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Go Slow on Greece's Pelion Peninsula
Tour Code: GRC17A gentle-paced week of wildflower walks in the beautiful countryside of Greece's Pelion Peninsula.
£1,995 (Inc flights)
£1,745
Highlights
Tour Itinerary and Reports
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Summary
It isn’t difficult to go slow on Greece’s gorgeous Pelion Peninsula, where an abundance of wildflowers grows within a short stroll along a “kalderimi”, or mule track. On this 7-night holiday we stay at just the one hotel on the outskirts of the village of Lafkos, and each day wind our way through olive groves, hillsides or down to the beach, often lunching at a local taverna. In spring there is a profusion here of Mediterranean favourites, including Cistus, asphodels and spurges. There is also a remarkable variety of orchids – 52 species have been recorded on the Peninsula.
- Seven nights in a quiet hotel in the village of Lafkos, with a stunning garden and views over Pagasetic Gulf
- Leisurely holiday primarily searching for flowers, though other wildlife will also be enjoyed
- Gentle strolls (around 2 to 3 miles) along “kalderimia”, cobbled pathways intended for mules
- Profusion of Mediterranean wildflowers, including asphodels, spurges, Cistus and numerous orchids
- Visit to Pelion Orchid Centre with Green-winged Orchid, Man Orchid, Ophrys reinholdii and Orchis provincialis all possible
- Visit the local vineyard for wildflower walks and wine tasting
Grading
Grade A – we enjoy walks of up to around 2 miles, all taken at a leisurely pace. Our coach driver will be at our disposal each day, so more often than not it will be possible to arrange for anyone that doesn’t wish to walk to skip an excursion and meet the group for lunch. Walks on the kalderimi cobbled paths are mostly slow descents, occasionally steep at times but only for a matter of perhaps 50 metres.
According to Greek legend, Mount Pelion was the summer residence of the Gods of Olympus, and the homeland of the magical Centaurs. Situated mid way between Athens and Thessaloniki, the Pelion Peninsula extends south from this mountain, surrounded by stunning beaches and beautiful turquoise waters, and is covered in beech and oak forests and shady olive groves.
This ‘Go Slow’ holiday, begins with a flight to Thessaloniki, from where we will head north to Pelion and our base for seven nights, the small and comfortable Lagou Raxi Country Hotel. Situated on the edge of the unspoiled village of Lafkos, where white-washed houses surround village squares shaded by plane trees, our hotel features beautiful gardens and stunning views over the islands of the Pagasetic Gulf. From here we will explore the peninsula at a leisurely pace, making use of the many kalderimia, or cobbled mule paths, to aid our exploration. We will enjoy leisurely walks of up to two miles in length, as we explore the flower-filled hillsides and olive groves or follow one of the kalderimia down to the coast, where Mediterranean species abound. We will enjoy identifying asphodels, spurges, abundant herbs and the parasitic Cytinus hypocistus amongst the Cistus scrub, while Italian Gladiolus and Barbary Nut are found amongst the grassy verges and Yellow-horned Poppy grows along the shore. We will also visit some beautiful local gardens, where the owners have encouraged wildflowers to return following years of pesticide use. The result is wonderful, with hillsides covered in Bee Orchids, Serapias and Orchis italica.
On one day, we will drive north to the Pelion Orchid Centre. Fifty-two species of orchid have now been identified in north Pelion, and above the village we may find Anacamptis morio and Orchis anthropophora (Man Orchid), whilst in the woodlands, dominated by Downy Oak, we should find Orchis provincialis. Our diverse programme for the week will also include some delightful taverna lunches and an optional excursion to a local vineyard where we can sample a few of the delicious local wines.
Outline Itinerary
What's Included?
- Flights
- Accommodation:
We will be staying in the comfortable Lagou Raxi Country Hotel, close to the village of Lafkos. All rooms have private facilities and balconies or terraces. There is a swimming pool (though unheated… so perhaps a little chilly in April!), and the restaurant’s terrace has stunning views across the islands of the Pagasetic Gulf. As well as the large sitting room and bar (with fireplace for cooler evenings), there is a library for reading, painting and other quiet activities.
- Food:
All food is included in the cost of this holiday, except for any meals required during travel as EasyJet does not provide in-flight meals.
Dates & Prices
2025
Tour Leader: Jenny Willsher
Jenny is an experienced tour leader and enthusiastic general naturalist, with a particular interest in botany. She has travelled extensively in Europe, particularly in France, Spain, Sardinia and Crete and in West Africa, South and North America - an eclectic mix of destinations. Her experience in West Africa was as part of The Wetland Trust's expeditions to Senegal in the early 1990s to study bird migration. An experienced bird ringer, she has also travelled to Kenya and northern Thailand to ring birds. She has had a great deal of 'people experience' from her work as a health professional in the NHS.
