Dubrovnic coastal walls
Dubrovnik
Erythronium dens canis on Mount Biokovo
Christopher Gardner
Plant hunting in Croatia
Saturday 22 to Saturday 29 April
This spring expedition in Croatia will mainly study the wild flora, but also include sightseeing in the old part of Dubrovnik and a visit to the unusual botanic garden of Ostrog’s primary school. Some days will be in Mediterranean-climate areas near the sea and others in the Velebit highlands and Plitvice National Park. Transport will be in minibuses in order to access the most interesting wild plant sites and numbers are limited to 14 members.
Participants will be looking for wild irises, orchids, fritillaries, cyclamen, anemones, crocuses, dogtooth violets and more. The inland contrasts with the coast, being higher and cooler, with beech woods.
Good, comfortable three- and four-star hotels will be used, such as Hotel Degenija in Plitvice.
There will be two guides including Chris Gardner. The per person cost is £1790 sharing a room (single supplement £300).
There will be two transfers available from Dubrovnik airport to the hotel in Dubrovnik on the first day, one around midday and the other around 18.00. To benefit from the first day members should arrive before midday to botanise and discover wild flowers nearby.
The price includes: seven nights accommodation, breakfasts, picnic lunches with soft drinks, set menu dinners with house wine, ground transport, airport transfers as above, guiding, and entry fees to Paklenica, Plitvice and Biokovo National Parks. Flights, other drinks, entrance fees to sites other than those specified and personal expenses are not included.
For those who would like to arrive in Dubrovnik a day early rather than have the early start on the first day, we suggest staying at Boutique B&B Villa Foggioni. It is 10 minutes from the airport and they can arrange a transfer.
Chris and his wife Başak have suggested flights, see below. These should be checked by members but do not book flights until you have a confirmed place on the trip.
London Gatwick to Dubrovnik (direct):
EasyJet 6601 LGW to DBV 06.25 – 10.05
BA 2832 LGW to DBV 6.50 – 10.40
London Heathrow to Dubrovnik (1 stop):
Austrian OS 458 / OS 731 LHR – Vienna – DBV 6.00 – 12.15
Brussels SN2094 / SN3351 LHR – Brussels – DBV 11.05 – 17.35
Eurowings EW9467/EW9952 LHR – Dusseldorf – DBV 12.10 – 17.30
If you are interested in this, please email Heather Martin but do not book your flight or send any money until you have been offered a place as there are few places left. After you have received an email confirming that you have a place on this expedition, please send a deposit of £510 per person, and – when you have all the information including insurance details – complete the form. The form should be submitted only when you have all the information. The final balance will be due by 28 February. Payment may be made by
Bank transfer in pounds (GBP) with reference CROATIA 2023
Sort Code 40 40 32
Account 5161 4002
Account name: Mediterranean Plants and Gardens
IBAN GB63 HBUK 4040 3251 6140 02
Cheque drawn on a UK bank made out to Mediterranean Plants and Gardens, sent to: Heather Martin, Baldocks, Chiddingstone Causeway, Tonbridge, TN11 8JX
Bank transfer in euros directly into our euro account. If you wish to pay by this means please contact the treasurer, David Mason, for an exchange rate and payment instructions. If paying from a bank in the euro zone into our euro account, this can be done with minimal bank charges provided you use a SEPA (Single European Payments Area) payment method.