shepherded pasture. After lunch, we will head off to the extensive plain near the Hungarian border, where we will go in search of displaying Great Bustards which, for many, will be the undoubted avian highlight of our holiday; we also hope to see Short-eared Owl, Montagu’s Harrier and a variety of other raptors.
On our third day we will rise early and travel by horse-drawn carriage to enjoy some amazing views across the park’s reedbeds from the upper platform of an ex-Cold War watchtower. Here we will have breakfast whilst watching numerous herons and egrets setting out to feed, Pygmy Cormorants flying between areas of open water, and we may even catch a glimpse of one of the Bitterns that boom in the vast reedbeds. Later in the day we will look for migrant waders at one of Seewinkel’s soda lakes and explore the adjacent woodland and fringing reedbeds which are home to Golden Oriole, Hoopoe, Barred Warbler, Penduline Tit and numerous Nightingales.
The insect-life, too, is very rich and we will look for both the dragonflies and butterflies attracted to the region’s profusion of meadow flowers. The beautiful Southern Festoon butterfly may, perhaps, be amongst the highlights. Interesting beetles, praying mantis, flies and spiders will also turn up on our walks, particularly when we visit Zitzmannsdorfer Wiesen, another area of remnant steppe and a breeding site for Black-tailed Godwits, Curlews and many other species.
We will spend our penultimate day, a long but exciting one, in Hungary. Rising early, we travel to the Hansag, the remains of a wild marshland and wetland forest which the Hungarians are currently restoring. This is a very atmospheric place, offering a great feeling of isolation. In addition to an interesting variety of birds, the grassy plains are home to colonies of Souslik, an endearing little ground squirrel and favoured prey of the Hansag’s raptors!
Outline Itinerary
What's Included?
- Flights
- Accommodation:
We stay in a comfortable hotel, where all rooms have private facilities.
- Food:
All food is included in the price.
Reviews
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Our guide, Martin, was excellent and many of the other group members had fantastic knowledge of birds and birdsong, and flowers. We saw so many things that we would possibly not have noticed and certainly couldn't have identified. I loved the horse and carriage ride to Sandek and the nesting birds we saw there. In fact, that was where we walked to when we went out on our own. We watched the red footed falcons for ages.
B.R. Hampshire, May 23 -
We thoroughly enjoyed our trip to Austria with Dave - he was everything you could wish for in a tour leader - considerate, kind, knowledgeable and with a great sense of humour - always cheerful. We look forward to our weekend with him in his home patch in South Devon. Thanks to everyone for a great holiday - both at Naturetrek and our excellent hotel in Illmitz - Hotel Johannes Zeche.
M.C. Cambridgeshire
Dates & Prices
2025
2026
Prefer to Travel in a Private Group?
For any interested natural history club or society, we can arrange for a private departure of this tour.
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