- Engage in a vital brown bear conservation project
- Join daily bear-tracking walks with a brown bear expert
- Hunker down in a hide to observe wild brown bears
- Spot other elusive mammals, birds, butterflies, reptiles and rare orchids
- Explore remote landscapes in the Rodopi Mountains
- Sample delicious traditional local cuisine
![Bulgaria: Realm of the Brown Bear](https://res.cloudinary.com/enchanting/q_80,f_auto,c_lfill,x_w_mul_0.47,y_h_mul_0.5,g_xy_center,w_360,h_270/exodus-web/2021/12/44269.jpg)
Bulgaria: Realm of the Brown Bear
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- Bulgaria: Realm of the Brown Bear
Reviews
Add your own reviewBrilliant trip
The trip was absolutely wonderful. Julian Perry is so enthusiastic and so so knowledgeable about the wildlife and flowers of the Rodopi mountains it is impossible not to have a great great holiday. The hotel is comfy and the food is delicious and Mari and her team can’t do enough to make sure you enjoy your stay.
Most Inspirational Moment
All of it! The scenery and the wildlife are out of this world.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Julian Perry is just brilliant, not just knowledgeable about the wildlife and the Rodopi mountains but is so interesting. He was also calm and caring when some of the group had problems with their flights. But best of all is his love & enthusiasm for the wildlife and people of the Rodopi just shines out
Advice for Potential Travellers
Take a warm jacket if travelling in May it was unusually chilly!
Excellent trip
Enjoyed all aspects of holiday, accommodation and hotel staff, excellent and friendly guide, welcoming local people, beautiful countryside, interesting facts on Bear , Wolf and other wildlife presence.
Most Inspirational Moment
whole holiday
Thoughts on Group Leader
excellent
Advice for Potential Travellers
If travelling via Vienna with Austrian Airlines be prepared for rush between terminals. As travelling at weekend if bag in cargo hold misses flight you are not likely to get it back until Monday at earliest, so have walking gear and essentials with you in cabin.
An entrancing holiday, whether you see bears or not!
This was a wonderful walking holiday with the added bonus of following the “theme” of the bears which live in the Rodopi mountain area. The walks were Moderate, but Julian led at a relaxing pace to ensure that we could explore the beauty of the flower meadows, butterflies and other wildlife. The hotel in the village of Yagodina was brilliant, with substantial and varied local cuisine, rooms to a good quality, and freindly staff. Despite four evening vists to the bear hide (we were only a small group) we didn’t actually see any bears, but finding signs of them during the walks, such as footprints, marking treees, etc made us really feal that they were probably “behind you” all the time! Overall, a peaceful, relaxing and rewarding walking holiday.
Most Inspirational Moment
For me, it was the simple fact of being in a remote Bulgarian village, within a wonderful landscape, with great food and exercise.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Julian was a fantastic leader, and his incredible knowledge about bears and other flora & fiuana enthused the whole group. He made sure that the pace of the walks was relaxed to allow for opportunities to appreciate the flora and fauna.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Think about adding a couple of days in Sophia at the end. The group hotel for the last night, the Crystal Palace, is really in an excellent position, but there is no time to explore the capital city if you return on the group flight to Heathrow. We stayed on in the Crystal Palace Hotel, which is in the Embassy area of the city and within easy walking of all the main sights., for another couple of nights and were pleased we did. . Walking poles were useful on some of the steeper descents.
Excellent
Very enjoyable trip, excellent guide and guiding, great exploration of local flora, fauna and foods.
Most Inspirational Moment
The whole experience.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Julian was an absolute font of knowledge on everything relating to the Rodopi mountains, always sharing his knowledge with enthusiasm. His knowledge was far greater than bears also a bit of an Orchid expert. The bears are elusive and don't perform on command. We didn't see any in the first couple of viewings but Julian managed to arrange an extra evening in the hide for us.
Advice for Potential Travellers
The trip is far more than the bears. The mountains are stunningly beautiful, think Swiss alpine mountain and there is an abundance of other flora and fauna.
In the Realm of the Brown Bear
This trip was even more that the brochure suggests. Every day was an experience and adventure, every mountain trail an education and sometimes a challenge. A really great opportunity to experience nature at its best!
