THE COMOROS & NORTHERN MADAGASCAR

Transcription

1 1 Birdquest Detailed Tour Description: The Comoros & Northern Madagascar THE COMOROS & NORTHERN MADAGASCAR Friday 24th September Saturday 16th October 2010 (23 days) Masoala Pre-Tour Extension from Sunday 19th September (5 days) Leader: Pete Morris Group Size Limit: 8 This exciting tour focuses on the seldom-seen endemics of the Comoro Islands and some equally rarely seen specialities of the northern part of Madagascar. The Comoro Islands are an archipelago of volcanic islands lying between Madagascar and Africa. Known by early seafaring Arabs as The Islands of the Moon, the Comoros are currently politically divided into two entities, the Union of Comoros (a sovereign state comprising Grande Comore, Anjouan and Mohéli) and Mayotte (an overseas collectivity of France). Originally colonized by people of Malay-Polynesian origin, the islands were later colonized by waves of African, Arab and Shirazi (Persian) colonizers. Each of the islands has a very different character and there is a wonderful expression in the Comoros which says: Mohéli sleeps, Anjouan works, Mayotte plays and Grande Comore complains! The Comoro Islands have been very much neglected by Comoro Blue Pigeon (Nik Borrow) the ornithological world and very few birders have visited these islands in recent times, in spite of the fact that there are as many as 26 endemic bird species (or perhaps even more depending on the taxonomy followed). The islands underwent a period of political turmoil in the 1990s but have since recovered and are now political stable. This exciting tour is certainly one that should appeal to those with the spirit of adventure as seeing some of the planet s least-known birds involves very simple camping and expedition-style conditions for a small part of the tour. Our time in Madagascar will be spent in the north of the island, where we will first explore the isolated Montagne d Ambre (Amber Mountain) massif where the endemic Amber Mountain Rock Thrush occurs. Moving south we will explore a remote region where Madagascar Pochard was recently rediscovered and where other rarities such as Madagascar Red Owl, Meller s Duck and Madagascar Harrier all still occur. We will then travel southwestwards to Majunga, calling in at Ampijoroa where we will hope to find Schlegel s Asity and Van Dam s Vanga during our brief stay. We will then make a visit to some remote wetlands further south where the Sakalava Rail was recently discovered. As well as searching for this enigmatic species, we are also likely to find Madagascar Sacred Ibis and Madagascar Teal amongst a host of other interesting species. During our visit to the Comoros we will visit all four of the major islands and we have an excellent chance of finding the vast majority of their endemic birds, which include several globally threatened species. Among the endemics are Comoro Olive and Comoro Blue Pigeons, Comoro Cuckoo-Roller, four species of endemic scops owl (one on each island), Comoro Thrush, Humblot s Flycatcher (a bird in its own genus), Comoro Blue Vanga and a series of brush-warblers, white-eyes, drongos and colourful sunbirds! During the optional pretour extension, there will be the opportunity to visit the exciting and remote Masoala Peninsula in northeastern Madagascar, home to the extraordinary Helmet Vanga and Bernier s Vanga, as well as the beautiful Redbreasted Coua, the retiring Scaly Ground-Roller, the unobtrusive Brown Mesite and the gorgeous Velvet Asity. Birdquest has operated tours to the Comoros and the most remote parts of northern Madagascar since Itinerary Day 1 Morning flight from London bound for Antananarivo, arriving in the late evening for an overnight stay. Day 2 This morning we will fly north to Antseranana (also known as Antsiranana and, formerly, Diego Suarez) at the northern extremity of Madagascar and drive the short distance to Joffreville for an overnight stay. Later we will begin our exploration of the nearby Montagne d Ambre National Park. Montagne d Ambre is an isolated, forested volcanic massif that rises to 1475m to the south of Antseranana and is best known to ornithologists as the home of the extremely localized Amber Mountain Rock Thrush. The rock thrush will of course be the main focus of our attention here and we should have little trouble in finding one as they are reasonably numerous. A number of more widespread species occur in the area,

