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Dates: 17th – 25th April 2024 (TBC)
Price: £1,495 Places available
Single Room Supplement: £150
Deposit: £150 per person
Price Includes: Accommodation, all meals, ground transport, services of guides, holiday report
Not Included: International & internal flights, travel insurance, drinks, entry fees, and any other personal items
Conservation Donation: Botanical Society of Britain & Ireland (BSBI)
Leader(s): Yasemin Konuralp & Dr Yiannis Christofides
Group Size: Minimum of 5 and a maximum of 12 guests plus 2 leaders
Holiday Highlights
- New botanical tour led by an expert local guide & author on the flora of Turkey plus experienced guide & author on flora in the eastern Mediterranean region Yiannis Christofides
- Enjoy a rich variety of spring bulbs and other flowers, including a number of endemics
- Slow pace with plenty of time to enjoy the flowers, other wildlife, plus soak up the atmosphere of the picturesque locations we’ll be walking in
- Experience some of the local culture & customs of the region
- Focus is mainly on plants, but all other wildlife of interest will be observed
- Direct flights available from the Uk to Antalya & back again from Dalaman
New tour!
Welcome to the Early Spring Flowers Tour of the Western Taurus Mountains in Turkey! As the snow begins melting and the first rays of sunshine start to peek through the clouds, the Western Taurus Mountains come alive with a riot of colour and fragrance. From delicate snowdrops and crocuses to vibrant anemones and ranunculus, the mountain slopes are blanketed in a tapestry of wildflowers. As we embark on this tour, we’ll take leisurely hikes through the mountains, stopping along the way to appreciate the beauty of these early spring blooms. Highlights are of course will be the flowers, some of which you’ll never see in any other country – the delicate endemics of the Taurus mountains. Crocus antalyensis is named after Antalya, and Crocus sarichinarensis named after the mountain where she had been found in Taurus. Ophrys lycia and Veronica lycica are from the ancient names of this part of Taurus. Velvety blackish-purple to dark brown Ophrys lycia is mimicking to invite the pollinators with its silvery blue H-shaped speculum. Fritillaria crassifolia growing on limestone screes is the smallest Fritillaria with a 3-10 cm stem. Pine and Cedar forests are the home of Scilla forbesii catching eyes with colours of rich blue with a conspicuous whitish central zone. We’ll also have the opportunity to learn about the various species of flowers found in the region and the cultural significance they hold in Turkish folklore. As we make our way through the mountains, we’ll take breaks to enjoy traditional Turkish snacks and refreshments, and we’ll even have the chance to visit a local village and learn about the way of life in this picturesque region. So come join us on this wildflower tour and experience the magic of the Western Taurus Mountains in all their springtime splendour. It’s sure to be a trip you’ll never forget. Taurus Mountains, called as Toros in Turkish, is a mountain range in the Mediterranean region of Turkey, running approximately 560 kilometers (348 miles) parallel to the coast, and forming the southern border of the Anatolian plateau. Rising at the western-most range of the Great Himalayas, it is Turkey’s second chain of folded mountains after Pontus mountains. The range starts from Egridir Lake in the West and extends to the upper side of the Euphrates (Firat) River in the East after making a long curve. Its northeastern extension across the Seyhan river near Adana city is called as Anti-Taurus. The collision of the European and African plates resulted in this mountain formation in Anatolia. Limestone has eroded to form karstic landscapes of waterfalls, underground rivers, and the largest caves of Asia, especially in the Yedigoller valley. We hope to welcome you on what will be a truly memorable tour! 
DAY 1 : April 17, 2023 – Friday / Arrive Antalya Airport Overnight hotel in ANTALYA
Arrival at Antalya Airport, transfer to our hotel where we will stay for one night.
Meals: Welcome dinner
DAY 2: April 18, 2023 – Saturday / Bey Mountains Overnight village of ÇIRALI
After breakfast drive towards the eastern slopes of the Bey Mountains through the Calabrian pine forest. As we ascend the type of forest will be changed to a Cedar forest. Fascinating Paeonia kesrouanensis colony covering the ground between the cedar trees. Afternoon we explore the forests and high meadows to find the recently described endemic species of Crocus oreogenus along with Scilla bifolia, Crocus antalyensis, Cyclamen alpinum. Afternoon we will drive through Olympos National Park to the village of Çıralı, where we will stay two nights.
