Itinerary:

Alpine Flower Tour

(Tour Code: WF)

Leader: Michael Keith-Lucas.

During the Ice Age, the Balkans were relatively far from the extensive ice shields which covered most of Europe. However there was a small ice shield on the top of the highest Balkan mountains. This formed the alpine landscape and flora that we see today. A great number of northern plants migrated further south, and others became isolated by the ice, evolved and gave rise to new species, which are usually seen nowadays in very restricted areas. This tour is designed to give an idea of the mountain flowers in Bulgaria and the Balkans. We shall explore parts of the Vitosha, Rila and Pirin Mountains, and we hope to see plants such as Aquilegia aurea, Crocus veluchensis, Dactylorhiza cordigera, Gentiana lutea, G. pyrenaica, Geum coccineum, Linum capitatum, Limodorum abortivum and Primula deorum.

Michael is an honorary fellow in Biological Sciences at the University of Reading, recently retired from the post of Senior Tutor in Plant Sciences. He is a plant ecologist with an interest in vegetation history and has worked professionally carrying out pollen analysis on archaeological sites. He has travelled widely in mountainous areas of Europe, often leading student fieldcourses, and has also worked on tropical rainforest ecology.

Michael will be assisted by Boris Assyov, who studied botany at Sofia University and graduated in 2001 with a thesis on the taxonomy of yarrows. Since then he has worked at the Institute of Botany at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences as a botanist and mycologist, and is assistant professor at the Department of Botany in the Faculty of Biology in Sofia. In 2007, he was employed as a botanist in the Countryside Survey by the Centre of Ecology and Hydrology in Lancaster.

There is no rock climbing involved, but you should be fit enough for moderate to steep walking in mountainous country and bring suitable footwear, which you have already broken in. As weather in the mountains can be unpredictable, it is wise always to take a waterproof. Hotels all provide good food and wine, and are comfortable, but not luxurious. In out of the way places, we have chosen the best available. The holiday is on a half board basis. For your financial protection our tour operators, Balkania Travel Ltd. are ATOL bonded.

Bulgaria's beautiful scenery, friendly people and excellent wine and food are additional highlights. The BBFS offers you the benefits of over twenty-five years' experience of organising tours to Bulgaria, well-known leaders and excellent value.

A donation on behalf of each participant will be made towards the maintenance of the seed bank in Dobrinishte, Bulgaria.

There aren't many guides to Bulgarian flora available in English. Flora Europaea is of some use, but bear in mind that many good endemic plants are neglected by this series. Polunin's “Flowers of Greece and the Balkans” (Oxford, 1980) is probably the most useful book in English.

Projected Itinerary

(which may be subject to minor adjustments)

Saturday 20 June

Travel by direct scheduled flight from Gatwick to Sofia.  Sightseeing walk in the centre of Sofia. Two night stay.

Sunday 21 June

Visit to Bistrishko Branishte Biosphere Reserve, where we expect to see a number of Balkan plants, such as Aquilegia aurea, Lilium jankae, Campanula velebitica, Pinguicula balcanica, Geum coccineum, Campanula patula ssp. epigeia, as well as other interesting species, such as Anemone narcissiflora, Pedicularis hoemanniana, Gentiana lutea, G. punctata, Viola dacica, Centaurea nervosa, Campanula alpina, Trollius europaeus. Some orchids are also expected – Dactylorhiza cordigera, Pseudorchis albida, Gymnadenia fryvaldskyi, Traunsteinera globosa. The beautiful Crocus veluchensis may still be seen here, although it usually flowers earlier.

Monday 22 June

Drive about 50 miles to Malyovitsa valley in the Rila Mountains for a two night stay. In the afternoon we shall explore some meadows where we expect to see Dactylorhiza saccifera, D. pindica, Dianthus turcicus, Telekia speciosa, Cirsium appendiculatum. Depending on the season two optional en-route stops are available, where we may expect to find some spectacular orchids – Limodorum abortivum, Cephalanthera rubra and Orchis elegans.

Tuesday 23 June

Today we shall have a moderate to steep walk. The most impressive plant that we expect to see is Primula deorum, a beautiful primrose, growing only in the Rila Mountains. Pinus peuce is a very impressive Balkan pine species, one of the few with 5 needles in Europe. Other spectacular plants are Gentiana pyrenaica, Bartsia alpina, Silene roemeri, Genista depressa.

Wednesday 24 June

Today we travel towards Bansko in the Pirin Mountains (about 70 miles). On the way we shall stop in the lower part of the Rila Mountains above Yakorouda village, where we expect to see impressive plants such as Achillea pseudopectinata, Onosma heterophylla, Silene frivaldskyana, Dianthus pinifolius, Scabiosa argentea.

