PHOTO TOURS > CRANE TOUR
A week with cranes in the HORTOBÁGY NATIONAL PARK

This fantastic week with cranes is focusing on photographing the Common Crane in their feeding, gathering, roosting habitats and on the sky during their mass-flying activity together with some other bird species in the well known Hortobágy National Park.

Timing:
Fixed dates but also available upon request
Recommended period between 5th September and 5th November

Recommended dates for 2010:
20th to 25th September
9th to 15th October

Duration:
6 days (5 nights)

Photo hides and species:
We have four full days for photography in various „Crane Hides”. We visit a mobile hide in a day time drinking and bathing habitat as well as one hide in a roosting area. We usually operate 3-4 different hides for Cranes but the number of hides we use is changing from year to year. , changing every year rational and adopted flexible to crane movement. At least one evening we visit a fly-way of the Cranes into the roosting area to photograph flying Cranes in sunset.

Besides the “Crane hides” there are two more photo sessions in other hides. We visit the „Pygmy Cormorant Hide” located in deeper water and good for fish-eating birds as well as ducks (Pygmy Cormorant, Great Egret etc.). Our visit to the „Passerine drinking hide” is rewarding also in the autumn period; provided weather conditions are adequate there are many migratory species possible in addition to resident species (Lesser and Middle-Spotted Woodpeckers, thrushes, Hawfinch etc.). We will also visit one of the extensive Long-eared Owl day-roosts with up to 200 birds present in winter. 

Upon request we organize one day for „stalking photography” targeting any possible species available in the area. For more information (available hides, comfort, techniques, bird species) visit our hides menu item.

Logistics:
Our daily routine is variable on this tour. On certain days, two photo sessions are held, on others we spend most of the day in a single hide. We also visit a Crane hide in one of the roosting areas. In certain years it might be necessary to sleep in the hide as you cannot leave the hide in the evening without disturbing the 20,000 Cranes roosting around. The morning session usually starts at about 06:00 and finishes at about 10:00. The afternoon session usually lasts from 13:00 to 16:00.

Recommended equipment:
This tour will offer you very diverse photographing opportunities. Therefore, we suggest that you bring along lenses from fish-eye and wide angle to 300mm and 500mm ones.

Expected number of birds species photographed on this tour:
10-25 species

Group size and prices:
Tour price depending on the number of participants and on the comfort level of accommodation.
The minimum group size is 2 photographers
The maximum group size is 6 photographers
Above 3 photographers we have 2 local guides as most hides take 3 photographers
All the prices below based on double occupancy. Single room supplement is 95 euro/person for standard comfort level and 55 euro/person for budget comfort level.

Standard comfort level:
2 participants: 1120 euro/person
3 participants: 1070 euro/person
4 participants: 1020 euro/person
5 participants: 970 euro/person
6 participants: 900 euro/person

Budget comfort level:
2 participants: 1000 euro/person
3 participants: 950 euro/person
4 participants: 900 euro/person
5 participants: 850 euro/person
6 participants: 790 euro/person

The price includes:
Budapest-to-Budapest all inclusive
The use of our unique photo-through panorama hide system
All transportation throughout the tour with 4x4 cars if needed
All meals
All accommodation
All Hortobágy National Park and Hortobágy Fish Farm entrance fees
Local guides (one guide takes maximum 3 photographers)

The price excludes:
Alcoholic drinks
Services of personal nature (telephone calls, laundry etc.)
Tips to guides

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