France - Cranes & Champagne

Tour Code: FRA28

A unique 7-day birdwatching holiday, including champagne-tasting and a visit to historic Troyes.

£1,895

Flight Inclusive

£1,695

Land Only

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Tour Itinerary and Reports

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1 Itinerary 11 Tour Reports

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Carbon Footprint

185kg CO2e

With International Flights

184.9kg CO2e

Tour Only

What does this mean?

Highlights

Travel via Eurostar from London St. Pancras to Paris and then by local train to Troyes
Visit Lac du Temple & Lac d’Orient within the Parc Naturel Régional de la Forêt d’Orient
6 species of woodpecker, Hawfinch, Firecrest & Short-toed Treecreeper in Forêt d’Orient
See the huge congregations of Cranes at Lac du Der, with up to 50,000 coming to roost!
Tour of the Champagne Drappier vineyard & champagne tasting included
White-tailed Eagle, Red Kite & Hen Harrier near Lac du Der
Sightseeing in historic Troyes with a local historian
Free use of the hotel spa in Mesnil-Saint-Père
Led by expert naturalist guides

Summary

This holiday is timed to provide a very special ornithological experience amid the gentle rural setting of northern France’s Champagne country. Firstly, we head to Sainte-Marie-du-Lac-Nuisement for a 3-night stay alongside Lac du Der — the largest artificial lake in France, built on the River Marne it holds back water preventing Paris from flooding, which lies a little more than 100 miles to the west. For the remaining three nights of the holiday, we drive the hour to Mesnil-Saint-Père in the southwest of the region alongside Lac d’Orient within the Parc Naturel Régional de la Forêt d’Orient. As well as a detailed look at the lakes, we will also explore this immense forest where several reserves have seen little or no human intervention for decades and have become a paradise for many species of woodland plants and animals.

After travelling on the Eurostar service direct from London St. Pancras to Paris we then take a local train to Troyes, from where we will transfer by minibus to La Bocagère, a comfortable family-run hotel in Mesnil St-Père, our base for the first three nights of the tour. From here we will explore the Lac du Der and the smaller and less well-known Etang de la Horre, looking in particular for Common Cranes. Twice every year more than 150,000 Common Cranes pass through the area on their journeys between breeding grounds in northern Europe and wintering sites in southern France and Spain. In November, vast numbers arrive at much the same time and pause here to rest and feed before continuing their journey. We should observe many hundreds, perhaps thousands, feeding in the nearby fields during the day, and even more coming to roost in the late afternoon, filling the air with their evocative trumpeting calls. As many as 100,000 Cranes have been estimated at the roost, making this one of Western Europe’s most spectacular assemblages of birds. The lakes and meadows attract a wide variety of other species. Birds of prey are varied and plentiful, the most interesting being White-tailed Eagle. This is their only regular wintering site in France, attracting a minimum of two or three birds every year. Other regularly recorded raptors include Rough-legged Buzzard, Merlin, and both Marsh and Hen Harrier. Waterfowl are plentiful on the lakes and of particular interest will be parties of Goosander, with lesser numbers of Black-necked Grebe bobbing on the open water and flocks of Tundra Bean Geese grazing in waterside fields.

Moving on, we spend the next three nights at the Auberge du Lac in Mesnil-Saint-Père, from here we will make the most of our time spent around the vast woodland area of the Forêt d’Orient; several areas within this forest have been set aside as reserves. Six species of woodpecker are resident and the deciduous trees will have dropped their leaves making it easier to spot members of this popular family of birds. During our time in the forest we will hope to find the impressive Black Woodpecker, plus Middle Spotted Woodpecker, its smaller cousin, and a variety of other bird species including Short-toed Treecreeper, Firecrest, Hawfinch and if we’re lucky, the elusive Goshawk. The lakes also hold an exciting array of waterfowl and in a good year Bewick’s Swans, Red-necked Grebe, Great Northern and Red-throated Diver make the tour list, with White Stork also regular in recent years. A typical day sees us return to our accommodation in the late afternoon, giving time to enjoy the hotel’s excellent spa facilities before dinner.

