Expert-Led Bird-watching & Bear-watching Tour in Romania
10-day wildlife tour β Carpathians Β· Danube Delta Β· Black Sea Coast
About This Tour
10-day Birdwatching & Bear Watching Tour in Romania, exploring the Carpathian Mountains, the Danube Delta, the steppes of Dobrogea, and the Black Sea coast. This long-established itinerary is our best-selling wildlife tour in Romania, offering exceptional birdwatching across a wide range of habitats, from mountain forests to coastal wetlands.
Highlights
- βEvening Bear watching in the Carpathian Mountains β Wolf and Lynx also possible
- βHiking Piatra Craiului National Park gorges in search of Wallcreepers
- β4 nights on a 4-star floating hotel in the Danube Delta
- βLarge numbers of pelicans, herons, Pygmy Cormorant and Glossy Ibis
- βBirdwatching Black Sea lagoons for migrating waders and warblers
- βLevant Sparrowhawk and Long-legged Buzzard in MΔcin National Park
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Fly to Bucharest β Transfer to ZΔrneΘti
Transfer from Bucharest Airport to ZΔrneΘti (2.5β3 hours). Welcome dinner at a local 4-star guesthouse in the heart of the Carpathians.
ZΔrneΘti β Piatra Craiului National Park
We visit ZΔrneΘti Gorge in Piatra Craiului National Park, one of the most spectacular limestone landscapes in the Romanian Carpathians. We continue along a traditional shepherd's track through the forest, with opportunities to track large carnivores in mature spruce, fir, and beech forests. Bear and deer tracks are almost always observed. Possible birds: Wallcreeper, Treecreeper, Alpine Swift, Crag Martin, Crossbills, Black Woodpecker, White-backed Woodpecker, Honey Buzzard.
ZΔrneΘti β StrΓ’mba Valley β Bear Hide
Morning birdwatching walk along forest edge to the ancient Christian site of ColΘul Chiliilor. After a packed lunch, gentle walks across forest meadows and clearings. Possible species: Ural Owl, Eurasian Nutcracker, Three-toed Woodpecker, Black Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, and many passerines. In the evening, we visit a bear hide located deep within the forest, observing Brown Bears from a purpose-built hide.
Transfer ZΔrneΘti β Tulcea β Embark Floating Hotel
After breakfast, we leave the Carpathians and travel to Dobrogea and the Danube Delta. In the evening we arrive in Tulcea and check in aboard the comfortable 4-star floating hotel. Dinner and overnight on board, ready for birdwatching in the Delta.
Danube Delta β Channels, Lakes & Pelican Colonies
We explore the heart of the Danube Delta, navigating narrow channels, lakes, reed beds, bird colonies, and extensive willow forests. We encounter large pelican colonies (White and Dalmatian Pelican), Cormorants, egrets, and herons. The reed beds offer excellent Acrocephalus warblers including Savi's, Sedge, Paddyfield, Moustached, Marsh, Reed, and Great Reed. Other species: Common Sandpiper, Greenshank, Kingfisher, Penduline Tit, Little Bittern, Marsh Harrier, Red-footed Falcon.
Danube Delta β Letea Forest
Boat trip to the famous Letea Forest, a strictly protected area of ancient Balkan oak woodland growing on maritime sand dunes. This unique habitat offers excellent opportunities to observe mammals, reptiles, woodland bird species, and an outstanding diversity of flora including endemic trees and flowering plants. We also visit the traditional village of Letea.
Danube Delta β Tulcea
Final morning exploring the channels and lakes of the Danube Delta for exceptional birdwatching opportunities before sailing back to Tulcea. Disembarkation in the afternoon.
Tulcea β MΔcin National Park
We explore Dobrogea by car through Parchesh and the MΔcin Mountains National Park β the oldest mountain range in Europe. Open rocky landscapes and steppe habitats with Long-legged Buzzard, Isabelline Wheatear, Rock Thrush, Ortolan Bunting, Corn Bunting, Hoopoe.
Babadag Forest β Sinoe-Razelm Lake β Black Sea Coast
South through traditional Dobrogea villages to Babadag Forest (woodpeckers, Honey Buzzard, Imperial Eagle), then to the SinoeβRazelm Lake Complex. Lunch at Histria β saltmarsh with Dalmatian Pelicans, herons, waders, Balkan Yellow Wagtail, Acrocephalus warblers. Walk to the ancient Greek-Roman port of Histria. Views of the Black Sea coast.
Transfer Tulcea β Bucharest
Early morning departure from Tulcea to Bucharest (4β4.5 hours including a coffee stop). Arrival at Bucharest for onward travel.
β What's included
- Accommodation throughout (guesthouses + floating hotel)
- Full board (all meals)
- All transfers by minibus
- Day trips by boat in the Danube Delta
- Expert English-speaking naturalist guide
- All entrance fees
β Not included
- International flights
- Travel insurance
- Soft and alcoholic drinks
- Personal expenses
