Description

We invite you to join us on a brand-new adventure and voyage in Greece, to tour two of the finest Cyclades islands for their bounty of spring flora & fauna.

Our focus will of course include orchids and can expect an interesting range and probably a few surprise finds as well! Species we can expect to see include Anacamptis collina, A. fragrans, A. papilionacea aegaea, A. pyramidalis, and A. sancta, Orchis anatolica, O. anthropophora, Serapias bergonii, S. orientalis, S. parviflora etc.

Bee orchids include Ophrys andria, O. attica, O. ariadnae, O. blitopertha, O. bombyliflora, O. calypsus, O. ceto, O. cretica, O. reinholdii, O. ferrum-equinum, O. gortynia, O. icariensis, O. iricolor, O. israelitica, O. omegaifera, O. tenthredinifera lychnitis, O. parosica, O. phryganae, O. sicula, O. speculum.

We will be seeing plenty of other nature, like Aegean Wall Lizard Podarcis erhardii, butterflies like Southern Comma Polygonia egea, birds like Griffon Vultures and Bonelli’s Eagles and lots more.

As locals and long-time residents, we offer an intimacy with the Greek landscape that only a native can provide. Our wildlife tours in Greece go further, immersing you in the authentic traditions, history, and flavours of the Greece we call home.

The Odyssey

The name “Cyclades” refers to the 33 islands and islets forming a circle (the name in English means: “circular islands”) around the sacred island of Delos. According to the Greek mythology, Poseidon, God of the sea, furious at the Cyclades nymphs turned them into islands.

Our journey begins in Athens, where we’ll head straight to Pireaus port and board our first ferry trip, to Paros Island. Our base for our stay on the island will be a beautiful mountain village of Lefkes.

This is an impressive mountain village surrounded by vegetation, built in the local neoclassical island style. There are beautiful squares and narrow alleys paved with marble. The village is located on the highest location of Paros, offering breathtaking views of the island and the sea.

From here we’ll venture out each day to learn and discover the natural and cultural treasures on the island.

Paros

 Paros Island serves as a premier destination for those who seek more than just a holiday—it is a sanctuary of profound ecological and geological significance. Beyond its crystalline waters and pristine coastlines lies a rugged, expressive landscape that has captivated the human imagination for millennia.

The island’s unique natural history is etched into its very foundations. Since antiquity, Paros has been renowned for its exceptional white marble quarries. This “Parian marble,” prized for its unparalleled translucency and purity, provided the raw medium for the ancient world’s most celebrated masterpieces. The same terrain you will explore once yielded the stone for iconic works such as the Venus de Milo, and the Winged Victory of Samothrace.

Naxos

For the next stage of our journey, we will make the fairly short ferry crossing to nearby Naxos, which lies at the very centre of the Cyclades group of islands. The Chora (town) will be the base for our stay on the island, from where we’ll head out on our excursions each day to find the best of the nature of Naxos!

As the largest and most fertile island in the Cyclades, Naxos stands as a verdant outlier at the very heart of the archipelago. This unrivalled fertility supports a wealth of natural beauty, offering discerning travellers a host of sophisticated relaxation and exploration options. Your journey begins at the whitewashed harbour of Chora, where the iconic Portara—a monumental marble gateway to an unfinished temple of Apollo—stands sentinel on the neighbouring Palatia Islet.

The island’s capital is a masterclass in historical layering, where the fortified Old Chora reveals a labyrinth of cobblestone alleys and Venetian walled houses. Many of these grand residences still bear the original Venetian coats of arms, contributing to a unique architectural fusion of Cycladic and medieval styles.

Our exploration ventures beyond these monuments though, into the island’s lush interior, connecting its rich human history with the vibrant, living ecosystem that makes Naxos the most bountiful jewel of the Greek islands.

Athens

On the 7^th day we’ll make the return voyage to Athens Piraeus Port. We’ll make one more journey, to the centre of the city, where we’ll enjoy ‘Athens by night’. The ancient monuments of the Acropolis are arguable even more stunning when lit against the dark sky. We may also fit in a visit to the Acropolis museum, depending on our schedule and museum opening times. Finally, we will retire to our hotel near the Acropolis for a well-earned rest, before making our journeys home the following morning.