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The Reptiles & Amphibians of Greece's Pindus Mountains
Tour Code: GRC25An 8-day holiday to Greece's southern Pindus Mountains in search of the reptiles, amphibians and other wildlife.
Highlights
- Search for the seldom seen and endangered Greek Meadow Viper, one of Europe's rarest vertebrates
- Over 45 species of reptiles and amphibians possible!
- Visit the Monastery of Proussos
- Led by a Greek herpetologist naturalist
Tour Itinerary and Reports
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Summary
After flying to Athens, we begin this 8-day holiday in the southern part of the stunning Pindus Mountain range. The region features wonderful scenery, traditional villages, crystal-clear rivers and picturesque valleys, and it is here that we will search for one of Europe’s rarest vertebrates, the Greek Meadow Viper (Vipera graeca) – listed as Endangered by The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species and seen by extremely few naturalists. Alpine Newt (Ichthyosaura alpestris veluchiensis), European Fire Salamander (Salamandra salamandra), Yellow-bellied Toad (Bombina variegata) and Smooth Snake (Coronella austriaca) are just some of the other special herpetofauna we search for in this beautiful mountainous region.
The second part of our holiday visits Strofylia National Park, located in the north-west of the Peloponnese peninsula of Greece. This protected area – known for its unique coastal ecosystems, stunning landscapes and diverse wildlife – is characterised by its rare coastal pine forest, known as Strofylia, which thrives in the sandy soils and coastal dunes. The sandy soils also support the rare Balkan Spadefoot Toad (Pelobates balcanicus chloea), a subspecies endemic to the Peloponnese and known globally from only two populations. The wetlands and lagoons within the park attract a diverse array of waterfowl and the forests themselves provide valuable feeding grounds for many passerines, both resident and migrating. Previous Naturetrek groups have encountered such delights as Nose-Horned Viper (Vipera ammodytes meridionalis), Worm Snake (Xerotyphlops vermicularis), European Tree Frog (Hyla arborea), Ladybird Spider, Mediterranean Checkered Scorpion, Golden Jackal, Great Spotted Cuckoo, Eagle Owl, and many others. On one of our days on the Peloponnese we’ll make an excursion south to discover African Chameleon (Chamaeleo africanus), an introduced but endangered species that, within Europe, can only be found here.
This tour can be enjoyed on a back-to-back basis with our Reptiles & Amphibians of the Greek Thrace holiday and is part of our portfolio of herpetology holidays.
Grading
On a typical day on our herpetology tours we’ll begin searching in the field after breakfast, when the sun has warmed the substrates and landscapes, often getting into the vehicles at 9am and, after stopping for approximately one hour for lunch (which is often a continental-style picnic eaten in situ), we’ll continue into early-evening when we will stop for a rest and dinner. Most evenings it will be possible to do excursions in search of nocturnal species, which will on average be for three hours after dinner. With an equal percentage of the target reptile and amphibian species likely to be nocturnal, these night searches are an important part of the tour but are optional, with some participants preferring to rest on some of the days. On average, 5-8 miles are walked per day.
We’ll focus our time in the field on building an enviable list of reptile and amphibian species seen. Whilst searching, there is no doubt we’ll come across a huge variety of amazing fauna and flora, which we’ll also take time to enjoy, but reptiles and amphibians will strongly remain our focus. Sensitively checking under stones, logs and other refugia is an effective way of finding many species. Some of the target reptile or amphibian species may require longer field hours to locate and therefore this tour is suitable, and most enjoyable, for naturalists who, aside from wishing to see the region’s rarely-seen reptiles and amphibians, relish being in the field searching for and identifying the vast array of birds, butterflies, invertebrates, orchids and other wildlife which can be found sharing the wonderful habitats that we’ll explore on the tour.
In summary, Naturetrek herpetology holidays are suitable, and offer tremendous value, for those who spend most of their holiday time in wildlife habitats and for whom seeing some of the world’s superb reptiles and amphibians is the focus of their time away.
Outline Itinerary
What's Included?
- Flights
- Accommodation:
Comfortable en suite accommodation throughout
- Food:
All meals are included in the cost of this holiday, except for any meals required during travel, and starting with dinner on Day 1 and ending with breakfast on Day 8.
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!
