March 19th - 26th, 2007

CYPRUS (south)

Price: £ 995

Leader: Bob Gibbons & Kevin Cook

The large east mediterranean island of Cyprus is beautiful and still largely unspoilt, with an exceptionally rich flora. Our early spring week is timed to give us the best displays of orchids and other choice plants in the garrigue, coastal habitats, and mountain woods and pastures. This is also an excellent time to see migrating and resident birds.

Wild cyclamen and turban buttercup

We leave London for the direct flight to Paphos, and transfer to our first hotel at Latsi on the north coast just next to the Akamas National Park, perfectly placed for exploring the flowery habitats of this unspoilt part of the island. After 4 nights here, we transfer to a hotel at Platres, on the south side of the wooded Troodos mountains, from where we can explore the woods and mountain pastures right up to the crocuses of the retreating snow-line. At the end of the week, we fly back from Larnaca on the south coast. This will be a relatively gentle week, never travelling far, with lots of short stops.

Orchis punctulata

Cyprus is the third largest mediterranean island, and it boasts an impressive list of flowers, with almost 2000 species including about 100 endemics, and a long list of birds. Spring comes early to south Cyprus, and many of the flowers begin to open just as the year turns. In an average year, late March is a perfect time for many of the more special endemics, orchids and bulbous plants, and the weather is usually pleasantly warm at this time of year in the lowlands.

The orchids of Cyprus are superb, with many endemics and more eastern species as well as more widespread ones, including the attractive Cyprus bee orchid Ophrys kotschyii, Orchis punctulata, Anatolian orchid, Ophrys elegans, O. bornmuelleri, violet limodore and numerous bee and spider orchids, often in considerable abundance. Other spring flowers include the beautiful Cyclamen persicum, lovely pinkish-purple spikes of the endemic Gladiolus triphyllus, a distinctive endemic tulip Tulipa cypria, and the striking turban buttercup Ranunculus asiaticus. At this time of year, migrant birds are moving through, often in considerable numbers, and we should also see or hear local specialities such as the black francolin, Cyprus warbler, Cyprus pied wheatear and great spotted cuckoo.

Crocus cyprius in the Troodos

In the heavily-wooded Troodos mountains, there will still be snow on the ground, but there should be plenty of spring flowers out including two species of crocuses, Roman marsh orchid, endemic bulbous plants such as Chionodoxa (Scilla) lochii and many others. We also expect to see some of the special Cyprus trees such as Cyprus cedar and golden oak, as well as possible glimpses of the endemic Cyprus mouflon. We will also make an excursion to the lagoons and grasslands of the Akrotiri peninsula, passing through some interesting chalky hills on the way, for coastal birds, Cyprus bee orchid, impressive displays of turban buttercup and other spring flowers, and much else.

During the week, we should also see some early butterflies, reptiles such as the impressive Cyprus ‘dragon’, and perhaps even a few fruit bats.

The tour price includes return flights, accommodation with private facilities on a bed and breakfast basis, transport throughout, and services of leaders, including pre-tour information, and post-tour lists. We will buy material for picnics and eat out at local restaurants – the cost should work out at about £12 per day.

Tour code: NHT/07/01

Price: £995

Single room supplement: £60

Deposit: £150

Bookings to Sunvil