easy spring birding in the Aegean
Carpets of flowers, olive groves and birding on the beautiful island of Lesvos in the Aegean Sea.
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Wildlife Travel leaflet Lesvos 2nd – 9th May 2027
Wildlife Travel leaflet Lesvos 9th – 16th May 2027
Dates
2nd – 9th May 2027
fully booked
9th – 16th May 2027
fully booked
Leader
2nd – 9th May 2027
Mike Russell and Philip Precey
9th – 16th May 2027
Mike Russell and Phil Saunders
Price
£2,195
Single Room Supplement – £185
Included
Return flight London Gatwick to Lesvos. Local transport as specified in itinerary. Seven nights accommodation, full board.
Not included
Refreshments. Gratuities. Travel insurance. ETIAS/visa costs.
Group size
Minimum 4, maximum 12.
Lesvos is still an undiscovered island for many, despite being the third largest in Greece and close to the Turkish mainland. It is relatively undeveloped and retains its rural culture, interspersed with a few attractive towns and villages. In early-May, the tourist season is just beginning and there is a pleasant, relaxed atmosphere at a time when the flowers and birds are at their best.
The countryside is covered in a colourful display of shrubs, perennials and annuals and the birdsong adds a delightful background to quiet walks through olive groves, meadows and woods or along the coast. Our search for the island’s wildlife will take us to some interesting landscapes and historical sites.
The island is justifiably famous for its birdlife, with local breeding specialities including Krüper’s Nuthatch, Cinereous Bunting and Masked Shrike. We have timed this holiday to catch the best of the northwards spring migration, as well as the wonderful carpets of spring flowers.
During the week we will be visiting many parts of the island – the rolling hills, pastures and rocky landscapes of the west, and the sweet chestnut and pine woods of the southern mountains. We will explore the rivers, lagoons and reedbeds around Skala Kalloni, and the coastal ‘shrublands’ full of orchids and birdsong.
Our first hotel is within walking distance of the Kalloni wetlands, which contain the prime birding spots on the island, while our second hotel is right on the harbour in the scenic town of Molyvos, on the north coast. They both provide a great base from which to explore the island.
Please note that holidays change, although sometimes only slightly, from year to year and previous trip reports may not reflect the planned itinerary, or other holiday details, for the current trip. Please ask us if you would like to know of any significant differences.
Day 1 Our flights take us to Mytilene, the main town on Lesvos, from where we transfer to Skala Kallonis (c. 1 hour) where we will settle in to our hotel before our first exploration of the local birdwatching sites.
Day 2 We explore the countryside around Skala Kallonis. Walking out from the hotel, we amble through the village lanes and fields, to familiarise ourselves with more of the local wild flowers of the pathsides, waterways and marshes. Eastern Olivaceous Warblers sing from the tamarisk bushes, newly-arrived Bee-eaters hawk over head, Little Bittern and Squacco Heron feed along the river margins, and all sorts of migrant birds might turn up as they head north.
Day 3 We visit the wetlands around Mesa and the Kalloni Salt Pans, where Greater Flamingos feed alongside elegant Avocets, Glossy Ibis and Black-winged Stilts, and a variety of migrating waders and wildfowl, gulls and terns may be seen.
Day 4 We head to the north of the island, stopping along the way at Metochi Lake, where we will look for Balkan Terrapin and various dragonflies, and take a wander through the olive groves, checking for the lovely Iris orientalis and the Hairy Birthwort, while keeping our eyes out for Masked Shrike, and Western Rock Nuthatch and Starred Agamas amongst the rocks. From here, we explore the picturesque chapels and wild olive groves of Limonos Monastery, looking for Sombre Tit amongst the olive trees. It is then a short journey to the attractive fishing village of Molyvos, and our hotel overlooking the fishing harbour, where we will stay for the rest of the week.
Day 5 We travel around to the eastern side of the Gulf to visit the pine woodlands at Achladeri, home to Krüper’s Nuthatch, another local speciality for which Lesvos is the only European outpost. From here we head up onto the slopes of Mount Olympus. Here we visit the beautiful sweet chestnut woods and limestone hillsides looking for many flowers including Fritillaria pontica and bright splashes of colour in the form of Paeonia macula, Tulipa orphanidea and the beautiful Peacock Anemone. We will look for several species of orchids, including Sword-leaved Helleborine, Toothed Orchids and Holmboe’s Butterfly Orchid.
Day 6 We visit the hillsides below Ypsilou Monastery, famous for a local speciality, Cinereous Bunting, which sings from the oak trees. Isabelline and Eastern Black-eared Wheatears feed on the rocky slopes, with the lovely pink Crepis rubra, Euphorbia rigida and Large Venus’s Looking-glass amongst the floral highlights. Near the coastal village of Sigri, we visit the amazing Petrified Forest Geopark, where Cretzschmar’s Buntings sing from among the fossilised trees and Holy Orchids flower at the trackside.
Day 7 We head a little way inland, for a gentle walk through the scenic village of Petri and out to explore the quiet lanes and hillside beyond the village. We will also include a stop at Kavaki to check the coastal scrub for migrant birds.
Day 8 We have time this morning to explore the narrow lanes of Molyvos before we begin the return journey to Mytilene, stopping along the way for some more bird watching before our flights home.
Please note that the itinerary may be changed to suit the weather or other practicalities at the discretion of the leaders.
We will be staying for the first three nights at the Pasiphae Hotel only a few minutes walk from the wetlands of Skala Kallonis (handy for those prebreakfast bird walks). From there, we move to the lovely Sea Horse Hotel, situated at the quayside of the small fishing harbour of Molyvos. All rooms are en-suite.
Evening meals will be at the hotel and we will have picnic lunches.
We will travel by small coach or minibus.
Group flights
Group flights are with with Jet2 from London Gatwick to Mytilene.
2nd May depart London Gatwick 14.15, arrive Mytilene 20.00
9th May depart Mytilene 20.50, arrive London Gatwick 22.40
It may also be possible to fly from London Stansted or Manchester, with Jet2. Speak to us to discuss options.
Overland travel
You can reach Greece by train from the UK, with some route options also involving a ferry. From London you can reach Athens in two to three nights. Many of the Greek islands can be reached by ferry from Athens, including Lesvos. Contact us to find out more, and to make your holiday flight-free.
Time zone
Greece is two hours ahead of UK time.
Entry requirements
If you hold a British passport you can travel to countries in the Schengen area (including Greece) for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa. Your passport must be issued less than ten years before the date you enter the country and valid for at least three months after the day you plan to leave.
British passport holders will need to apply for the ETIAS European Travel Authorisation to visit Schengen countries. This must be applied for online prior to travel, at a cost of €7 (free for over 70s). Once granted, your ETIAS will be valid for three years.
At this time of year the weather is usually sunny but not too hot. There may be some cooler weather and some rain. We will adapt our walks and excursions accordingly.
On most days, we are walking for much of the day, albeit at a relatively slow pace. The longest walk will be around 8km, on the flat. On other days it is necessary to walk on rougher ground and up/down some (gentle) slopes, although none of the walking is particularly strenuous. Good (light) walking boots are essential. All excursions are optional.