Birding holidays
Europe/Slovenia
Slovenia in Spring – Julian Alps and the Karst
Julian Alps, Postojna Cave, Secovlje Saltpans, 6 days
Slovenia offers breathtaking scenery, exciting Alpine and Mediterranean fauna and flora as well as world famous caves and a short but beautiful Adriatic Coast.
Our tour to this wonderful, petite country takes us to the Julian Alps for alpine species such as Golden Eagle, Black Grouse, Hazel Grouse, Pygmy Owl, White-backed and Three-toed Woodpecker, Alpine Accentor, Wallcreeper, Nutcracker, Alpine Chough, Common Crossbill and Snowfinch. Chamois and Alpine Marmots inhabit the bare mountainsides and Alpine Ibex is also possible to see.
The Karst region around Postojna is famous for its World Heritage caves, and seasonal Lake Cerknica is home to Ferruginous Duck, Corn Crake, River Warbler and migrating water birds. Picturesque Mount Nanos is a wonderful place for birds and butterflies, providing home for Rock Thrush and Rock Bunting among others.
An exciting diversity of shorebirds is offered by the Secovlje Saltpans on the Slovenian Coast, including Kentish Plover, Black-winged Stilt, Mediterranean Gull, Cetti’s Warbler and Zitting Cisticola.
We can organize birdwatching, butterfly and botany tours of 4 days or more and we can tailor the tour to meet any special needs and list of species you may request, and the tour also might include the less explored Savinja Alps and other regions of Slovenia. There is also an option of extending the tour to Croatia and including the Adriatic Islands and the delightful Croatian national parks.
Facts
- 8 days in Slovenia visiting world heritage caves, mountains and the Adriatic Sea
- commence and finish in Ljubljana
- use of 2 accommodations
Highlights
- 3 full days in the Julian Alps
- 2 days in the region of Postojna taking in famous caves and Mt. Nanos
- 1 day at the seaside at Secovlje Saltpans
- birding in Alpine and Mediterranean habitats
- discovering Postojna and Skocjan Caves
- wonderful scenery, rare birds, reptiles, butterflies and dragonflies
Hotels
4 nights in Bohinj near the lake
3 nights in Rakov Skocjan, deep inside the forest
Departure Dates
Price
Optional programmes
Optional extension to Croatia
Itinerary
From Ljubljana Airport we drive north into the Julian Alps. Should time permit, we may take a walk near our hotel at Lake Bohinj to look for Dipper and Grey Wagtail.
We visit Lake Bled and explore the Julian Alps to search for rare alpine mammals, reptiles, butterflies and birds including Ring Ouzel, Common Crossbill, Nutcracker, Crested Tit, Grey-headed and Black Woodpecker. We can also travel by cable car to Mt. Vogel, the highest peak in Slovenia. Our next destination is the Soca Valley and the mountains around Bovec, where we search for alpine species such as Ptarmigan, Rock Trush, Wallcreeper, Alpine Accentor, Water Pipit, Alpine and Chough and Snowfinch.
We head for Lake Cerknica, a seasonal lake, and explore Postojna Cave and Skocjan Cave. On the high plateau of scenic Mount Nanos we search for Golden Eagle, Rock Thrush and Rock Bunting.
We take a day trip to the Mediterranean coast to explore Secovlje saltpans, an area excellent for waders, gulls, terns as well as Cetti’s Warbler and Zitting Cisticola.
We drive back to Ljubljana to catch our return flight home.