2 2 Birdquest Detailed Tour Description: The Comoros & Northern Madagascar including Madagascar Buzzard, the furtive Whitethroated Rail, the noisy Lesser Vasa Parrot, Madagascar Turtle Dove, Madagascar Blue Pigeon, Madagascar Lesser Coucal, Madagascar Coucal, the attractive Madagascar Malachite kingfisher, the spectacular Madagascar Cuckoo-Roller, Mascarene Martin, Madagascar Wagtail, Ashy Cuckooshrike, Madagascar Bulbul, Longbilled and Spectacled (the local form of is quite striking) Greenbuls, Red-tailed Vanga, Madagascar Magpie- Robin, African Stonechat (the endemic form may represent a separate species), the perky White-throated Oxylabes, Madagascar Brush Warbler, Common and Dark Newtonias, Common Jery, Madagascar Paradise Flycatcher, Souimanga and Long-billed Green Sunbirds, the delightful Madagascar White-eye, the secretive Nelicourvi Weaver and Crested Drongo. With luck we will also encounter one or two of the rarer and more elusive inhabitants of the park such as the unusuallooking Madagascar Crested Ibis or the colourful Pitta-like Ground-Roller. There are also a couple of endemic lemurs that we will hope to see; the attractive Crowned Lemur and Sanford s Lemur, and we also have a good chance of seeing Ring-tailed Mongoose. For those that wish, we will Madagascar Pochards (Nik Borrow) also try to embark upon a night walk, where we hope to find a roosting Madagascar Pygmy Kingfisher or an Amber Mountain Fork-marked Lemur. We may also encounter Rainforest Scops Owl, and, if we are lucky, the world s smallest chameleon! Day 3 After spending the morning in Montagne d Ambre National Park, we will drive south to Antsohihy for an overnight stay. Although much of the day will be spent travelling, there will be plenty of open country species to keep us occupied, and we may also stop at one or two wetlands along the way. Species we may well encounter include Squacco Heron, the attractive Madagascar Pond Heron, Western Cattle Egret, Black Egret which can often be seen in substantial flocks, performing their famed umbrella fishing dance en masse, Great Egret, Purple Heron, Yellowbilled Kite, Madagascar Kestrel, Common Moorhen, Namaqua Dove, Madagascar Green Pigeon, Greater Vasa Parrot, African Palm Swift, colourful Madagascar Bee-eaters, Broad-billed Roller, Madagascar Bush Lark, White-headed Vanga, Madagascar Red Fody, the introduced Common Myna and Pied Crow. We may also see the uncommon African Swamphen. Days 4 From Antsohihy we will drive into the remote area where the Madagascar Pochards were rediscovered for a two nights stay. It is quite an adventure to reach the site as the roads are pretty rough and almost non-existent in places. We will make a few stops at wetlands on the way where we are likely to find a few new species such as Hottentot Teal, the declining Madagascar Harrier, Brown-throated Sand Martin, Madagascar Cisticola, the sneaky Grey Emu-tail, Madagascar Mannikin and, with luck, a Baillon s Crake. We should reach our camp, in a small and very friendly village in the afternoon, in time for some initial exploration. Day 5 The amazing rediscovery of this thoughtto-be-extinct species has to be one of the most exciting ornithological moments of recent years. A quirk of nature has left the pochard s lake with no apparent commercial value (there are no fish and it is too steep for rice growing). However, now that Birdquest have helped to establish the local conservation body, the lake has a value as an ecotourism resource, and hopefully will be kept pristine. We should have little difficulty seeing this critically endangered species, and at this time of year, they may well have broods of small young. Whilst looking, we should also find the increasingly rare Meller s Duck and the endemic Madagascar Little Grebe as well as White-faced Whistling Duck and Red-knobbed Coot. The surrounding forest also holds some special species, foremost of which is the amazing Madagascar Red Owl, which can often be seen at its daytime roost. The elusive Madagascar Longeared Owl occurs in the same area, and other goodies present in the forest include the splendid Red-fronted Coua, the arboreal Blue Coua, the hyper-active Common Sunbird-Asity, the trunk-loving Grey-crowned Greenbul, Tylas Vanga (which may actually be an oriole), Rand s Warbler and Stripe-throated Jery (the two often singing from adjacent song-posts!), Green Jery, Madagascar Starling and the declining Forest Fody. Whilst travelling to and from the lake we may well see Madagascar Buttonquails and Common Quail, whilst a foray into one of the marshes will, with luck, yield the elusive Madagascar Rail. Day 6 After a final morning in the Madagascar Pochard area we will return to Antsohihy for an overnight stay. Day 7 Today we will drive southwards to Ampijoroa for an overnight stay. Day 8 We will have this morning to explore the Ankarafantsika reserve which protects an extensive area of plateau country. Most is cloaked in well-developed dry deciduous woodland, but along the watercourses there