The Pontic Alps

Above the still waters of the atmospheric Black Sea rise beautiful snowy mountains, their flower-studded meadows ablaze with a fabulous range of spring bulbs and orchids. Culturally this is a most fascinating region. The local populace is at once friendly and also intensely proud of their many and varied traditions. Local architecture reflects the various peoples that have passed this way, so Greek, Seljuk and Georgian influence can still be noted in the churches and mosques set amidst mountain valleys cloaked in beautiful Oriental Beech and Spruce forests.

Tea plantations and hazel groves are local agricultural mainstays and the latter provide a rich orchid habitat, notably for the mysterious Hooded Orchid and several rare bee orchids. Meadows host stately Caucasian Orchids and the rare Steven’s Orchid, amid blue and white Aquilegias and acres of black-centred cerise Geranium psilostemon. Scarlet Rosefinches and Green Warblers sing alongside rushing brooks lined with the imperial-purple oxlip Primula elatior subspecies meyeri. Common Cranes dance in wide upland valleys where the sky seems mirrored by swathes of bright pale blue Bellevalia forniculata, alongside yellow Ranunculus grandiflorus and pink primulas and marsh orchids. The huge primrose-coloured orbs of rare Paeonia wittmanniana, intense blue Omphalodes cappadocica and mats of fabled Epigaea gaultheroides flower in gorgeous Euxine forests whilst steppe hosts purple Iris furcata and the vari-coloured blooms of lovely Iris taochia. Some of the finest displays of alpine flowers anywhere in the world await us on high mountain passes readily reachable by road. Swathes of the stunning mahogany-purple bells of Fritillaria latifolia, furry deep blue Pulsatilla albana and clouds of powder blue Scilla rosenii are just some of the treasures that await us. Brilliant scarlet Phelypaeas are hardly eclipsed by Paeonia mascula showering a hillside en masse with their bright red-pink goblets, and other highlights include Pelargonium endlicherianum and fabulous Iris iberica.

This tour features superb birding with Caucasian Blackcock, Lammergeier, Imperial and Lesser Spotted Eagles, Dalmatian and White Pelicans, and Saker all on the agenda and we’ll make every effort to see Brown Bear – during the 2014 tour we saw no less than 15 Brown Bears. Sometimes Wolves are seen on this tour too!