Europe
-
Spain
Vultures Of Spain
Explore a private nature reserve in the heart of the Pyrenees
Vultures Of Spain
Explore a private nature reserve in the heart of the Pyrenees
Vultures Of Spain
Explore a private nature reserve in the heart of the Pyrenees
Location:
Spain
Group Size:
4 (min 3)
Nights in
Spain
:
4
Cost:
from £2390
Single:
Please Ask
COST
from £2390
MAX GROUP
4 (min 3)
LOCATION
Spain
The Spanish Pyrenees come alive with vultures soaring in the golden light. Get up close with those huge wings riding the thermals above the cliffs and grab some special portraits. It's a photography-led trip with stunning scenery and plenty of quiet time with the birds, giving you space to wait, watch and shoot freely.
HIGHLIGHTS
Vultures up close
Spend full days in numerous hides, each with its own landscape, light and bird behaviour, hoping for bearded, griffon and black vultures plus golden eagles, for a far more varied set of images than any one spot could give
Birds In Flight
With no glass between you and the birds in an open hide, work on panning and tracking as huge wings pass overhead, then try a wide-angle sunset session among the vultures, out in the open and without a hide
After Dark
Watch deer at sunset, visit the nocturnal hides for martens and foxes, then rest in a quaint farmhouse restored for ecotourism and run entirely on solar energy, right in the mountains rather than miles away
HIGHLIGHTS
Vultures up close
Spend full days in numerous hides, each with its own landscape, light and bird behaviour, hoping for bearded, griffon and black vultures plus golden eagles, for a far more varied set of images than any one spot could give
Birds In Flight
With no glass between you and the birds in an open hide, work on panning and tracking as huge wings pass overhead, then try a wide-angle sunset session among the vultures, out in the open and without a hide
After Dark
Watch deer at sunset, visit the nocturnal hides for martens and foxes, then rest in a quaint farmhouse restored for ecotourism and run entirely on solar energy, right in the mountains rather than miles away
Dates & Rates
Please note: Payments made as a bank transfer will benefit from a 2% discount - use the e-mail button above to receive availability and Bank Transfer details
Dates & Rates
Please note: Payments made as a bank transfer will benefit from a 2% discount - use the e-mail button below to receive availability and Bank Transfer details
from £2390
per person sharing - please ask about single rates
Basic Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival & First Experience (time dependent)
Day 2: Hide photography (various locations)
Day 3: Hide photography (various locations)
Day 4: Hide photography (various locations)
Day 5: Departure
Want a more detailed brochure?
What's Included
4 nights in an eco-frendly stone farmhouse
Return transfers from Barcelona Airport
Communal living spaces for relaxation and image review
All meals as indicated
Daily use of the hides
Flexible scheduling based on weather and wildlife activity
Continuous field instruction and guidance
Post-processing workshop focused on birds-in-flight
Detailed packing checklist
What's Not Included
International flights to/from Spain
Travel insurance (highly recommended)
Visa/entry requirements (if applicable)
Photography equipment and accessories
Alcoholic beverages
Personal expenses (souvenirs, phone calls, etc.)
Additional snacks or specialty dietary items beyond provided meals
Any optional excursions outside the scheduled program
Extra photography sessions beyond planned itinerary
What's Recommended
Camera Bodies:
Primary DSLR or mirrorless camera body
Backup camera body (highly recommended to counter failure risks of main camera)
Lenses:
Telephoto lens: 300-600mm (essential for birds-in-flight at a distance)
Wide-angle lens: 16-35mm or 24mm or wider (for environmental portraits)
Teleconverter: 1.4x or 2x (extends reach of telephoto lens)
Accessories:
Multiple high-capacity memory cards
Spare camera batteries
Optional But Beneficial:
Binoculars (for locating wildlife at distance)
Portable hard drive for backing up images
Insurance Requirements
All participants are required to have both travel and equipment insurance for the duration of the tour. This ensures protection for yourself and your gear, giving peace of mind while in the field. Insurance is the sole responsibility of each participant and must be arranged prior to departure, as Focused On Wildlife does not provide coverage.
Focused On Wildlife, however, is fully covered under the UK Package Travel Regulations against financial failure, giving participants reassurance that all bookings are financially protected.