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[description] => Botanical Tours – See Wild Flowers with our Expert Botanical Guides
There are few more pleasing sights in the natural world than a meadow filled with wildflowers. Seeing plants in their native habitat is always exciting and our flower tours offer you an incredible choice, from dazzling tropical blooms and the thrill of finding elusive orchids or delicate alpines, to seeing island endemics or British flora. Our tours range from week-long holidays focusing on the ‘Alpine flowers of the Swiss Alps’, the ‘Italian Dolomites’ and the ‘Alpine Flowers of Slovenia’s Julian Alps’, to orchid-hunting on Italy’s Gargano Peninsula and searching for the Autumn Plants of Greece’s Peloponnese. We also visit more remote areas of the world in search of plant-life, from the Tien Shan Mountains of Kazakhstan where we look for wild tulips, to the rainforests and spiny deserts of Madagascar where over 80% of the flora is endemic.
Many of us want to know more about the plants we see around us. Whether inspired by an appreciation of the aesthetic appeal of flowers, or a more focused desire to identify individual species, everyone with an interest in botany will derive pleasure from joining one of Naturetrek’s flower tours.
Why choose Naturetrek’s botanical holidays?
- All our botanical holidays are led by expert botanist guides
- All levels of interest and expertise are catered for, from hobby gardeners and complete beginners to keen botanists who wish to explore a new area with the help of a knowledgeable leader
- We keep the overall focus on flora, though expert guidance is also given on other wildlife
What can I expect on a typical Naturetrek botanical holiday?
- Travel with a group of like-minded people
- Stay at a comfortable hotel or lodge, close to an area of outstanding botanical interest
- Enjoy a series of leisurely day excursions with ample time to appreciate the local flora
In addition to our dedicated flower tours, we also offer holidays with a wider theme to encompass birds, butterflies and other aspects of natural history as well as the flora. Our spring tours to 'Crete' and ‘The Island of Cyprus’ are both timed to allow us to enjoy the botanical highlights as well as the spring bird migration, whilst ‘Croatia and Slovenia – Spring in Istria’ also allows time to enjoy a little of the local culture. ‘Romania – the Wildlife of Transylvania’ combines an appreciation of the flora of the Carpathian Mountains with birding, butterflying and a trip to look for Brown Bears from a purpose built hide, and our holidays in both the ‘French Pyrenees’ and the ‘Spanish Pyrenees’ combine birds, butterflies and botany throughout the week.
Our specialist recommends...
David Tattersfield - Tour Leader
Relaxed Wildlife Holidays
Our programme of Go Slow wildlife holidays allows guests to enjoy the natural world at a more leisurely pace than on one of our conventional wildlife holidays. There will be more time to relax, more time to potter, excursions will be optional and we hope you will return, not only having enjoyed a fascinating mix of birds, plants and other wildlife, but also feeling refreshed and relaxed!
Our Go Slow tours range from week-long holidays that offer warm spring sunshine and gentle natural history excursions in Portugal, the Camargue and Mallorca, to tours which take on a more cultural air each afternoon, such as Go Slow … in Istria in Autumn and Go Slow … in Southern Spain. Our Go Slow holidays in the Swiss Alps and Cyprus both combine the best of the region’s botany and birdlife, or, if you would like to travel a little further afield, why not join us for a leisurely-paced exploration of India’s Tiger Country, Kenya’s Masai Mara, or South Africa’s Western Cape?
What can I expect on a typical Naturetrek Go Slow holiday?
On each Go Slow holiday we aim to offer as many of the following as possible:
- A single-centre holiday
- Direct flights with sociable timings
- Comfortable hotel of high quality (with swimming pool if possible), serving meals of a high standard
- Leisurely paced walks on gentle terrain
- Expert leaders, as ever, with more time for interpretation & explanation
- A maximum of 6 hours in the field each day (9.30am-3.30pm with picnic lunch or two 3-hour excursions)
- Morning and afternoon toilet/comfort stops
- Minimal long drives
- Back in time for afternoon tea
- All excursions optional
- All-inclusive cost (except bar drinks & laundry)
- Time to relax, read, paint, potter, swim or enjoy anything else that you might wish to do!
Our specialist recommends...
Andy Tucker - Operations Manager
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:
- The widest choice of wildlife holidays worldwide
- Tours managed and led by naturalists, for naturalists
- Outstanding value and exceptional customer service
Furthermore, as a Naturetrek client, our office team are always to on hand to help you – so if you have any queries about your holiday, whether before or after you have booked, we will be delighted to answer them on the phone. Please just give our team a call!