are stands of slightly moister and richer forest. We will of course be concentrating on the area s specialities during our visit. In the plateau forest we will search for the highly localized Van Dam s Vanga, found at only two sites in the north-west of the island, and for White-breasted Mesite, similarly confined to just a handful of localities. We have a good chance of finding the vangas, our attention attracted by their whistled calls from the tree-tops, and of coming across a group of mesites walking sedately through the sparse undergrowth and stopping occasionally to give their shrill duetted calls. In the subtly moister woodlands we may well find the impressive Madagascar Crested Ibis ambling rather incongruously along the broad trails through the forest or sitting on a large and untidy nest, and, with luck, come across the beautiful Schlegel s Asity, here at the edge of its range. Another speciality is

3 3 Birdquest Detailed Tour Description: The Comoros & Northern Madagascar the majestic but critically endangered Madagascar Fish- Eagle, one of the world s rarest raptors with a total population estimated at just 100 pairs, which we should find at Lac Ravelobe just a short distance from the forest station. In addition to its specialities, Ampijoroa holds a wide variety of other birds, notably including Red-capped and Coquerel s Coua, Torotoroka Scops Owl (which is often pinned down at a daytime roost), Madagascar Nightjar, Grey-headed Lovebirds, Crested Coua, Madagascar Hoopoe and Blue, Chabert s, Rufous, Hook-billed and the amazing Sickle-billed Vangas. It is also a notable site for lemurs: the handsome Coquerel s Sifaka is common here and we may also find Common Brown Lemur and the very localized Mongoose Lemur, and we may even find Western Woolly Lemur and Milne-Edward s Sportive Lemur at their daytime roosts. At the lake here or on wetlands between here and Majunga we may well find the statuesque Humblot s Heron, the endemic Madagascar Jacana, a species that is surprisingly localized, African Pygmy Goose and Allen s Gallinule as well as more widespread waterbirds such as Little Grebe, African Darter, Black-crowned Night Heron, Green-backed Heron, Dimorphic Egret, Glossy Ibis, Comb Duck, Black-winged Stilt, Kittlitz s and Threebanded Plovers and Common Sandpiper, and we may also find the rare local subspecies White-breasted Mesite (Nik Borrow) of White-backed Duck. Day 9 This morning we will travel by speed boat to Katsepy, detouring en route into the broad estuary of the Betsiboka River, where we will search for two of Madagascar s most endangered species, the endemic Madagascar (or Bernier s) Teal and Madagascar Sacred Ibis (the latter, which is also found on Aldabra, is a recent split from Sacred). We may well find scattered pairs and small flocks of Madagascar Teals feeding on exposed mud banks, a habitat shared with the ibises. We will also have a chance for the unique Crab-Plover and should see a number of other wetland species including Grey Heron, Saunders s Tern, Common Ringed and Greater Sand Plovers, Eurasian Whimbrel, Common Greenshank and Terek and Curlew Sandpipers. Some of the less common species that we may encounter include African Spoonbill and Lesser and Greater Flamingos. Once at Katsepy, we will board our four-wheel drives and make our way to Lac Kinkony. This is a truly remote area that can only be reached with four-wheel-drive vehicles and then a boat trip. It is also one of the most intact wetlands in western Madagascar and holds a number of rare and threatened species. We will arrive at our comfortable camp late in the afternoon for a two nights stay. En route we will keep our eyes open for any species we have not yet seen, with possibilities including African Openbill, Yellow-billed Stork, Whitefronted Plover, Madagascar Pratincole and Madagascar Sandgrouse. We may well also encounter a small group of attractive Decken s Sifakas. Day 10 During 2002 the poorly known Sakalava Rail was discovered in the remote wetlands around Lac Kinkony, south of Majunga, confirming that the species was still extant. This poorly-known species was only reliably recorded five times in the 20th century, and until very recently, had barely been seen by a western ornithologist. Today, we will explore the tall Phragmites-choked wetlands by pirogues (dug-out canoes), and as we pick our way through the numerous small channels, surrounded by tall reeds, we should soon find the furtive Sakalava Rail. Birds in this environment are few, but we are likely to encounter the Madagascar subspecies of Little Bittern, Long-tailed Cormorant, Madagascar Harrier-Hawk, Whiskered Tern, the vocal Madagascar Swamp Warbler and the colourful Sakalava Weaver, whilst