Most Inspirational Moment
The stand out moments of the trip were having the opportunity to actually see Brown Bear, Chamois and wild boar in their natural environments and to learn so much about their behaviour and habitats.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Julian is an absolute authority on the Rodopi mountain area of Bulgaria and the ongoing conservation of the wildlife therein. He enthusiasm for this project was contagious and he was more than happy to share his knowledge with the group at all times.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Read the trip notes. This is much more than your average walking holiday!
Brilliant trip
If you enjoy walking in pristine mountains , are interested in bears in particular , wildlife in general and eating local food then this is the trip for you
Most Inspirational Moment
We were so lucky to see a bear from the hide but even if we didn’t the wildflowers and orchids in meadows in late spring were an unexpected delight
Thoughts on Group Leader
Julian was just fantastic . So enthusiastic and excited to share his incredible knowledge of bears in particular and the Rodopi in general. Simply an outstanding group leader.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Bears are very elusive ( even if the signs they leave of their presence generally aren’t) so don’t judge the success of the trip on seeing one . The Rodopi mountains are simply such a very special environment , a visual delight to make you smile .
Brilliant!
We enjoyed our week with Julian down in the Rodolpi Mountains, trekking the hills and meadows, on the lookout for the wildlife of the region. We loved it all. The landscape (sort of alpine-esque) is gentle in places and vigorous in others. Every day the walks took us to new areas and vistas. People have impressions of what Bulgaria is going to look and feel like and this week resets those expectations completely. We summoned up the energy to head to the hide a couple of times and loved it there – a real “in the moment” way to spend three hours. The hotel was welcoming and comfortable with ample delicious local specialties to fuel our efforts. Travelling in September we were surprised by how many flowers were still out, the butterflies and insects, the huge range of funghi, not to mention the very varied bird and mammal life of all sizes. There was the familiar, and the new, at every corner.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Julian was a highlight in his own right! He patiently dealt with our curiosity on everything from the bears to the political situation in Bulgaria and everything in between. With his fluent Bulgarian he took care of everything, my only decision to take was the daily choice of lunch sandwich filler. He managed different abilities in the group and as "informed" amateurs, he kept us brimming with facts and figures. Blagodarya Julian!
Advice for Potential Travellers
The terrain is quite varied, sometimes stable and level forest path, other times quite broken large stone paths, get some rigid shoes and walking sticks! Some of the days we set off up hill quite rapidly, to reach meadowtops, be ready for that but there's always a good gentle patch to catch your breath. Go with an open mind and a love for what's around and you'll not be disappointed.
An extra special wildlife based holiday
From sitting in a hide observing a glittering night time scene , to searching for Chamois from a hillside viewpoint , this trip encapsulates the world of the Brown Bear explained by the expert Julian Perry . He leads the group across an outstandingly scenic mountain terrain and presents the techniques to track and record the presence of Brown Bears in a non-intrusive way .
We were very adequately accommodated in a centre-based family run hotel from where we walked or were driven to local forestry trails and areas used by Bears.
With a tremendous knowledge of the ecology of the region , the leader identified and enabled us to observe and photograph flora and fauna including many wildflowers , birds , reptiles , mammals , amphibians and insects.
Most Inspirational Moment
The trip to the Hide at night , lit by moonlight lighting effects , and seeing what was identified by our Leader as a Wildcat at the end of that first evening . Seeing Brown Bear prints and learning of the age and gender . Seeing other signs of Brown Bear presence , like hair , scratch marks in trees . Seeing signs of other mammals such as wolf , pine martin and hedgehog. Identifying wildflowers and butterflies with the leader and other group members.
Thoughts on Group Leader
A leader who can speak fluently the language of the host country , and with an outstanding experience and knowledge of the wildlife , specifically the Brown Bear based on qualified research , who can present this to and lead a range of walkers and interested wildlife enthusiasts is fantastic . He is very informative and respectful of the history of the region and its people. He is always helpful and made the trip the most special week .