Q&A: Your Questions Answered
Q: What are the main photographic subjects on the Vultures Of Spain
A: As the name suggests, vultures. However some are easier than others, some are seasonal and there is a real possibility that you may not see some of them at all. However, the possibilities are Lammergeier (Bearded Vulture), Griffon Vulture, Egyptian Vulture and Black Vulture. You can also get Golden Eagle, Raven and Red Kites.
Q: Is this only birds then?
A: No. We will also get an opportunity to photograph Red Deer, Martens, Red Fox and Wild Boar are all possible and we will actively try for these species not just hope we see them accidentaly
Q: Which vultures are we likely to photograph in October?
A: Lammergeier and Griffon Vulture are the most common and we should be able to get these against the warm clours of late October. With a bit of luck, we will get Balck Vulture while Egyptian vulture is likely to have gone further south by this time ... but you never know!
Q: Where will i stay during this trip?
A: We stay in an eco-friendly rebulit farmhouse near an abandoned village. It runs entirely solar energy, with zero emissions. The fully equipped house has a shared kitchen with a dishwasher, three double bedrooms each with its own bathroom, and towels and sheets are included. It sleeps six to seven people, has free Wi-Fi, and everything in it runs on renewable energy.
Vultures Of Spain
Big wings, close encounters and a bit of the Pyrenees all to yourself. This trip takes you into numerous hides in the Spanish Pyrenees to photograph the scavengers that keep these mountains running. These birds quietly clean up the landscape and keep the whole ecosystem ticking. The hides are set in different locations close to national and nature parks, and they differ in landscape, light and bird behaviour, so you come home with a far more varied set of images than one spot could give you.
Between sessions you'll stay in a quaint farmhouse restored for and by ecotourism. You're right in the mountains rather than commuting from a hotel miles away, and the pace of the place sets the pace of your trip.
This adventure began out of passion and instinct, on a small scale and without an instruction manual. The owner of the property, a leading naturalist and the project's founder, moved to the valley where his wife lived. In 2003 they bought a house in the abandoned village of Buseu, and without quite realising it they started something that became a personal challenge and a dream come true.
Over the following years they acquired the remaining ruined houses and the land around them. The aim was to show that by working with the territory's natural resources in a different way, a village can be restored and biodiversity protected and improved.
When you stay here, you're part of that story.
Bearded vultures, black vultures, griffon vultures, Egyptian vultures, red kites, black kites and golden eagles are all possible. Not everything turns up every time, so here's the realistic picture:
Bearded vultures live nearby, alongside numerous griffon vultures, plus red kites and ravens. The griffons are the big crowd-pullers, and the bearded vultures are the real prize.
Egyptian vultures appear in spring and summer, and black vultures are uncommon but possible. Treat a black vulture as a bonus rather than a promise.
How the days work. Mornings are for photographing the vultures from a hide or a photographic observatory. Depending on the site, you may need to be in the hide before dawn and stay until after sunset, so bring layers, snacks and a flask. There's also an optional golden eagle hide in the evening if you want to round off the day with something different.
Small groups. Group sizes are kept small, so there's room to work without elbowing anyone.
The photography. Hides let you get closer to wild animals than you could in full view, without alarming them. Expect long, quiet stretches followed by moments when the sky fills with birds. Bring a long lens, a spare battery and plenty of patience.
Vultures Of Spain
Big wings, close encounters and a bit of the Pyrenees all to yourself. This trip takes you into numerous hides in the Spanish Pyrenees to photograph the scavengers that keep these mountains running. These birds quietly clean up the landscape and keep the whole ecosystem ticking. The hides are set in different locations close to national and nature parks, and they differ in landscape, light and bird behaviour, so you come home with a far more varied set of images than one spot could give you.
Between sessions you'll stay in a quaint farmhouse restored for and by ecotourism. You're right in the mountains rather than commuting from a hotel miles away, and the pace of the place sets the pace of your trip.
This adventure began out of passion and instinct, on a small scale and without an instruction manual. The owner of the property, a leading naturalist and the project's founder, moved to the valley where his wife lived. In 2003 they bought a house in the abandoned village of Buseu, and without quite realising it they started something that became a personal challenge and a dream come true.
Over the following years they acquired the remaining ruined houses and the land around them. The aim was to show that by working with the territory's natural resources in a different way, a village can be restored and biodiversity protected and improved.
When you stay here, you're part of that story.
