The itinerary below is our planned programme of excursions but adverse weather and local factors may entail some re-ordering of this itinerary during the tour to maximise the best use of the time and weather conditions available.
Day 1
Depart from the UK or elsewhere to Ljubljana airport, where you will meet the tour leaders. It is a two-hour drive to our hotel, in a stunning location among the craggy peaks of the Julian Alps.
Day 2-3
During the first days we will explore the most promising and diverse habitats of the Triglav National Park of the Julian Alps in search of alpine butterflies. This is the only national park in the country, covering 85.000 hectares. The national park got its name from the country’s highest peak, Triglav, which is also the symbol of Slovenia.
We will drive high up and spend a full day on the western side of the Julian Alps on Mt. Mangart, which is the highest accessible road in the country and home to some very special butterflies. We will look for Apollo (Parnassius apollo), Shepherd’s Fritillary (Boloria pales), Alpine Argus (Albulina orbitulus) and Alpine Heath (Coenonympha gardetta), as well as various alpine skippers and Erebias, including the very rare Slovenian form of Sooty Ringlet (E. pluto triglavensis), the very restricted range and quite recently described Lorkovic’s Brassy Ringlet (E. calcaria), Silky Ringlet (E. gorge), Black Ringlet (E. melas), Yellow-spotted Ringlet (E. manto) and Bright-eyed Ringlet (E. oeme). Peak White (Pontia callidice) used to occur here, but it now looks as if the species is extinct from Slovenia.
Among the birds we have a definite chance of seeing Ptarmigans (Lagopus mutus), Wallcreepers (Tichodroma muraria), Snowfinch (Montifringilla nivalis), Alpine Chough (Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax), Alpine Accentor (Prunella collaris), Water Pipit (Anthus spinoletta), Ring Ouzel (Turdus torquatus), Rock Thrush (Monticola saxatilis), and Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetus) and we might enjoy some spectacular Alpine Ibex (Capra ibex), Chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra), Mountain Hare (Lepus timidus) and Marmots (Marmota marmote) as well. We will also see one of the rarest lizards of Europe, Horvath’s Wall Lizard (Lacerta horvathii) on the way up.
We will also spend a day again on the western side of the Julian Alps, visiting sites at varying altitudes all day en route up and down, following the 25 hairpin bends of Vrsic Pass (1610 m), another paradise for butterflies.
Erebias will be in full swing at the top including Yellow-spotted Ringlet (E. manto), Mountain Ringlet (E. epiphron), Blind Ringlet (E. pharte), Silky Ringlet (E. gorge), Water Ringlet (E. pronoe), Styrian Ringlet (E. stirius), Bright-eyed Ringlet (E. oeme), Stygian Ringlet (E. styx trentae) and Dewy Ringlet (E. pandrose). This is also a site for Asian Fritillary (Euphydryas intermedia).
En route, we will make stops along the River Soca, which is home to the endemic and easy to recognize Soca Trout (Salmo marmoratus). The valleys also hold significant Apollo (Parnassius apollo) populations. For bird lovers, the small and beautiful Bonelli’s Warbler (Phylloscopus bonelli) will offer further excitement and on top of the Pass we have a definite chance of Black Grouse (Tetrao tetrix) as well.
Day 4
A travel day to the lower areas of Slovenia. En route we will stop around Lake Bled, most likely in the Mt. Vrh Bace and the Crna Prst region, a botanist’s Mecca, with one of the most diverse plantlife in the country, and as a result, butterflies are plenty.
Apart from a variety of butterflies, we shall look for day-flying moth rarities, including Euchalcia variabilis, Caloplusia hochenwarthii, Panchrysia v-argenteum, Polychrysia moneta and some very beautiful Geometridae (Psodos quadrifaria and Psodos spitzii).
The meadows have a big variety of fritillaries (Argynnis and Melitaea), Map (Araschnia levana), Purple-edged Copper (Lycaena hippothoe), Mountain Argus (Aricia allous), Brown Argus (Aricia agestis) and various skippers (Pyrgus spp.), but you can also see Mountain Ringlets (Erebia epiphron), Yellow-spotted Ringlet (E. manto), as well as the larger Erebias – Scotch Argus (E. aethiops), Large Ringlet (E. euryale) and, the commonest, the Arran Brown (E. ligea). Late Pearly Heaths (Coenonympha arcania) and Chestnut Heath (C. glycerion) are also on wing, as well as all three European Wall Browns (Lasiomatta petropolitana, L. maera, L. megera).
