Go Slow in Southern Cyprus

Both leaders were exceptional, both in terms of their knowledge of natural history (birds, botany) but also in terms of their leadership skills - ensuring everyone was involved, keeping and eye on everyone without making it too obvious. Good social skills. And the driver was very good as well.

For a birder, I loved seeing the lizards. Wheatears, stunning views of Long-legged Buzzards and the Rock Thrush was the icing on the cake. I met a lovely group of people on the trip.

Yiannis Christofides knowledge and enthusiasm for the geology, flora, history and lifestyles of Cyprus is terrific. His warm personality and delight in finding the flowers he wanted to show us, and his consideration of people on the trip, along with his sheer work rate, made this trip very memorable.

Excellent botanising, beautiful country, very good hotel and its location. Good birding even though the exceptionally hot weather had affected migration ..... but the bonus was the number of hoopoes bobbing around! Swifts screaming overhead and swallows and house martins hard at nest-building on the hotel buildings. Lovely fresh food and insights into a fascinating and complex history and culture...... so far more rounded a holiday than we might have expected. The botanist guiding us was a brilliant all rounder naturalist and really made the trip.