Day Trips in the
Danube Delta
Guided wildlife excursions from Tulcea. Slow motorboat through the strictly protected zones — pelicans, herons, kingfishers, water lilies. Back by evening.
Two Guided Day Trips
Both trips use Ibis Tours' slow wildlife motorboat with a professional naturalist guide. The route determines what you see — choose based on your priorities.
🦅 Full-Day Wildlife Cruise
A full day exploring the wildlife-rich western channels of the delta — the strictly protected Sireasa–Sontea–Nebunu zone, a UNESCO core area rarely accessible without a specialist guide. Slow pace, lots of stops for observation and photography.
- 📍 Departs Tulcea port (Incinta Tulco) at 10:00
- 🚤 Slow motorboat — 8–10 km/h, sunshade, toilet on board
- 🦅 Specialist English-speaking naturalist guide
- 🏝️ Canal Mila 36, Lac Coteţe, Sireasa, Sontea
- 🐦 Pelicans, herons, cormorants, kingfishers, water lilies
- 🍽️ Optional fish lunch at traditional fisherman — 70 lei/person
- 🏠 Returns to Tulcea ~17:00–17:30
✓ Included
- Slow boat + guide
- ARBDD entry permit
- Life jacket
✗ Not included
- Fish lunch (70 lei opt.)
- Drinks
- Parking (25 lei/day)
🌳 Letea Forest Excursion
A longer day reaching the legendary Letea — Romania's oldest nature reserve, protected since 1938. Wild horses roam the dunes between ancient oak trees. The journey there covers some of the delta's most remote and scenic channels, passing Mila 23 village en route.
- 📍 Departs Tulcea port at 08:30 (earlier start for the longer journey)
- 🚤 Slow motorboat with specialist guide
- 🐎 Wild horses and Letea forest on dunes
- 🏘️ Visit Mila 23 — traditional Lipovan village
- 🌿 Sub-Mediterranean forest, bee-eaters, rollers
- 🍽️ Optional traditional fish lunch at a local household
- 🏠 Returns to Tulcea ~19:00
✓ Included
- Slow boat + guide
- ARBDD entry permit
- Life jacket
✗ Not included
- Fish lunch (optional)
- Letea forest entry (~€10)
- Drinks, personal expenses
⭐ Want the full Danube Delta experience?
Day trips give you a taste. The 4-day and 5-day cruises aboard the 4-star floating hotel take you deep into the reserve — remote overnight anchorages, dawn on the water, Letea, Sulina and the Black Sea mouth, all included. Strongly recommended over a single day.
What You'll See
Both routes pass through different sections of the reserve — here's what to expect on each.
Wildlife Cruise Route
Depart Tulcea — Canal Mila 36
Enter the delta through Canal 36 — the gateway to the western reserve.
Canal Trofilca
Narrow, shaded canal with overhanging willows. Multiple Kingfisher pairs visible in summer.
Sireasa — Cotete Lake
Large cormorant, egret and Night Heron colony. One of the delta's most important bird concentrations.
Lac Nebunu — Strictly Protected Zone
Open pelican and waterbird lake in the UNESCO core. Optional fish lunch stop.
Sontea — water lilies
Kilometres of white and yellow water lilies. Purple herons and reed warblers in the reedbeds.
Return to Tulcea
Disembark at Incinta Tulco, Str. Independenței.
Letea Excursion Route
Depart Tulcea
Early start for the longer journey north through the delta.
Canal Sontea — Magearu Channel
Floating islands (plauri), water lilies, Purple Herons, Marsh Harriers.
Mila 23 Village
Traditional Lipovan Russian fishing village. Optional fish lunch here or in Letea.
Letea Village & Forest
Horse-cart to the forest. Ancient oaks, wild horses on sand dunes, bee-eaters, Rollers. Romania's oldest nature reserve.
Return journey
Slower pace back through the channels — afternoon light is often spectacular.
Return to Tulcea
Disembark at Incinta Tulco, Str. Independenței.
What Makes Our Day Trips Different
Slow boat, always
Our motorboats travel at 8–10 km/h. Slow enough to stop immediately when something appears — and quiet enough not to scare it off.
Naturalist guide, not a driver
Your guide is a professional ornithologist and naturalist — not just a boat captain. Every stop is an explanation, not just a pause.
Strictly protected zone access
The Letea Forest route passes through UNESCO core zones only accessible with a certified guide and ARBDD permit — which we obtain for you.
Comfort on board
Our boats are purpose-built for excursions: stable flat deck, comfortable seats, sunshade, and — crucially — an on-board toilet.
Right at the boarding point
Depart and return from Incinta Tulco — the same location as the multi-day cruise. Guarded parking available on site (25 lei/day).
Traditional fish lunch option
Order a traditional freshwater fish lunch on the day — 70 lei/person, prepared by local fishermen. Delta bream, carp and catfish the way it's been cooked here for centuries.
Frequently Asked Questions
The full-day wildlife cruise departs at 10:00 from Tulcea port (Incinta Tulco) and returns around 17:00–17:30. The Letea excursion departs at 08:30 and returns around 19:00. Please arrive at least 15 minutes early — the boat will not wait for latecomers.
The price includes: slow excursion motorboat with sunshade and toilet, professional English-speaking naturalist guide, and the ARBDD Danube Delta entry permit. Not included: optional traditional fish lunch (70 lei/person, ordered on the day), drinks, parking (25 lei/day), and the Letea forest entry fee (~€10/person on the Letea trip).
The full-day wildlife cruise runs daily from 15 June to 15 September, subject to minimum group size. The Letea excursion runs on selected dates — contact us for the current schedule. Outside peak season, private day trips can be arranged on request.
Yes. Children aged 6 and over are welcome. Life jackets must be worn at all times during the excursion. Parents are responsible for supervising children on board. The slow, stable motorboat is well-suited for families.
The day trip covers one section of the western delta in a single day, returning to Tulcea in the evening. The 4-day and 5-day cruises use the floating hotel as a base overnight — covering far greater distances, reaching Sulina, the Black Sea mouth, Letea forest, and remote anchorages completely inaccessible on a day trip. For the genuine delta experience, the multi-day cruise is strongly recommended over a day trip.
Scenes from Our Day Trips
Real moments from the Danube Delta and Letea forest — captured by our guests and guides.
Book your Danube Delta day trip
Expert guide, slow boat, strictly protected zones. June 15 – September 15, daily departures from Tulcea.
Stay Longer in the Delta
Day trips are great — multi-day cruises go deeper