Hungarian Winter Wildlife Photography Holiday
Full
Reserve with a deposit of £850
No payment is taken at enquiry stage. We confirm availability first, then send booking forms and deposit payment details. Please read our booking conditions and financial protection information before paying a deposit.
Hungarian Winter Wildlife - 20th - 27th Feb 2027 - Full - Single occupancy
No payment is taken at enquiry stage. We confirm availability first, then send booking forms and deposit payment details. Please read our booking conditions and financial protection information before paying a deposit.
Keen wildlife photographers are invited to join a small group led by Pui Hang for an extremely special 7 night Hungarian Winter Wildlife photography holiday in Pusztaszer, Hungary.
This photography holiday offers you the opportunity to be one of a select group of photographers who will have access to Bence Máté’s farm in winter – a truly magical setting transformed by Bence’s expertly crafted lighting setups. This isn’t just a photography trip; it’s a rare opportunity to capture utterly unique images in conditions few ever experience. With only six spaces available in each group & only six groups scheduled each winter season, this fantastic photography adventure promises an extraordinary level of attention & creativity. Long lenses are not necessary due to the specially designed hides that accommodate anything in the range of 70-200mm, 300mm, & 50-150mm lenses. More than just a chance to take stunning photos, it’s a unique learning opportunity to improve your skills. If you’re after once-in-a-lifetime shots & the chance to learn from the best in a breathtaking winter wonderland, now’s the time to secure your place on this spectacular photography holiday!
The 7 night photography holiday has an itinerary designed to capture images of
Photographic opportunities, at the locations found on this trip, should provide opportunities for capturing images of various species, including Common Buzzard, Common Kingfisher, Eurasian Otter, Eurasian Spoonbill, Great Bittern, Great Cormorant, Great Egret, Grey Heron, Marsh Harrier, Otter, Pygmy Cormorant, Red Fox, Water Rail & White-tailed Eagle.
& any other species that appear in front of the hides.
What makes the photography hides designed by Bence Máté unique?
The photography hides designed by Bence are pretty special, & offer a unique take on wildlife photography. Using his skills as the ‘invisible wildlife photographer’ & knowledge of the natural world, Bence has created hides that combine technological innovation with secret spots in nature. These hides, designed for different specialisations, meet professional & amateur photographers’ needs.
The photography hides designed by Bence Máté are truly one-of-a-kind & give wildlife photographers an unbeatable advantage when capturing remarkable images. With a combination of quality construction, natural materials, & innovative design, Bence Mate’s hides have revolutionised how wildlife photographers approach their work.
Which photography hides will be available during the Hungarian Winter Wildlife photography holiday?
The following are the photography hides on Bence’s farm that will form the itinerary during the Hungarian Winter Wildlife photography holiday sessions – participants will be rotated through the hides on a custom-designed schedule.
The Theatre Hide
The Theatre Hide is suitable for 24-hour action photography during winter. Bence Máté has ensured that there are ideally situated natural & artificial lights, the background distance is perfect, & the hide itself is designed for a comfortable stay whilst photographing the visiting Hungarian wildlife.
The principal, frequent species are the Great Egret, Grey Heron & Great Cormorant. Other possible species: White-tailed Eagle, Common Buzzard, Marsh Harrier, Caspian Gull, Black-headed Gull, Pygmy Cormorant, Spoonbill, Great Bittern, Otter, & Red Fox.
The Cinema Hide
Similar to the Theatre Hide, the Cinema Hide is suitable for 24-hour action photography during winter. Bence has ensured that there are ideally situated natural & artificial lights, the background distance is perfect, & the hide itself is designed for a comfortable stay. The most frequent species are Otter, Great Egret, & Grey Heron – Other species that visit this hide may include Great Bittern, Water Rail, & Moorhen.
The Winter Drinking Station
At the Winter Drinking Station, Bence has set up an environment for stunning backlit photography of deer & birds.