Whilst here, we will keenly anticipate a visit to Champagne Drappier, a friendly, family-run champagne producer located in the Côte des Bar. Renowned for organic and natural methods of cultivation and production, the Drappier champagnes have rich, coppery-gold hues, expansive aromas and a fine, subtle effervescence. Oozing with charm and good humour, proprietor Michel Drappier takes great care and pride in welcoming visitors to his domain. The visit starts in the magnificent 12th century vaulted cellars, originally built by Cistercian monks. We then continue to the winery where we will see the grape press, huge fermentation vats and the wooden ageing barrels as well as the disgorging and labelling lines. The visit will be rounded off with a tasting of several of the Drappier cuvées. We will take the opportunity to visit exquisite Troyes, with its historic centre of half-timbered houses and beautiful squares. Situated on the River Seine, the city was the capital of the ancient Province of Champagne in the 12th and 13th centuries and great trading fairs took place here. The prosperity of the city has left a very rich heritage, including 10 churches with exceptional stained glass windows, fine Renaissance statuary and some notable museums. A guided tour will provide a fascinating insight.

As we leave France after this memorable taste of two very contrasting bird habitats deep within Champagne country, we may choose to toast the thousands of roosting Cranes as they bid us adieu from the fields of winter stubble.

Outline Itinerary

Day

Eurostar to Paris, train to Troyes; transfer Lac du Der

Day

Lac du Der area

Day

Lac du Der area

Day

Champagne Drappier and transfer to Mesnil-Saint-Père

Day

Mesnil-Saint-Père

Day

Troyes and Mesnil-Saint-Père

Day

Train to Paris, Eurostar to London.

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What's Included?

Food

All meals included except for lunch on the Eurostar. Typical French-style breakfasts with a more substantail picnic lunch and meals at the hotel. Champagne tasting!

Accommodation

Two very comfortable and charming hotels; all rooms have private facilities.

Accommodation

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Dates & Prices

2026

Flight Inclusive

£1,895

Land Only

£1,695

Single Supplement

£335

Regional Departures

Would you rather depart from an airport closer to you? Give us a call at 1-844-433-9473 and we'll see what we can do.

Tour Leader

Jason Mitchell

Jason was born and raised in Devon where, from an early age, he developed a passion for birds and other wildlife, most notably dragonflies and butterflies.

2027

Flight Inclusive

£1,995

Land Only

£1,795

Single Supplement

£350

Regional Departures

Would you rather depart from an airport closer to you? Give us a call at 1-844-433-9473 and we'll see what we can do.

Tour Leader

Jason Mitchell

Jason was born and raised in Devon where, from an early age, he developed a passion for birds and other wildlife, most notably dragonflies and butterflies.

Regional Departures

Would you rather depart from an airport closer to you? Give us a call at 1-844-433-9473 and we'll see what we can do.

Book Now

2028

Flight Inclusive

£1,995

Land Only

£1,795

Single Supplement

£375

Regional Departures

Would you rather depart from an airport closer to you? Give us a call at 1-844-433-9473 and we'll see what we can do.

Book Now

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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Why Naturetrek?

At Naturetrek we craft expertly-guided group and tailor-made wildlife holidays and cruises to all seven continents. On one of our holidays, you can be assured that our passionate team will enable you to experience and enjoy the best of the world's wildlife and natural spectacles in as comfortable and rewarding a manner as possible, caring as best we can for the environment in the process. We are proud to provide:

The widest choice of wildlife holidays worldwide
Tours managed and led by naturalists, for naturalists
Outstanding value and exceptional customer service

Furthermore, as a Naturetrek client, our office team are always to on hand to help you – so if you have any queries about your holiday, whether before or after you have booked, we will be delighted to answer them on the phone. Please just give our team a call!