Walking holidays The MatraMountains and National Park are perfect for walking and hiking all year round. The varied terrain, the large number of well marked tourist trails and the spectacular scenery and wildlife make it a great choice for walkers of all levels and styles. The seasons offer yet another dimension to the landscape. With vast, dense forests to cut through in spring and summer, wonderful colours of the woods in autumn and crisp, snow covered stillness in winter. This mountain range of varied surfaces abounds in species. The flora and fauna of the National Park is very rich with many protected and rare species of plants, insects and birds. The MatraMountains provide a natural habitat for several alpine species such as the red-flowered, thornless Alpine Rose (Rosa pendulina) and the blue-flowered Alpine Clematis (Clematis alpina). You can also find the Purple Fescue (Festuca amethystina) here, a relict from the ice age. On the meadows some indigenous orchid species (e.g. Traunststeinera globosa) can be found. The diverse vegetation of the MatraMountains is associated with a rich variety of animal species. The also rare and protected amphibian and reptile species of the Matra are the Alpine Newt (Triturus alpestris), the Yellow-bellied Toad(Bombina variegata), the Dalmatian Frog (Rana dalmatina), the Spotted (or Fire) Salamander (Salamandra salamandra), the Aesculapian Snake(Elaphe longissima) and Water Snake(Natrix natrix). The large continuous areas of closed forests are ideal natural habitats for many birds. There are several nesting pairs of the Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca) and the smaller-sized Lesser Spotted Eagle (Aquila pomarina). One of our most typical and beautiful birds is the Saker (Falco cherrug). The Matra provides a natural shelter for several protected mammal species as well. The Wild Cat (Felis sylvestris) and the especially rare Eurasian Lynx (Lynx lynx) live in undisturbed areas. A spectacular bird of intact, deciduous virgin forests is the Black Stork (Ciconia nigra). Please take a look at our Photo Gallery for lots of larger pictures of the area and wildlife. There are a few rules you should observe when you are out enjoying the beauty of the MatraNational Park.
We offer guided walking tours, nature trails, plant and wildlife spotting tours. If you prefer we provide you with a tourist map and you can go and explore for yourself. There are several competitive endurance hiking tours organised in the area which are available for anyone to join. Our guide Bela is the Head Forester for the MatraNational Park so he knows the mountains like the back of his hand. The varied terrain is suitable for different abilities and styles of walking. We can cater for short relaxing rambles as well as whole day hikes on challenging paths with great elevation.
Our all inclusive price for a 7 night walking holiday is £460 for 2007. This price includes accommodation in the Hanga guest-house in a twin en suit room, breakfast, a packed lunch for the 6 walking days, a 3 course dinner with a bottle of locally produced wine per couple every night, return airport transfers and up to 5 hours of accompanied walking per day in 6 days. This however is flexible and you could walk less if you wish or combine walking with horse riding, fishing or any other acivity on offer.
Please note there is a £40 single person occupancy charge per week.
We are able to offer a 10% discount on the above package price for groups of 2 or more people. If you would like accommodation only then please see our prices page for prices of self catering, B&B and half board accommodation. The MatraMountains belong by origin to the largest young volcanic zone of Europe. The two highest peaks are Kekes at 1014 meters and Galyateto at 964 meters. Steep rugged slopes and talus slopes covered with closed beech forests to the north alternate with gentler slopes and parallel valleys to the south. Due to their stratovolcanic makeup, the mountains have a lot of natural springs with crystal clear spring water mainly in the higher regions. A lot of these are used as medicinal waters for a wide variety of illnesses.
In alpine and rocky beech forests, a small population of White Mountain Butterflies (Pieris bryoniae) and the rare Alpine Longicorn (Rosalia alpina) can still be found.
Our rare nesting bird is the Hazel Grouse (Tetrastes bonasia). According to observations, the population of Ravens (Corvus corax) is increasing.