Six out of the eleven Greek wetlands on the Ramsar Convention List: Evros Delta, Lake Mitrikou and Thracian Lagoons, Lake Vistonis and Porto Lagos, Nestos Delta, Lake Kerkini, Lakes Koroneia and Volvi are included in this 10 days program. We’ll also visit the famous Dadia Forest Reserve, as well as the less visited, little gems of Fraktos Virgin Forest, Iasmos Gorge, and Avas Gorge.
Tour Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrival at Thessaloniki Airport, from where you will be transferred to your guesthouse in Lake Kerkini. After settling in the hotel, a welcome dinner with local specialties will follow, during which we will be informed about the aquatic sanctuary of the lake.
Day 2: Kerkini Lake - We will spend the whole day around the Lake. There is so much to see, especially if we hike on the embankment by the White or Dalmatian Pelicans and Squacco Herons, near the dam - for it is an artificial lake - with the Glossy Ibises and Purple Herons, and on the banks of Strimonas River with the water buffaloes (Asia is not far), where the Black and White Storks, Spoonbills, and Egrets come for food.
On the lake, we can see the patches of water lilies where Whiskered and Black terns breed, near the more than 700 nests of the famous Cormorants colony. Well, we are not going to mention the 269 species recorded here. In the tour is included a presentation by the local biologist at the information center where we get a chance to ask specific questions, including about the lake conservation.
Day 3: Kerkini, Fraktos Forest, Xanthi - We depart eastwards through off-the-beaten track, mountain roads. On the way, we hike. In the morning in a small, idyllic dry riverbed always brimming with Bee-eaters and Rollers, and even a Little Owl hiding in one of numerous holes on a vertical cliff. The afternoon sees us in the Virgin Forest of Fraktos which extends to the Bulgarian border, hoping to find the Somber Tit, and at least one of the Woodpeckers, the White-backed or the Grey-headed one. We arrive in the very alive city of Xanthi. We settle in our hotel and then visit a local tavern for dinner.
Day 4: Nestos Delta and Gorge - Today we visit Nestos river. We start by driving in the vast, covered by riparian softwoods, Nestos River Delta up to its mouth - the rare Spur-winger Plover is waiting for us there, one of 300 species. Let us also mention the Masked Shrike and the Olivaceous Warbler, because their names are as beautiful as their persons. At noon we picnic in a subtropical environment or, inland, passing some Booted and Lesser Spotted Eagles, on the way to the mountain top, with a superb view of the river’s gorge.
Finally, under the warm sunshine colors of the afternoon, we walk on the old cobblestone path at the foot of the majestic cliffs, looking for equally awe-inspiring Rock Buntings, Golden Orioles, Syrian and Middle Spotted Woodpeckers, Red-rumped Swallows, Short-toed and Bonelli’s Eagles, Levant Sparrowhawks, Collared Flycatchers.
Day 5: Porto Lagos, Vistonida Lake, Mitrikou Lake, Thracian Lagoons, Dadia - Very quickly, we arrive at Porto Lagos, by Vistonida Lake, another famous birdwatching spot - Black-headed Bunting, Collared Pratincole, Greater Flamingo, Black-necked Grebes, Little Tern, Roller, and the Gulls, Slender-billed and the Mediterranean one. If we did not see the Spur-winged Plover, we may catch it here.
Next-door are Mitrikou Lake and the famous Thracian lagoons. Good hiking around them and, for the brave, sea swimming. By the way, we can also watch the Black and Whiskered Terns, Lesser Grey Shrike, Short-toed Lark, Ferruginous Ducks, and the whole series of Herons. Late afternoon we continue to Dadia and settle in the very peaceful guesthouse.
Day 6: Dadia Forest, Soufli - Early to bed, early to rise. This is the place par excellence to do it. In the magic post-dawn light, we hike up and down through a rocky, thick Mediterranean pine forest up to the observatory to find some of the Griffon, Egyptian, or Black Vultures, or still Imperial, Golden, or Lesser Spotted Eagles, if not the lone Lammergeier, feed themselves on dead animals before they start to fly, taking advantage of the rising heat.
At noon we hide from the sun and visit the Information Center and watch a documentary film. Then to nearby Soufli, an architecturally interesting town known as a center for the production of silk since ancient times. In the afternoon, the bravest will ascent to the peak Gibrena, to enjoy Semi-collared Flycatchers, Woodlarks, and Subalpine and Olive-tree Warblers as well as a panoramic view of the region.
Day 7: Evros Delta and Inland - Departure for a whole day visit of Evros delta. No need to present this classical birdwatching place at the very limit of Greece, opposite the Asian shore. But we can mention some of the prizes: Curlew Sandpiper, Little Stint, Black-winged Stilt, Avocet, Short-toed and Calandra Larks, Isabelline Wheatear, Crag Martin, White-tailed Eagle and the last chance to see the Spur-winged Plover. Optional visit at Traianoupoli therapeutic spring, and at Feres, of the 12th century Virgin Savior of the World church, also called the Parthenon of Thrace and a miniature of Aghia Sofia in Constantinople.
Day 8: Avas Valley, Iasmos Gorge, Kavala, Strimonas Delta - Finally, we head westwards. We soon stop in Alexandroupolis to enter Avas Valley, with its Bonelli’s Warblers, Sombre Tits, as well as Lesser Kestrels, Peregrines, Black Kites, Honey Buzzards. We continue in the same direction, for less-known Iasmos gorge and its series of vultures (all four) as well as the Ortolan Bunting, Rock Nuthatch, Blue Rock Thrush, and if we are lucky, the rare Eagle Owl. We further stop at Kavala for coffee and the Pallid Swifts nesting in the holes of the Roman aqueduct. Arrival and settling in the neat family, pool-equipped hotel right at the entrance of the small valley - Rendina - leading to the lakes of Volvi and Koroneia.
Day 9: Volvi and Koroneia Lakes - All-day leisurely visit of the twin lakes. Although they have been heavily damaged by agriculture and pollution, as well as largely ignored compared to the more illustrious places, they have quite a few interesting spots, like the enchanting riverine forest of Appolonia, with its Cirl Buntings, Stonechats, Hoopoes; the unique, old and tall plane-tree between the two lakes, full of Herons’ nests; or simply the reedbeds of Lake Koroneia with, again, water buffaloes, accompanied by Night Herons, Little Egrets, Little Bitterns, Redshanks, Pochards, Black-necked Grebes, Spanish Sparrows; and, why not, the strange saurian with the equally funny name of Agama Stellio, hiding on a very special, rocky spot on the north bank of Lake Volvi.
Day 10: Rendina Valley. Transfer to Thessaloniki Airport - Morning walk in Rendina Valley with its raptors and the Black-eared Wheatear as well as many batrachians and dragonflies. Transfer to Thessaloniki airport.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Prices:
- 1490€ for 12-14 persons;
- 1650€ for 9-11 persons;
- 1850€ for 6-8 persons;
- 1970€ for 4-5 persons.
Also see tour packages in:
Europe
Greece
Birdwatching
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