Dates & Prices

Dates: 1st – 8th Apr 2026 Confirmed departure

Price: £1,495 places available

Single Room Supplement: £150

Deposit: £150 per person

Price Includes: All meals, accommodation, all ground transport including transfers, services of guides, tour report

Not Included: Flights, travel insurance, drinks & any other personal items

Conservation Donation: Botanical Society of Britain & Ireland (BSBI)

Leader: Sotiris Alexiou & Rachael Alexiou-Ayrton

Group Size: Minimum of 4 and a maximum of 12 guests plus 2 leaders

Grade: Gentle paced walks in a variety of terrains

Holiday Highlights

  • The ultimate & authentic ‘Orchids Of Rhodes’ tour, designed by us nearly 15 years ago
  • Discover 40-50 of the islands rich variety of orchid, especially in the Ophrys genus
  • Endemic / regional Orchid species such as Ophrys colossaea, Ophrys oreas, Ophrys lucis, Ophrys regis-fernandii, Ophrys candica, Ophrys cretica ssp. beloniae, Ophrys attaviria & Ophrys reinholdii
  • Led by locals! Our knowledge of Rhodes, Greek nature & culture & the ability to adapt to seasonal variation is second to none!
  • More than orchids! There are 1,500 plant species on Rhodes & we’ll show you a good range of them – including endemics such as the Rhodes Peony & Rhodes Fritillary
  • Enjoy butterflies & birds, such as Eastern Festoon, Green Underside Blue, Eastern Baton Blue, Long-legged Buzzard, Snake Eagle, Crested Lark, Alpine Swift & Crag Martin

Enjoy a wonderful array of flora & fauna, on the ultimate & authentic Orchids Of Rhodes tour!

BOOK NOW

Join us for the ultimate & authentic “Orchids of Rhodes” tour – a unique journey through one of Greece’s most fascinating islands. Experience the magic of spring on Rhodes, where rich Mediterranean and Asian influences create an extraordinary blend of flora, fauna, and natural beauty.

Although famous for its beaches and sunshine, Rhodes holds a world of hidden treasures waiting to be discovered. Our exclusive tour, first launched in 2013, has become one of our company’s flagship nature experiences. Designed and led by passionate local naturalists, this adventure offers a truly authentic encounter with the island’s landscapes, wildlife, and culture.

As locals — both Greek nationals and long-term residents — we know the island intimately. Our team has spent years exploring its diverse habitats and cataloguing its fascinating flora and fauna. With access to a network of other local naturalists who share their latest field observations, we ensure every tour adapts to seasonal changes and maximizes your chances of finding the best available plants and blooms.

Rhodes boasts over 1,500 recorded plant species, including more than 50 species of orchids. For an island only 80 km long and 30 km wide, that is an impressive number! The island’s gently hilly terrain, dominated by Mount Attavyros at 1,215 meters, provides ideal habitats for orchids to flourish. You’ll encounter a wide variety of Ophrys species, such as Ophrys colossaea, O. saliarisii, O. halia, O. rhodia, O. oreas, O. lucis, O. regis-fernandii, O. candica, O. cretica ssp. beloniae, O. attaviria, and O. reinholdii. Hybrid orchids are also a thrilling possibility — nature often surprises us with unexpected finds!

In other genuses we can hope to find the first flowers of Limadorum abortivum, alongside others which are more certain to be in flower including Anacamptis laxiflora, Neotinea lactea, Neotinea maculata, Orchis provincialis, Orchis anatolica, Orchis italica,  Anacamptis morio, Anacamptis papilionacea, Anacamptis collina, Serapias carica, and more! Depending on the season we may also see Anacamptis sancta in flower, as well as A. fragrans and the hybrid between the two, A. x kallithea.

