A mother brown bear with three cubs sitting on a log in a lush green forest.

Wild Summer in Romania

From:

US$ 5.067 per person sharing room

Group size:

6 guests

Destinations:

Carpathian mountains, Danube Delta, Dobrogea steppes & Black Sea coast

Safari dates:

14-23. June 2027

Overview:

Join us for a wild summer in Romania in one of Europe’s last great wildernesses. This epic 10-day long adventure takes you through the mountain forest of the Carpathians and the stepps of Dobrogea, to the pristine waterways of the Danube Delta and the coast of the Black Sea. A wild journey of discovery to the southeastern corner of Europe.

The mountain forest of the rugged Carpathians shields the largest population of predators in all of Europe, and we’ll be visiting a photo hide to photograph brown bears up close. In the mighty Danube Delta we’ll photograph hundreds of different bird species that inhabit its rivers, channels and lagoons. We’ll be watching mighty raptors soaring high above the steps of Dobrogea, and explore the different waders and habitats of the coast of the Black Sea. This incredible and diverse expedition is created to give you the best wildlife and birding experience in all of Europe.

A colorful bird flying away from a bare tree branch against a light sky.
A large group of white pelicans with bright yellow beaks and pink facial skin, floating on water.

Itinerary:

Day 1 - Arrival in Bucharest:

Welcome to Romania! When you land at Bucharest international airport you’ll be met by a friendly representative that will transfer you to Predelut. You’ll check in at the Guesthouse Transylvanian Inn 4. Here you’ll meet the rest of the group and we’ll have a welcoming dinner together, all with a view over the Bran Castle.

Day 2 - Full day in Piatra Craiului National Park:

After breakfast we’ll visit the Gorges of Zarnesti in the Piatra Craiului national park. Then, we’ll go on a shepard track in the forest of the national park and we’ll have the chance to see a traditional sheep shelter. Good day for large carnivores tracking and old spruce, fir and beech woods. Tracks of brown bears and deers are almost always seen. Here possible bird species are: Wall creeper, tree creeper, alpine swift, crag martin, serine, crossbills, black woodpecker, white-backed woodpecker, honey buzzard etc.

Today we’ll have our first visit to our photo hide where we’ll have chances of photographing brown bears. Romania holds Europe’s largest population of brown bears so the chances are in our favor. Dinner and accommodation will be at the same local guesthouse in Predelut.

Day 3 - Full day in Piatra Craiului National Park:

In the morning after we will make an easy walk on the edge of the forest to the ancient Christian site of Coltul Chiliilor. After a packed lunch we will do more walking on forest meadows in the same area. This area represents a good spot for spotting ural owl, nut cracker, three-toad woodpecker, black woodpecker, great spotted woodpecker and a large amount of passerines. In the evening we’ll head back to the bear hide located in the forest where we will have the chance to watch the bears from the shelter of a small hut. Dinner will be served once we’re back in Transylvania Inn.

Day 4 - Arrival in Danube Delta:

After breakfast we will leave the mountains and head for the lower lands - Dobrogea and Danube Delta. We’ll stop for lunch on our way. In the evening we’ll check in at the Eden Delta Dunari in Tulcea, the gate of Danube Delta. We’ll have dinner together here while we discuss the coming days in one of Europe’s most pristine water ecosystems.

Day 5 - 7 Full days of exploring Danube Delta:

During these days we’ll explore Danube Delta with its narrow channels and lakes, bird colonies, reed beds and large willow forests. You will have the chance to see colonies of white pelican, dalmatian pelican and cormorants. Also many Locustella and Acrocephalus warblers (Savi's, sedge, paddyfield, moustached, marsh, reed and great reed), egrets, herons, common sandpipers, green sandpipers and greenshanks. Kingfishers, penduline tits and other reed bed species (including Little Bittern). Raptors will include frequent sightings of marsh harriers whilst the red-footed falcons will be seen in small groups hunting insects. The white-tailed eagles are very quiet in the summer, but there is always a chance of locating one of the ten breeding pairs. In one of these days we’ll travel by boat to Letea forest, a strictly protected area of Balkan oaks wood on maritime sand dunes. Good day for mammals, lizards and birds. Flora is also amazing, with many endemic species of trees and bloomed plants.

Day 8 - Arrival in Dobrogea:

Today we’ll be exploring the Dobrogea region. In the morning we will leave Tulcea and after a thirty minute drive we’ll arrive in Parches where we’ll have a great view over the Delta. We can expect bird migration depending on weather. Birds like long-legged buzzard, lesser-spotted eagle and marsh harrier can be seen. Afterwards we will concentrate on Macin Mountains where there are some interesting species like long-legged buzzard, isabelline wheatear, rock thrush, ortolan bunting, corn bunting and European hoopoe. The route to Macin Mountains National Park will be done by car. The picnic lunch will be on package in the heart of nature while we’ll enjoy the wive of Europe’s oldest mountains.

