This comprehensive one-week itinerary shows the very best wildlife that Romania has to offer in its two premier locations – the Carpathian Mountains and the superb Danube Delta.
The Carpathians are home to almost 6,000 bears, and watching from dedicated hides gives the best chance of seeing them. Birdlife includes wallcreeper, woodpeckers, firecrest, spotted nutcracker, golden eagle and Ural owl. Next we explore the Danube Delta by boat and on foot in search of white-tailed eagle, European roller, Dalmatian pelican, glossy ibis, spoonbill, Eurasian penduline tit and golden oriole, while mammals include golden jackal, muskrat, otter and mink.
Typical Itinerary
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Day 1:
Fly to Bucharest & transfer to Zarnești
On arrival in Bucharest, we meet our local guide and drive northwards to Zarnesti. This journey of approximately 3 hours takes us gradually into the forested Carpathian Mountains, and we arrive at our accommodation during the evening.
Accommodation: Pensiunea Sura Sasilor, 3-nights
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Days 2-3
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Explore the Carpathian Mountains; bear watching
Over the next couple of days we explore the area surrounding Zarnesti in search of the region’s mammals and birds. One of the locations we visit during our time here is the Zarnesti Gorge, where we hope to see wallcreeper, treecreeper, crag martin, alpine swift, both black and white-backed woodpeckers, and honey buzzard. Another site we visit is a nearby area of forest meadows where we look for Ural owl, nutcracker, three-toed and black woodpeckers, plus an array of passerines.
In the late afternoons, we head to either the Plaiului or Stramba Valley, which have a number of hides that are used for watching bears. At this time of year, the bears are still hungry after hibernating through the winter months and are particularly active searching for their food.
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Day 4:
Drive to Tulcea
Today we travel east, leaving the Carpathian Mountains behind, to Tulcea. The drive takes most of the day, however there will be stops en route to stretch our legs and perhaps do a spot of birding. Some of the species that we have the opportunity to see could include European bee-eater, lesser-spotted eagle, levant sparrowhawk, collared flycatcher and imperial eagle.
Accommodation: Guesthouse Ibis, 1-night
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Days 5-6
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Excursions in the Danube Delta
We have two full days to explore the Danube Delta and enjoy its abundance of wildlife. We experience the delta both from the water on our own private boat, and also on foot on the extensive network of trails, as well as making use of some specialist hides.
The Danube Delta is arguably the best preserved delta in Europe. Covering more than 5,000 square kilometres, it was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site back in 1991. This wetland wilderness is a real haven for wildlife – more than 300 bird species have been recorded and almost 90% of the aquatic fauna found in Europe is found here. European mink, golden jackals and otters are just a few of the mammals that we may spot.
However, the other real highlight of the delta is the sheer profusion and diversity of birdlife that lives here. With raptors and waterbirds aplenty, there is certainly more than enough to be looking for. Of the 300 recorded species here, some of the birds that we hope to see are white-tailed eagle, pied avocet, common kingfisher, hoopoe, European roller, red-footed falcon and pygmy cormorant. An iconic sighting in the Danube Delta is to see large flocks of both Dalmatian and white pelicans.
Accommodation: Guesthouse Eden, 2-nights
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Day 7:
Return to Tulcea
This morning we spend more time exploring the Danube Delta in search of some of the species that we may not have seen yet, before driving back to Tulcea this afternoon for our last night in Romania.
Accommodation: Guesthouse Ibis, 1-night
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Day 8:
Transfer to Bucharest & fly back to the UK
Today we drive back to Bucharest which will take approximately 3.5 hours, again stopping en route to break up the journey and stretch our legs. On arrival at Bucharest airport, we check in for our return flight back to the UK.
