May 3rd to 6th, 2024, PYRENEES.

In Barcelona we will do the first pit stop allowing some tour participants to join us or leave us. We will all meet in our accommodation close the International Barcelona Airport. From here we will transfer North West, to the Pyrenees. In our way we will go for an early stop to enjoy Little Bustards, European Rollers and other goodies, arriving to the Pyrenees at mid morning to  look for White-winged Snow Finch. In the afternoon we will keep transfering West with some more birding in the way. During the coming days we will look for Iberian Chiffchaff, Red-necked Nightjar, Dupont’s Lark, Lammergier, Western Capercaillie, Black Wheatear, Spetacled Warbler and White-backed Woodpecker (linfordi) to name just a few remarkable especies. Last day flight to Mallorca and afternoon birding to catch up with the firsts endemics. 

May 7th, 2024, MALLORCA

Full day in Mallorca looking for endemics including Balearic Warbler, Mediterranean Flycatcher, Balearic Shearwater. Other goodies to enjoy include Moltoni’s Warbler, Marbled Teal, Black Vulture, Eleonora’s Falcon, Red-knobbed Coot and the splitable race of Woodchat Shrike.

May 8th, 2024, MALLORCA-TENERIFE

Mid morning flight to Teneriffe. Afternoon birding in the island in search of endemic Blue Chaffinch. Canary Island Chiffchaff, Atlantic Finch, and African Blue Tit. We will also take a look to the local races of Common Chaffinch and Great Spotted Woodpecker. 

May 9th, 2024, TENERIFE-FUERTEVENTURA

Morning birding in Teneriffe looking for more endemics. Bolle’s and Laurel Pigeons will be the main target but we will also look for the rather uncommon Teneriffe Robin and Teneriffe Goldcrest. Plain Swift can appear at any moment while any look to the sea can produce loads of Cory’s Shearwaters. Early afternoon flight to Fuerteventura and birding to sunset in search of the first specialties in this desertic island.

May 10th, 2024, FUERTEVENTURA

Full day in Fuerteventura to look for the many goodies living in this beautiful island. We will search for endemics including Fuerteventura Chat, Berthelot’s Pipit expecting to have also good views on other interesting species including Houbara Bastard, Trumpeter Finch, Cream-coloured Courser, Ruddy Shelduck, Spanish Sparrow, Mediterranean Short-toed Lark and Barbary Partridge.

May 11th, 2024, FUERTEVENTURA-GRAN CANARIA

Morning birding in Fuerteventura before catching our short flight to Gran Canaria. Once arrived we will have the full afternoon to explore the hills in search of the very scarce Gran Canaria Chaffinch. 

May 12th, 2024, GRAN CANARIA-MADEIRA (FUNCHAL)

After some morning birding we will catch our midday flight to Funchal via Lisbon. Arrival to Funchal expected in late afternoon.

May 13th to 16th, 2024, MADEIRA

During our stay in Maderia we will enjoy three afternoons of offshores. We will search for the long list of species living in these rich waters. Main targets here are Madeiran Storm Petrel, Bulwer’s Petrel, White-bellied Storm Petrel and Barolo Shearwater while Zino’s, Fea’s and even Deserta’s Petrels are all possible. The area is also a really well known spot for cetaceans and, along with the many seabirds, we will also enjoy Sperm Whales and some species of Dolphins. During the mornings we will look for Trocaz Pigeons & Madeiran Kinglet. Plain Swifts are very likely.

May 17th, 2024. Day 19, MADEIRA-AZORES

Flight to Ponta Delgada. Arrival expected in the afternoon.

May 18yth, 2024, AZORES

Full day birding in search of the very shy and scarce Azorean Bullfinch. Atlantic Finch and Plain Swift are both very likely during our day exploring the islands. We will also pair attention in Common Chaffinch and Woodpigeon local races.

May 19th, 2024, AZORES-GRACIOSA

Flight Ponta Delgada/Graciosa

May 20th, 2024, GRACIOSA

Morning of birding around the accommodation. In the afternoon we will enjoy another offshore, this time to search for the endemic Monteiro’s Storm Petrel. Zino’s and Deserta’s Petrels are both likely.

May 21st, 2024, GRACIOSA-LISBON

Flight day between Graciosa and Lisbon. Our arrival into Lisbon  is expected late in the afternoon. Overnight around Lisbon Airport. Free evening to explore the city.

May 22nd, 2024, LISBON-SOFIA

Early morning flight Lisbon to Sofia via Amsterdam. Arrival to Sofia in early afternoon. During the afternoon we will look for Lesser Spotted Eagle, Syrian and Grey-headed Woodpeckers around the city. Barred and Icterine Warbler are also possible here.

