Romania's Danube Delta & Carpathian Mountains

Excellent. I cannot recommend it too highly. The mountains were beautiful and the Delta was paradise. The birds and flowers were amazing and exceptional mammals. The lakes in the delta were full of frogs and amazing bird species. I liked the small guesthouses which was friendly and sparklingly clean. The Houseboat was wonderful. All staff were friendly and the food was good. Keith, Christian and Bogdan were great leaders and really got on as a team. Our driver was also called Christian and was excellent. The captain of the little boat was very friendly and helpful. 

H.T. Northumberland, Jun 24

Really enjoyed a varied and interesting tour with a wide range of bird and other wildlife. Seeing the brown bears was brilliant but the highlight was the early morning boat trip to see the sun rise over the delta. Seeing the pelicans through the early morning mist as the sun came up was unforgettable. We were particularly impressed that the leaders went ahead with the trip even though only my wife and I opted for it and it involved them getting up before 5am! The two leaders Emily and Bogdan were both excellent and their differing skills and interests complemented each other well.

G.P. Cheshire, May 24

The floating hotel on the Danube delta in my opinion is the best part of this holiday. The location is just so very beautiful, and watching the sunset with a drink was good for the soul. Having a morning coffee from the viewing deck on the roof again was just wonderful as pelicans and other birds went about their morning routine. The boat trips enable you to feel part of the delta, quite literally when nestled in the reeds, and on your return from this the food was fabulous! I slept so well in the small but perfectly formed cabins. I am not what I would call a bird enthusiast, that is my husband, I was just the 'wingman' on this trip. But even I was overwhelmed by the abundance of biodiversity and natural beauty in Romania, and I will not forget the Kingfisher and Roller fight! I thoroughly enjoyed the trip, especially the traditional Romanian food and the Danube Delta, I wish we had more time on the floating hotel, I didn't want to leave!

J.H. Berkshire, May 24

This was an excellent trip, well organised and enjoyable throughout. There was much to enjoy, be it birds, flowers , butterflies etc. The bear experience in the Carpathians was a real highlight, allowing us to watch a range of bears doing what bears do; eating, playing and interacting with each other. Fabulous! Romania is a beautiful country scenically and has much to offer the naturalist. Marcus, the Naturetrek guide, and Christian, the local guide, were superb. They worked hard to ensure everyone in the group got as much as possible out of the experience. They always ensured everyone saw what had been spotted , making sure they had use of the telescope to get better views. They were friendly and seemed to enjoy everyone's company. The variety of habitats visited ensured we had the chance of seeing as wide a range of flora and fauna as possible. We also learned a little of the Romanian history and the impact that events had on how land was used. Both guest houses were comfortable, very clean and interesting in their design. They may have been a little old fashioned but certainly had character. The staff in all three places were very welcoming and worked hard to ensure we were happy. The food was good at all times , and in fact, excellent on the flotel. Roxy and her assistant created wonderful traditional Romanian meals throughout our stay on the flotel. This attention to detail made our stay in Romania even more special.

J.H. Leicestershire, May 24

The whole Danube experience of "flotel" and day boat was magical. The staff looked after us extremely well. Andy and Christian were fantastic leaders. Informative, patient, knowledgeable and good company. They went the extra mile to make sure that everyone on the trip got what they wanted.

C.G. Suffolk, Apr 24

Hotel and grounds were lovely and the food great. The best trip leader I have had. Andy was extremely knowledgeable and he and the guide worked closely to the advantage of us all. Andy was very caring, good fun to be with, involving and a superb leader. The trip has astounding nature and scenery. 