Our tour is about much more than orchids and celebrates all aspects of the island’s flora. You’ll see several endemic species unique to Rhodes, including the Rhodes Paeony (Paeonia clusii ssp. rhodia), whose sweet scent fills the forests, and the graceful Rhodes Fritillary (Fritillaria rhodia). Beneath tall cypress trees, carpets of Cyclamen (Cyclamen rhodium) add vibrant colour, while the cliffs of Mount Attavyros are home to the rare Star Thistle (Centaurea lactucifolia), found only on Rhodes and the nearby island of Halki. Plus some local Eastern Aegean species such as Large Rhodian Bellflower (Campanula hagielii), Rhodian Wallflower (Erysimum rhodium), and Rhodian Catchfly (Silene salamandra).

Your base for most of the week will be a family-run hotel in a charming traditional village. Each day, we’ll set off on new adventures to explore the island’s most beautiful and biodiverse sites. During our outings, you’ll enjoy fresh picnic lunches, featuring homemade dishes prepared by our founder’s family. Evenings are spent relaxing in welcoming tavernas, sampling local Rhodian cuisine and classic Greek flavours.

To conclude this unforgettable journey, we’ll spend our final part of the trip in Rhodes itself, including a private tour of the medieval Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In early spring, its cobbled streets and historic architecture set behind high walls & a deep dry moat, offer a peaceful & unique retreat. You’ll have time to explore, soak up the atmosphere, and enjoy a few final floral discoveries before bidding farewell to this enchanting island.

    

Please note: the itinerary is subject to changes in terms of the daily running order and content. We take the local weather conditions into account, along with how the flowering season is progressing and make appropriate adjustments to provide you with the best daily excursions possible.

Day 1: On arrival at Rhodes Airport you will be met by your guides, who will accompany you throughout the trip. From the airport we head south (journey time approximately 45 – 60 mins) down the western side of the island, towards our base for the week. We will be staying at a family run hotel nestled at the base of one of the islands three mountains in a traditional Rhodian village.

Depending on time we may make one or two stops on our journey to view our first orchids, or to look at any other wildlife of interest. Once checked we will (depending on the time) have a local wander, followed by dinner together & an introductory talk about the week ahead.

Day 2: For our first full day will focus on exploring various locations in the ‘deep south’ of the island in some well-preserved phrygana habitat. The orchids we can expect to find are numerous and include Ophrys regis-fernandii, Ophrys cretica ssp. beloniae, Ophrys parvula, Ophrys iricolor, Serapias carica, Ophrys calypsus, Ophrys blitopertha, Ophrys halia and cornutula. We shall also look out for the endemic Fritillaria rhodia & Campanula rhodia.

Day 3: Today we will be orchid hunting on Mount Attavyros and some other nearby locations. It won’t be long before we are among orchids and our finds should include some or all of Ophrys reinholdii, Ophrys dodekanensis, Ophrys lucis, Ophrys omegaifera, Orchis anatolica, Neotinea lactea, Ophrys umbilicata, Ophrys ferrum-equinuum and Ophrys candica.

In Greek mythology Althaemenes (son of Catreus, king of Crete) founded an altar to Zeus on the mountain. He was said to have chosen the site as the only point on Rhodes from which his homeland of Crete could be seen. The remains of the sanctuary can be seen near the summit. Upon the mountain there were, it is said, brazen bulls which roared when anything extraordinary was going to happen – we must listen out for them during our visit!

Day 4: Our destination today is a mountain top in southern Rhodes – a location that is invariably extremely productive for both orchids and other wildlife besides. We will make several stops at various elevations, before our arrival at the top, on which we will spend much of the day. All stops should yield good  orchids, and more plants besides. Our orchid finds are likely to include Ophrys tenthredinifera, Ophrys phryganae, Ophrys bombyliflora, Ophrys oreas, and Ophrys sitiaca. We may also find swathes of Orchis anatolica and Anacamptis papilionacea.

Day 5: The mountain slopes of Profitis Ilias will be our destination and plant hunting playground today. The orchids usually come thick and fast as soon as we start to search the slopes and the forest floor, which is decorated with Anenome blanda & Cyclamen rhodium at this time of year.

We should find a good variety of orchids in flower, including Ophrys oreas, Ophrys cinereophila, Ophrys Persephone, Ophrys lucis, Ophrys reinholdii, Orchis provincialis, Neotinea maculata, Neotinea lactea, Anacamptis morio and Orchis anthropophora.

