Orchids of the Aude – Part One

Tour dates: Monday 13th May to Friday 17th May 2024

Tour code: BLORCH-24

This exclusive 5 night/ 4 day trip is a unique opportunity to discover some of the top orchid spots in the Aude county with a top local orchid specialist and a local expert botanist.

Our main focus will clearly be on orchids, but we will also be looking at the other wildflowers and the butterflies too! The Aude county has over 90 recorded species of wild orchid and future trips will explore other areas at other times of the season.

  • 5 days / 4 nights
  • From 1050€ per person
  • Low carbon discount of €50 for travel by train from the UK
  • Expert local guides and English speaking tour leader
  • Group size = 6-8

Discount available for 7 or more participants booking together.

This wild orchid trip has been developed in partnership with the Fédération Aude Claire and has been developed around their specialist knowledge of the orchids of the Aude.

A unique opportunity to visit some of the top spots for wild orchids in the Aude county of southern France in the company of a local specialist!
Whilst our guide is a local orchid specialist, he is also very knowledgeable about wild flowers in general and quite a butterfly expert too – so whilst orchids will be the main focus of the trip, we will also enjoy looking at other wildlife of the Aude. (see the Geology and species tab for more detail). We will also be accompanied by a local professional botanist.

Some of the top species we will be expecting to see include:

Neotinea conica, Limodorum abortivum, Ophrys scolopax, Ophrys picta, Ophrys sulcata (funerea), Ophrys vasconica, Ophrys virescens, Orchis provincialis, Dactylorhiza insularis f. bartonii, Ophrys magniflora, Ophrys bilunulata, Ophrys passionis, Anacamptis papilionacea

This year we will be hosted by Christelle and Benoît at the delightful Jardins de Soulane.
A hidden gem tucked away in the hills above Limoux and surrounded by 21 hectares of private land full of wildlife.

The programme may be modified to take advantage of weather and other variables.

Monday

Transfer to accommodation
near Limoux

Welcome drinks & dinner

Friday

Departure after breakfast and transfer to departure points

 

Tuesday

Bugarach – St Louis
Up to 32 species…

Famous for is noteworthy geology, Bugarach mountain and the surrounding area is just as remarkable for its wealth of orchids and other heritage wild flowers.
It is equally as well known amongst birdwatchers for its resident population of Griffon vultures and the Egyptian vulture and Bearded vultures that nest nearby.
There is also an outside chance of seeing the European brook newt or Calotriton, an amphibian endemic to the Pyrenees that can be found in small cold-water streams.

Today’s highlights:
Neotinea conica, Limodorum abortivum, Ophrys scolopax, Ophrys picta, Ophrys sulcata (funerea), Ophrys vasconica, Ophrys virescens, Orchis provincialis, Serapias vomeracea

Wednesday

Trèbes – Moussoulens
Up to 16 species

These two sites, located in the Carcassonne area, are especially renowned amongst orchidophiles for the presence of Ophrys magniflora and its various hybrids.
Also hunting grounds for the Short-toed snake eagle looking for its favourite prey of Ladder snake and even Ocellated or Catalan lizards – possibly even the extremely rare Edwards sandracer. Moussoulens offers an excellent opportunity to discover the Languedoc garrigue and its characteristic flora.

Highlights: Ophrys incubacea, Ophrys magniflora, Ophrys bilunulata, Ophrys picta, Ophrys passionis

 

 

 

 

Thursday

Clermont sur Lauquet-Bouisse
Up to 22 species

The picturesque Lauquet valley is home to one of the area’s most spectacular stations of Anacamptis papilionacea. In a good year, the site boasts thousands of specimens intermingled with numerous other species. The meadows around Bouisse proudly conserve the Dactylorhiza insularis and its rare form bartoni. The Aude is the only county on the French mainland where this species is found.

 

Highlights: Anacamptis papilionacea, Dactylorhiza insularis f. bartonii, Dactylorhiza insularis, Orchis simia, Cephalanthera longifolia, Coeloglossum viride

 

 

This trip is Part One of a series to discover the extraordinary range and numbers of wild orchids in the Aude county.

Notable for its complex geology, this gives rise to a wide variety of natural landscapes stretching from the Mediterranean coastline and the low agricultural plains up to the high summits of the Pyrenees, via the folded strata of the Corbières and the Montagne Noire. An extensive network of water-courses has scoured valleys out of the hills, and these collect and channel the water down to lower altitudes and eventually to the sea.

This geo-environmental context has a considerable influence on the climate, which varies according to a number of influences, in particular Mediterranean and Montane. Collectively these conditions produce a quite remarkable level of biodiversity, including one of France’s widest ranges of flowering plants.