plenty of Madagascar Malachite Kingfishers perch in the waterside vegetation. Day 11 After a final morning at Lac Kinkony we will make our way back to Majunga for an overnight stay. If time permits, we will make the small detour to Katsepy lighthouse to see the delightful Crowned Sifakas. Day 12 This morning we will have an opportunity to look around Majunga for anything of interest. In the afternoon we will take a flight to Dzaoudzi, the capital of Mayotte. Situated at the northern end of the Mozambique Channel, between Madagascar and Africa, Mayotte (officially known by the title The Departmental Collectivity of Mayotte ) is an overseas territory of France consisting of two main islands (Grande- Terre or Mahoré, and Petite- Terre or Pamandzi) and several islets. The territory has been politically separate from the rest of the Comoros since the 1970s. On arrival, we will travel by ferry across to Grand Terre and on the short distance to our accommodation for a two nights stay. En route we are likely to find the endemic Mayotte White-eye (split from Madagascar), and will call in at a park where we may well find the endemic Mayotte form of the Comoro (or Redheaded) Fody. Day 13 Our time on Grande Terre will largely be spent exploring the slopes of Mont Combani (480m). Here our time will be devoted to finding the four endemics that are restricted to Mayotte, as well as some other more widespread Comoro Island endemics. We will take a jeep track up the mountain to search for the endemic Mayotte Drongo and Mayotte Sunbird (both of which should be relatively easy to find) and after dark we will search for the endemic Mayotte Scops Owl (split from Rainforest) which is common and easy to see. We should also find two more widespread Comoro endemics; namely Comoro Olive Pigeon and the gorgeous Comoro Blue Pigeon. With the current trend in splitting, especially of small island forms, we will be on the lookout for all of the endemic taxa throughout the Comoros, and here on Mayotte these include the Mayotte forms of Frances s Sparrowhawk and Madagascar Paradise Flycatcher. Other species we may well encounter include Madagascar Turtle Dove and Madagascar Cuckoo-Roller (the latter, curiously, of the mainland Madagascar form). The Comoros are also home to a number of introduced species that we are likely to first encounter on Mayotte, such as Cape Turtle (or Ringnecked) and Tambourine Doves, Grey-headed Lovebird, Bronze Mannikin and House Sparrow.

4 4 Birdquest Detailed Tour Description: The Comoros & Northern Madagascar Day 14 This morning we will travel back to Petite- Terre (where Dzaoudzi is situated), spending some time looking around Pamandzi Lagoon. Elegant White-tailed Tropicbirds breed on the island and the lagoon often holds Crab-Plovers as well as a good selection of other species, including Peregrine, Greater Crested Tern and the Comoros forms of Striated Heron and Madagascar Swift. Later we will take a flight to Anjouan for an overnight stay. In the evening, if time permits, we will have our first opportunity to look for the elusive Anjouan Scops Owl. Day 15 This morning we will take a boat across to Mohéli. As we make the passage across, we will be on the lookout for seabirds. Initially we are likely to see good numbers of Sooty and Bridled Terns and Brown Noddies, and as we get further from land, we are likely to find Great and Lesser Frigatebirds and attractive Masked Boobies, and we also have a good chance of finding the endemic temptator form of Arabian Shearwater and Bulwer s Petrel. Once we have arrived on the island we will make our way to our accommodation for a two nights stay. Day 16 Mohéli, also known as Mwali, is home to four single island endemics, as well as three others that are shared with Grande Comore. During Sakalava Rail (Nik Borrow) our visit we will explore the remnant montane forest of the central spine of the island where we will hope to find the uncommon Mohéli (or Benson s) Brush-Warbler and Comoro Blue Vanga (a recent split from Blue Vanga and the sole representative of this family outside of Madagascar). With a little luck we will come across the rarely observed Comoro Green Pigeon (split from Madagascar). After dark, we will try for the recently described Mohéli Scops Owl which we have an excellent chance of seeing as well as hearing its weird screaming calls. In addition, we should also find the local forms of Comoro Bulbul (a potential split according to recent research), Humblot s Sunbird and, with luck, the rare Mohéli form of Comoro Cuckooshrike (split from Ashy), all three of which also occur on Grande Comore, and Comoro Thrush (the distinctive local form is probably a good species). Other species we may well encounter