Of course, the week isn’t entirely about the orchids and it is impossible to ignore the lush white flowers and scent of Paeonia clusii ssp. rhodia, the Rhodes peony. Depending on the season we hope to see it with fresh flowers.

Day 6: Our destination today is the east coast. We will drive through the centre of the island with interesting landscapes en route & a stop for orchids such as Anacamptis laxiflora & Ophrys bombyliflora. We will explore sites close to the coast as well as drive a short way inland, to look for orchids in olive groves and similar habitats. Orchids we will look for today include Ophrys colossaea, Ophrys rhodia, Ophrys calypso, Ophrys polyxo, Ophrys blitopertha, Ophrys attaviria, Serapias bergonii and Serapias carica.

After our picnic lunch we will head north, about as far north as we can on the island without getting wet, to the town of Rhodes. We’ll check in to our hotel and either visit a local site, or relax for the remainder of the day.

Day 7: Our final day will be a combination of nature & culture. We’ll take a private tour of the medieval old town and visit some northern sites outside of Rhodes, for a final foray to find orchids and other flora and fauna. We’ll return in time to rest & prepare for departures the next day, and to enjoy one last evening together.

Day 8: Day of departure. We bid our farewells to our hosts at the hotel and head to the airport after breakfast, with the possibility of a stop or two on the way, depending on our schedule.

2024 “Both guides were superb, Sotiris especially was super patient pointing out birds and other wildlife and taking the time to explain key orchid identification pointers to a beginner botanist (me).  He managed to deal with the wide range of personalities within the group perfectly, always with a smile and friendly attitude, nothing was too much trouble.  He is an asset to Greenwings and I would actively go on any future holidays where he is leading” Rachael E

2024 “Both guides are experts in their field and very good at sharing information. I would also say that Sotiris is exceptional in people skills and diplomacy, tuned into his clients’ needs and highly considerate and caring. He is also an excellent driver! He is all round the best guide I have had on any of the guided trips I have done.” Rosamund W

2024 “An excellent trip, beautiful weather, very lovely locations, knowledgeable leaders well prepared about the area and sites to visit and fantastic wildflowers, forests etc. Sotiris is a gem; very good with people, knowledgeable, patient and easy going – nothing was too much trouble for him. Picnic lunches were very good – credit due to Matt’s mother-in-law.” Adron W

2024 “First time with Greenwings – small group, impressive knowledge of guides both of locations and orchid species, general flora and fauna.” Sue M

2022 “The Orchid Odyssey trip in Rhodes was amazing. From start to finish the guides were helpful and patient with all the group which ranged from complete beginners to accomplished botanists. Everything was done to the pace of the group and no-one had to miss out if they were not as quick as others. Even when one site did not yield the expected treasures, which on a wildlife holiday is always a risk, alternative sites were tried which came up with the goods. The guides were approachable, exceptionally knowledgeable and kind.” Ken and Tracey C

2022 “Objectives more than met. 44 flowering orchid species seen and photographed. Knowledgeable guides and so made the best use of time available. Would not hesitate to travel with Greenwings again.” Ian H

2018 “The Greenwings tour to Rhodes fulfilled our every expectation and more! We enjoyed the leadership of two excellent naturalists, spent each day eagerly searching new sites, with great success, and had every possible help identifying not only the many orchids we found, but every other plant, as well as insects from gorgeous butterflies to beetles and reptiles. Everything went smoothly, the group got on well, and we even managed a final visit to a very interesting archaeological site.” Robin

2018 “A perfect holiday with wonderful food, excellent guides and plenty of exquisite orchids!” Alfred

2018 “A first class holiday for orchid enthusiasts!” Philip

2018 “Do you love orchids? Then you will love Rhodes! My third visit and still seeing new things! Book now, spring will be here sooner than you think! Your expert guides await.” Judy

2015 “For me it was a very relaxing holiday I liked it very much and I’m very happy about all the new Orchids I saw!” Maja

2015 “We enjoyed the holiday immensely, due in large measure to your excellent planning, and the nice people who come on your trips!” Gordon & Diane