Orkney Island Holidays
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The Greek Island of Lesvos Medley Tour
A natural history extravaganza looking at birds, flowers, archaeology and geology in the Greek Island of Lesvos in the Aegean Sea. The period from the end of April to early May is a prime time to see lots of beautiful birds, both on migration and setting up breeding territories.
This Holiday is ideal for anybody who wants to expand their bird watching a little further, with many easily seen birds. Wild flowers are also excellent, and this, together with an interesting array of local archaeology and some spectacular geological formations, makes for a first-rate mixed interest Holiday.
Orkney Island Holidays have been leading trips here for many years, and will ensure you get the most from this one centre Holiday, on the eastern Mediterranean island that we love returning to.
Download your illustrated Lesvos Brochure for full details.
Costs include
Full board ensuite accommodation, Transfers and transport within Lesvos, Daily excursions as per itinerary, Comprehensive Guiding, Entrance fees.
Extra costs
Return scheduled flights to Lesvos via Athens, Tips to Hotel staff at your discretion, Personal insurance, Extras for packed lunch top ups as you require, Things of a purely personal nature.
Lesvos Birds & Flowers
We will see a tremendous mixture of migrating birds, some familiar British species and other less common European species hardly seen in Britain, plus a few Eastern European specialities. We can expect to see well over 100 species, but as usual our aim will be to see and watch birds well, and not just to amass a great 'list'.
To whet your appetite we hope to see various species of egrets, bitterns, flamingos, storks, crakes, shrikes, owls, nuthatches, wheatears, hoopoes, bee-eaters, pratincoles, buntings, waders, terns and birds of prey. Names like red-footed falcon, Cretzschmar's bunting, Ruppell's warbler, Isabelline wheatear, blue rock thrush, great spotted cuckoo, collared arthur scargill, squacco heron and black-winged stilt will become 'old hat' or serve to pleasantly confuse! Cinereous bunting and Krüper's nuthatch are found nowhere else in Europe.
Some of the wildflowers will be very evident, - the anemones, poppies and pimpernels - but others we will have to search out: stars of Bethlehem, star clover, helleborine, and the delicate orchids such as bee, tongue and butterfly orchids, and the Provence, long-spurred and the elusive Italian man orchid. Catchflies, buglosses, vetches, mallows and rock roses fill the gaps.
Specimen Itinerary
| Day 1 | - | Fly out from London to Mytilene in Lesvos via Athens. Flights from other airports in the UK or abroad can be arranged through Ridgway Travel easily. Drive from Mytilene to our hotel in Skala Kalloni. |
| Day 2 | - | An introduction to the birds, flowers and history of the Kalloni area within only a few miles of our hotel. The birds are likely to include buntings, herons, egrets, stilts, storks, flamingos, avocets and birds of prey. Among the flowers will be asphodel, catchflies, rock roses, vetches and mallows. |
| Day 3 | - | Around the Gulf of Kalloni to look for one of the star birds of Lesvos, the Krüper's nuthatch in its breeding habitat, then on to Polichnitos village and salt pans. Look for Ancient Pyrrha. |
| Day 4 | - | Two gentle walks to look at a profusion of wild flowers including orchids. One in an Organic Olive Grove plus a visit to Ydragogio ancient site, and another along an old limestone Kalderim track. Explore the holy village of Agiassos. |
| Day 5 | - | West to the hilltop Ipsalou Monastery for views, peace and lots of birds, such as raptors, the endemic cinereous bunting and perhaps the elusive chukkar. Then to Sigri and a short walk in this haven for migrant birds. |
| Day 6 | - | North to the Napi Valley for raptors, a Byzantine Basilica and Turkish Bridge, and a special heathland. This is an excellent area for birds of prey and passerines on migration, with lovely flowers and scenery. |
| Day 7 | - | A local day around the Kalloni area visiting the East & West Rivers, Inland Lake, Parakila and Kalloni Salt Pans. A chance for some time off to explore the village, rest or take a swim. |
| Day 8 | - | A drive through magnificent mountain scenery to explore the World Heritage Petrified Forest where upstanding fossilized trees can be seen. Then follow the remote Sigri coastal road to a remote migrant hotspot. |
| Day 9 | - | North to explore the ancient defensive town of Molivos, with a pause at a sea viewpoint, where Rüppell's warbler may perform for us. Then a scenic drive along the north coast with a diversion to picturesque Skala Sikimmia, with stops for birds and flowers en route. Return via the Napi valley and any local sites we would like to revisit in the Kalloni area. |
| Day 10 | - | Local strolls and departure for flights home. |
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