Northern Spain
Wallcreepers and Cranes in Aragón

Sunday 20 - Saturday 26 November 2011 (7 days)
Sunday 18 - Saturday 24 November 2012 (7 days)



Join us for a late autumn or early spring break to the mountains, steppes and wetlands of Northern Spain, with wintering raptors and mountain birds in the Pyrenean foothills, Dupont's Lark and sandgrouse on the steppes, and thousands of Cranes going to roost at the Laguna de Gallocanta...and an excellent chance of getting close to that stunning mountain sprite, Wallcreeper!



Starting in the High Pyrenees, and reaching down nearly as far as Valencia, the vast Spanish region of Aragón contains almost all the types of inland wildlife habitat to be found in Spain. Here there are wetlands packed with birds, especially in winter, rolling dry grassland and farmland - the 'Spanish Steppe' - rugged forested hills and canyons, and the snowcapped mountains of the Pyrenees themselves. We travel to this area in both late autumn and early spring, when thousands of Cranes are present on one of the lakes, when sandgrouse form flocks on the steppe country, and when high mountain birds, such as Alpine Accentor and Wallcreeper have moved to more accessible lower altitudes. Our two-centre tour to this area aims to give us plenty of time in all the main habitats, together with the option of several evenings watching the superb spectacle of the Cranes coming into roost.

Accommodation
 We stay for three nights in the superb setting of Loarre - our hotel is a 'palacete' originally built in the 16th Century, and displays a wonderful mix of renaissance and baroque architecture, followed by three nights in a lovely country hotel in the highly attractive mediaeval town of Daroca. All rooms are en suite.







Prices:
2011: £ 1,395
2012: £ 1,445

Single supp.: £ 160

Deposit: £ 300 per person

The price is per person, and is fully inclusive of accommodation as detailed above, all meals, scheduled return flights London - Barcelona*, airport taxes, minibus transport, tips, admissions and the services of the leaders.

The price excludes holiday insurance, drinks and other personal expenses.

*For an ex-flight cost (starting and finishing the tour in Barcelona) please deduct £125 from the tour cost.

Principal Leader: - Ray Nowicki

Numbers: Max. 12 clients

Northern Spain map

Outline Itinerary
Days 1-3We take a scheduled flight from London - Barcelona and transfer to our hotel near Huesca. Three nights near Huesca
Days 4-6We travel south of Zaragoza, first visiting the rolling steppe country, where both Pin-tailed and Black-bellied Sandgrouse can be found in small numbers After this we visit the Laguna de Gallocanta. Even without the spectacle of the Cranes, the laguna would be an excellent wetland, with its wintering wildfowl and raptors. Our hotel is one of the nicest we've found in Spain, in a beautifully restored building and very friendly and welcoming. Three nights Daroca
Day 7 We return to Barcelona to catch a return afternoon flight to London.

Click here for a full, printable itinerary



What you say:

"A lovely break... hotel a real 'find', charming service, good food... " J.D., London

"Excellent holiday, superb birding, good company, and many thanks for the kind consideration shown by the leaders." B.B., Cumbria

"I enjoyed all the places we visited... memories of Belchite and Gallocanta will remain for a long time. We saw a good selection of birds, with many new ones for me. Many thanks for another great trip." A.H. Somerset

"... the most amazing experience... nothing prepared me for the fantastic birds and awesome scenery." M.R.,Surrey

"The highlight of the trip had to be seeing the Wallcreeper for so long at Riglos and the Lammergeier seen at sunset." P.H., France