Arrive Budapest. After arriving at Budapest Airport, we head towards our hotel where we will meet for a welcome dinner.

Accommodation: Budapest (en suite room). Meals included: D.

Leaving Budapest, we head toward our hotel located on the edge of Kiskunság National Park. We will stop to look for the magnificent Great Bustard. The area is also home to Saker and Red-footed Falcon, Montague’s Harrier, while European Roller, European Bee-eater, Eurasian Hoopoe, Golden Oriole and Lesser Grey Shrike are fairly common.

Accommodation: Hotel in Bugyi (ensuite room). Meals included: B, D, L.

Kiskunság National Park hosts one of Europe's largest Great Bustard populations. During our time here we explore the northern part of Kiskunság National Park. Alkaline lakes and flooded grasslands attract abundant herons, egrets, ducks, and waders. Fishponds support Great and Little Bittern, Purple Heron, Eurasian Spoonbill, Garganey, Red-crested Pochard, and Ferruginous Duck. White-tailed Eagle and Eurasian Marsh Harrier hunt regularly. Reed beds hold Bearded Reedling, Eurasian Penduline Tit, Bluethroat, and other warbler species including rare Moustached Warbler. Black Stork feeds in nearby wetlands.

Flooded meadows host breeding Northern Lapwing, Common Redshank, Black-tailed Godwit, and Eurasian Curlew, plus migrating Ruffs, stints, and plovers. Agricultural fields support Collared Pratincole colonies and Grey Partridge—one of Hungary's last strongholds. Gravel pits attract Eurasian Stone-curlew, Mediterranean Gull, and Little Ringed Plover. Raptors include Eastern Imperial Eagle, Montagu's Harrier, Red-footed Falcon, and Saker Falcon. We'll visit a Hungarian Meadow Viper breeding centre to learn about conservation efforts.

Accommodation: Hotel in Bugyi (ensuite room). Meals included: B, L, D.

After a final morning birding around Bugyi, we head towards Hortobágy National Park. On the way we stop at a fantastic wetland in Tiszaalpár. This oxbow lake is a nesting site of Pygmy Cormorant, Squacco, Purple and Night Heron, Spoonbill and Ferruginous Duck. In good years Whiskered, White-winged and Black Terns are all possible here. Eastern Olivaceous Warbler is a relatively recent breeder, while Black Stork and White-tailed Eagle nest in the gallery forest of River Tisza.

Accommodation: Lodge in Hortobágy (en suite rooms). Meals included: B, L, D.

Hortobágy National Park, part of the Great Plain or "Puszta," represents Asia's westernmost steppe. This UNESCO site harbors diverse habitats: salt marshes, sedge communities, vast grasslands, and remnant oak forests. A narrow-gauge train will take us amongst the lakes to reach hides overlooking the famous fishponds, where thousands of waterbirds feed. Species include Pygmy Cormorant, Ferruginous Duck, Great and Little Bittern, Squacco and Night Heron, Eurasian Spoonbill, White-tailed Eagle, Bluethroat, Savi's and Moustached Warbler, plus specialty dragonflies. Non-breeding Common Cranes summer here. Dry steppes host Great Bustard, Montagu's Harrier, European Roller, European Bee-eater, and colonial Red-footed Falcons.

We'll visit Hortobágy Wild Animal Park to see Przewalski's Horses and Aurochs-like cattle—reconstructed ancient steppe wildlife—roaming via safari vehicle.

A Lake Tisza boat cruise reveals heron and egret colonies, Great Cormorant, White-tailed Eagle, Greylag Goose, Whiskered Tern, specialty dragonflies, aquatic plants, and possible Eurasian Beaver sightings.

Accommodation: Lodge in Hortobágy (en suite rooms). Meals included: B, L, D.

We leave the Hortobágy area and drive towards the Bükk National Park to spend the following days in that strikingly different and scenic area, crossing the river Tisza on a ferry. Grasslands and agricultural areas are favourite hunting grounds of many raptors including Eastern Imperial Eagle, Montagu’s Harrier, Red-footed and Saker Falcon. Our family run B&B is located at the foot of the Bükk Hills in a picturesque village. It provides great food and tasty regional wine such as the famous ‘Bull’s Blood’. Morning walks in the areas often produce up to 6 species of woodpeckers (Syrian, Middle Spotted, Great Spotted, Green, Black Woodpecker and Wryneck). Sometimes even Grey-headed Woodpecker breed nearby.

Accommodation: B&B in Bükk Hills (en suite rooms). Meals included: B, L, D.

The Bükk Hills feature vast beech woodlands, limestone meadows, and karst formations. It is a perfect area for birding. Raptors soar above valleys while dense forests harbour owls, woodpeckers, and songbirds. In scenic Hór Valley, an old quarry hosts Rock Bunting and butterflies. Woodland species include Hawfinch, Wood Warbler, Collared Flycatcher, Eurasian Nuthatch, and Treecreeper. Great and Middle Spotted Woodpeckers are common; we'll search for elusive Black and White-backed Woodpeckers.

Century-old oak pastures with grazing Hungarian Grey Cattle attract European Bee-eater, Honey Buzzard, Northern Goshawk, Short-toed Eagle, Barred Warbler, Golden Oriole, Wood Lark, and Red-backed Shrike. We'll locate Lesser Spotted Eagle at its hunting grounds and visit a dormouse nest-box project to see all three Hungarian species (Edible, Forest, Hazel).

Evening activities include bat mist-netting with a park ranger—up to 15 species possible—using bat detectors as part of ongoing research. Optional wine tasting in Eger's historic region features the famous Bull's Blood in volcanic tuff cellars with traditional meals.

Accommodation: B&B in Bükk Hills. Meals included: B, L, D.

After a final morning of birding, we will leave the Bükk Hills and travel to Budapest, birding en route.

Accommodation: none. Meals included: B.