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Slovakia

An exploration in the heart of Europe.

Deep in central Europe lies a country waiting to be discovered. A land of contrasts, from the high Tatras Mountains, through gentle valleys and extensive forests, to one of Europe’s richest wetlands.

This is Slovakia, rarely discovered but with much to offer travellers and naturalists. A country to see your first imperial eagle, hear the rasping call of corncrakes close to; walk in the footsteps of brown bears and wolves; amazingly some of our first group did see a bear, though the odds are against a repeat showing.

Our two-centre holiday, based at hotels near Kosice and in the Low Tatras, explores the eastern part of Slovakia, closer to Poland, Hungary and the Ukraine than the Czech Republic. It takes in a good range of Slovakian wildlife habitats, but also cultural diversions in this distinctly untouristy country.

All this is possible through our host and guide, Pavol Kanuch. Pavol is director of BirdLife Slovakia but also delights in sharing his home country with visitors through his part-time agency ’Discover Slovakia’. No-one knows Slovakia and its wildlife better than Pavol, complemented by his network of local guides. And he knows all the best restaurants for evening meals.

For thrill-a-minute birdwatching, Senné Fishponds are tough to match anywhere in Europe. It’s like the birds of the Danube Delta, minus the pelicans, shoe-horned into a Minsmere size reserve. Black-necked grebes, little bitterns, spoonbills, squacco and purple herons, great white egrets, avocets, storks, Savi’s warblers, penduline tits; the list could go on. There’s a network of tracks and a tower observation post, so good views are easy.

By contrast, the Tatras Mountains, the higher slopes reached by ski lift, have snowbells Soldanella carpatica, alpine marmots, golden eagle and alpine accentor. In between, there are corncrakes, wildflowers and butterflies in the meadows of Slanske Hills.

Slovakia is known to the keenest birdwatchers for rare owls and woodpeckers. These, Syrian woodpecker excepted, are not our aim; rather this holiday is timed for the best all round wildlife experience, in typical Honeyguide style. But we do take in sites for scarlet rosefinch (really scarlet here), imperial eagle and bee-eaters.

You’ll return with many wildlife highlights to remember. More than this, you will have discovered the secret diamond of Slovakia.

Imperial eagle

Imperial eagle

Slovakia map
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