Greece - The Peloponnese
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Fabulous displays of spring flowers, mediaeval towns and villages, and ancient sites set in superb landscapes, all await on our return trip to the 'hand' of Greece, the Peloponnese.Reaching like an outstretched palm into the Mediterranean, the Peloponnese peninsula is one of the most beautiful and unspoilt parts of Greece. The 'bones' of the peninsula are formed by dramatic mountain chains rising to 2,400m, and these frame a hugely varied and convoluted landscape of shady gorges, small basins, large bays and jutting promontories. In spring the displays of white asphodels and red anemones form vivid swathes of colour, set against the green hillsides and a deep blue sea. Here too can be found some wonderful historic ruins, towns and villages, including the abandoned hilltop town of Mystras, with its ancient buildings and Byzantine churches, and historic Methoni built to defend this region of the Aegean.Our trip aims to cover many of the highlights of this superb area, and to see a good range of its flowers and wildlife. Spring migration will be well under way in southern Greece at the time of our visit. Pylos is splendidly situated on the entrance of Navarino Bay, a natural harbour. Here we'll get our first taste of the botanical wealth of the area, and this is also probably the best area in the Peloponnese for birds. We'll visit Methoni Castle for both flowers and birds, before continuing to Nestor's Palace with its sweeping views of the surrounding plains and open sea. Here we'll see, amongst other relics, King Nestor's clay bathtub, with clay jug just as he might have left it after his bath! Perhaps the best of the Peloponnese 'fingers' is the Mani peninsula. Here can be found a rugged landscape indeed, with breathtaking displays of flowers in the olive groves and fields, set below barren mountainsides. The villages have Byzantine churches galore, and we'll see many examples of the old 'tower houses' that are so characteristic of this part of Greece. We have two full days in the Mani exploring its mountains, coast, gorges, olive groves and scrub-covered hillsides swathed in flowers, and ancient villages. The grey mediaeval tower houses stand mostly solitary and uninhabited, surrounded by stone walls, with narrow paved pathways running between them. |
© Gareth Trewartha
Small chapel on the coast of the Mani peninsula
Price: £ 1,895
The price per person includes return flight London - Athens, airport taxes, accommodation, all meals, incidental tips, entrance fees, minicoach transport and the services of the leaders.
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The famous Mani flora clothes the landscape with sheets of colour. Orchids can be plentiful, with a wonderful variety containing several very local species, and anemones, cyclamens, irises and campanulas are everywhere. Birds along the coast are never abundant, but migrants should be coming through. Butterflies include the superb Southern Festoon, and there are also tortoises to be found amongst other reptiles, which include terrapins and geckoes. We aim to drive along the Mani coast as far as Gerolimenas and walk to Cape Matapan (Teneron) to look for migrants and flowers, and possibly take a boat trip into the Diros caves. The ancient town of Mystras is an abandoned Byzantine city, no less, with its fortress, palaces, mansions and dwellings of the poor, together with its complement of monasteries and churches. Fantastic views from the top include the Taygetos Mountains to the west, and the olive groves of the plains of Lakonia to the east. Here Rock Nuthatches and Blue Rock Thrushes sing from the ruins, which are covered in flowers at this time. We can also visit the Parori Gorge for both flowers and birds. Once again the tour has been organised by Gareth Trewartha, a tour operator and historical guide living in Greece. We are delighted that Gareth has again agreed to accompany the tour throughout, when his unrivalled local knowledge - not just of the historical sites, but some excellent local tavernas and picnic spots too! - will perfectly complement the all-round bird, plant and wildlife skills of our own expert guide, Stephanie Coghlan.
Click here for a full, printable itinerary |
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