First of five overnights in a hotel in Bansko area.

Thursday 25 June

Today there will be moderate to steep walking to Yavorov chalet in the Pirin Mountains. We shall be able to enjoy the rich and colourful vegetation on marble, and see some impressive endemic plants, such as Centaurea mannagethae, Campanula jordanovii, Carum graecum, Arabis ferdinandi-coburgi, Genista subcapitata, Saxifraga stribrnyi, Verbascum davidoffii, Chondrilla urumoffii, Sedum kostovii, Linum capitatum. Some other interesting species might be seen here, such as Dianthus petraeus, Geranium reflexum, Moneses uniflora, Saxifraga luteoviride, Kernera saxatilis. Of the orchids, Cephalanthera rubra is a very spectacular plant, also found here. Unknown to most of us is Pinus heldreichii, which grows only in this part of the Balkans and in one very small area in Italy.

Friday 26 June

Today we shall visit the heart of the Pirin Mountains, where the greatest diversity of species unique to Pirin is to be found – the marble peak of Vihren, the third highest in the Balkans (2914m). We should be prepared for some steep walking (for about 8 hours). The area is famous for its wealth of endemic plants.

We should see Aubrieta gracilis, Arabis ferdinandi-coburgi, Potentilla appenina ssp. stojanovii, Viola grisebachiana, Viola crinita, Carex pirinensis, Oxytropis urumovii, Papaver degenii, Dianthus microlepis, Veronica kellereri, Festuca pirinica, Saxifraga ferdinandi-coburgi, Myosotis olympica, Thymus perinicus, Rhinanthus javorkae. Most of these can be seen here and nowhere else in the world. Other rare and interesting plants are Oxytropis campestris, Dryas octopetala, Leontopodium alpinum, Daphne cneorum, Daphne oleoides, Rhodax alpestris, Primula halleri.

Saturday 27 June

We shall travel west (about 25 miles) back to Yakorouda in the Rila Mountains, where we visit the high mountain area, where we hope to see Armeria rumelica, Rhodiola rosea, Senecio carpathicus, Cryptogramma crispa, Veronica bellidioides, Pseudorchis frivaldii.

One of the most interesting plants that we hope to find here is Geum bulgaricum, a spectacular flower, which for a long time was thought to be a local endemic, but it was recently found in a single spot far from here in Albania. Another beautiful endemic is Hesperis dinarica and this is our second chance to find Primula deorum.

Sunday 28 June

We drive west (about 60 miles) to another interesting spot in the Rila Mountains – the area near Rila monastery.

Here we should see some interesting endemic plants, such as Viola orbelica, Verbascum jankaeanum, Silene velenovskyana, S. heuffelli, S. lerchenfeldiana, Dianthus turcicus, D. gracilis, Centaurea kotschiana, Anchusa davidovii. Other interesting plants in this area are Achillea distans, A. coarctata, Lychnis coronaria, Ostrya carpinifolia, Moneses uniflora, Epipactis purpurata. In the afternoon we travel back to Bansko, where we stay for one more night.

Monday 29 June

Drive further west to the town of Kyustendil, where we shall stay for one night in a hotel near Osogovo Mountain. In the afternoon we take a short walk to explore the meadows around the hotel.

Tuesday 30 June

Today we will spend part of the day walking to the top of the mountain (moderate), expecting to see a good number of endemic plants, such as Viola gracilis, Silene asterias, Sibbaldia parviflora, Achillea chrysocoma, Campanula trojanensis, Silene velenovskyana, Dianthus microlepis.

Other interesting species in the area are Senecio subalpinus, Antennaria dioica, Geum montanum, Bruckenthalia spiculifolia, the last one forming the heathland in this country, replacing the heather from Western Europe. 

Mid-afternoon return drive to Sofia. Farewell dinner.

Wednesday 1 July Early morning return flight to UK.

OUR PRICES INCLUDE:

·      Return scheduled flights from Gatwick to Sofia. *(Connecting flights from other airports and/or overnight accommodation near airports can also be arranged for you at a supplement).

·      Airport  taxes.

·      Half Board.

·      Hotels with en suite facilities on a twin bedded shared occupancy basis.

·      Coach for transfers and excursions.

·      Specialist British and Bulgarian leaders.

NOT INCLUDED:

·      Lunches (about £4 or less).

·      Travel Insurance (Compulsory). This is available from Balkania Travel.

·      Drinks and personal expenses such as gratuities.

·      Single room supplement (£95).

Note: Participants are not allowed to collect plants or seeds on this tour.