include the Mohéli forms of Madagascar Paradise Flycatcher, Madagascar White-eye, Madagascar Green Sunbird and Comoro Fody. Day 17 After a final morning on Mohéli we will travel back to Anjouan for a two nights stay. Anjouan, also known as Ndzuwani or Nzwani, is the easternmost of the three islands which make up the Union of Comoros and is home to three single-island endemics. Two of these, Anjouan Sunbird (split from Souimanga) and Anjouan Brush-Warbler (split from Madagascar) should prove easy to find, and even occur in the town. Sadly, the natural vegetation on Anjouan had been devastated, and it is difficult to find any decent forest. Much of our remaining effort will be spent tracking down the endearing Anjouan Scops Owl, which may well prove a little challenging as it seems to require reasonable habitat! Other species we will be looking for include the scaly Anjouan form of the endemic Comoro Thrush (another likely split), as well as the Comoros form of the Greater Vasa Parrot and the Anjouan forms of Madagascar Cuckoo-Roller, Madagascar Paradise Flycatcher, Madagascar White-eye and Comoro Fody. We will also hope to see the scarcer endemic island taxa, including the Anjouan forms of Frances s Sparrowhawk (which may already be extinct!) and Crested Drongo. Day 18 After a final morning on Anjouan, we will take a flight to Moroni on the adjacent island of Grand Comoro for a four nights stay. Later we will begin our exploration of the island. Days Grande Comore (or Grand Comoro), otherwise known as Ngazidja, is the largest and westernmost of the Comoro Islands. During our three days on the island we will explore various areas in the highlands, concentrating on the area around Mount Karthala, which has the largest crater of any of the world s active volcanoes! Those who are able to make the trek up the mountain can camp out on the slope of the volcano for one night to search for the endemic Grand Comoro Scops Owl, the unique Humblot s Flycatcher (the sole representative of the genus Humblotia), and the endemic Mount Karthala White-eye. Other Grand Comoro single island endemics that we should find during our exploration of the island include the critically endangered Grand Comoro Drongo, the interesting Humblot s Flycatcher, Grand Comoro Brush-Warbler, Kirk s Whiteeye (split from Madagascar) and the iridescent Comoro Green Sunbird (split from Madagascar Green). We will also have another chance to see a number of shared endemics including Comoro Olive Pigeon, the attractive Comoro Blue Pigeon, Comoro Cuckooshrike (endemic Grand Comoro subspecies), Comoro Bulbul (the distinctive subspecies is endemic to Grand Comoro), Comoro Thrush (a species which surely merits a three way split), the attractive Humblot s Sunbird, and the endemic form of Comoro (Red-headed) Fody. In addition we will look out for the Grand Comoro forms of Frances s Sparrowhawk, Lesser Vasa Parrot, Madagascar Spinetail, Madagascar Paradise Flycatcher and African Stonechat (another potential split). Madagascar Harrier is surprisingly common on the island, and around the coast we should find the Comoro endemic subspecies of Green-backed Heron and Madagascar Malachite Kingfisher. Day 22 Today we will take a flight to Majunga and an onward connection to Antananarivo. After dinner we will catch a late evening flight bound for London. Day 23 Midday arrival at London. Masoala Peninsula Pre-tour Extension Itinerary Day 1 Morning flight from London bound for Antananarivo, arriving in the late evening for an overnight stay. Day 2 This morning we will take a flight to Maroantsetra, a small town situated on the

5 5 Birdquest Detailed Tour Description: The Comoros & Northern Madagascar northeast coast of Madagascar. Here we will board a speedboat for the journey across the Bay of Antongila to the remote Masoala Peninsula for a four nights stay. As we approach the eastern shore of the bay, heavily forested hills stretch as far as the eye can see, and in many places the forest extends down to the beach, for settlements are few and far between in this area. Eventually we will reach our lodge, situated just 200 metres from the beach and right at the edge of the forest. We may arrive in time for some initial exploration. (Please note that tide and wind conditions can delay the outbound crossing, so we may have to spend some time waiting at Maroantsetra or even overnight there before crossing next morning.) Days 3-5 The Masoala Peninsula has recently been gazetted as a national park and holds some of the finest forests in Madagascar. Huge buttress-rooted trees cloaked in epiphytic orchids and ferns provide cool shade for a relatively open forest floor and there are numerous clear streams and rivers. The