Group Tours

Sunvil has never been associated with groups. However, we have a sizeable department which has organised group departures over the last 10 years for several associations and individuals who specialise in wildlife, natural history, botany, painting and walking tours.

Our group arrangements are not confined to our traditional destinations but range throughout the world. They are put together meticulously by individuals who have been building these itineraries for many years and are generally marketed to closed user groups.

However, we have agreed with the organisers that we can offer places on these group departures to Sunvil clients who are interested in joining these very specialised itineraries.

Below is a list of the groups departing with Wildlife Travel in 2013 with a brief synopsis on each itinerary. Some groups are already full but there is still limited availability on many.

Should you wish to join a group, then please contact Jane, our Groups Manager on 020 8758 4712 or email jane.naylor@sunvil.co.uk and she can confirm availability and provide further details.

BULGARIA: wild geese and winter wildlife

• 11th to 18th February 2013. Leader: Charlie Moores & local guide
• Exploring the Black Sea coast, home at this time of year to almost the entire world population of Red-breasted Geese, as well as plentiful wildfowl, early spring flowers and a good chance of Wild Cat.
• £1295 per person, full board, single room supplement £95

 
MOROCCO: wild flowers and natural history

• 2nd to 9th March 2013. Leader: Dr Tim Upson & local guide
• A relaxing introduction to the spring flowers and other wildlife of southern Morocco, in partnership with Cambridge University Botanic Garden.
• £1395 per person, full board, single room supplement £140

 
CYPRUS: orchids, natural history and ancient sites

• 11th to 20th March 2013. Leaders: Yiannis Christofides & Philip Precey
• A perennial Wildlife Travel favourite, with gentle walks through the countryside, focussing on the abundant orchids and other flowers of this friendly island. Hotel overlooking the coast.
• £1425 per person, full board, single room supplement £95

 
PORTUGAL: spring flowers and easy birding

• 2nd to 9th April 2013. Leader: Philip Precey & local guides
• Visiting the wetlands of the Algarve, the limestone Barrocal and the Alentejo plains, with some memorable birding and spring sunshine.
• £1425 per person, full board, single room supplement £155

 
ICELAND: winter wildlife and the Northern Lights

• 3rd to 8th April (2 places left) and 8th to 13th April 2013.
• Leader: Andy Jones
• 2013 will be the peak in the cycle of solar activity that produces the Aurora Borealis: we will enjoy the nocturnal light show, as well as birds, whales, culture and geology.   
• £1495 per person, full board, single room supplement £105

 
WESTERN CRETE: flowers and historical sites

• 15th to 22nd April 2013.
• Leaders: Yiannis Christofides & Kieron Huston
• 25 years after our very first visit to the island we are very happy to be returning to Crete for a relaxing week of orchids, spring flowers and gentle wanderings through the lanes and historical sites.
• £1395 per person, full board, single room supplement £125

 
SARDINIA: orchids, flamingos and ancient sites

• 18th to 25th April 2013. Leaders: Chris Donnelly & Henry Stanier
• Endemic orchids and amphibians, Mediterranean shrubs and beautiful flamingos combine with a fascinating history to make this a holiday for everyone. We will enjoy delicious local food and wonderful views from our two hotels. Springtime at its best.
• £1455 per person, full board, single room supplement £95

 
GALAPAGOS: cruising in Darwin’s footsteps

• 19th April to 2nd May 2013. Leaders: Philip Precey & Fausto Rodriguez
• A true ‘wildlife holiday of a lifetime’, the centrepiece of this holiday is a week long cruise on a 16-berth motor yacht, heading from San Cristobal in the east to the untouched island of Fernandina in the west, via Santa Cruz, Santa Fe and Santiago.
• £4615 per person, full board, single room supplement £140 (land only)

 
GIBRALTAR & SIERRA DE GRAZALEMA: natural history

• 25th April to 2nd May 2013. Leader: Charlie Rugeroni & local guide
• A week in this little-visited corner of Iberia, enjoying limestone flora, spring migration and not forgetting of course Europe’s only wild monkeys, the famous Barbary Macaques.
• £1455 per person, full board, single room supplement to be confirmed

 
LESVOS: spring in the Aegean

• 27th April to 4th May 2013. Leaders: Chris Donnelly & Henry Stanier
• Based in the charming fishing harbour of Molyvos, we will enjoy many orchids and other spring flowers as well as the birds and other wildlife of this unspoilt Greek island.
• £1485 per person, half board, single room supplement £95

 
ISLES OF SCILLY: spring flowers & natural history

• 7th to 14th May 2013. Leader: Rosemary Parslow
• A return to Scilly, in the company of local expert Rosemary Parslow to enjoy the best of the spring flowers. Visiting all the inhabited islands, there can be no better introduction to the wildlife of the islands. Includes ferry from Penzance and inter-island boat trips.
• £995 per person, half board, single room supplement £100

 
ROMANIA: Danube Delta, Carpathians & Transylvania

• 16th to 25th May 2013. Leaders: Chris Donnelly & Henry Stanier
• Spectacular birdlife in the Danube Delta, much seen from the deck of our travelling houseboat (en-suite cabins), to flowers of the hay meadows and limestone gorges of Transylvania and the Carpathians. A great combination of wildlife and culture.
• £1595 per person, full board, single room supplement £195

 
CHAMPAGNE: natural history (travel by train)

• May/June 2013 (dates to be confirmed) Leaders: Brian Eversham & Florent Prunier
• Enjoy a relaxed week around the Lac du Der in the Champagne region of France, particularly focussing on invertebrates. In partnership with The Wildlife Trust BCN.
• Price to be confirmed.