Advice for Potential Travellers
Read and look up information on Mountain animals and wildlife . Go on some wildlife survey work voluntarily with your local group beforehand if you can . It was the first time I had used binoculars but that was not a problem for me because I had some previous experience of wildlife surveys. Enjoy the leaders knowledge . Enjoy the groups knowledge . We were lucky to also have a Badger expert in our group .Enjoy the scenery , natural world and the food and company!
A superb week of walking in beautiful scenery
Our base in a small, traditional village in the mountains was perfect for walks into the surrounding area. The biodiversity of the Rodopi mountains is amazing and our exceptionally knowledgeable leader helped us identify mammal scats and tracks, birds, reptiles, insects and plants, many of which were new to me. The walks were at a gentle pace, allowing plenty of time for photography.
Most Inspirational Moment
I'd chosen the trip hoping to see a bear, but there was so much more to it than that. The number and variety of reptiles and butterflies amazed me. The variety of mammal scats and tracks along the forest paths was remarkable, and Julian was able to identify them for us and tell us about the different species. I loved the evening trips to the bear hide and although we didn't see a bear, we did watch wild boar which I'd never seen before.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Julian has an encyclopaedic knowledge of the local fauna and flora. He was well organised, spoke clearly and, being fluent in Bulgarian, communicated easily with the local people too, ensuring that the trip ran smoothly. During breaks on our walks, he gave short talks covering aspects of bear biology and his research work, as well as the traditional farming practices which have maintained diversity in the meadows and forests.
Advice for Potential Travellers
The walks are at a sensible pace, but the terrain is steep in places, so a reasonable level of fitness will make the trip more enjoyable. At the end of April temperatures varied widely during the day, so be prepared with layers of clothing to add or remove as required.
A Fascinating Adventure!
This was a truly wonderful trip that combines hiking, wildlife and scientific research, in a unique blend of ‘eco-research-tourism’. Exodus – please offer more tours like this!
Most Inspirational Moment
The whole trip was inspirational, though the most inspirational part is learning about the bears and other wildlife that live in these mountains, then slowly starting to understand how it all fits together. In addition, the Rodopi mountains are beautiful, particularly in Autumn - there are some great hikes in this trip, with fabulous views. The hotel and food were also great, with local milk, cheese and honey straight from the village. It was also good to be based in a single hotel for the week, with lots of walks starting and finishing right on our doorstep.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Julian was extremely knowledgeable and passionate about all aspects of biology, particularly bears. He is clearly well-known and connected in the local area, and did a great job of making everything run smoothly. One of the highlights of the trip were daily 'lectures' from Julian, usually during our scenic picnic lunches, about the various aspects of bear ecology.
Advice for Potential Travellers
If you have a reasonable level of fitness and have some hiking experience, you should be fine on this trip. A typical day would comprises leaving the hotel with a packed lunch at 08:30 and returning at around 16:00, hiking slowly in the mountains in-between. We totaled 75 km and 3500 m height gain over our 6 days of walking, with hikes ranging from 8 - 14 km. So, the pace is pretty slow, as we were constantly stopping to look for wildlife / change camera traps etc. Julian will adjust the pace and route depending on the groups fitness level and interests anyway. That said, the terrain is fairly steep and rocky, though the trails are good. So, if you have new gear or are relatively inexperienced at hiking, it would be a good idea to put in a bit of practice beforehand so that you get the most out of your trip.
