THE VIPERS OF SPAIN TOUR

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11 January 2026

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Price: £1495/person

Date: 9th - 16th May 2026

Your Local Herpetologist Guides: Max Benito Smeele & Lucia Alonso

Chance to see around 30 Reptile & Amphibian Species

Looking for Vipera latastei, Vipera aspis and Vipera seoanei

Herping in a premontane habitat and in the Mediterranean bioregion

Looking for Fire Salamanders and some exciting frog species

Great photography opportunities

TOUR SUMMARY

This holiday takes you through Central and Northern Spain in search of the three native viper species that inhabits the Iberian Peninsula. Besides vipers, other reptiles and amphibians can be seen on this tour. As well as some incredible landscapes of the beautiful Asturias.

TOUR REVIEWS

“I enjoyed an intense week of herping in central Spain with not a minute wasted. Our guide Max was knowledgeable, enthusiastic and fun. The accommodation was all you could ask for and our leaders ensured that everyone enjoyed themselves individually and as a group. I have food intolerances which were catered for without any problems. We saw most of the target species and there were ample photo opportunities, with additional high resolution photos taken by Marton and Max available afterwards. If you go on an ET Adventure be sure to heed Marton’s advice- if he suggests rubber wellies then pack them!”
Mr P. T., United Kingdom, April 2024
“As my first actual herping trip, I really enjoyed this tour in Western Spain. Márton was brilliant on the logistics side (accomodation, travel, supplies) and Max proved to be an expert guide for the local reptiles and amphibians. We managed to see most of the local species, so no complaints there. I am looking forward to travel with you guys again”
Mr Zs. B., United Kingdom, April 2024

Day 1: Arrive in Madrid and travel to Salamanca

Arrive at Madrid airport in the early afternoon. We will meet at an airport hotel, then drive to Salamanca. Free time for leisure for tonight.

Overnight in Salamanca.

Meals included: None

Day 2: Herping near Salamanca

We will spend the day in southwestern Salamanca looking for our first viper target, Vipera latastei gaditana. Other targets that can be seen are: Zamenis scalaris, Malpolon monspessulanus, Chalcides bedriagai, Podarcis carbonelli, Lacerta schreiberi, Triturus marmoratus, Lissotriton boscai, Rana iberica.

Overnight in Salamanca.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Vipera latastei in Spain

Day 3: Travel to Burgos

We spend today looking for Vipera latastei latastei close to Burgos. Other targets for the day are Chalcides straitus, Lacerta bilineata, Coronella girondica.

Overnight in Burgos.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Lataste's Viper in Burgos

Day 4: Looking for vipers around Burgos

Today we will have a chance to find our second main target the Vipera aspis zinnikeri and hybrids of Vipera latastei and Vipera aspis.
Other targets are: Timon lepidus, Anguis fragilis, Coronella austriaca, Chalcides striatus

Overnight in Burgos.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Vipera aspis from Spain

Day 5: Herping near Burgos and travel to Asturias

Our main target for the day is the nominal morph of Vipera seoanei. In the afternoon we drive towards Asturias where we spend the next 2 nights.
Other targets: Natrix astreptophora, Coronella austriaca, Rana temporaria, Ichthyosaura alpestris, Lissotriton helveticus, Salamandra salamandra fastuosa.

Overnight near Covadonga.

Meals included: Breakfast

Natrix astreptophora in Spain

Day 6: Visit Picos de Europa

On this day we will be able to observe in-situ basking Vipera seoanei, and we will look for the bilineata, concolor and melanistic morphs. In the afternoon we can go looking for Salamandra salamandra bernardezi and Chioglossa lusitanica.

Overnight near Covadonga.

Meals included: Breakfast

Viper from Asturias

Day 7: Travel to Leon Province

We drive early towards the southern slopes of Picos de Europa to look for our last morph of Vipera seoanei, the cantabrica morph.
Other targets: Iberolacerta monticola, Salamandra salamandra bernardezi, Ichthyosaura alpesteis, Hyla molleri.

 Overnight in San Isidro

Meals included: Breakfast

Seoanei viper

Day 8: Departure Day

After breakfast we will drive back to Madrid (5h) where the tour will end at Madrid Barajas Airport. Please depart after 3pm.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Ladder snake in Spain

Salamanca

Hotel San Polo (Classic)

Hotel San Polo is a simple, but comfortable in the centre of Salamanca. It will be a good base to enable us to discover the region and also to have a glimpse of the town.

Burgos

Abadia Burgos Camino Santiago (Standard)

it is a simple, but clean hotel with in Burgos, that will be our base for 3 days.

Covadonga

Casa Rural Priena (Classic)

We are staying in a very traditional, rural accommodation in the beautiful Asturias.

San Isidro

Casa Hostal Olga (Classic)

Casa Hostal Olga offers comfortable, clean apartments in this remote part of Spain.

Prices & Inclusions

Dates:

9 – 16 May 2026

Holiday Price:

£1495/person

Single Supplement £300/person

Inclusions

  • Accommodation at mentioned hotels or similar for 7 nights on a twin share basis
  • Daily breakfasts
  • Transportation as per the itinerary
  • Local Herpetologist expert throughout the holiday
  • Guided daily walks as per the itinerary
  • Full financial protection by Protected Trust Services

 

Exclusions

  • International flights
  • Airport transfers
  • Meals (lunches and dinners)
  • Drinks
  • Tips
  • Travel Insurance

Spain is among the five biggest countries in Europe. The country has fantastic biodiversity. Currently, we have a private guided holiday in the region that feature its diverse herpetofauna. Come and explore this beautiful country, enjoy the hikes, hospitality, and cuisine, and discover endemic species. We will trek through high mountains, valleys, wetlands, dunes and rich forests. Local herpetologist experts and an extra group leader lead our holidays, providing a guest-to-guide ratio of 3:1.

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