 
POLAND: Bierbrza Marshes & Bialowieza Forest

• 18th to 25th May 2013. Leaders:  Mike Russell & Marek Borkowski
• This holiday, in partnership with Sussex Wildlife Trust, takes us to two of the classic birding destinations in eastern Europe. We hope to find some of the real Polish specialities, including European Bison, Aquatic Warbler and lekking Great Snipe.
• £1595 per person, full board, single room supplement £120

 
TANZANIA: Serengeti safari

• 21st  May to 1st June 2013. Leader: Philip Precey & local guides
• A classic East African safari, following one of the world’s great ‘must see’ wildlife spectacles, the ’Great Migration’ of 1.5 million wildebeest across the Serengeti.
• £4645 per person, full board, single room supplement £400

 
THE BURREN: wild flowers & ancient sites

• 22nd to 28th May 2013. Leaders: Charlie Rugeroni & Charlie Moores
• Our tenth holiday to the dramatic scenery and fascinating history of this corner of western Ireland, with plenty of wonderful wild flowers and an excellent guesthouse.
• £965 per person, half board, single room supplement £40

 
ORKNEY: natural history and ancient sites

• 25th May to 1st June 2013. Leader: Steve Sankey
• A new itinerary for 2013, exploring an island archipelago full of mysterious standing stones, busy seabird colonies and nesting raptors.
• £995 per person, full board, single room supplement £100

 
ARAGON: natural history of the Spanish Pyrenees

• 2nd to 9th June 2013. Leader: Charlie Rugeroni
• The impressive scenery of the Pyrenees is the setting for a relaxing week of wildlife, including endemic flora, mountain butterflies, and a good chance of both Lammergeier and Wallcreeper.
• £1425 per person, full board, single room supplement £95

 
MACEDONIA: natural history of the hidden Balkans

• 3rd to 10th June 2013. Leaders: Philip Precey and Martin Hrouzek
• A new destination for us, this will be a relaxed exploration of a little-visited but wildlife-rich corner of Europe. An amazing diversity of butterflies and birds, reptiles and wild flowers will all be on the menu, as well as some good local wine!
• £1485 per person, full board, single room supplement £90

 
MULL: eagles, otters and natural history

• 6th to 12th June 2013. Leader: Charlie Moores & local guide
• The spectacular coastal scenery and superb wildlife of the west coast of Scotland. As well as the wildlife and history of Mull itself, we will also explore Iona, Ulva, Staffa and Lunga.
• £970 per person, B&B and lunches, single room supplement £95

 
SUSSEX: summer wildlife in southern England

• 8th to 13th July 2013. Leaders: Mike Russell (Sussex Wildlife Trust)
• Mike Russell will be introducing you to the wildlife of his home county, from coastal wetlands to the South Downs. A highlight should be an evening of Badger watching.
• £775 per person, full board, single room supplement £195

 
CHILE: Atacama, Altiplano and mediterranean region

• 9th to 28th October 2013. Leaders: Philip Precey & Claudio Vidal
• From Alpacas, flamingos and stunning volcanic peaks in the high Andes to the fascinating natural history of the coastal deserts and rich biodiversity of central Chile, an area famous for its endemic wild flowers and birdlife.  Includes off-shore boat trip.
• Price to be confirmed once international flight details are released.

 
TURKEY: autumn bulbs, natural history and ancient sites

• 1st to 8th November 2013. Leaders: Yiannis Christofides & Philip Precey
• Continuing our exploration of the Eastern Mediterranean, this trip will focus on crocus, colchicum, cyclamen and other autumn bulbs of southern Turkey.
• £1395 per person, full board, single room supplement to be confirmed

 
NEW ZEALAND: natural history

• 30th Dec to 19th Jan 2014. Leaders: Chris Donnelly & Henry Stanier
• A thorough natural history exploration of New Zealand, taking in North, South and Stewart Islands, guided by the wonderful Mark Hanger. This is certain to be a popular trip, so reserve your place soon.  Price does not include international flights.
• £4665 per person, full board, single room supplement £595

Should you wish to join a group, then please contact Jane, our Groups Manager on 020 8758 4712 or email jane.naylor@sunvil.co.uk and she can confirm availability and provide further details.