Chamois rut

characteristics: Our trip will take us to Tatra National Park (TANAP). The oldes national park in Slovakia, established in 1949, protects the area or Slovakia’s highest mountain range – High Tatra Mountains, which is also the highest part of Carpathian Mountain Range. We will be situated at the altitude of approx. 1250 m, walking in spruce tree, alpine pine and alpine meadow level. Because many parts of the Park suffered from 2004 tempest, we will, between chamois and marmot observation, talk also about broader ecological relations of TANAP’s nature.

points of interest of the area: glacial relief, glacial lakes, calamity area

protected areas visited: Tatra National Park, Protected bird sanctuary Tatras

target species: mammals: Tatra chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra tatrica), Tatra alpine marmot (Marmota marmota latirostris), red deer (Cervus elaphus), fallow deer (Capreolus capreolus), red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris), area also provides sanctuary for red fox (Vulpes vulpes), gray wolf (Canis lupus), Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) and brown bear (Ursus arctos)

birds: golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos), common buzzard (Buteo buteo), black woodpecker (Dryocopus martius), three-toed woodpecker (Picoides tridactylus), grey wagtail (Motacilla cinerea), water pipit (Anthus spinoletta), white-throated dipper (Cinclus cinclus), Eurasian wren (Troglodytes troglodytes), coal tit (Parus ater), European crested tit (Parus cristatus), willow tit (Parus montanus), Eurasian jay (Garrulus glandarius), Eurasian nutcracker (Nucifraga caryocatactes), common siskin (Carduelis spinus), red crossbill (Loxia curvirostra)

Trip duration: 3 days

Difficulty: moderate (1st day up to 10 km walk, superelevation up to 750 m, 2nd day up to 11 km, superelevation up to 650 m; 3rd day up to 13 km, superelevation 900 m)

Route is of moderate difficulty with length of maximum 13 km and superelevation of maximum 900 m. It will lead on walking paths throughout the whole time. Trip may be adjusted according to snow thickness and actual animal occurrence.

Accommodation: mountain lodge, 2-bed, 4-bed, 6-bed, 8-bed and 12-bed rooms with bunk beds and shared bathroom with hot water.

Important notifications and conditions: Participants undertake the trip at their own risk. Tour operator does not provide participants with specific tourist insurance. Tour operator provides professional guiding and gear to observe chamois, marmots and others. Chamois and marmots will be observed only from, or close to, footpaths. Because of their conservation status (endangered species), it is very important NOT to disturb them beyond a very limited level. We do not recommend participants to be accompanied by children below 10 and/or dogs.

Required accessories: warm clothes, food and drinks for the entire trip (eating and drinking possible also in park lodges), ideally also own binoculars and/or camera

Day 1: Morning departure from Bratislava, cable car (included), easy walk up to the lodge (up to 5.5 km, superelevation up to 600 m), accommodation, short lunch break (lodge staff also serves some food), short trip to chamois observing spot (walk does not exceed 4.5 km, superelevation up to 150 m). Return to lodge in late afternoon hours.

Day 2: Morning departure for chamois observing spot (walk does not exceed 11 km, superelevation up to 650 m), whole-day chamois (and other animal and plant) observing. Return to lodge in late afternoon hours.

Day 3: Early morning check-out, departure for chamois observing spot (walk does not exceed 13 km, superelevation 900 m), late afternoon departure to Bratislava, short stop for later lunch (not included in price) return to Bratislava in evening hours.

Tour operator reserves all rights to change program in relation to actual animal occurrence or actual terrain conditions.

Point of departure and arrival: Bratislava. Possibility to pay extra for Vienna Schwechat airport pick-up.

Recommended tour date: October

Price per person with English speaking guide:

595,-€ / 1 participant

355,-€ / 2 participants

295,-€ / 3 – 5 participants

265,-€ / 6 – 10 participants

Price includes: transportation, 2 night accommodation, full guiding service, spotting scope, one-way cable car ride and corporate insolvency insurance

Price does NOT include: food, individual travel insurance

If interested in participating on this tour at your specific date(s), contact us by e-mail on info@watching.sk or by dialing +421 948 495 111. We’ll send you an application form after discussing a specific tour date.

Date: October 30 – November 1, 2015

Price: 240,-€

Price includes: transportation, 2 night accommodation, full guiding service, spotting scope, one-way cable car ride and corporate insolvency insurance

Price does NOT include: food, individual travel insurance

No. of participants: 3 – 10 participants

Application form:

Chamois rut 2015

The deadline for registration and payment is October 5, 2015.

Please send the application forms to info@watching.sk, in case of any questions, you may call us +421 948 495 111.