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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.
H.E & S.E. Warwickshire, March 24
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Go Slow in Southern Cyprus
Tour Code: CYP05A relaxing 8-day holiday to the Island of Cyprus, for an enjoyable mix of birding and botany from our two bases in Paphos and Latchi.
8 days
from
£1,695
£1,695
Land only price
from
£1,445
£1,445
Highlights
Tour Itinerary and Reports
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Summary
This ‘Go Slow’ tour offers a relaxing week of birding and botanising on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus, which is generally bathed in warm sunshine during the spring. During this 2-centre holiday, we will spend three nights in the historic town of Paphos, before moving close to the Baths of Aphrodite and the beautiful Akamas Peninsula National Park on the western side of the island for the subsequent four nights.
From each base we will head out each day on gentle natural history walks in search of migrant birds, flowers and a variety of other wildlife, breaking with a taverna lunch or a picnic in a scenic spot. Highlights may include Black Francolin, Chukar Partridge, Bonelli’s Eagle, Long-legged Buzzard, migrating birds and the endemic Cyprus Warbler, plus some late orchids such as Fragrant orchids and Tongue orchids. At the end of each day there will be time to relax back at the hotel or stroll along the beautiful beach below.
- A slow-paced, 2-centre wildlife holiday based in comfortable hotels
- Enjoy the beautiful Akamas Peninsula National Park
- Black Francolin, Rüppell’s Warbler, Masked Shrike and endemics including Cyprus Warbler and Cyprus Wheatear all possible
- Botanical highlights include numerous orchids and Cyprus endemics
- Direct flights and short transfer times
- Time to relax and enjoy the area
- Led by expert naturalist guides
Grading
Grade A. Gentle day walks only.
This ‘Go Slow’ tour offers a relaxing week of birding and botanising on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus, which is generally bathed in warm sunshine during the spring. During this two-centre holiday, we will spend three nights in the historic town of Paphos, before moving close to the Baths of Aphrodite and the beautiful Akamas Peninsula National Park on the western side of the island for the subsequent four nights. From each base we will head out each day on gentle natural history walks in search of migrant birds, flowers and a variety of other wildlife, breaking with a taverna lunch or a picnic in a scenic spot. Highlights may include Black Francolin, Chukar Partridge, Bonelli’s Eagle, Long-legged Buzzard, migrating birds and the endemic Cyprus Warbler, plus some late orchids such as Fragrant Orchids and Tongue Orchids. At the end of each day there will be time to relax back at the hotel or stroll along the beautiful beach below.
Outline Itinerary
Day 1
Fly Paphos
Day 2/3
Paphos
Day 4/7
Latchi
Day 8
Fly London
What's Included?
- Flights
- Accommodation:
A two centre holiday based in a comfortable hotel in Paphos and the Aphrodite Beach Hotel, just to the west of Polis on the north coast of the Akamas Peninsula. All rooms have en-suite facilities.
- Food: All meals are included in the price of the holiday.
Reviews
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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.
G.T. West Sussex, March 23 -
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.
J.C - Bristol -
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.
A.L.C. South Yorkshire
Dates & Prices
2025
Departures
Availability
Cost
Wed 19th Mar – Wed 26th Mar
FULL
£1,695
Flights:
Most Naturetrek tours include flight costs ex-UK. If flights are not included, we indicate that here.
Flights are included in the tour cost
Regional Departures:
On certain tours it is possible to depart from a regional airport (rather than London). If a regional departure is possible, we indicate that here.
Regional Departures are available. Call 01962733051
Land only cost:
The "Land Only" cost is the tour price you will pay if you choose to arrange your own flights/transport.
£1,445
Single Room Supplement:
Single Room Supplement.
£175
Tour Leader:
Please note that, whilst we assign leaders to particular tours well in advance, we reserve the right to make changes if necessary
Yiannis Christofides
Tour Leader: Yiannis Christofides
Yiannis was born in Cyprus. He studied Chemistry at University College, London, before moving on to Birbeck College to do research. In 1986 he returned to the mountain village of Platres in Cyprus to pursue his interest in botany, photography and natural history. Yiannis is a member of the Botanical Society of the British Isles and is actively researching the flora of Cyprus. His particular interests are the orchids of Cyprus and the sub-alpine plants of the Troodos Mountains. He is the author of the book 'Orchids of Cyprus' and is currently writing a new Flora for Cyprus. Fluent in English, his other interests include languages, geology, history and archaeology.
2026
Departures
Availability
Cost
Wed 18th Mar – Wed 25th Mar
SPACES
£1,695
Flights:
Most Naturetrek tours include flight costs ex-UK. If flights are not included, we indicate that here.
Flights are included in the tour cost
Regional Departures:
On certain tours it is possible to depart from a regional airport (rather than London). If a regional departure is possible, we indicate that here.
Regional Departures are available. Call 01962733051
Land only cost:
The "Land Only" cost is the tour price you will pay if you choose to arrange your own flights/transport.
£1,445
Single Room Supplement:
Single Room Supplement.
£175
Prefer to Travel in a Private Group?
For any interested natural history club or society, we can arrange for a private departure of this tour.
Enquire
Why Naturetrek?
At Naturetrek we craft expertly-guided group and tailor-made wildlife holidays and cruises to all seven continents. On one of our holidays, you can be assured that our passionate team will enable you to experience and enjoy the best of the world's wildlife and natural spectacles in as comfortable and rewarding a manner as possible, caring as best we can for the environment in the process. We are proud to provide:
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- Tours managed and led by naturalists, for naturalists
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