Long Eared Owls of Serbia

Serbia

Visit the owl capital of the world

5 days Ask us for pricing This is the price per person for a private tour (based on 2 people travelling) excluding international flights. Contact us for pricing for other group sizes including individuals.
Intro, Dates & Prices

Intro

Visit Kikinda, situated near the Romanian border, the undisputed owl capital of the world. Its humble town square plays host to an upwards of 750 Long-Eared Owls that adorn the trees during the day. So important are these gatherings that Kikinda’s town square has now been declared as a nature reserve. During the course of the tour, we will visit other great birding sites to see the Hen Harrier, Great Grey Shrike, Syrian Woodpecker, Common Crane, hordes of waterfowl and yet more owls including Barn, Little and Short-Eared Owls.

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

  • Experience the biggest gathering of Long-Eared Owls in the world
  • Kikinda town, the World Owl Capital
  • Visit Fantast Castle, where Long-eared and Short-eared Owls winter
  • Backo Gradite, which houses a medium sized Long-eared Owl roost of up to 150 birds.
  • Slano Kopovo Nature Reserve which attracts attracts up to 20,000 birds a day
  • And of course, the Serbia food and hospitality

Places Visited

Belgrade - Ecka - Zrenjanin - Kikinda - ​Fantast Castle - Slano Kopovo Nature Reserve

What's Included

Transfers to and from airport
Accommodation
Breakfast and some other meals. See meal plan
Tour leader and local birding guides
Transport
Park and site entry fees

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Itinerary
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Day 1 : Belgrade - Ecka

Arrive at Belgrade where you will be met by a Travel The Unknown representative. Transfer to Kastel Ecka, your base for the duration of your stay in Serbia. Overnight in Ečka.

Overnight in Kastel Ecka, Ecka

Meal plan: Dinner

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Day 2 : Kikinda

Travel to Kikinda town, the World Owl Capital. This unique site is a town square which hosts the largest Long-eared Owl roosting site of approximately 750 birds. Additional Long-Eared Owl roosts will be visited in the near surroundings of Kikinda where you will have the opportunity to take close up photographs of the owls. You will be also looking for urban dwelling Short-eared Owls, Little Owls and Syrian Woodpeckers, as well as stopping to spot Hen Harriers and Great Grey Shrikes. Dinner in a local restaurant in Zrenjanin. Overnight in Ečka.

Overnight in Kastel Ecka, Ecka

Meal plan: Breakfast & dinner

Kikinda is the most populated town of long-eared owls, and unusually the owls choose to live in close proximity to humans. Kikinda also has a number of short-eared owls, little owls and kestrels in residence. This tiny town in the Pannonian Plain is a must visit for any enthusiastic birder.

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Day 3 : Backo Gradite - Fantast Castle - Becej

Visit Backo Gradite which houses a medium sized Long-eared Owl roost of up to 150 birds. Since 2006, Night Herons have also overwintered here - a very unusual case of successful winter stays of a typical long distant migrant. Next travel to Fantast Castle, passing one of the largest carp fishponds in Serbia where you will look for Pygmy Cormorants and other wildfowl. At Fantast Castle, look for wintering Long-eared and Short-eared Owl as well as signs of Little and Barn Owls in the stables of a local farm. Stop at Bečej for dinner in local restaurant. Overnight in Ečka.

Overnight in Kastel Ecka, Ecka

Meal plan: Breakfast & dinner

Fantast Castle was built by Bogdan Dunderski in 1919, to quash a rumour that he was not bankrupt. Dunderski was a lover of horses, and at one point had 1,400 racehorses stabled. The castle is named after Fantast, the finest horse bred at Dunderski's stables. The castle became one of the most famous in the Austro-Hungarian monarchy, however it was heavily bombed and seized by the Communists after 1945. Today, a majority of the original furnishings have still not been returned. Fantast Castle is also home to long-eared and short-eared owls who winter there, along with little and barn owls who nest in the stables.

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Day 4 : Slano Kopovo Nature Reserve

After breakfast, travel to Slano Kopovo Nature Reserve, an area of vast alkaline grasslands, shallow salty lakes and reedbeds. This is the most famous site for Common Crane migration in Serbia as it attracts up to 20,000 birds a day. Several thousand White-fronted Geese and various ducks will also be present. Every winter, several Red-breasted Geese stop here on the way to Black Sea coast, and Saker Falcons can be seen on the hunt. In the evening, have dinner in Novi Bečej. Overnight in Ečka.

Overnight in Kastel Ecka, Ecka

Meal plan: Breakfast & dinner

The Slano Kopovo Nature Reserve is a salt marsh in the province of Vojvodina. More than 200 bird species, 73 of which nest and breed at the reserve, have been recorded here. Each year, up to 20,000 cranes migrating for the winter use the shallows of Slano Kopovo as a resting place during their journey. This fantastic event is enhanced by the sight of several thousand ducks and geese and threatened species such as the Saker and Red-Footed Falcons. The reserve has a mix of boggy and saltwater wetlands and dry grasslands, making it a haven for birds.

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Day 5 : Belgrade - Departure

After breakfast, depart to Belgrade airport for your flight home.
 

Meal plan: Breakfast

Accommodation

Accommodation

All accommodation subject to availability. Final accommodation choices will be confirmed after booking.