Today we’ll check in at our new accommodation, the Ibis Guesthouse. Dinner will be served in the evening after check in.

Day 9 - Full day of birding in Dobrogea:

After breakfast we shall travel southwards, passing through small villages. On our way we will make a stop to Babadag forest where several species of woodpeckers, hawfinches and raptors such as honey buzzard and imperial eagle are commonly seen. The Razim-Sinoe lake complex lies to the south of the Danube Delta. An extensive sand spit has isolated the area from the Black Sea and has left behind a series of shallow, brackish lakes, which are extremely rich in birds. Our main stop for lunch will be at Histria, where there is a large salt marsh containing scattered pools. Herons, ducks and acrocephalus warblers can be seen in large numbers here. Other birds possible are Balkan yellow wagtail and wader species. This is also the main feeding area for the small delta population of dalmatian pelicans. We will have time to walk across the marsh to the ancient Greek-Roman port of Histria where a variety of wild flowers should also be seen. During this day we will have the opportunity to see also the Black sea coast. Dinner is served in the evening after a full day of exploring.

Day 10 - Departure for Bucharest:

Today is our last morning in Dobrega. We’re leaving early in the morning to make the transfer from Tulcea to Bucharest. The drive is about 4 - 4.5 hours’ with coffee stop and lunch. When we´re back in Bucharest we´ll be dropped off at the airport, which signal the end of this incredible adventure. The journey home begins.

Tour highlights

  • Evening bear watching and photo hide in the Carpathian mountains.

  • Possibility of wolf and lynx.

  • Exploring the Carpathian mountains.

  • Walking the gorges of Piatra Craiului national park.

  • Bird photography in the Carpathian Mountains, Danube Delta and Dobrogea steppes.

  • 3 days of exploring the Danube Delta on a boat cruise.

  • Large numbers of pelicans, herons, cormorant and ibis, with kingfishers, rollers and bee-eaters.

  • Birdwatching at the Black Sea coast.

  • Staying at local guests houses close to nature with a view over Bran castle.

  • Exploring Babadag forest.

Included

  • Transportations from and to the airport.

  • Transport between all destinations.

  • All accommodations.

  • All meals.

  • motor boat.

  • Local guide.

  • Access to bear hide.

  • Entrance to the Danube Delta.

Excluded

  • International flights.

  • Alcoholic drinks.

  • Personal clothing.

  • Visa.

  • Any unforeseen expenses due to unexpected circumstances.

A close-up of a brown bear standing in a lush green forested area, surrounded by green foliage.
Two colorful birds, a male and female, perched on a branch with the male feeding the female.
Two large white pelicans swimming in water with their long beaks and yellow eyes visible, one in the foreground and one in the background.
Silhouette of a pelican swimming on water during a colorful sunset.
A majestic eagle perched on a bare tree branch against a clear blue sky.
Sunset over a body of water with orange sky and silhouetted land in the distance.
A landscape photo of a mountain range with snow-capped peaks in the background and lush green forests in the foreground, under a partly cloudy sky.
A medieval castle on a rocky hill surrounded by dense green forest with a sunset sky in the background.
Colorful kingfisher bird perched on a branch with a fish in its beak
Close-up of a colorful bird perched on grass with a blurred background.
A large flock of birds flying above bare tree branches against a pale sky.
A bird with a bee on its beak, on sandy ground, showing brown and red feathers with white trim.
Three white pelicans with one having an orange-colored wing feather, standing in a body of water during sunset.
A large flock of pink flamingos resting on water near tall green grasses and reeds.
A bird, likely a piping plover, flying in a blue sky with wings spread wide.
A heron standing by a body of water among twigs and branches, with its beak pointed downward and sitting on yellow legs.
A bird in flight against a blue sky, with gray and white feathers, distinctive orange-eye markings, and patterned tail feathers.
Close-up of a colorful bird with its beak open, showing vibrant yellow, green, blue, brown feathers, and a red eye.
Colorful bird with blue, green, and brown feathers landing on a dirt surface near grass.
A mother bear with a cub riding on her back, standing in a lush green field of plants.
Silhouettes of multiple birds flying against a vibrant pink and purple sunset sky.
Thousands of birds flying in the sky during daytime with an overcast sky above a barren field.
A clear blue sky with a few scattered white clouds over a calm river. On the riverbank, there are green trees and tall grasses. A white and red boat is docked on the right side of the river, reflected in the water.
Aerial view of a winding river flowing through grassy plains with scattered bushes and trees under a partly cloudy sky.

Do you have any questions about this adventure?

Reach out to us in the contact form here, and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible. We want you to come prepared and excited for this incredible experience, so don’t hesitate to get in touch.