Croatia
Japan
Croatia & The Dolomites
The exquisite Plitvička Lakes National Park would probably be right at the top of any list of the most beautiful in Europe. Limestone mountains are dissected by deep canyons filled with turquoise lakes and pools, all cloaked in forests. Waterfalls cascade down cliffs draped in greenery. Fortunately National Park staff in Croatia have overseen a very careful development of Plitvička over the past decades. Slatted paths have been built that allow us to walk through the most beautiful canyons, alongside waterfalls, around and even across lakes. And everywhere shining green forest frames the turquoise and blue.
Extensive stands of Beech, Fir and Spruce cloak the slopes rising from the glittering canyons. These are home to Wild Boar and Red Squirrels, Fire Salamanders and Balkan Green Lizards, Black Woodpecker and Goshawk. Siberian Iris and Grass-leaved Iris flower by the waterside and back under the trees are Lily-of-the-Valley and Herb Paris. White-letter Hairstreaks and various Fritillaries visit bramble as we admire Helleborines, Orchids and no less than three lily species, Lilium bosniacum, Lilium carniolicum and deep wine-red Lilium (martagon) cattaniae. Hawfinch and Collared Flycatcher are quite common in this verdant landscape.
We’ll then head to the coastal ranges of the Dinaric Alps, protected in the Northern Velebit National Park. The Velebit is famed for its endemic plants, and especially for its beautiful Silver Fir forests. In places such as the remarkable Velika Plana there are significant stands of undisturbed old-growth forest and a walk through these is a delight, the huge trunks draped in lichens and mosses, the ferny understory rich in fungi. There is a very rich mammal fauna and though this is not a dedicated mammal tour we’ve still a very good chance of seeing Brown Bear. Wild Cat and Pine Marten are sometimes seen. White-backed Woodpecker is tolerably common in the old growth and both Capercaillie and Hazel Grouse are likely, Wrynecks and Crested Tits are common.
Amongst the subalpine meadows Balkan Copper, Apollo and Assmann’s Fritillary float above rocky slopes adorned with Pedicularis brachyodonta, Aquilegia kitaibelii and delicate Primula kitaibeliana. The Croatian subspecies of Sibiraea laevigata is a tertiary relict here, this species is also found in Central Asia and China, quite a disjunct distribution! Rocks are festooned with Campanula fenestrellata and superlative clumps of Edraianthus graminifolius. The Velebit is remarkable for another reason. On one side of the range you drop rapidly to the Adriatic. So just an hour from temperate forests and alpine slopes we can be sunning ourselves by the sea with Hoopoes, Red-backed Shrikes and Eastern Subalpine Warblers, and a strikingly different flora!
For the second part of our Alpine journey we head to the Dolomites, reckoned by many to be unsurpassed in Europe for their wealth of wild flowers. The great pinnacles and buttresses which rise high above idyllic hay meadows and forests are truly spectacular.
At sunset, the many-hued cliffs of crystalline magnesian limestone from which the region takes its name are a photographer’s dream, and during the day a naturalist’s heaven! Our comfortable family run hotel, just a forty minute drive from wealthy Cortina, has been chosen for its proximity to some glorious flowers and butterflies as well as classic alpine wildlife such as Nutcracker, Golden Eagle, Chamois and the entrancing Alpine Marmot. The flowers really are amazingly beautiful and diverse. Black Vanilla Orchid, Globe Orchid, Bearded Bellflower and Dwarf Alpenrose adorn fragrant meadows, while no less than a dozen species of Gentian decorate splendid alpine turf.
At sunset, the many-hued cliffs of crystalline magnesian limestone from which the region takes its name are a photographer’s dream, and during the day a naturalist’s heaven! Our comfortable family run hotel, just a forty minute drive from wealthy Cortina, has been chosen for its proximity to some glorious flowers and butterflies as well as classic alpine wildlife such as Nutcracker, Golden Eagle, Chamois and the entrancing Alpine Marmot. The flowers really are amazingly beautiful and diverse. Black Vanilla Orchid, Globe Orchid, Bearded Bellflower and Dwarf Alpenrose adorn fragrant meadows, while no less than a dozen species of Gentian decorate splendid alpine turf.
NB Trip reports for these magnificent longer tours are too unwieldy to download from the website, let alone read in one go, so trip reports are listed for each section of the tour.
Dates and Prices
12th June - 29th June 2027 (18 days)
* doesn't apply if you're willing to share and a room-mate can be arranged
Alpine and Meadow Flowers. Butterflies. Two of Europe’s most beautiful landscapes.
Paul Cardy , Matt Cauldwell , Andy Byfield
One leader for a group of up to 6, two leaders up to the maximum group size of 15. Paul Cardy will lead throughout, aided in Croatia by Matt and in the Dolomites by Andy as required.
All flights. All transport and meals in Croatia and Italy. Services of your leaders. Please note: Drinks, tips, and items of a personal nature such as travel insurance, are not included.
Flower, butterfly and bird checklists are available.
We start our visit to Croatia’s premier national parks with three nights at the Lakeside Hotel Plitvice set right in the heart of the national park. This hotel, though large, manages to merge quite well into the forest and the grounds offer excellent birdwatching and many of the best walks start from right by the hotel entrance. Rooms are large and comfortable. Next we’ve four nights in the characterful Hotel Meduza in lovely Senj, a charming little town on the Adriatic shore. Senj has a very long history. The Meduza is in the perfect position. The fishing harbour lies just across from the front door and Senj’s iconic Nehaj Fortress is sited just a few hundred metres away. The rooms themselves are very pleasant and the restaurant serves fine Mediterranean dishes. Moving into Italy we have three nights at the Albergo Borghese, a pleasant little hotel in Malnisio, in the Dolomiti Friulane. Then the Hotel Pineta will be your home for a week. The Hotel Pineta is a small friendly family run establishment close to pretty Caprile and in the Val Pettorina at the base of the Marmolada. This hotel has been run by the Nesello family for the past forty years and has recently been refurbished. Superbly situated for the sites we visit, the Pineta has marvellous mountain views and the restaurant serves great home-cooked food traditional dishes including canederli, casunziei, venison and roe deer. All rooms on this tour have en suite facilities.
Fairly easy. No more than three or four of miles in any one day, and always at a relaxed pace, ideally suited to photographers. Sometimes though we’ll be on steep paths, and on rocky ground.
UK flights are direct flights from Heathrow (or other UK airports but not Gatwick!) to Zagreb, returning from Venice to London Heathrow. Other indirect routes from regional UK Airports* are available.
*these routes may incur a supplement.
Warm and sunny with blue skies for the most part, pleasant in the mountains, but getting quite warm down in Senj. There may be some rain and cloud in the mountains.
Either the Croatia or the Dolomites sections can be done separately.
Contact us to check if there is availability for the number of places you require. Click on the ‘Book this Tour’ button on this page to be taken to the online booking form or contact us and we will send one to you which you can complete and send back to us. You will receive confirmation of your place, and then a detailed information pack will be dispatched to you about twelve weeks before departure. This will contain up-to-date health information.