It is always worth looking down at your feet too because we can easily encounter rare amphibians like Fire Salamander (Salamandra salamandra), Black or Alpine Salamandra (Salamandra atra), Alpine Newt (Triturus alpestris), Fire-bellied Toad (Bombina variegata) and Common European Frog (Rana temporaria). Gorgeous beetles include the flattened Carabus creutzeri and the enormous Procerus gigas.
If time permits, we shall stop at the country’s largest peatbog, Sijec Bog. This is the only place in the country to see three very rare dragonflies: White-faced Dragonfly (Leucorrhinia dubia), Bog Hawker (Aeshna subarctica) and Common Hawker (Aeshna juncea). We shall also keep a look out for Viviparous Lizard (Lacerta vivipara) which occurs here.
Leaving the Julian Alps, we will stop at Lake Bled, amidst the towering peaks of the Slovenian Alps, where we can see the small Christian Church of the Assumption on an island. We can also admire Bled Castle, perched high on a cliff above the lake.
In the evening, we’ll arrive at our next accommodation for three nights, which is in a beautiful setting deep in the Dinara mountain range, among dense forests. Rakov National Park is a famous nature reserve, showing many typical karst features. Most of the park is a limestone plateau with trees and with seasonally vanishing waters. In this plateau, several deep river valleys can be found (‘Poljes’ in Slovenian, a word adopted by geologists worldwide for this kind of karst feature).
Day 5-6
In the next days we visit the forested foothills around Lake Cerknica, and supports the richest grasslands for wildflowers and butterflies. This is an amazing place for Purple Emperor (Apatura iris), Hungarian Glider (Neptis rivularis) and, if we might have some luck, we could encounter some late Poplar Admiral (Limenitis populus), Large Tortoiseshell (Nymphalis polychloros) or even Camberwell Beauty (Nymphalis antiopa).
In the riverside meadows, we will look for Chequered Skipper (Carterocephalus palaemon), Turquoise Blue (Polyommatus dorylas) and Purple-edged Copper (Lycaena hippothoe). Large Blues (Maculinea arion) are widespread and Scarce Copper (Lycaena virgaureae) can be seen in hundreds in some years. Dryad (Minois dryas), Woodland Brown (Lopinga achine) and Woodland Grayling (Hipparchia fagi) are all fairly common here.
Bird lovers should watch for soaring Golden Eagles (Aquila chrysaetus), Nutcracker (Nucifraga caryocatactes), Crested Tit (Parus cristatus) and Goldcrest (Regullus regullus), all widespread in this area. Those who like dragonflies can enjoy the bouncy flight of Beautifull Demoiselle (Calopteryx virgo), and the aggressive big predators, like Southern Hawker (Aeschna cyanea), Sombre Goldenring (Cordulegaster bidentata) and the Green Snaketail (Ophiogomphus cecilia).
We also spend a whole day on and around the magnificent Mt. Nanos, a huge island-rock, which stands like a secret garden above the surrounding plain. The mountain has a very interesting flora and fauna, and holds many interesting butterflies, including Swallowtail (Papilio machaon), Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides podalirius), Queen of Spain (Issoria lathonia), Silver-washed Fritillary (among them var. valesina! Argynnis paphia), High Brown Fritillary (A. adippe), Dark Green Fritillary (A. aglaja), Niobe Fritillary (A. niobe), Assmann’s Fritillary (Melitaea britomartis ssp. mitchiellii), Heath Fritillary (M. athalia), Nickler’s Fritillary (M. aurelia), Glanville Fritillary (M. cinxia), False Heath Fritillary (M. diamina), Spotted Fritillary (M. didyma), Lesser Spotted Fritillary (M. fascelis), Knapweed Fritillary (M. phoebe), Weaver’s Fritillary (Boloria dia), Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary (B. selene), Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae), Mountain Green-veined White (Pieris bryoniae), Alpine Mountain Argus (Aricia allous), Large Copper (L. dispar), Sooty Copper (L. tityrus), Scarce Copper (L. virgaureae), Geranium Argus (Aricia eumedon), Scarce Large Blue (Maculinea teleius), Alcon Blue (Maculinea xerophila), and Large Grizzled (Pyrgus alveus), Safflower (P. carthami), Large Chequered (Carterocephalus palaemon), Mallow (Carcharodrus alcea) and Silver-spotted Skippers (Hesperia comma).
The more open steppe grasslands support False Grayling (Arethusana arethusa), the Ringlet (Aphantopus hyperanthus), Great Sooty Satyr (Satyrus ferula), Provencal Short-tailed Blue (Everes alcetas), and there is a chance of Osiris Blue (Cupido osiris).
