overall very good. Itinerary was good and varied – couple of places I would certainly not return to but a couple that were spectacular and I would happily go back to.
Wildlife Tours in Europe
Our Europe Wildlife Tours
Top 5 Destinations for Wildlife Tours in Europe
Central Apennines: Towering above the Italian landscape from the Tuscana border, the Central Apennines boast a rich ecosystem and diverse species of wildlife. The region comprises ancient beech forests, alpine grassland and hillsides where you’ll find the likes of wild boar, red and roe deer, and wolves. But more importantly, the mighty Marsican brown bear, an endemic subspecies, roams the mountain forests. A tour of the bear corridors is an eye-opening experience and it’s evident how hard the Bear Smart Communities work to repair and maintain these areas which are vital to the protection of the brown bears.
Carpathian Mountains: These wild and rugged mountains loom over Transylvania in central Romania. The history, geography and nature combine to make the Carpathian Mountains one of the most incredible regions for wildlife tours in Europe. Here you’ll find the highest concentration of lynx, bears and wolves recorded in Europe and a walking tour takes you through forests that are largely undiscovered to get up close to the wildlife. Witness beautiful meadows that open up along alpine trails and visit a mountain hide where you can sit and observe brown bears in their natural environment.
Oulanka National Park: Close to the Russian border, Oulanka National Park is one of Finland’s most magical natural treasures. The park is known for its steep gorges, rare species of plants, and rapids that are crossed by suspension bridges. Our guided wildlife tour of Oulanka teaches you basic wilderness skills and introduces you to some of the fabulous bird species such as white throated dippers and the white-tailed eagle. But the highlight of the trip is an evening trek to a bear hide where you’ll hunker down to spend several hours observing brown bears in the wild. In the summer months the bears are fed with carrion around the hide so there is usually a lot of activity, which you can watch through the large windows of the hide.
Rhodope Mountains: Spanning southern Bulgaria and northern Greece, this mountain massif is a hauntingly beautiful region with incredible biodiversity. Living among the peaks and cliffs is a plethora of flora and fauna, from various species of orchid and butterflies to the Balkan lynx and chamois. The birdlife here is prolific with the likes of peregrine falcons, golden eagles, woodpeckers and buzzards often being spotted in the area. Below the Rhodope Mountains lies the Buynovsko Gorge, which brown bears frequent at feeding time. Because the mountains are a significant breeding area for griffon vultures, it’s likely you’ll see these distinctive birds standing on the clifftops.
Riisitunturi National Park: In the winter months Riisitunturi National Park is drenched in snow and the trees transform into wonderful ice sculptures, but once the snow has thawed, the landscape comes alive with wildlife and brown bears awaken from their long sleep. Since the dawn of time the Sami people coexisted here with the animals, and they lived harmony among the ancient wilderness. The national park was created to protect both the wildlife and its heritage, and it now remains home to brown bears and lynxes and many other incredible creatures.
Gillian Spells Discover Costa Rica
Sonja Barnard Discover Sri LankaThis trip felt like a genuine deep dive into Sri Lanka rather than just a highlights tour. The itinerary covers a huge amount of ground, but it never feels rushed or overwhelming. One day you’re exploring ancient ruins and temples or climbing a rock fortress; the next you’re in lush green hills or spotting wildlife on safari, before unwinding by the sea.
What really stood out throughout the trip was how friendly and welcoming the Sri Lankan people were. Everywhere we went, we were met with smiles and kindness, which made the whole experience feel even more special and memorable.
Catrin Conley Primates & Dragons of IndonesiaDid this trip in 2024 surprised they have removed all previous reviews. Main point that we felt the guidance lacked was the boat trip can only accommodate 12 people in 6 cabins. Anything over this has to sleep on deck and the bathrooms are only available through other people’s 6 cabins which as you can imagine isn’t comforting if you need the toilet at 2am. As the youngest people in the group we felt pressured to sleep on deck which wasn’t an issue initially but as we found out that the boat needed to move through the night it wasn’t possible to sleep. We felt really short changed by exodus and the description of this segment of the trip. Especially after 2 nights of no sleep!
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