P.F. Leicestershire, Apr 24

We visited Romania, principally bird watching and spent time in the Carpathian Mountains, the Danube delta and the steppes. Our expert guides showed us many birds in those different habitats but their knowledge also extended to wild flowers, butterflies, moths and mammals, especially important for those whose interests were broader than birds alone.  The small group consisted of 14 plus 2 guides which worked wonderfully well and meant that everyone felt that their interests were catered for with easy access to expert knowledge delivered in a fun and relaxed way. Naturetrek provide a highly professional, and personal service of the highest quality. They supply detailed trip notes of earlier trips so we could properly assess whether the trip was what we wanted, assistance with making preparations, advice on clothing and equipment etc. Questions are answered promptly and with care and attention to detail and with thoughtfulness. All the staff we were in contact with over the booking, enquiries, on the trip and at their open day were so friendly and helpful. The whole experience was so positive. 

D.S. Essex, Sept 23

A guided tour of wildlife sites in Romania. Amazing trip on the Danube Delta which must be seen to be believed. A crown jewel of European wildlife sites. Great combination of internationally experienced wildlife guide and extremely knowledgeable local guide. Comfortable accommodation and very well organised. Naturetrek are excellent at offering very well organised tours. Very helpful in answering questions beforehand and have found their tour descriptions very honest. Multiple site tours in remote areas inevitably involves travel but the descriptions are very honest and they have done a great job of breaking up journeys and involving sites of interest where available.

H.C. Essex, May 23

It was a terrific experience which more than met our expectations. We were led by two superb guides whose knowledge and awareness of wildlife was exemplary. This is quite an energetic trip with long days of enjoyment. The accommodation was of a high standard even though Romania is not a major tourist destination. We were delighted to add many new bird species to our previous experience as well as seeing Brown Bears, Golden Jackals, Fire Salamanders, frogs, turtles and Suslik. The organisation was of a high standard throughout. We received detailed information and reviews and accounts of previous trips to this area soon after enquiring and even more detail after booking. The veracity of that information was impressive and we were pleased to have had such good preparation. When travelling to see wildlife we would expect surprises, adventure and some personal effort; there was plenty of such experience. As already mentioned, they employed guides and local facilities and personnel of the highest order.

C.J. Hampshire, Jun 23

Naturetrek staff & guides are masters of the sensitive, widely informed, close encounter nature holidays. The itinerary was very varied covering the group's interests in botany, bird life, butterflies and mammals as we travelled through spectacular scenery. The chance to see wild bears was very special as were the four days spent on the floating hotel with trips on land and water in the Danube Delta. It was a privilege to meet such nice Romanian people running the hotels, restaurants especially at this difficult time in eastern Europe. Highly professional in every aspect, employing guides with an amazing depth & breadth of wildlife knowledge who also ensure that all the practical arrangements run smoothly.

J.H. East Yorkshire, Jun 22

Never having been to Romania before it was a step into unfamiliar territory! So that was exciting! We met some lovely people on the tour and the guides were very knowledgeable and very informative so we learnt a lot not only about the birds but about Romania itself! We had a lot of fun spotting birds and seeing a wonderful setting in which they live. The Danube Delta was amazing as were the Carpathians - we had very comfortable accommodation and the food was different but delicious. We would heartily recommend this trip to anyone! The Tour operator was very helpful, all the paperwork was explained and was sent out in good time and gave us time to ensure that we had everything we needed for the trip and for the journey and good advice regarding currency and where best to exchange it. This is the second trip with this operator and we will shortly be looking at a third for next year. They are very reliable, helpful and the range of trips is amazing and covers every age range. Well recommended. 

L.K. Argyll & Bute, May 22

The trip was partly based in the Carpathian Mountains where, in addition to a good range of birds, we had some excellent sightings of a target species - Brown Bears. Another highlight in the Carpathians was a close encounter with Wallcreepers - normally a difficult bird to observe. The tour continued to Tulcea on the Danube where we transferred to a small houseboat (towed) in order to explore the smaller backwaters of the Danube delta. The accommodation was comfortable and the food also very good. The range and quantity of the wildlife observed from the boat and also from short walks on shore was astonishing. It is difficult to see how the same experience could have been provided without the local knowledge and equipment of the operators. The local guide, Christian, in particular was first class. Naturetrek dealt with all aspects of the administration in a friendly and competent manner. We have travelled with them to various destinations before and are shortly to travel with them again - this time to Brazil for the second time.

