WILDFLOWERS of SLOVAK, CZECH & POLISH Carpathians
White Carpathians, Lesser Fatra & The Tatras
with extension possibility to the Slovak Karst
TOUR SUMMARY
Day 1 Arrive Bratislava
Day 2 The White Carpathians
Days 3 & 4 Vah river valley and Lesser Fatra
Day 5 The Liptov basin, Chocske hills and the Low Tatras
Day 6 The Polish Tatras and mires below the High Tatras
Days 7 & 8 The High Tatras and the Belanske Tatras
Day 9 Departure from Krakow
SLOVAKIA - BOTANICAL TOUR
The Carpathian countryside has remained unspoiled in many areas and offers some of the best scenery in Eastern Europe. Our tour is designed to experience the gradual change from the low-lying White Carpathians that formed the natural border between Slovakia and the Czech Republic, through the montane and subalpine Lesser Fatra to the alpine regions of the high Tatra ranges on the Polish-Slovakian border.
The White Carpathians, the western edge of the great Carpathian mountain chain, are still clothed in forested hillsides and flower-filled meadows, punctured by jagged rocky peaks and carved by deep gorges. The magnificent Giant Lousewort Pedicularis exaltata has its only Central European site in these mountains. Local meadows rank with the richest in Central Europe and have abundant and colourful Orange and Martagon Lilies, Dense-flowered Orchid, Marsh Gladiolus, Erect Clematis, Bastard Balm, and both Crested Cow-wheat and Melampyrum nemorosum. Needless to say, there’s plenty of butterflies enjoying the flowers, notably Nickerl’s Fritillary, Alcon Blue, the brillant Scarce Copper and both Purple and Lesser Purple Emperors. Subalpine meadows dotted with clumps of endemic pink Dianthus nitidus typify the partially limestone Lesser Fatra. Musky Saxifrage, Campanula serrata, Tozzia carpatica, Gentianella fatrae, Androsace lactea, Dark Red Helleborine, Aconitum moldavicum and One-flowered Wintergreen are amongst the notable flora. The High Tatras reach up to over 2500m and have a very varied geology, there are large areas of limestone and dolomite whilst other parts are granite and mylonite. Chairlifts and roads provide easy access to the highest regions inhabited by the endangered Tatra race of the Chamois and a fine range of alpines such as Ciliate Rock-jasmine, Blue Saxifrage, Edelweiss, Styrian, Spotted and Snow Gentians, Campanula tatrae, and the rare orchid Chamorchis alpina. Marmots call shrilly as Golden Eagles search them out, whilst Alpine Accentors hop amongst Least Primrose, Pulsatilla scherfelii, Glacier Buttercup, Saxifraga carpatica, Papaver tatrae, Wahlenberg´s Wallflower, Callianthemum coriandrifolium and half a dozen species of pretty Milk Vetch. Corncrake and Quail call repeatedly from wet meadows and mires home to Jacob’s Ladder and the elegant Moor King. Below, meadows and forests, haunt of many unseen mammals as well as Capercaillie, Hazel Grouse and Black Woodpecker, host Round-headed Orchid, Aconitum firmum, and both Hungarian and Carpathian Snowbells.