Bearded vultures, black vultures, griffon vultures, Egyptian vultures, red kites, black kites and golden eagles are all possible. Not everything turns up every time, so here's the realistic picture:
Bearded vultures live nearby, alongside numerous griffon vultures, plus red kites and ravens. The griffons are the big crowd-pullers, and the bearded vultures are the real prize.
Egyptian vultures appear in spring and summer, and black vultures are uncommon but possible. Treat a black vulture as a bonus rather than a promise.
How the days work. Mornings are for photographing the vultures from a hide or a photographic observatory. Depending on the site, you may need to be in the hide before dawn and stay until after sunset, so bring layers, snacks and a flask. There's also an optional golden eagle hide in the evening if you want to round off the day with something different.
Small groups. Group sizes are kept small, so there's room to work without elbowing anyone.
The photography. Hides let you get closer to wild animals than you could in full view, without alarming them. Expect long, quiet stretches followed by moments when the sky fills with birds. Bring a long lens, a spare battery and plenty of patience.
Dates & Rates
Please note: Payments made as a bank transfer will benefit from a 2% discount - use the e-mail button above to receive availability and Bank Transfer details
Q&A: Your Questions Answered
Q: What are the main photographic subjects on the Vultures Of Spain
A: As the name suggests, vultures. However some are easier than others, some are seasonal and there is a real possibility that you may not see some of them at all. However, the possibilities are Lammergeier (Bearded Vulture), Griffon Vulture, Egyptian Vulture and Black Vulture. You can also get Golden Eagle, Raven and Red Kites.
Q: Is this only birds then?
A: No. We will also get an opportunity to photograph Red Deer, Martens, Red Fox and Wild Boar are all possible and we will actively try for these species not just hope we see them accidentaly
Q: Which vultures are we likely to photograph in October?
A: Lammergeier and Griffon Vulture are the most common and we should be able to get these against the warm clours of late October. With a bit of luck, we will get Balck Vulture while Egyptian vulture is likely to have gone further south by this time ... but you never know!
Q: Where will i stay during this trip?
A: We stay in an eco-friendly rebulit farmhouse near an abandoned village. It runs entirely solar energy, with zero emissions. The fully equipped house has a shared kitchen with a dishwasher, three double bedrooms each with its own bathroom, and towels and sheets are included. It sleeps six to seven people, has free Wi-Fi, and everything in it runs on renewable energy.
What's Included
4 nights in an eco-frendly stone farmhouse
Return transfers from Barcelona Airport
Communal living spaces for relaxation and image review
All meals as indicated
Daily use of the hides
Flexible scheduling based on weather and wildlife activity
Continuous field instruction and guidance
Post-processing workshop focused on birds-in-flight
Detailed packing checklist
What's Not Included
International flights to/from Spain
Travel insurance (highly recommended)
Visa/entry requirements (if applicable)
Photography equipment and accessories
Alcoholic beverages
Personal expenses (souvenirs, phone calls, etc.)
Additional snacks or specialty dietary items beyond provided meals
Any optional excursions outside the scheduled program
Extra photography sessions beyond planned itinerary
What's Recommended
Camera Bodies:
Primary DSLR or mirrorless camera body
Backup camera body (highly recommended to counter failure risks of main camera)
Lenses:
Telephoto lens: 300-600mm (essential for birds-in-flight at a distance)
Wide-angle lens: 16-35mm or 24mm or wider (for environmental portraits)
Teleconverter: 1.4x or 2x (extends reach of telephoto lens)
Accessories:
Multiple high-capacity memory cards
Spare camera batteries
Optional But Beneficial:
Binoculars (for locating wildlife at distance)
Portable hard drive for backing up images
Insurance Requirements
All participants are required to have both travel and equipment insurance for the duration of the tour. This ensures protection for yourself and your gear, giving peace of mind while in the field. Insurance is the sole responsibility of each participant and must be arranged prior to departure, as Focused On Wildlife does not provide coverage.
Focused On Wildlife, however, is fully covered under the UK Package Travel Regulations against financial failure, giving participants reassurance that all bookings are financially protected.
Basic Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival & First Experience (time dependent)
Day 2: Hide photography (various locations)
Day 3: Hide photography (various locations)
Day 4: Hide photography (various locations)
Day 5: Departure
Want a more detailed brochure?
Dates & Rates
Please note: Payments made as a bank transfer will benefit from a 2% discount - use the e-mail button below to receive availability and Bank Transfer details
from £2390
per person sharing - please ask about single rates