Central Europe: Birds & Brews (and more!)

Every trip we take into this part of Europe is like stepping into yesteryear! Steeped in thousands of years of history, the old cities, villages, and pastoral rural landscapes evoke a romance of days gone by. The natural environments are particularly interesting, with a mosaic of habitats that maintain a certain wildness about them. On this tour, I’m excited to explore this diversity as we visit steppe lakes, prairie and forest reserves, and oak forests, where we can watch for various birds, mammals, wildflowers, and more. After an enjoyable day in Vienna, the legendary imperial capital of Austria (and my favourite city), we visit Lake Neusiedl, the largest steppe lake in Europe, where our lodge is in the centre of the national park. Be on the lookout for a wide range of waterfowl, raptors, waders, and hopefully displaying Great Bustards!

Later, we move on to the Devínska Kobyla Nature Reserve at the tip of the Little Carpathian range in Slovakia, a place famous for orchids, which along with other local flowers should give us a nice show. Moving into the Moravian part of the Czech Republic, we visit the neo-Gothic castle in Lednice and stroll its vast grounds, staying for three nights nearby in a highly rated hotel with its own local wine cellar and folk music. Later we cross into Bohemia and the lake region of Třeboň, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve where the scarce White-tailed Eagle is found. Beautiful walled rural architecture prevails throughout the countryside here, and town gates, castles, and ancient fortifications still abound. Everywhere we go, watch for interesting bird life and more. Our journey ends with two days in Prague, certainly one of the most beautiful and unspoiled cities in Europe and the “Crown Jewel” of the Czech psyche.