Crete is the largest of the Greek islands and plays host to a famously rich flora, spread across a wide variety of habitats. Isolated from Europe, Asia and Africa yet relatively close to all three, the island's flora has a distinctively Mediterranean feel, but there are a high number of endemic species to be found here.
Crete is characteristically mountainous, and the main montane areas are separated by large valleys, hence local microclimates can vary considerably from sea level to the highest peaks. This gives ample scope for the adventurous orchid-hunter to explore the island and find some very special orchids indeed.
There are a number of orchids to be found on Crete throughout most of the year but the month of April generally plays host to the greatest number of species, including rare endemics such as Ophrys cretica, Ophrys dictynnae, Anacamptis boryi, Orchis sitiaca, and perhaps Orchis prisca.
We will focus on a handful of sites in order to maximise our time in the field and would hope to see approaching forty distinct species during a gentle-paced tour, with fabulous opportunities to explore the outstanding scenery and catch sight of other exciting wildlife.
With our star European orchid-hunter Dr Richard Bate at the helm, our guests are sure to see some very special orchids indeed. We're delighted to add Crete to our growing and renowned portfolio of 'Orchids of...' tours - this one will be another strong and popular tour going forwards for guests who have enjoyed orchid-hunting with us elsewhere in Greece and Italy.