Start
Finish
Availability
Land Only Trip Price
Optional Single Supplement
Saturday Saturday
10 May 2025 10 May 2025
Saturday Saturday
17 May 2025 17 May 2025
Availability
Guaranteed (Available)
Land Only Trip Price 1 980 € Book with 495 € deposit
Optional Single Supplement +312 €
Availability
This departure is available for new bookings and has reached the minimum number of passengers required to go ahead. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
View Trip NotesSaturday Saturday
31 May 2025 31 May 2025
Saturday Saturday
07 Jun 2025 07 Jun 2025
Availability
Available
Land Only Trip Price 1 980 € Book with 495 € deposit
Optional Single Supplement +312 €
Availability
This departure is available for new bookings, and will be guaranteed to go ahead once it reaches minimum numbers. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
View Trip NotesSaturday Saturday
14 Jun 2025 14 Jun 2025
Saturday Saturday
21 Jun 2025 21 Jun 2025
Availability
Available
Land Only Trip Price 1 980 € Book with 495 € deposit
Optional Single Supplement +312 €
Availability
This departure is available for new bookings, and will be guaranteed to go ahead once it reaches minimum numbers. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
View Trip NotesSaturday Saturday
05 Jul 2025 05 Jul 2025
Saturday Saturday
12 Jul 2025 12 Jul 2025
Availability
Available
Land Only Trip Price 2 400 € Book with 600 € deposit
Optional Single Supplement +312 €
Availability
This departure is available for new bookings, and will be guaranteed to go ahead once it reaches minimum numbers. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
View Trip NotesSaturday Saturday
13 Sep 2025 13 Sep 2025
Saturday Saturday
20 Sep 2025 20 Sep 2025
Availability
Guaranteed (Available)
Land Only Trip Price 1 980 € Book with 495 € deposit
Optional Single Supplement +312 €
Availability
This departure is available for new bookings and has reached the minimum number of passengers required to go ahead. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
View Trip NotesSaturday Saturday
04 Oct 2025 04 Oct 2025
Saturday Saturday
11 Oct 2025 11 Oct 2025
Availability
Available
Land Only Trip Price 1 980 € Book with 495 € deposit
Optional Single Supplement +312 €
Availability
This departure is available for new bookings, and will be guaranteed to go ahead once it reaches minimum numbers. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
View Trip NotesSaturday Saturday
25 Apr 2026 25 Apr 2026
Saturday Saturday
02 May 2026 02 May 2026
Availability
Available
Land Only Trip Price 2 160 € Book with 540 € deposit
Optional Single Supplement +342 €
Availability
This departure is available for new bookings, and will be guaranteed to go ahead once it reaches minimum numbers. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
View Trip NotesSaturday Saturday
09 May 2026 09 May 2026
Saturday Saturday
16 May 2026 16 May 2026
Availability
Available
Land Only Trip Price 2 160 € Book with 540 € deposit
Optional Single Supplement +342 €
Availability
This departure is available for new bookings, and will be guaranteed to go ahead once it reaches minimum numbers. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
View Trip NotesSaturday Saturday
30 May 2026 30 May 2026
Saturday Saturday
06 Jun 2026 06 Jun 2026
Availability
Available
Land Only Trip Price 2 160 € Book with 540 € deposit
Optional Single Supplement +342 €
Availability
This departure is available for new bookings, and will be guaranteed to go ahead once it reaches minimum numbers. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
View Trip NotesSaturday Saturday
13 Jun 2026 13 Jun 2026
Saturday Saturday
20 Jun 2026 20 Jun 2026
Availability
Available
Land Only Trip Price 2 160 € Book with 540 € deposit
Optional Single Supplement +342 €
Availability
This departure is available for new bookings, and will be guaranteed to go ahead once it reaches minimum numbers. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
View Trip NotesSaturday Saturday
12 Sep 2026 12 Sep 2026
Saturday Saturday
19 Sep 2026 19 Sep 2026
Availability
Available
Land Only Trip Price 2 160 € Book with 540 € deposit
Optional Single Supplement +342 €
Availability
This departure is available for new bookings, and will be guaranteed to go ahead once it reaches minimum numbers. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
View Trip NotesSaturday Saturday
19 Sep 2026 19 Sep 2026
Saturday Saturday
26 Sep 2026 26 Sep 2026
Availability
Available
Land Only Trip Price 2 160 € Book with 540 € deposit
Optional Single Supplement +342 €
Availability
This departure is available for new bookings, and will be guaranteed to go ahead once it reaches minimum numbers. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
View Trip NotesSaturday Saturday
03 Oct 2026 03 Oct 2026
Saturday Saturday
10 Oct 2026 10 Oct 2026
Availability
Available
Land Only Trip Price 2 160 € Book with 540 € deposit
Optional Single Supplement +342 €
Availability
This departure is available for new bookings, and will be guaranteed to go ahead once it reaches minimum numbers. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
View Trip NotesWould you like to include flights with your booking?
- ATOL protected
- Competitive flight prices
- Full refunds in the event of FCDO cancellations or major disruption at your UK departure airport
- Specialist support to rearrange flights and transfers
- Regional flights available from many UK airports
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