With its officially recorded 90 species of orchid, the Aude figures amongst the top three counties in France for the diversity of species. Many wild orchid fans, amateurs and specialists alike, visit the area each year, highlighting the particular attraction of this sought-after family of plants. Given the diversity of the area and the phenology of the different species, it is not surprising that many orchidophiles return year after year, always finding reasons to come back for more. We are already working on Part 2 of this series of trips to discover the Orchids of the Aude!

Top target species for this trip: Neotinea conica, Limodorum abortivum, Ophrys scolopax, Ophrys picta, Ophrys sulcata (funerea), Ophrys vasconica, Ophrys virescens, Orchis provincialis, Serapias vomeracea, Ophrys incubacea, Ophrys magniflora, Ophrys bilunulata, Ophrys picta, Ophrys passionis, Anacamptis papilionacea, Dactylorhiza insularis f. bartonii, Dactylorhiza insularis, Orchis simia, Cephalanthera longifolia, Coeloglossum viride                    

This is a brand new trip. Trip reports will become available after each trip.

 

 

Join us for the inaugural trip and be the first to write a review!

By train!

Joining a Birding Languedoc tour by train is the perfect, relaxing #lowcarbonbirding option! It’s really quite easy and you get to see more of the beautiful French countryside.Before you throw your hands up in horror, thinking that getting to the south of France by train might be just too hard… please check out this most useful website about traveling by train to Paris on the Eurostar The man in seat 61. The site is full of very practical tips and advice! There is even a section about traveling through to Narbonne! If you travel by train to join one of our tours we will give you a 50€ discount on the tour cost!

A  comfortable and surprisingly fast way of getting to the Languedoc, more and more people are choosing to come by train.

There are various routes and one client travelled south via Paris and Bordeaux, returning north via Narbonne and Lille.
See the Getting here page in our DIY birding section, and do get in touch if you need any help!

See the links below for train times and bookings all the way through from London St Pancras to Narbonne.
We do recommend however, in order to avoid the stress of potential missed connections, that it is better to take the Eurostar to Paris the day before and then catch the TGV down to Narbonne the day the trip starts. We will pick you up at Narbonne train station. Timetables and tickets are available 3 months in advance. Or you can talk to your local travel agent to book your tickets through them!

SNCF French trains in English

Eurostar website in English

By plane

Click on the links below for flight details and pricing (track the price to get the best deal!).

Stansted – Carcassonne

• Manchester – Carcassonne

Other options may be available, please contact us with your preferred departure airport.

We recommend that you do NOT book your flights until the trip is confirmed!

 


INCLUDED

  • Transfers from Narbonne train station
    or Carcassonne airport (enquire re other options)
  • All local transport
  • High quality ensuite accommodation
  • 4 nights Dinner B&B + 3 picnic lunches
  • Three course dinner (apéritifs & wine extra)
  • Expert local guides
  • English speaking tour leader

NOT INCLUDED

  • Inbound transport
  • Cancellation insurance
  • Personal medical and repatriation insurance
  • Drinks other than with meals
  • Personal expenses
  • Lunch on the first and last days

 

An orchid and wild flower holiday exploring top wild orchid sites of the Aude county

The team for this trip highlights local knowledge, with a resident orchid specialist, a resident botanist and a resident British tour leader. Their intimate understanding of the Aude and its plants is a massive bonus!

Benjamin Gilbert - Botanist with Aude Claire

Benjamin Gilbert - Botanist with Aude Claire

Local botanist - French & English

After starting his career with the Botanical Conservatory of Sainte-Marie in Madagascar, Benjamin is now the main botanist for the Fédération Aude Claire natural history society, carrying out regular surveys and occasionally adding to the long list of plants of the Aude!
Passionate about alpine plants and high altitude walks he combines these passions during regular botanical walks and writes about them in combined narrative/photographic stories.

Philippa Benson - Birding Languedoc

Philippa Benson - Birding Languedoc

Co-founder/Tour Leader - English, French & Spanish

Like many Brits, Philippa has a keen interest in natural history and enjoys learning about the amazing birds and wildlife of the Languedoc. Resident in this lovely area for over 15 years, she now has a good working knowledge of where the best spots are for birds, flowers and other species and enjoys sharing these with interested visitors.
A background in project management and hospitality combined with a particular focus on customer service and being fully bilingual are all helpful skills for organising and hosting tours.

Wild orchids in their habitat – Orchid holidays in France – European wild orchid trip – Wild orchids of the world – European orchids in their habitat

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