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Montenegro in Spring
Tour Code: MNE01A 9 day tour exploring this rarely visited country in search of migrating and native birds, as well as other wildlife, including time spent at the scenic Lake Skadar and within the dramatic mountains of Durmitor National Park.
£2,195 (Inc flights)
£1,895
Highlights
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Summary
Montenegro is a fantastic little country, rich in history and with stunning scenery. From beaches, sand dunes and salt pans along its coast to the dramatic interior mountains there is a wide range of habitat for wildlife, providing vital stopover points for many migrating birds. Timed to coincide with the spring migration, this tour will focus primarily on birds, although there will also be plenty of plants, amphibians, reptiles and insects to be found. Montenegro is not (yet!) on the main Mediterranean tourist trail, but with its stunning and diverse scenery, we expect to enjoy an outstanding week of birding in this beautiful, welcoming and compact country!
- Unspoilt forest in dramatic Durmitor National Park
- Dalmatian Pelican, Pygmy Cormorant & Herons on Skadar Lake
- Spring migrants including Bee-eater, Hoopoe, Yellow Wagtail & Woodchat Shrike
- Waders and Gulls in the coastal and wetland habitats
- Woodpecker & Raptors, including Black & Three-toed Woodpecker
- Stunning scenery
Grading
Easy to moderate day walks only
Nestled in the heart of the Balkans, the small country of Montenegro is a ‘hidden jewel’ that lies on the Adriatic coast and boasts some spectacular scenery. In the spring Montenegro plays host to a wide variety of waders and small songbirds such as Subalpine Warbler, Collared Flycatcher and Eastern Bonelli’s Warbler as they return north for the breeding season, joining the country’s native birds, making this an excellent (and relatively unexplored) destination for the keen naturalist.
The holiday will begin with a flight to the Albanian city of Tirana. From here we drive north into Montenegro, to Virpazar, on the north-west shore of Lake Skadar, where we’ll be based for four days. Lake Skadar is home to the most westerly breeding population of Dalmatian Pelicans as well as thousands of Pygmy Cormorants. During our stay in Virpazar, we’ll explore the lake along with the nearby saltpans, sand dunes and wetlands, in search of an exciting variety of sought-after species such as Stone Curlew, Collared Pratincole, Calandra Lark, Levant Sparrowhawk, European Bee-eater, Tawny Pipit, Woodchat Shrike, Savi’s Warbler and Black-necked Grebe, as well as various waders, gulls and terns. We'll also visit Lovcen National Park and Tivat Saltpans, journeying past the magnificent Bay of Kotor.
Next, we will head inland to the forests and jagged (black) mountains of Montenegro’s Durmitor National Park, in search of raptors including Goshawk, Golden Eagle and Short-toed Eagle, plus Grey-headed Woodpecker, Common Crossbill, Firecrest, Crested Tit, Sombre Tit, Crag Martin, Rock Bunting and Blue Rock Thrush. Finally, we conclude our holiday in northern Albania, visiting more coastal wetlands in search of Moustached Warbler and Semi-collared Flycatcher.
Outline Itinerary
What's Included?
- Flights
- Accommodation:
A mix of well situated hotels and guesthouses with en-suite rooms; rooms may be fairly basic in nature.
- Food: All meals are included in the tour cost.
Dates & Prices
2025
Tour Leader: Mark Wood
After spending much of his early childhood exploring the woods and fields around his house in Fife, Scotland, Mark quickly developed a curiosity for the natural world around him. With the closest nature reserve being RSPB Loch Leven it did not take long for a keen interest in birds to follow. Going on to study Conservation Biology at Aberdeen University Mark’s passion for wildlife in its many facets and a desire to protect it would only continue to grow.
Much of his working life has been spent as an Ecologist in Scotland but the desire to travel and find exotic bird species is a constant draw. This has led to many long overseas adventures including Australia and New Zealand, where he was able to work on the Kakapo project and see this endangered parrot. Driving from Scotland to Mongolia and back in 2019, exploring much of central Asia and Russia along the way, a lifelong dream! As well as many other fantastic, nature rich locations across North and South America, Africa, Europe and East Asia.
Mark started leading tours to Shetland for Naturetrek in 2022.
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The majority of our wildlife tours focus primarily on birds, allowing us to offer a huge choice of bird holidays. On most of our birdwatching tours we aim to see a wide variety of species, while taking time to enjoy other wildlife as well as cultural highlights and architecture.
Naturetrek Birdwatching Tours
We have one of the largest selections of professionally organised, small group birdwatching holidays around the world and all of our birdwatching tours are accompanied by at least one professional ornithologist leader with detailed knowledge of the area.
The majority of our bird tours have a relaxed, flexible approach which allows more time for photography, detailed wildlife exploration, leisure time and the region’s people, culture, history and architecture, while allowing the group to see a wide range of bird species.
Here is a small selection of our many bird holidays:
- Southern Morocco – an exploration of the birdlife in Morocco’s southern deserts, oases and mountains
- The Camargue in Spring – a short break to enjoy the spring birds of the Rhône Delta and Camargue wetland
- Wallcreepers & Cranes in Northern Spain – a 2-centre holiday focusing on Lammergeier, Wallcreepers, raptors, Cranes, bustards, sandgrouse and more!
- Madeira & Desertas Islands – A Seabird Extravaganza! – a short break focusing on special breeding seabirds, including a night on the remote Destertas Islands
- Peru – Macaws & Machu Picchu – searches for boobies, macaws and Inca Terns
- Spain & Morocco: Birding on Two Continents! – watch the spectacular spring bird migration from both sides of the Straits of Gibraltar
Our Bargain Birdwatching Selection
Our Bargain Bird Tours are intensive birdwatching holidays suitable for the serious birder. They are led by expert English-speaking local guides (and not accompanied from the UK by a tour leader). You can expect a higher-paced tour and to spend long hours in the field.
Our specialist recommends...
Byron Palacios - Tour Leader
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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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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:
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