SOUTHWEST TURKEY
GEMBOS YAYLA & THE LYCIAN COAST
A river cuts through the high mountains of Olympos National Park, emerging at Sundance's unspoilt bay where the deep blue Mediterranean is almost encircled by wooded headlands. Migrant birds, dragonflies, terrapins, and a wide range of flowers enjoy the idyllic spring climate. Ancient Phaselis is just a kilometre across the bay, its stone-lined streets and wooded pathways hosting a marvellous show of Minoan Ophrys.
Canyons and gorges take us into the national park where Ophrys climacis, and both Monkey and Anatolian Orchids flower in fern-laden rockeries. Danford's Lizards bask in the sun and early season butterflies such as Gruner's Orange-tip, False Apollo, Turkish Vernal Copper and Eastern Festoons flutter about sunny glades as Krüper's Nuthatches chase each other through the Calabrian Pines. Tall Fritillaria acmopetala and many Ophrys including umbilicata, heterochila, ferrum-equinum and cinereophila bloom with Bellevalias and myriad pea flowers in open woodlands. The yellow and orange Lathyrus belinensis is one of the most beautiful flowers you'll ever see! Springs of limpid water emerge amid the ruins of Limyra, the sinuous channels lined with yellow Iris xanthospuria, the haunt of demoiselles and kingfishers. Steep-sided valleys are home to Chameleon, the rare Lycian Salamander and Wallcreepers. Higher in the mountains, amid elegant cedars and junipers, are Orchis sezikana, yellow Fritillaria carica, blue Chionodoxa forbesii, pink Anthemis rosea, rare Corydalis pashei, Cyclamen alpinum and the highly scented white Muscari muscarimi. The high pastures of Gembos Yayla have an extra special show of egg-yolk yellow Crocus chrysanthus and purple-striped blue Crocus biflorus subspecies isauricus. They've hybridised extensively resulting in a kaleidoscopic array of colours with all intermediate forms on show. We'll look for endemic Iris pamphylica, Iris stenophylla and Iris masia, and there are wonderful displays of Galanthus elwesii in nearby yaylas.
INFORMATION
Focus
Spring Flowers, particularly Orchids and Bulbs. Also Birds, Reptiles and Turkey’s superb Rural and Mountain Landscapes.
Leaders
Walking
Very easy. Always at a relaxed pace and never more than two or three miles in any one day, ideally suited to flower photographers.
Included in the Price
All flights. All transport, meals and accommodation in Turkey. Services of your leaders. Please note: drinks, the Turkish entry Visa (currently £10), tips, and items of a personal nature including insurance, are not included.
Group Size
The minimum is 5 and the maximum is 15. Only one leader will accompany a group of 8 or less.
Accommodation
After a night at the pleasant Oscar Hotel in Antalya we’ll move up into the Taurus Mountains to Ibradi for a four night stay at the welcoming Postancı Konak. Next are three nights at Sundance. Cabins are spread around the quiet and secluded wooded grounds. Though rather plain, they have the usual modern comforts. The restaurant provides particularly fine home cooking. The property includes pine forests, garrigue-covered headlands, a beautiful bay, a little estuary, and some organically farmed fields. Lastly we have four nights at the comfortable Finike 2000 hotel quietly positioned above the town’s small marina. Those on the Istanbul Extension will have two nights at the lovely Turcoman Hotel overlooking the famous Blue Mosque. All rooms on this holiday have en suite facilities.
Climate
Variable but mostly clear and sunny with daytime temperatures between 12°C and 25°C. Rain is likely at some point and is occasionally prolonged.
How To Book
Download a booking form (or contact us and we will send one to you)from the Booking Information section. 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, bird and butterfly checklists are available.