P.S. Norfolk, May 22

We enjoyed the attentions of expert and helpful guides (both local and UK based), a very good standard of accommodation in both locations (the floating hotel experience was quite special). In addition to seeing all the fauna and flora we could have hoped for (and much more) our group was treated to a very comprehensive guide to Romania, people, food, customs and history. From our greeting at Bucharest to our sad farewells to guides and fellow group members at the same airport, we all felt rather spoilt and well taken care of. First stop, after a long drive into the mountains, was a rather lovely, family run guest house in Transylvania. Food (and wine) here was excellent, we were well looked after breakfast, lunch (we made ourselves from the ingredients provided by the guest house staff) and dinner - it was a wonder we were able to walk in the mountains at all. A particular highlight of this part of the holiday was seeing the European Brown Bears in their natural habitat. After 3 days of this we had another long drive down to the coast, where we were put up in our floating hotel, this was of the highest standard - even though everything on board was (understandably - it's a boat) compact. Food and wine again was excellent and the staff could not do enough for us. The floating hotel was our base for our smaller (but comfortable) boat excursions into the waterways of the Danube Delta. Again an absolute delight, even for the non-twitchers among us, the variety and uniqueness of the environment, fauna and flora on show here was stunning. The holiday ended (all too soon) with our transfer back to Bucharest airport, leaving behind a little sadness, but many wonderful memories. Would recommend - and would love to go back sometime. This was our second holiday with Naturetrek - we had previously had a wildlife tour of Poland (2017) and so were expecting great things - we were not disappointed, in fact this experience surpassed the previous by a margin - and has set the bar even higher.  Naturetrek obviously do their research very thoroughly, in terms of accommodation, guides, and locations, and it pays off.  Have already booked next year's holiday with Naturetrek - let's see if they can get even better (it will not be easy).

D.K. Argyll & Bute, May 22

We travelled by minibus with an excellent Romanian driver, expert bird guide and British ecologist. We explored the woods and hills of the Carpathian region spotting the rich bird life, plants, insects and mammals. We had a fabulous excursion to see European brown bears. On the Danube Delta we stayed on a floating hotel and had day trips out on a boat exploring the many canals and lakes. Wonderful opportunities to see and photograph the many bird species in this unique habitat. Accommodation was comfortable and meals delicious and sustaining; we were up at 6.30am each morning!! Every aspect was well organised from booking, travel communication, delivery and follow up (we had an excellent report complied of all we had seen and when by the British ecologist). Our flight out was cancelled by BA with only a week to go but Naturetrek found a replacement flight with Blue Air without drama or panic. The three staff who travelled with us were not only expert in their fields but totally professional and concerned for our wellbeing.

R.W. Kent, Apr 22

We saw lots of birds and also bears. Beautiful quiet countryside. Drifting down backwaters of the Danube in the sunshine, surrounded by croaking frogs and cuckoos calling, was very pleasant and peaceful. Everything was very well-organised. Nice clean unpretentious hotels. Good food - all the hotels and the "Floatel" coped really well with my gluten-free diet. Well-informed guides.  

R.H. Oxfordshire, May 22

We had a truly wonderful time exploring Romania. It was our first trip there and exceeded out expectations in every way. The guiding was top-notch and Marcus and Christian shared their knowledge and experience lightly and freely, adding to our great pleasure.  

T.S. Gloucestershire, Apr 22

We visited the Carpathian Mountains, the Danube Delta, and mainland sites near Tulcea and the Black Sea. The local Romanian guide was excellent and the English leader supplied by Naturetrek was absolutely great. Both went to a lot of trouble to ensure everyone saw the wildlife they found and the trip was a great success. Accommodation and food were both exemplary, and the floating hotel on the Danube was an unforgettable experience. Naturetrek have organised an outstanding holiday in this package, and employed a first-rate team to run it.

