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Greece - The Peloponnese
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© Jamie McMillan/Nature Portfolio  Sawfly Orchid |
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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 dramatic Monemvassia, hidden below its famous protective rock on the shores of the Aegean. Western Rock Nuthatches, Blue Rock Thrushes and 'Eastern' Black-eared Wheatears find these historical sites appealing too, adding further to our interest there.
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. 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 and we could encounter anything from Short-toed Eagle, Montagu's Harrier and Hoopoe to Rüppell's and Subalpine Warblers. Coastal bays and lagoons can be especially productive, bringing chances of Great White and Little Egrets, Squacco and Purple Herons, Glossy Ibis and Garganey - many of them freshly in, having completed their Mediterranean crossing from North Africa. 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, Mike Crewe. Itinerary Day 1 We take an early morning flight London-Athens, where Gareth will be waiting to greet us. From here it's a four-hour drive, across the Corinth Canal and down into the Peloponnese, where Pylos will be our base for the first three nights of our holiday. Overnight Pylos Days 2 - 3 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 should soon be seeing our first Sawfly and Pink Butterfly Orchids, amongst others. This is also probably the best area in the Peloponnese for birds, and we'll check out Gialova Lagoon and the surrounding area for migrants such as Purple Heron, Garganey and Rüppell's Warbler. We may see Pintail and Red-crested Pochard here too, along with Great White and Little Egrets. 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! Two nights Pylos Day 4 Today we head across to the Mani, taking the picturesque coastal route that climbs into the foothills of the Taygetos Mountains. We descend to lovely Kardamili, where we'll see our first tower houses in the old village - and Western Rock Nuthatch! From here we will walk slowly up the picturesque St Sophia Gorge. Yelkouan Shearwater is possible offshore and plants to watch out for this afternoon include Pink Hawkweed and the lovely Barbary Nut Iris. We continue along the coast to Areopolis, on the west of the Mani, for a four-night stay. Overnight Areopolis Days 5 - 6 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. The famous Mani flora is simply fantastic. Orchids can be positively abundant, 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 do include Lesser Kestrel, Fan-tailed Warbler, Blue Rock Thrush and Black-eared Wheatear as breeding species, while the likes of Garganey, Purple Heron, Yellow Wagtail, Northern Wheatear and other 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 Cape Matapan (Teneron) to look for migrants, and possibly take a boat trip into the Diros caves. Crested Lark, Spanish Sparrow, Serin, and Cirl and Corn Buntings are among residents birds, and previous groups have been rewarded with a diverse selection of incoming species at the Cape, and at nearby Vitilo Bay, including Squacco Heron, Short-toed Eagle, Montagu's Harrier, Subalpine Warbler, Nightingale, Whinchat, Common Redstart and Woodchat Shrike. Two nights Areopolis Day 7 We cross the softer landscapes around the Evrotas Delta today, continuing to the famous mediaeval town of Monemvassia. Surrounded by walls and built on the southern slopes of the headland which the Byzantines separated, leaving only a narrow causeway - hence its name, which means 'single passage' in Greek - Monemvassia still retains much of its mediaeval character. Across the causeway, a huge rock protects the town itself, still with its walls, narrow streets and no less than 40 Byzantine churches! Overnight Areopolis Day 8 We leave the Mani and head north into the central Peloponnese for the ancient town of Mystras. This atmospheric place 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 also visit the Parori Gorge. We continue on to Sparta where we call in at the Olive Oil Museum before heading to our hotel (probably the only time on our trips where we can really promise you Spartan accommodation… and it was rated 'very good' to 'excellent' by most clients!) for an overnight stay. Overnight Sparta Day 9 On the way back to Athens, we will be stopping at various wetland sites for migrant waders, and if time, the ruins of King Agamemnon's Mycenae, before catching our return flight to London. Accommodation: We stay in good quality hotels with all rooms en suite. |
| Leaders: Mike Crewe & Gareth Trewartha |
| Numbers : Max. 12 clients |
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Price:
Single supp.: Deposit: |
£ £ £ |
1,595 170 200 |
per person |
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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.
The price excludes holiday insurance, optional tip to the driver, drinks, and other personal expenses. This trip will be operated in conjunction with Limosa Holidays. |
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