May 23rd to 28th, 2024, BULGARIA

During our time in Bulgaria we will search for a long list of species living in this extremely interesting country. Along with top specialities including Semi-collared Flycatcher, Rock Partridge, Rose-coloured Starling, Lesser Spotted Eagle, Paddyfield Warbler, Levant Sparrowhawk, Pied Wheatear, Thrush Nightingale, Barred Warbler or Eastern Bonelli’s Warbler, our itinerary will allow good chances for many other goodies including Corncrake, Black-headed Bunting, Isabelline Wheatear, Eastern Imperial Eagle, Ortolan Bunting, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Dalmatian Pelican and Long-legged Buzzard to name a few. We will also enjoy a good variety of Woodpeckers such as Middle Spotted, White-backed (linfordi), Grey-headed and Syrian. We will be a bit late for migration, but we hope to catch up some waders and, if any Broad-billed Sandpipers in the jackpot, it will be in full summer plomage.

May 29th, 2024, SOFIA-ATHENS

Mid morning flight to Athens. Overnight around the airport. If time allows we will pick up Sombre Tit, Blue Rock Thrush and Eastern Orphean Warbler around the Acropolys!

May 30th, 2024, ATHENS – MYTILENE (LESBOS)

Early morning flight from Athens to Lesbos. We will have almost a full day in the island to start looking for the specialities living there: Cinereous & Cretzschmar’s Buntings & Rock Nuthatch. Eastern Subalpine Warbler is also very likely.

May 31st & June 1st, 2024, LESBOS

Two full days to make sure that we catch up with all the specialities living in the island. We will also check some interesting wetlands and corners for bird migration. We will look for Krüpper’s Nuthatch and Cretzschmar’s Bunting. The variety of Warblers is great and we will have good chances for Eastern Orphean, Olive-tree, Eastern Olivaceous, Rüppell’s and Eastern Subalpine. This incredible island is also famous because of the raptors living here, and we will also make an effort to contact with the very scarce Bonelli’s Eagle.

June 2nd, 2024, LESBOS-CYPRUS

Morning direct flight from Lesbos to Cyprus. Afternoon birding in Cyprus, probably having already Cyprus Wheatear.

June 3rd & 4th, 2024, CYPRUS

3 full days in Cyprus. We will look for the endemic Cyprus Wheatear, Cyprus Warbler and Cyprus Scops Owl. Here we will still look for the many species of Warblers nesting in the bushlands and woodlands with Eastern Subalpine Warbler being the most common. We will also pair special attention to the local Short-toed Treecreeper and Coal Tit, both being splitable races.

June 5th, 2024, END OF TOUR

The tour ends after breakfast. Our guide will return to Barcelona. 

WHAT’S INCLUDED 

33 nights of accommodation in twin room; breakfasts, lunches and evening meals during the tour; guiding; ground transport in confortable, air-conditioned vehicle; all internal flights during the tour from Barcelona to Larnaca; all boats and off-shores during the tour; local guides when necessary; entrances to natural areas when requested and travel insurance. All prices include VAT.

NOT INCLUDED

Flights to / from starting or ending cities; all lunches when not provided by the accommodations; drinks out of water; all food beverages in aiports and planes during the tour; any other item not listed as “INCLUDED”.

ASSEMBLING

Full tour (34 days); starts in Barcelona, ends in Cyprus.

Section 1: Starts in Barcelona, ends in Palma.

Section 2: Starts in Tenerife, ends in Lisbon.

Section 3: Starts in Sofia, ends in Sofia.

Section 4: Starts in Lesbos (Greece), ends in Cyprus.

We will be pleased to pick up tour participants from their hotels around the International Airports at the beginning of every section. Pick up time will be around 06:30. We aim all tour participants to arrive to the starting city during the day before the tour starts.

ACCOMMODATION

During the tour we will use medium-rank accommodation. The variety of them is large, but always nice since nearly all the areas to explore have a good variety of accommodations. Out of a really few evenings, dinner will be always in our hotel.

Food along the trip is fairly good. We will combine some examples of excellent local cuisine along with local wines and, when in Bulgaria, beers.

PASSPORTS, VISAS & HEALTH

All the countries along the itinerary are members of the European Union. Visas are not requested for any US, Canadian, Australian or British citizen. All along the itinerary we will move inside the Schengen area, meaning that they are virtually no internal borders. Visa controls in the airports and roads when crossing borders are minimum, when existing, There is no health issues in any of the areas to be explored. Please check with local health authorities about health and vaccination requirements.

Southern Europe Odyssey 2024 Trip Report