C.W. Suffolk, Apr 22

There were 14 guests and 2 guides, one who travelled with us from London and the other a local guide. Birds and mammals were the focus but there was much interest and enthusiasm in the natural environment and several of us were left with the desire to return to explore the flora and fauna further. There were many highlights, but for me it had to be the mammals: firstly brown bears - twelve in total including cubs, with a red fox trying to steal the show, in the mountains. Then we were privileged to see a European wild cat, a golden jackal and souslik in the Danube delta. The birders on the trip were not disappointed with the extensive range and number of birds - over 160 ticks on the bird list! Added extras included tortoises and butterflies. Having a local guide gave us huge insight to the country and with local knowledge our whole experience was elevated, certainly exceeding my expectations.

M.P. Bristol, April 19

Interesting trip to Romania to see birds and brown bears and other wildlife. Beautiful countryside - mountains, hills and meadows. Many birds and insects and wildflowers to see. Wonderful walks through unspoilt meadows and woodland. Boat trip through the quiet channels of the Danube Delta. Lovely holiday. Excellent informative and caring guides. Excellent food and good accommodation.

J.L. Hampshire, May 19

I had no idea how varied this holiday would be! From the wide vistas of mountain scenery while hiking in the Carpathian Mountains, to leisurely sunny days spent floating along the many channels of the pristine Danube Delta. Viewing birds galore, the entire 10 days were bursting with wonderful experiences. Some highlights included the many beautiful butterflies in Romania, each species carefully identified by our guides. Seeing a total of seven wild Brown Bears, including 2 cute cubs, from a bear hide in the deepest forest. Bran Castle, the only touristy spot in all of Transylvania! Our visit to Greci, a traditional village in the Danube Delta. The vast number of birds inhabiting the Delta and therefore the importance of protecting this gem. Swimming in the Black Sea with 'the locals'.

J.L. Bermuda, Aug 18

This is the best Naturetrek holiday that I have been on. It far exceeded my expectations. Please note that the accommodation in small family run hotels and on the boat is outstanding and far from basic. The organisation in Romania is very slick and efficient combined with exceptional warmth and friendliness. Nothing was too much trouble. The tour leaders were knowledgeable and informative and were always approachable. I would recommend this holiday to anyone and will do so to my friends.

J.K. West Yorkshire

My congratulations to Naturetrek for an extremely well planned and thoroughly enjoyable trip...Overall, I can only praise all the personnel involved in this tour and look forward to my future travels with Naturetrek.

A.S. Oxfordshire

This was truly a superb tour. We had a lot of fun amid the serious stuff of finding and identifying birds, all of which we were able to get excellent views, thanks to the expertise of Daniel and Chris. Daniel is a most charismatic character, full of enthusiasm and bonhomie...and Chris’ credentials and birding abilities are undoubted.

T.M. Gloucestershire

The holiday exceeded our expectation. The accommodation was far better than you led us to expect - condition for tourists in Romania improve by the day. John Carruthers was the epitome of an ideal tour leader - patient, considerable and permanently cheerful. Dan Petreseu is a skilled and energetic local leader, unflagging in his encouragement of everyone and with excellent skills. All of the areas that we visited had plenty to offer to the naturalist, but the sheer spectacle of the Danube Delta was outstanding. Finally, this was an excellent group to spend a holiday with.

A.K. Yorkshire

Our guides were both excellent at spotting birds… Mihai had an excellent knowledge of history, geography, geology and botany…The bear hide experience was magical! We saw lots of bears right from the start. The highlight was the Danube Delta. The trips were very well planned. The houseboat was very comfortable with excellent food.

