Day 1: Arrive in Bordeaux and travel to your hotel in the Gironde Area

Arrive at Bordeaux airport in the afternoon. The group will meet at the hotel in Saint-Médard-en-Jalles (12km from the airport). The dinner will be served in the hotel’s restaurant. After dinner, we will visit an old football field that has been taken over by Bufo spinosus and Epidalea calamita. We might also be able to see Hyla meridionalis, Salamandra s. terrestris, Pelophylax sp., or Rana dalmatina.

Overnight in Saint-Medard-en-Jalles.

Meals included: Dinner

Day 3: Herping at Coastal Dunes and the Costal Lake

Today will be a long, adventurous day. We start by driving to a lake near the Atlantic Coast, where we will look for Natrix maura, Vipera aspis, Hierophis viridiflavus and Natix helvetica. After our picnic lunch, we continue to the Dunes to visit the largest lizard in Europe (Timon lepidus). After another hike, we will have our well-deserved picnic dinner. Once the sun sets, we will explore the coastal dunes at night, searching for some unique amphibians: Pelobates cultripes, Alytes obstetricans, Hyla meridionalis, Epidalea calamita, Rana dalmatina, Bufo spinosus, Triturus marmoratus, Lissotriton helveticus.

Overnight in Saint-Medard-en-Jalles.

Meals Included: Breakfast, picnic Lunch , picnic Dinner

Day 4: Travel to the Pyrenees

After breakfast, we will move to the Pyrenees. We will stop for a quick lunch on the road (payable locally), and then in the afternoon, we will look for Vipera seoanei, and in the evening for Salamandra s. fastuosa & Calotriton asper.

Overnight in the Iraty Area (Pyrenees).

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 5: Herping in the Iraty area

We start the day with visiting some spots near the road. We will search for Vipera seoanei & Podarcis liolepis. We will enjoy our picnic lunch and some breath-taking scenery, where we will try to find Rana pyrenaica. We will spend the evening looking for Salamandra s. fastuosa, Calotriton asper and Rana pyrenaica.

Overnight in the Iraty Area (Pyrenees).

Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 6 : Travel to the Central Pyrenees

We leave Iraty in the morning and make our way to the Ossau area. We will stop at different spots looking for the local herpetofauna. Enjoy the impressive views of the mountain range. We will stop at Chemin de la Mature, and explore the surroundings. Possible sightings for the day: Podarcis liolepis, Lacerta bilineata, Anguis fragilis, Coronella austriaca, Zamenis longissimus, Vipera a. zinnikeri, Natrix maura, Natrix helvetica, Zootoca vivipara louislantzi, Salamandra. s. fastuosa, Calotriton asper, Lissotriton helveticus, Bufo spinosus.

Overnight in the Ossau area.

Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 7: Herping in the Ossau region

Today is our final full day of herping in the Pyrenees. We spend our day at a spot where we will look for Vipera a. zinnikeri (melanistic and lined morph if we are lucky). Lunch will be served nearby. After dinner, we will be searching for Natterjack toads and other frogs.

Overnight in the Ossau area.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 8: Departure from the Pyrenees

After breakfast, we head back to Bordeaux Airport, where the trip will end. Depending on the departure flight times, we might be able to stop at some spots.

Meals Included: Breakfast