Meals: Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner
DAY 3: April 19, 2023 – Sunday / Olympos National Park Overnight village of ÇIRALI
As we drive we’ll explore the forests, bushes, shores, waste places to find the orchids of Ophrys, Orchis, and Serapias species. Many other plants will be on our way, such as Ranunculus asiaticus, endemic Lathyrus belinensis, Dracunculus vulgaris, Asphodaline brevicaulis, Orchis anatolica, might be Tulipa orphanidae and so on. An optional short uphill hike is also possible to “Yanartaş” so-called Chimera where you find the eternal fire is. The fascinating site became a sacred place of ancient Lycians dedicated to Chimera, a mythological monster that burns cities with a breath of fire. Olympos and Phaselis antique cities merged in vegetation and offer interesting ruins of the Roman period of the ancient culture of Lycia.
Meals: Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner
DAY 4: April 20, 2023 – Monday /Mt. Tahtali Overnight KAŞ
After breakfast check-out, we move to our hotel in the morning and drive up in the hills and visit various places to search the wildflowers at the foothills of Mt. Tahtali. The Crocus sarichinarensis and Crocus minutus might be still in flower. Galanthus elwesii, Cyclamen coum will be around. Iris unguicularis, Serapias bergonii, Asphodelus aestivus, Centaurea aegialophila, Anthemis ammophila endemics of Antalya will be at lower altitudes. Afternoon on the way to Kaş, there will be a good site to see Fritillaria acmopetala and might be some orchids.
Meals: Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner
DAY 5 : April 21, 2023 – Tuesday / Cedar Forest Overnight KAŞ
We move in the morning drive up in the hills towards the inland. A cedar forest around 1200 meters high altitude, will offer us some bulbous plants such as Fritillaria latakiensis, Iris purpureobractea, Orchis simia, Tulipa armena. There will be also Ricotia carnosula, Anthemis rosea, Silene cryptoneura, Doronicum orientale, Corydalis solida, Veronica lycica, and many more early spring flowers of the Mediterranean. Forest also offers a nice, refreshing easy walk.
Meals: Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner
DAY 6: April 22, 2023 – Wednesday / Explore orchids around Kasaba Overnight ELMALI
After check-out, we move to our hotel in the morning drive northeast to Kasaba polje plain of karst formation. Before arriving Kasaba, have a look at the site of the endemic orchid of Ophrys lycia growing only in this place of the world. We’ll see many fine species of orchids especially in the hills just inland around Kasaba. Pine woods have large populations Limodorum abortivum, Cephalanthera epipactoides and Ancamptis pyramidalis, Bee orchids are tremendously varied and we’ll see Ophrys lyciensis, Ophrys sicula, Ophrys phaseliana, and even the yellow-formed Ophrys apifera. There are also some fine forms of Orchis fragrans. Drive via Sinekçibeli to Elmalı hoping to find the endemic Fritillaria kittaniae in flower.
Meals: Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner
DAY 7: April 23, 2023 – Thursday / Mt. Akdağ Overnight ELMALI
Today we drive to Gombe where we’ll be botanizing on the slopes of the second highest mountain Akdağ around Elmalı plain. As we are ascending on the mountain road, there will be Muscari bourgaei, Muscari muscarimi, Aethionema cordatum, Veronica lycica, Aubrieta canescens and Aurinia rupestris species among the rocks. Meadow offer countless Fritillaria pinardii, Corydalis erdelii and Scillas bifolia will be around. Higher up, towards the rocks, one can find endemic sky-blue flowered Omphalodes finds herself at a crevice. Picnic lunch, relaxing walk to Green Lake and drive back to the hotel in Elmalı.
Meals: Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner
DAY 8: April 24, 2023 – Friday / Mt. Babadağ Overnight FETHİYE
After check-out, the first visit will be to a site where we’ll see Fritillaria crassifolia, Muscari macrocarpum, and Viola dirimliensis. Afternoon drive will take us to Babadağ, the second highest mountain on the Lycian shore. Fritillaria forbesii, Tulipa armena, Iris unguicularis, Scilla forbesii are some of the flowers we’ll be seeing. Drive to the town of Fethiye for our last night in Turkey.
Meals: Breakfast – Lunch –Farewell Dinner
DAY 9: April 25, 2023 – Saturday / Departure Flight from Dalaman to LONDON
Transfer from Fethiye to Dalaman airport for the flight home. Meals: Breakfast
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New holiday so testimonials will follow later
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