W.S. Herefordshire

The three different areas(of Romania)were amazing, and 16 bears well who can ask for more. The large group were all very nice but best of all were the guides. I’m now looking at other trips that Geoff Carr leads, he is truly perfect…he is really knowledgeable about so many things but best of all a really wonderful personality and sense of humour. The local guide Florin Palade, again a wealth of knowledge and absolutely everything on history, geography, geology etc and again a great personality with perfect English and German. The local botanist in Dobrogea was brilliant not just about botany but all other subjects thrown at him. A better team could not be found.

W.S. Essex

I had been to Romania many years ago in mid-winter but did not enter the delta or visit the Carpathian mountains - I was delighted with both and could not have enjoyed it more. I did not expect to see any new birds, but was very happy to see good (variety of) birds again and seen in great numbers.

J.G. Yorkshire

An excellent trip – the Flotel was superb. Both leaders hearing and sighting of birds was exceptional and Florin was particularly enchanting with his sense of humour and knowledge of his lively country. We were very lucky to see 16 bears with 2 mothers that had 3 cubs each.

M.C. Cambridgeshire

You can't beat birdwatching by boat, relaxing, stimulating, can you just imagine putting the boat into the bank and sitting in your comfortable chair watching the black woodpecker enlarging his hole, or slowly following literally hundreds of pelicans as they fish in the shallow waters.

L.L. Worcestershire

Outstanding trip. Friendly and knowledgeable trip leader and local guide. First class organisation, accommodation and meals. Well done Naturetrek.

A.P. Dorset

This was my first Naturetrek trip and it far exceeded my expectations. The range of habitats meant we saw a vast number of species which were expertly identified and explained by the knowledgeable (and patient) leaders.

B.C. London

Danube Delta trips - very relaxing watching scenery and wildlife from top deck of hotel on the small boat. Jason was informative and endlessly patient about identifying birds and insects, while Daniel had a wealth of knowledge and information about the Delta area and Romania as a whole.

M.M. Cambridgeshire

Whether we were in the Transylvanian mountains or the down on the delta, the variety and wealth of wildlife was exceptional. The contrast between regions added to the spectacle and the ability of our two guides to get us to the right areas to get close views and photographs added to the enjoyment. Accommodation was always of a high standard for such a trip as were the meals, both in the hotels and during the day. We were a mixed bunch of naturalists, photographers and sightseers yet our guides brought us all together so that we worked as a team of observers and nature specialists and could not have got more from the holiday. A truly enjoyable experience.

R.D. Dorset

It was a packed 10 days in which we experienced some most wonderful wildlife sightings, with chance to observe and learn from our extremely knowledgeable guides Our highlights were watching the bears, watching a Penduline tit building it's intricate nest & the spectacle of thousands of pelicans flying above our heads as the sun began to set, but there was so much more! The itinerary also gave us opportunities to 'see' Romania; the countryside with associated activities, the villages, castles & the Royal lodge, even a chance to see the centre of Bucharest on our way to the airport. The accommodation was welcoming & comfortable, the floating hotel moored against the reeds in the Delta with the frogs was a really memorable experience.

J. & E.K. Somerset

A wildlife holiday focusing on 3 locations in Romania lasting 10 days in September. It is the first time I have travelled with Naturetrek who delivered a first class experience at a competitive price. The pre-tour information was comprehensive , communication was good and the tour guides in the field were excellent.

H.R. Oxfordshire

We had a great time in Romania this year. We visited a whole host of different places and were lucky enough to see a range of native wildlife including bears, birds, wild cats, reptiles, butterfly's, insects and flora. The places we visited offered a glimpse into the natural history, geology and geography of this fascinating area. We stayed on a floating hotel in the Danube Delta. The time here was interspersed with trips out on a smaller boat to explore the small channels and lakes. Many species of frogs and birds live here. My personal highlights were the stone curlew and the little sousliks seen out in the steppes area near to the floodplains of Tulcea. 