The Kingfisher Hide
Bence Máté’s Kingfisher Hide is the first Kingfisher hide where you do not need to use complicated flash systems but instead use a specially designed LED lamp system. This system allows you to shoot images of fishing kingfisher at 1/5000sec, ISO 4000, & f4.0 any time of the day.
The Hotel Hide
In 2021, Bence established a new wetland in front of the lodge, now known as the Hotel Hide & installed a similar backlight system to that found in the drinking station hide. This location is frequented by fish eaters such as herons, egrets, otters, etc.
Photographic opportunities involving these species form a natural extension of the NaturesLens winter photography portfolio, where cold-season light, habitats, & behaviour combine to create compelling imagery. Explore related experiences across our winter wildlife photography tours.
The wildlife highlighted on this departure represents an important strand of the NaturesLens winter photography portfolio, demonstrating the strength of photographic storytelling during winter months. Discover more seasonal journeys via our winter wildlife photography tours.
This trip is one of our wildlife photography holidays in Hungary & part of our programme of European wildlife photography holidays.
The following is the proposed itinerary for this photography holiday, it should be considered provisional & subject to change.
- Day 1 - Assemble Budapest Airport - transfer to Pusztaszer - overnight Bence's Family Farm in Pusztaszer
- Day 2 - Day 7 - Photography of various species from the hides available on the farm & in surrounding areas - overnight Bence's Family Farm in Pusztaszer
- Day 8 - Transfer to Budapest Airport
The White-tailed Eagles are provided with fish to ensure their continued survival, even during periods of limited resources. In colder temperatures, these mighty birds of prey are particularly likely to come foraging for food during the day.
We have taken care to refine the itinerary for this wildlife photography holiday; as such, we consider the following to be amongst the highlights of this tour.
- Capture stunning images at Bence Mate's hides
- Stay for 7 nights on a full board, non-shared basis
- Great guide to client ratio of no more than 1:6
- Guided by Pui Hang for NaturesLens
- Protected by package tour regulations as legally required for photography tour operators within the UK
Part of the itinerary will include a stay at the "Theatre Hide", designed to accommodate three or four photographers comfortably. This hide boasts several creature comforts, such as sleeping quarters, a small kitchen, & amenities like electricity & wifi. To reach the hide, visitors must pass through a 15-metre tunnel.
When the sun sinks below the horizon, specially designed lighting illuminates several areas, resulting in a striking backlit effect. Birds, wading among the water, seem to come alive as they fling droplets everywhere with a shake of their catch.
On occasion, it has been possible to witness several birds embroiled in a battle, their wings spread wide & their silhouettes backlit by the lighting set behind them. The contrast of their action against the backlight particularly amplifies the intensity of the spraying water from their wings & the splashing of the water from the commotion.
What Do You Need To Bring With You?
The items listed below are intended as guidance rather than requirements. They outline optional & recommended clothing & camera equipment to help you prepare for the conditions & photographic opportunities you may encounter.
Clothing suggestions for the conditions expected.
- Clothing suitable for cold conditions
- Warm layers for early mornings & evenings
- Footwear for very cold conditions
- Warm hat & gloves
- Sunglasses
Suggested camera equipment for the opportunities expected.
- DSLR or mirrorless camera body
- Spare camera body
- Spare batteries, charger & memory cards
- Super-telephoto lens (e.g. 400mm, 500mm, 600mm, 800mm)
- Lens cleaning kit
- Camera backpack or suitable carry-on bag
- Laptop or storage device for image backup
The photography is primarily focused on a select few photography hides built at the farm; however, the wildlife in these areas is particularly active at this time of the year.
There is a reasonable chance of snow & ice & plenty of chilly temperatures. But think of the awe-inspiring light & all the beautiful misty breaths that are likely to be seen!
This wildlife photography holiday is carefully structured around reliable encounters with a diverse range of wildlife. Intended photography subjects include Common Buzzard, Common Kingfisher, Eurasian Otter, Eurasian Spoonbill, Great Bittern, Great Cormorant, Great Egret, Grey Heron, Marsh Harrier, Otter, Pygmy Cormorant, Red Fox, Water Rail & White-tailed Eagle. As with all ethical wildlife photography, sightings cannot be guaranteed.