Lots of interesting reptiles live here including the enigmatic Nose-horned Viper (Vipera ammodytes), and Nanos is also home to Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetus), Peregrine (Falco peregrinus), colourful Rock Thrush (Monticola saxatlisis), Rock Bunting (Emberiza cia), Capercailia (Tetrao urogallus) and even Chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra).
Day 7
Today we’ll descend to a different area, the Slovenian Karst of the Mediterranean Adriatic region with a very different flora and fauna. We explore the area around Podgorje village, which is on the edge of the Karst receiving not only lots of sun but high rainfall also. This area is extremely productive area for insects.
Thermophile species which occur here include Southern Small White (Pieris mannii), Mountain Small White (Pieris ergane), Lulworth Skipper (Thymelicus acteon) and Southern Comma (Polygonia egea).
The hills which rise rapidly behind the coast to some 250 metres, provide a rich habitat for butterflies like Gatekeeper (Pyronia tithonus), False Grayling (Arethusana arethusa), Great Banded Grayling (Hipparchia circe), Tree Grayling (H. statilinus), Woodland Grayling (H. fagi), Grayling (H. semele) , Dryad (Mynois dryas), and many different Blues, including Adonis Blue (L. bellargus), Chalk-hill Blue (L. coridon), Eastern Baton Blue (Philotes vicrama), Chequered Blue (Scolitantides orion), Meleager’s Blue (M. daphnis), Lang’s Short-tailed Blue (Leptotes pirithous), Long-tailed Blue (Lampides boeticus), Escher’s Blue (Polyommatus escheri) and Short-tailed Blue (Everes argiades). Southern White Admiral (Limenitis reducta), Cardinal (Argynnis pandora), Berger’s Clouded Yellow (Colias alfacariensis), Pale Clouded Yellow (C. hyale), Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides podalirius), Swallowtail (Papilio machaon), and Nettle-tree Butterfly (Libythea celtis) are all very characteristic for this area. Unfortunately, it will be too late to see False Ringlets here (Coenonympha oedippus), which have a strong population in the area. An extreme rarity of the area is Iolas Blue (Iolana iolas), along with Marbled Skipper (Carcharodrus lavatherae), so we will keep our eyes open for new discoveries!
Apart from butterflies, Peregrine (Falco peregrinus) and Eagle Owl (Bubo bubo) breed in the cliffs, and the enormous Alpine Swifts (Apus melba) are abundant. Hoopoe (Upupa epops), Bee-eaters (Merops apiaster), Rock Bunting (Emberiza cia), Short-toed Eagle (Circaeotus gallicus) and Blue Rock Thrush (Monticola solitarius) are also widespread in the area, and with some luck we can see Griffon Vultures (Gyps fulvus) which roam here from nearby Cres, an island off the coast of Croatia.
At dusk, the air is full of the whistling of Scops Owls (Otus scops) and the lovely sound of Nightjars (Caprimulgus europaeus). There is a viable population of Hermann’s Tortoise (Testudo hermannii) in the area, along with the enormous and legless Seltoputzik or European Glass Lizard (Ophiosaurus apodus), Balkan Whip Snake (Coluber gemonensis), Four-lined Snake (Elaphe quatorlineata), Smooth Snake (Coronella austriaca) and many small lizards, including Wall Lizard (Lacerta muralis), Italian Wall Lizard (L. sicula), Dalmatian Wall Lizard (Podarcis mellisellensis) and Dalmatian Algyroides (Aégyroides nigropunctatus).
In the afternoon, those interested can make a visit to Lipica, where an hour-long horse-ride performance can be enjoyed. This is where the famous Spanish and Austrian Lipizzaners horses originate.
For a little variety, we’ll descend to Trieste in Italy for dinner and enjoy the atmosphere of this famous historical port, before we drive back to Rakov Skocjan for overnight. Don’t worry, there are no big distances here…!
Day 8
Departure day, but if flight times permit, we can do the following:
En route to the airport, we pass two enormous caves, major attractions of Slovenia, which we can visit. Skocjan Cave is a UNESCO World Heritage List, and we can take a guided tour 90 metres above a giant underground river, and finish the trip at the bottom of a huge, hundred-metre-deep gorge, from where a cable car returns to the starting point. Postjona cave is a very different cave which we can visit by means of a small electric train. It is a limestone cave with incredible stalactites shaped like needles, icicles, and even columns and pillars.
One highlight of the cave is a small tank filled with pinkish Olms (fully aquatic, blind cave salamanders Proteus anguineus). These bizarre little animals are also named the “human fish” and inhabit only a few caves on the Dalmatian coast. There is also a recently described black variation, now considered to be a separate species. Finally, an hour’s drive back to Ljubljana for our evening flight back to the UK or elsewhere.