L.B. Hertfordshire, June 18

A great mix of habitats from mountain meadows & open wood, to gorge walks, followed by a cross country transfer to the delta stopping at lakes and wildflower meadows. Our home on the delta was the 'mother ship' moving along the main channels with great views from the upper desks. You might say the hide moves past the birds. Mooring up at lunchtime and evening/overnight for meals and overnight. Each day am/pm the group moves on using a well appointed day boat meeting the mother ship in a new location. Catering was fine adapted to suit all group members and a birthday cake too. Lucky me. A great way to mark a special birthday. Our third base was a comfortable town based guesthouse, allowing trips to lagoons & hills. Along the coastal area. The mix of birds, bears, flowers, butterflies/insects, reptiles etc although challenging at times was just what we wanted. For those who might be less mobile this trip would be a great choice.

M.C. Lincolnshire, May 18

An excellent 10 day tour incorporating all that is great about bird watching in Romania. Naturetrek organised everything including our flights from Manchester and our hotel and transfers in Bucharest where we spent a couple of extra days. The guides were brilliant and had a wealth of knowledge about the area and it's wildlife. The accommodation in all three locations was wonderful and our hosts could not have done any more to make our stay very comfortable. Our first experience with Naturetrek but it will not be our last.

A.H. Cheshire, May 18

Seeing and photographing bears in the wild - a return visit after a 20 year gap to the Delta. Our second local guide Lorenzy had an interest in his country, in addition to birds, and enjoyed sharing it with us. Andy was very approachable, knowledgeable, and patient at pointing out how to identify the various birds.

B.M. Essex

Loved Romania! Local guides were very knowledgeable and helpful with species identification. Particularly enjoyed being on the floating hotel - the staff were delightful and they catered to every need in the party, especially regarding diet. Saw some amazing birds, butterflies etc. and would like to return to see more of the Delta area. Everything ran like clockwork and there were a brilliant set of guests.

P.H. Northamptonshire

Romania is ace. Guides were knowledgeable. Floating hotel was very good and staff helpful. Excellent birds, butterflies and flora to see. Would like to return. Food was plentiful and of a good standard, including picnics with delicious local cheese, cucumber and tomatoes.

S.H. Northamptonshire

The itinerary included a variety of landscapes which in turn provided a wide range of different bird and flora species. The river boat hotel was delightful - it provided a very special way to observe birds up close an from a distance.

D.S. West Sussex

An all round excellent trip. Outstanding leaders - Laurentiu's knowledge of Romanian birds and wildlife was extraordinary, Ed's role as host as well as his birding skills - excellent team. A spring trip to Romania is definitely to be recommended.

J.H. Midlothian

Thoroughly enjoyed this trip to Romania, especially spending time on the Delta. The amount of wildlife there is just incredible, and I will never get bored of seeing kingfishers – however many we see in one day! Although, seeing the bears was definitely the highlight for me.

R.J. Belgium

Everything worked really well. Enjoyed everything. DO NOT CHANGE ANYTHING, PLEASE.

R.B. Wiltshire

The information supplied by the tour leaders was paramount to the enjoyment of this trip. As well as information on wildlife they were very informative on the history of the country, geology, changes on the landscape brought about by human settlement. The tour of Bran Castle led by Laurentiu was outstanding. Overall the two leaders worked together as a perfect team.

A.P. Norfolk

The tour leaders were very knowledgeable, very interesting and very lovely people. They told us a lot about the country, it's geography, it's history, it's customs, etc, as well as imparting their knowledge on it's wildlife. Morning coffee served to us on the boat was greatly appreciated, and the food & coffee on the picnics, and the venues chosen for them were excellent also. Being towed along on the Floating Hotel was IDYLLIC and the whole system was well thought out, transferring to the smaller boat to explore canals. 10/10!

M.P. Norfolk

This was a superb wildlife experience - particularly the quality and quantity of birds in the Delta. Living on the floating hotel meant that we were immersed in this fantastic habitat 24 hours a day - excellent. All 3 guides were excellent.

J.W. Hertfordshire