Botanical & Wildlife Tour to Delphi with Greentours. Autumn Bulbs, Birds and Historical Sites of Central Greece

Nestling at the foot of a high cliff on the slopes of Mount Parnassos, Delphi looks out over sea of olives in the Itea Valley to the Gulf of Corinth and the Peloponnese beyond. It is a sublime location for one of the finest classical sites in Greece. 

Rock Nuthatches are busy probing crevices in the ruins, whilst Cirl Buntings, Sombre Tits and Rüppell’s Warblers are all inured to people, having just experienced the summer rush! So it’s a great place to get close to these birds as Delphi enters its autumn quietude. Splashes of bright yellow Sternbergia lutea light up the slopes around the great Kastalia Spring. White-banded Graylings and Pygmy Skippers fly up as we photograph the dark-anthered pink goblets of Colchicum cupanii, abundant here. Autumnal maquis is a colourful sight, the open ground between the red, tawny and gold bushes dotted with the white stars of Crocus hadriaticus subspecies parnassicus, whilst Crocus cancellatus subspecies maaziaricus is a delicate shade of blue set-off by vibrant orange styles. Tortoises will be keeping a wary eye out for the Golden Eagles above as we photograph magnificent pink clumps of Epilobium fleisheri. Lanner Falcon flies above barren-looking slopes by the ski resort where Alpine Accentor, Shore Lark and Snowfinch search our titbits amongst strange little Sternbergia colchiciflora.

 Across the Gulf of Corinth lies Diakopto on the shores of the Northern Peloponnese. Here there are often spectacular displays of autumn bulbs that brighten the parched autumn soils of this beautiful country. Masses of Colchicum peloponnesiacum bloom just outside the village and we’ll probably smell the scented masses of Cyclamen hederifolium confusum before we see them! The dark velvet aroid spathe of strange Biarum tenuifolium erupts from bare earth and on walls and rocks we’ll encounter pretty Campanula versicolor and the yellow goblets of Sternbergia lutea. However it is likely to be the wonderful displays of the large chequered form of Colchicum bivonae that will take the plaudits here!

INFORMATION

Focus

Autumn Bulbs. Also Birds, Historical Sites and Landscapes.

Leaders

Kurt Vickery, Ian Bennallick, A third Greentours Leader will accompany a group of more than 12.

Walking

Very easy. No more than a couple of miles in any one day, and always at a relaxed pace, ideally suited to photographers.

Included in the Price

All flights. All transport and meals in Greece. Services of your leaders. Please note: Drinks, tips, and items of a personal nature such as travel insurance, are not included.

Group Size

One leader for a group of up to 6, two leaders up to 12 and a third leader up to the maximum group size of 15.

Accommodation

For the first four nights of the holiday we’ll stay at the lovely Nefeles Guesthouse a kilometre out of Arachova on the road to Delphi. The colourfully decorated rooms are well-equipped with modern comforts and each has a balcony with views of Mount Parnassos and the Plistos Valley. The Emotions Country Resort in the picturesque village of Voutiro, near Karpenisi, the self-styled ‘Switzerland of Greece’, is our base for the next two nights. Rooms are very comfortable, the food excellent, and views… well, very Swiss! We finish our holiday at the Coco-mat Hotel in Kifisia, close to Parnitha National Park, and within easy reach of the airport. All rooms on this tour have en suite facilities.

Flights

UK return flights are direct from Heathrow, Edinburgh* or Manchester* to Athens. Add-ons are available from various UK airports*. Other indirect routes from regional UK Airports* are available.

*These routes may incur a supplement.

Climate

Warm and sunny with blue skies for the most part, although some rain and cloud can be hoped for, not least by the flowers!

How to Book

Contact us to check there is availability for the number of places you require. Download a booking form or contact us and we will send one to you. Complete and send to us. You will receive confirmation of your place and then a detailed information pack will be dispatched to you about twelve weeks before departure. Flower, butterfly and bird checklists are available.