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Kastel Ecka

Ecka (4 nights)

Kastel Ecka was built in the English style between 1816 - 1820 by the Lazar family. The Kastel has a history of exciting guests, from Franz Liszt, a famous violinist, to Austro-Hungarian crown prince Franz Ferdinand and Serbian crown prince Aleksandar Karadordevic. Inspired by its aristocratic past, the hotel rooms are a mixture of modern and medieval styles, creating an authentic atmosphere. The castle is surrounded by a majestic park and has a delightful restaurant situated in the former ballroom.
 

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Extensions

Active Serbia (2-7 days)

Impenetrable forests, abandoned monasteries and limestone caves

Balkan Explorer (20 days)

Serbia, North Macedonia, Albania, Kosovo, Montenegro & Bosnia

Archaeology of the Balkans (19 days)

Ancient Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Venetians & Ottomans

Balkan Odyssey (15 days)

Discover Serbia, North Macedonia, Kosovo, Montenegro & Bosnia

Highlights of Serbia (10 days)

Historic monasteries, striking valleys and Roman ruins

Devil's Town & The Danube (9 days)

Uncover the hidden gems of Europe's best-kept secret

Archaeology of Serbia (8 days)

Follow the path of countless invaders

A Taste of Serbia (6 days)

Discover the unique culinary heritage of Serbia

Long Eared Owls of Serbia (5 days)

Visit the owl capital of the world

Belgrade & Vojvodina (4 days)

Discover Europe's coolest capital and the history & nature of Vojvodina

Reviews

I am delighted to see that Travel The Unknown have started to run tours to Serbia - it is time that someone did as the country has plenty to offer for all tastes. Looking at their itineraries for both North and South Serbia, it is clear that they manage to visit some of the more out the way places and lesser known sites that few know about. They offer a good degree of variety too, and their tours should give potential visitors a really good taste of this often overlooked destination.

Laurence Mitchell (Author of Bradt Guide: Serbia) , Tailormade Serbia

Have just returned from a wonderful holiday in Serbia with David Lindo, the Urban Birder, and local wildlife expert, Milan Ruzic. Truly a privilege to have been with leaders whose knowledge of birds - their identification and calls - was quite outstanding; their sense of humour would also take some beating. Serbia - a birdwatching destination with more bonuses than the average City banker.

Dennis Buisson , Northern Serbia - Owls & Raptors, Serbia

I have been extremely well looked after and am grateful to Dejan for showing me his wonderful country.

Adrian Mourby (Travel Writer) , Devil's Town & The Danube, Serbia

We were looking for a land tour in the Balkans and contacted Travel The Unknown. The staff were very responsive in setting up a private tour schedule for us that proved to be perfect and reasonable in cost. We have just got back from our travels and can say that it was certainly a good choice The itinerary was varied and interesting and the accommodation well chosen. The quality and price of the food and wine in the region were an added bonus. Our drivers/guides were friendly, helpful and very knowledgeable. They went out of their way to accommodation our interests and preference.s Highly recommended!

Raymond & Janet Sterling (USA) , Tailormade Balkans

Thank you so very much for organising our trip. It went swimmingly, Dejan is super cool, the house was fab, the people lovely and strange, the rakjia insane. Memories of river swimming, spit roast pigs and lambs, urns of beans and cabbages, gallons of cheap beer and craze-inducing rakia with a massive dose of incomprehensible contemporary Serbian music , a modern take of Balkan brass orchestras, some tiny glimpses into Roma life, and rackety fair rides, along with beautifully grown organic vegetables and perfect skinned youth ...with not so many tourists. Plus a sand blast of the fascinating Balkan history with which the Belgrade fortress bulges, a clean and safe city … I`m a little overstuffed with roast pig but am thirsty as ever to find out more about the Roma and their music. All that history was what I found the most fascinating. Crazy stuff!

Cerys Matthews , Tailormade Guca Festivals Tour

The Balkans is a fascinating part of the world to visit with such complex histories. Wonderful scenery, great food, terrific variety of accommodation and especially loved the vineyards and wine tastings! Albania was such a surprise package! So much more than we anticipated and so much to see and do in this small country. Stunning scenery and roads generally better than we expected. Go before the rest of the world discovers this gem.

Laurel & Paul Smallwood , Balkan Odyssey & Albanian Odyssey, Balkans

Was well thought out and the experience was absolutely GREAT!!!!!!

Gerald & Ann Diamond , Tailormade Serbia

Enjoyed travelling with Travel the Unknown. They were most helpful and filled in as much as possible on our trip.

Declan Cloonan , Archaeology of Serbia

I had the pleasure to be on the "Archaeology of Serbia" trip in May, which although only 8 days long was packed with fascinating insights into the complex history of the land. Not (yet) on the main tourist routes, there are many sites dating from stone-age, through Roman times to the many monasteries of the Middle Ages, some of which retain beautiful frescos, despite a turbulent history. The people here are friendly and the food served in hearty portions, plenty for meat lovers and vegetarian alike. I thoroughly recommend visiting Serbia before it becomes mainstream.

Nigel Denney , Archaeology of Serbia

Simply, a wonderful experience. There`s a special kind of relaxation that`s achieved when you know that you have none of the stress of organizing a trip, driving, navigating, travel, booking, etc. Thanks so much for an excellent experience.

Milojko Dobrijevich , Festivals of Serbia, Serbia

A very well planned trip conducted by good drivers in well kept cars. Excellent commentary and we learnt a lot more than we expected about the countries and cites we visited. Definitely recommended.

Jim Mackay , Tailormade Balkans
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