Lesvos Spring 2012

My fourteen years of organizing early spring visits for people ahead of the main tourist season have confirmed the island's terrific potential for bird and wildflower spectacles in early spring, when everywhere is green and fresh, the wetlands are at their most productive and the weather largely pleasant, without being too hot or plagued with tiresome insects! There is always something new from day to day and the mass influx of birders and tour groups peaking in the first half of May (when the main impetus of migration is arguably over) has not yet occurred.

Moreover, I feel it is in the best interests of the island (and ultimately its birds) by extending the season through this kind of green tourism, whereby the importance of its precious wetlands and bird-rich habitats can be recognized, and some pressure taken off the key sites in May, when more and more people tend to be chasing fewer and fewer birds! Of course, annual weather patterns can differ markedly and ensure that no two years are exactly the same - which is all part of the island's enduring appeal.

For all these reasons I continue to work in co-operation with George Capsalis of Malemi hotel Skala Kalloni to give people the chance to visit ahead of the main tourist season, travelling with Olympic Airways via Athens. Flights operate daily and the connecting flight to Lesvos is no more than 60 mins. Of course, both car hire and accommodation rates in this period are highly competitive (especially bearing in mind that the latter includes breakfast, packed lunch and a buffet style evening meal in the hotel).

The accommodation in resort remains in essence as before. All are agreed that Skala Kalloni makes the perfect base (both because of its central location and surrounding habitats). Other hotels and apartments are an option, but the main financial burden of promoting and advertising the trips is shouldered by George Capsalis, the owner of the Malemi hotel. He and his wife Effy run a friendly, relaxed, comfortable hotel in a pleasant location and with excellent home-cooked food and imaginative packed lunches as a definite bonus. George has also installed heating in a number of rooms - which may well be attractive to those like myself who wish to visit as early as March and experience some new birds. This flexibility of opening (even for comparatively small numbers) lends itself well to offering an extended spring programme especially now the hotel boasts some new luxury rooms.

Since the choice of eating venues at this time of year is limited, I am listing full board prices (with packed lunch included).

Because of the dramatic slide in value of the pound against other currencies in recent months, prices have regrettably had to be raised and are currently based, in effect, on a pound-euro parity.

ACCOMMODATION

Based in the central and bird-rich area of Skala Kalloni, prices are divided into two separate bands (the first from 25th March up to 12th April and the second after 12th April).

25th March - 12th April ... FULL BOARD PRICE

SINGLE ROOM	£50 pp
TWIN ROOM	£35 pp
TWO ROOM APARTMENT FOR 4	£25 pp (Malemi only)

12th April onwards

SINGLE ROOM	£60 pp
TWIN ROOM	£35 pp
TWIN ROOM APT FOR 4	£30 pp (Malemi only)

CAR HIRE

Considering the wealth of good sites scattered throughout the island and the ease of viewing or photographing birds at many of them from a car, most birders choose to book a car for their stay. For this reason cars are often in great demand and may need to be ordered from the mainland. Pre-booking is therefore advised. Please note that the terms 'full insurance' throughout Greece do not technically cover underbody damage or other self-inflicted acts!

	UP TO 12/4	FROM 12/4
GROUP A CAR WITH FULL INSURANCE	£26 per day	£28 per day
GROUP B CAR AS ABOVE	£28 per day	£30 per day
GROUP C CAR AS ABOVE	£40 per day	£42 per day
SUZUKI SAMURAI 4x4	£42 per day	£45 per day
SUZUKI VITARA 4x4	£50 per day	£55 per day
SIX-SEATER MlNIBUS	£60 per day	£75 per day
NINE-SEATER MINIBUS	£80 per day	£85 per day

(Please note that minibuses are much in demand at this time and early booking is advised)

TRANSFER TO AND FROM AIRPORT (based on min 3 persons) £22 per person. Two persons £33 per person, 1 person £66 (includes arrival and departure)

FLIGHT

Normal fares for 2009 could be as high as £350 or more, but good savings can often be made by booking online well in advance with Olympic. The daily 22.15 flight from Heathrow to Athens (with current connection time of only two hours) is probably the best option, as the day flight may lose you a whole day travelling and necessitate a long stay at Athens. Both operate from the new (and thankfully by now much improved!) Athens airport. Flights also currently operate from Manchester but you should be advised that in any case Olympic reserve the right to change schedules nearer the time. There is also the possibility of a direct flight with First Choice in 2009 from 23rd April (or possibly earlier) - do check with your Travel Agent.

Because of the various accommodation options and differing prices according to your preferred visiting dates it is virtually impossible to give an all-in price, but it should be perfectly feasible to work it out for yourself based on the above figures. Please note that I levy a £12 handling charge per transaction (not per person) to cover the cost of postage, phone calls etc..

My acclaimed book Birding on the Greek Island of Lesvos (which was revised in March '02 and which at 256 pages and with 24 pages of colour plates, 14 pages of maps and a wealth of new site and species information aims to be the definitive Lesvos guide) is available direct from me. In order to keep visitors as up-to-date as possible I have also produced regular yearly updates since then (from 1999 onwards), chronicling the spring migration period on a day-to-day basis and detailing new bird species, changes to sites and any other useful information.

A limited number of my earliest 28 page Lesvos Spring '99 Update, my 40 page Lesvos Spring-Summer 2000 Update, my Lesvos Spring-Summer 2001 Update (48 pages and a colour cover) and the Lesvos Spring-Summer 2002 Update (52 pages, a colour cover and incorporating the whole migration period from 1st March) are still available. The de-luxe 64 page Lesvos Update Summer '02 - Summer '03 (now with colour cover both sides and covering records for the whole twelve month period) and my latest (and arguably the best!) 60 page Lesvos Autumn '03 - Summer '04 Update are also available. My Revised Lesvos Checklist is also still available. See resources page for prices. These and the book should between them help you to make up your mind on the best time to visit, but if in doubt feel free to contact me for advice.

In addition I have a limited number of the latest 2000 Ordnance Survey equivalent Road Editions island maps. There is also an excellent and informative 1 hr 30 min DVD called Birding on Lesvos by Malcolm Rymer, which describes most of the best habitats around Skala Kalloni and their associated birds. They are also available at the same prices direct from Malcolm Rymer at: Pinfold, Tilton-on-the-Hill, Halstead, Leics LE7 9DJ (Phone 0116 2597626).

I am usually available in resort, where I should be holding regular meetings and slideshows and offering daily guided birding by arrangement for a maximum number of three people (ideally two). Prices are £50 per person for three, £60 per person for two and around £90-£l00 for one. These prices include a full day in the field with me supplying the vehicle and all fuel. Rates for several days or a week would be proportionately less, but a number of people visiting for the first time have found that even a day out with me has given them a useful introduction to the island and its birds - often including some of the more sought after and difficult species they may well have failed to connect with otherwise.

If you wish to savour the true 'Lesvos Experience' for yourself and have any additional queries then please feel free to write, phone, fax or email for further details or to obtain additional booking forms: Richard Brooks, 24 Croxton Hamlet, Fulmodeston, Fakenham, Norfolk NR21 ONP (Phone/fax 01328 878632 - email@richard-brooks.co.uk)

Alternatively, if you wish to assure your booking as soon as possible you can simply print out and complete the form and return it to me with a £50 per person deposit + £12 per transaction handling charge. However, do bear in mind that this only relates to accommodation and car hire - flight bookings will require full payment in advance with Olympic or your Travel Agent.

Please contact me if you are interested or print out and complete the booking form.