13th to 20th April 2025 (6 places) / 15th to 22nd June 2025 (6 places)

Eight day / seven night tour, focusing on the amazing birdlife found in the Eastern Rhodope Mountains and the forests in the Eastern Balkan range within Bulgaria. You’ll be escorted by myself and our local wildlife photographer / driver. Highlights include Egyptian Vulture, Griffon Vulture, Cinereous (Eurasian Black) Vulture, White-Tailed Eagle, Black Kite plus other birds of prey along with Golden Oriole, Green Woodpecker, Syrian Woodpecker, Grey Headed Woodpecker, Red Backed Shrike, Woodlark, and many more passerines.

Day 1 The tour starts mid afternoon from Sofia airport (or picked up from your Sofia accommodation). From there we’ll drive southeast to the Eastern Rhodope Mountains close to the Greek border checking in at a lodge within a local game reserve for the next four nights.

Days 2 – 4 We’ll be photographing different raptors such as Egyptian Vulture, Griffon Vulture, Cinereous Black Vulture, White Tailed Eagle, Black Kite and other birds of prey from a permanent hide that can accommodate up to six photographers. Wolf, Wild Cat, Red Fox or Golden Jackal may also turn up at the hide to feast on any available food. There could also be an opportunity to explore the region photographing the wild Red Deer and European Bison.

Day 5 A morning drive northeast takes us to the Eastern Balkan range with four wooden bird hides, established in forested and farmland habitats. The hides are within walking distance from one another and each can accommodate two or three photographers. If time and weather allows, we can stop en route to photograph some equally interesting birds & wildlife like the European Bee-eater, Black-headed Bunting, Isabelline Wheatear, European Souslik, etc, using mobile (tented) hides. Our accommodation for the next three nights will be in a traditional guest house in a small village just 15 minutes drive from the hides.

Days 6 – 7 Spring is the best time to photograph the Eurasian Golden Oriole and European Turtle Dove photography and in these two days there will also be excellent opportunities to photograph a good selection of other birds including Green Woodpecker, Syrian Woodpecker, Middle Spotted Woodpecker, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Woodlark, Red-Backed Shrike, Corn Bunting, etc.

Day 8 If time allows we can make a short early morning photo-session then drive to Sofia airport (four hours) for your departure home.

I can assist with lens choice, camera settings, explain how to use various filters on specific lenses, improve field craft skills, how to setup your camera for wildlife moving in low light / freezing in-flight action & focus stacking / bracketing to achieve greater depth-of-field when using wide apertures etc.

This tour is aimed at photographers at all levels with a good range of equipment including a mirrored or mirrorless camera and long telephoto lenses (300mm – 500mm plus extenders), a sturdy tripod, laptop to download your images, memory card, spare batteries, etc.

There won’t be any ‘tripod holes’ in the region and the wildlife won’t be reliant on us for its year round food intake. As this is wildlife, there is no guarantee that it’ll turn up, though it usually always does.

The hotel accommodation is in double / twin rooms with en suite. Single supplement available. Breakfasts, lunches and evening meals are included. Please ensure that any special dietary needs or allergies are indicated at the time of booking.

• What is included in the tour:
• Eight day / seven nights accommodation in en-suite double / twin rooms in middle standard hotels or lodges
• Breakfasts, lunches & evening meals plus non-alcoholic drinks
• Minimum of four and a maximum six photographers for the tour to take place
• Guiding from both myself and our driver / local wildlife photographer plus use of all hides
• Ample opportunities to photograph all the wildlife seen on the tour
• All ground transportation whilst on the tour in a comfortable vehicle with enough space for all your photographic equipment
• Advice on using the correct camera settings including making your aperture, shutter speed and ISO work much harder for you in ways that will challenge your photographic thoughts
• Fitness level on the tour is relatively easy
• A good time! Leave life’s stresses behind to enjoy watching and photographing the amazing birds in and around the Greek border and the Black Sea region of Bulgaria with like-minded photographers.

• What’s not included in the tour:
• Return travel including flights to and from Bulgaria
• Alcoholic beverages
• Photographic equipment
• Travel insurance

I’ve been asked a few questions about the trip.
Do all the hides have glass windows, camouflage scrim netting windows or open windows? The hides have different sized apertures, 50/65 x 30/40 cm and are covered with special sleeve-type curtains for your lens to pass through. There are one-way glass portals around the apertures to allow you to view the event in front of the hide though these are not for photography. There is only one hide (with a reflection or drinking pool in front), which has special ‘Stopsol’ glass window for photography. Stopsol is a reflective pyrolytic coated glass that stands out for its performance durability coupled with good solar control and unique reflective aesthetics.

Regarding toilet breaks, are the hides locked or can people leave for a toilet break? The hide that we can photograph the vultures from does have a proper toilet inside and photographers shouldn’t leave that hide until late afternoon/early evening to prevent disturbing the birds. The hides in the forest and for the garden birds can be left for brief moments for toilet purposes.

Could you elaborate on the landscape where the birds approach the site as the photos look as though the photos were taken very low to the ground. Was that the case or is the ground hilly? The terrain is generally undulating or hilly, i.e. there is a small ridge in front of the hide in order to give the photos a good background.

Roughly speaking, how long (time wise) are photographers in each hide? When photographing the vultures, it’s all day. The duration in the smaller hides are approximately 3-4 hours in the morning and 3-4 hours in the afternoon. If it’s cloudy, the option to remain in the hide for a longer period is a distinct possibility.

How many photographic sessions are there per day? This will vary depending on the location but is generally two or three sessions unless we are travelling between sites.

Some hides take only six photographers. Since there will be a maximum of eight photographers including the two guides, will there be enough room to accommodate all? The vulture hide can accommodate everyone as it is a rather large hide so your two guides will be around to offer assistance as required. The forested hides accommodate two or three photographers each so space is not a problem.

How much will it cost you?

• The cost of this exciting tour to photograph wild birds in Bulgaria is from £1545 to £1825 per person
• The single person supplement is just £150
• The non-refundable deposit is just £250
• The final balance is due just four weeks before the tour is due to commence
• Invite photographers from your camera club and make great savings with a group booking!

The above birds are typically seen on the tour and are:

1. Black Kite
2. Cinereous and Griffon Vultures
3. Eurasian Wryneck
4. Hawfinch 
5. Black Kite
6. Egyptian Vulture
7. Lesser Spotted Woodpecker
8. Golden Oriole (and header)
9. Cinerous Vulture
10. Turtle Dove
11. Egyptian Vulture
12. Middle Spotted Woodpecker

I have purposely uploaded the photos at a very low resolution to prevent image theft.

Further information: Please Contact Me, +44 (0) 7540 163136 or jmalls@me.com to discuss content, what to bring, availability or to book this tour.

© Jeremy Malley-Smith LRPS EFIAP DPAGB BPE3*  |  jmalls@me.com  |  +44 (0) 7540 163136