What's Included & What's Not Included On The Hungarian Winter Wildlife Photography Holiday
Before booking the Hungarian Winter Wildlife Photography Holiday, we recommend reviewing what is included in the trip price, along with any items that are not. This helps ensure you have a clear understanding of what is covered, allowing you to focus fully on the photographic experience.
Most services & experiences are included in the trip price.
- Guidance from our experienced team members
- Accommodation on a Single occupancy basis
- Internal transfers
- Park fees
- Hide access
- Permits
- Meals on a full board basis
Some items & services are not included in the trip price.
- International flights
- Internal flights
- Camera equipment
- Travel insurance
- Visas
- Gratuities
- Personal expenses
- All drinks
Travel Insurance – it is a requirement when booking on any wildlife photography holiday scheduled by NaturesLens that you have adequate travel insurance, we suggest a policy from TrailFinders or Campbell Irvine.
Bence’s Kingfisher hide has revolutionized how photographers can capture images of diving & fishing kingfishers. Using a custom-made LED system, photographers no longer need to use cumbersome flash systems to take photos. This system allows photographers to take perfect images of kingfishers at speeds of 1/5000sec, ISO 4000, & f4.0, regardless of the time of day.
A backlit photograph draws attention to the subject's form & shape with the light source behind them.
The backlit technique creates contrast & vibrancy in the image, bringing out its features & making it stand out.
NaturesLens photography holidays do not include flights unless it is explicitly stated on the event page. When it is time to book your flights, we will send you the details in plenty of time to allow for bookings at the best available price.
The photography holiday itinerary is subject to change & is to be considered provisional.
NaturesLens photography holidays require a minimum number of participants in order to be viable. If this minimum number is not met, the photography holiday may not go ahead.
In the event that the minimum number for a photography holiday to go ahead is not reached, NaturesLens reserves the right to cancel any given photography holiday. In that event 100% of monies received will be returned. However, NaturesLens is not responsible for expenses incurred by its customers.
Not all mentioned wildlife can be observed & photographed at all times of the year, thus some activities may be considered seasonal & not available.
Please note the cuisine on many of the NaturesLens photography holidays is authentic & typical of the region in which you are travelling. International or western cuisine is often NOT available. If you have any concerns over the food arrangements or have any special dietary requirements, please contact us prior to making a booking.
All personal luggage are the responsibility of the owner & we request that photography holiday participants limit their luggage to the equivalent of one suitcase, one flight bag, one camera bag & tripod. We do not wish to appear dictatorial in this matter & the request is made to ensure space & comfort for everyone in our vehicles.
NaturesLens & its agents act only as agents for the passenger in all matters relating to travel arrangements, & as such, do not assume responsibility for injury, accident, damage, loss, delay or irregularity which may occur via defect of transportation or any other cause.
NaturesLens reserves the right to substitute hotels, & other previously outlined arrangements as necessary, to either improve or equal the travel experience.
NaturesLens reserves the right to pass on to photography holiday participants any additional & unplanned expenditure incurred during a photography holiday, via events beyond the control of NaturesLens. NaturesLens reserves the right to accept or decline any person as a member of any photography holiday.
Payment of a deposit by photography holiday participants or their representative constitutes their acceptance of all conditions contained herein.
All bookings are made subject to our terms & conditions.
Capture images with us on our wildlife photography holiday in Hungary, during February 2027, focused on Hungarian winter wildlife photographed from winter hides.
Frequently Asked Questions
We’ve compiled answers to the questions we are most commonly asked about this photography tour, covering everything from accommodation, transport & group size through to photography opportunities, fitness requirements & what to expect in the field. If you can’t find the information you’re looking for, please don’t hesitate to contact us – we’re always happy to discuss any aspect of the trip before you book.