star avian attraction here is without doubt the improbable and spectacular Helmet Vanga with its stunning combination of black and tan topped off with a huge, almost Helmet Vanga (Nik Borrow) fluorescent, turquoise-blue bill. We have a very good chance of seeing this striking bird, which is not uncommon on the Masoala and often associates with mixed flocks of vangas. With a bit of luck we will also come across Bernier s Vanga, a species confined to the rainforests of northeastern Madagascar, perhaps coming across a jetblack male hacking away at an epiphyte or a tiger-striped female stripping bark from a high bough. In addition, Redbreasted Coua is particularly common and easy to see here. We should be able to lure one into view, its blue orbital skin shinning electrically in the gloomy undergrowth, whilst its breast glows like burning coals. We will also have an excellent chance to find the stunning Scaly Ground-Roller, another forest floor specialist and the more arboreal, puffbird-like Short-legged Ground-Roller. Madagascar Serpent-Eagle, a species that had not been recorded for over half a century, was recently re-found in very small numbers during longterm studies in the Masoala, but this shy forest raptor is exceedingly elusive and so we have, realistically, very little chance of coming across one. Other more common species we may see here that are unlikely elsewhere on this tour include the secretive Brown Mesite, Madagascar Wood Rail, Roseate and Lesser Crested Terns, Rainforest Scops Owl, Madagascar Spinetail, Madagascar Swift, and the fabulous Crossley s Babbler. We may also see one or two of the scarcer species such as Madagascar Sparrowhawk or Banded Kestrel. On the mammal front, we will surely hear the raucous cries of the Red Ruffed Lemur and we will have a good chance of seeing this impressive species, as well as White-fronted Brown Lemur and, on a night walk, Scott s Sportive Lemur and Moore s Avahi. Day 6 We will return to Maroantsetra and from there take a flight to Antananarivo for an overnight stay. This evening those taking the main tour arrive. (This is Day 1 of the main tour.) Accommodation & Road Transport: The hotels are mostly of normal Birdquest standard. On Anjouan and Moheli the hotels are fairly basic. For two nights at the Madagascar Pochard site, we will be staying in basic accommodation with two or more people per room or camping. For three nights when we are looking for the Sakalava Rail in Madagascar we will be camping in basic conditions with two people per tent. For one night on Grande Comore, those who wish to look for Grand Comoro Scops Owl and Mount Karthala White-eye will have to camp out rough using camping mattresses and plastic sheeting (the hotel rooms will be retained overnight). Road transport is by 4x4, minibus or cars and roads are variable in quality. Walking: The walking effort is mostly easy, but there are several harder walks on the Comoros (and at the Masoala Peninsula during the pre-tour extension). Those wishing to look for Grand Comoro Scops Owl and Mount Karthala White-eye will have to make a rather strenuous uphill hike in order to do so. Climate: Rather variable. At this time of year the dry season is giving way to the rainy season. Many days at lower altitudes will be hot, dry and sunny, but it is regularly overcast and rainy. At higher altitudes the weather is similar but temperatures are cool to warm. It may be humid at times. Bird/Mammal Photography: Opportunities are worthwhile. Tour Price: 5570, 6573, $9191 London/London (or 4690, 5534, $7739 Antananarivo/Antananarivo). Pre-Tour Extension: 1100, 1298, $1815. Price includes all transportation (including all flights), all accommodations, all meals, bottled water, some drinks, all excursions, all entrance fees, all tips for local drivers/guides and for accommodations/restaurants, leader services. Single Room Supplement: 442, 522, $729 (excluding 5 nights in Madagascar). Pre- Tour Extension: 130, 153, $215. Deposit: 560, 661, $924. Pre-Tour Extension: 110, 130, $182. If booking more than 12 months before departure, the initial deposit is only 150, 177, $248. Important: Although the Air France connection in Paris on Day 1 is an official one, it is relatively short and very occasionally passengers from London are delayed and fail to make it. In consequence we would recommend that all passengers from London travel out to Paris the evening before and overnight in an hotel near the airport. Our leader will be taking this precaution. The cost of this hotel night (with transfers but without meals) is 66, 78, $109 (single occupancy supplement: 40, 47, $66). If you are travelling from London, please advise us on booking which option you wish to select.