Romania’s Danube Delta & the Carpathians – a Wildlife Paradise
Holiday Highlights
- Stunning wilderness scenery
- Abundance of bird and animal life
- Remote villages with a traditional way of life
- “Homestay” accommodation, full of character yet with all necessary facilities
- Bear sanctuary near Zărneşti
- Many meals from locally sourced organic produce
- 10 days from £2,850pp
Tour Dates:
Saturday 2 September to Monday 11 September 2023
UK’s Leading Specialist Operator to Romania
Discover some of the last true wilderness areas in Europe, teeming with wildlife. We search for rare wading birds in the Delta, visit a bear sanctuary in the mountains in the company of experts and encounter a rural life that makes Romania so appealing.
ITINERARY
Day 1 – Flight to Bucharest
Morning flight from London to Bucharest, arriving late afternoon. Train from airport into the city where the Gara de Nord station is close to our hotel.
Day 2 – From Bucharest to the Danube Delta
By train to Tulcea, railhead for the Delta and then transfer by boat to our guesthouse in the tiny village of Mila23. This village is accessible only by boat
Days 3 to 5 – Exploring the Delta
We are joined by an English speaking specialist for three days of bird watching, mostly by boat. Likely sightings amongst those too numerous to mention are bittern, squacco heron, egret, glossy ibis, white tailed eagle and, most famously, both white and Dalmatian pelican. There is absolutely no requirement for prior knowledge of ornithology – just sit back, relax and enjoy the beautiful unspoilt delta scenery.
Day 6 – Vrancea Mountains
We transfer to Tulcea by boat and from there by road via Brăila, firstly for a wine tasting at a local winery and then into the Vrancea Mountains for an overnight in Lepşa.
Day 7 – Tişita Gorge & Braşov
A waterfall close to our accommodation is well worth a visit before a short walk upstream through the Tişita Gorge. The footpath here is actually the track-bed of an old forestry railway. We rejoin our bus for a scenic journey over the pass into Transylvania and our next destination, Braşov. Here our small hotel is in the centre of this medieval town which was built by the Saxons.
Day 8 – Bear Sanctuary & Bran Castle
Brown bears are common in this area although spotting them in the wild is very hit and miss. So this morning we visit the bear sanctuary near Zărneşti, run by an animal welfare charity and housing about 80 bears which have been rescued from zoos and other places of captivity. Here they roam in their natural habitat and are well cared for. We continue to Bran with its archetypical Transylvanian castle – turrets and all! Return to Braşov for overnight.
Day 9 – Across the Carpathians by Rail
After a leisurely morning in Braşov, we catch the main line train to Bucharest. Our scenic route takes us across the mountains through the ski resorts of Predeal and Sinaia.
Day 10 – Bucharest to London
Lunchtime flight from Bucharest to London arriving mid-afternoon.
Due to the limited number of rooms in “homestay” accommodation, this tour will be limited to 12 persons.
Selected Hotels
My Continental Hotel, Bucharest
Pensiunea Vanessa, Mila 23
Casa Tisaru, Lepşa
Bella Musika Hotel, Braşov
Please note - hotels can be subject to change
Price Includes
- Flights in Economy Class by scheduled airline
- Rail travel as specified
- Other travel by private mini-coach
- Hotel accommodation in Bucharest
- Other accommodation in boutique hotel or good quality guest house with en-suite facilities
- All breakfasts, 4 lunches and 5 evening meals
- Airport and other transfers
- Services of a tour leader from London and throughout the tour, local professional Romanian guide plus specialist guides where required
Price per person
Escorted holiday: | £2,850 |
Single room supplement: | £375 |
Deposit for this holiday: | £200 |