Expert-Led Bird-watching & Bear-watching Tour in Romania

 Transfer from Bucharest Airport to Zarnesti (2.5 – 3 h). Welcome dinner to Local Guesthouse 4*.

After breakfast, we visit the Zărnești Gorge in Piatra Craiului National Park, one of the most spectacular limestone landscapes in the Romanian Carpathians. We then continue along a traditional shepherd’s track through the forest, with the opportunity to see a traditional sheep shelter, offering insight into local pastoral life.

This is an excellent day for tracking large carnivores and exploring mature spruce, fir, and beech forests. Bear and deer tracks are almost always observed, adding to the sense of wilderness that defines this area.

Birdwatching opportunities are excellent, with possible species including Wallcreeper, Treecreeper, Alpine Swift, Crag Martin, Serin, Crossbills, Black Woodpecker, White-backed Woodpecker, and Honey Buzzard, among others.

Dinner and overnight accommodation are at the same local 3-star guesthouse in Zărnești, providing a comfortable base for continued birdwatching and wildlife exploration.

  In the morning, we take an easy birdwatching walk along the forest edge to the ancient Christian site of Colțul Chiliilor, a historic hermitage set in a quiet woodland setting. The combination of forest margins and open clearings makes this area particularly productive for observing forest birds.
After a packed lunch, we continue with gentle walks across forest meadows and woodland clearings in the same area, offering excellent opportunities for birdwatching and wildlife observation.
This area is a reliable hotspot for forest bird species, with chances to see Ural Owl, Eurasian Nutcracker, Three-toed Woodpecker, Black Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, as well as a wide variety of passerines associated with mature Carpathian forests.
In the evening, we visit a bear hide located deep within the forest, where we observe Brown Bears from the safety and comfort of a small, purpose-built hide, allowing close and ethical wildlife viewing without disturbance.
Dinner and overnight accommodation are at the same guesthouse in Zărnești, ensuring a relaxed end to a rewarding day of birdwatching and wildlife experiences in the Carpathian Mountains.

 After breakfast, we leave the mountain landscapes of the Carpathians and travel towards the lowlands of Dobrogea and the Danube Delta, one of Europe’s most important wetlands and birdwatching destinations.

In the evening, we arrive in Tulcea, the main gateway to the Danube Delta, where we check in aboard a comfortable 4-star floating hotel. Dinner and overnight accommodation are on board, providing an ideal base for the upcoming birdwatching and nature cruises in the Danube Delta.

During days 5, 6, and 7, we explore the heart of the Danube Delta, navigating its narrow channels, lakes, reed beds, bird colonies, and extensive willow forests. These days are dedicated to intensive birdwatching in the Danube Delta, one of Europe’s most important wetland ecosystems.

We encounter large pelican colonies, including White Pelican and Dalmatian Pelican, alongside Cormorants, egrets, and herons. The reed beds are particularly rich in passerines, with excellent chances to observe Locustella and Acrocephalus warblers, including Savi’s, Sedge, Paddyfield, Moustached, Marsh, Reed, and Great Reed Warblers. Other species regularly encountered include Common Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper, Greenshank, Kingfisher, Penduline Tit, and additional reed-bed specialists such as Little Bittern.

Raptors are well represented, with Marsh Harriers frequently seen quartering the reed beds, while Red-footed Falcons are often observed hunting insects in small groups. Although White-tailed Eagles are quieter during the summer months, there is always a possibility of encountering one of the Delta’s breeding pairs.

On one of these days, we travel by boat to the 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, and woodland bird species, as well as an outstanding diversity of flora, including endemic trees and flowering plants.

We also visit traditional villages of the Danube Delta, such as Letea village, providing insight into local life and culture and completing a rich and immersive birdwatching and nature experience in Romania.

Exploring the channels and lakes of the Danube Delta for birdwatching, with close views of pelicans, herons, warblers, and other wetland species.

Exploring the channels and lakes of the Danube Delta for exceptional birdwatching opportunities.

 We explore the Dobrogea region by car, following a scenic route through Parchesh and the Măcin Mountains National Park. A packed picnic lunch will be enjoyed in the heart of nature.

In the morning, we leave Tulcea and after a short drive of approximately 30 minutes arrive in Parchesh, a vantage point offering excellent panoramic views over the Danube Delta. Depending on weather conditions, this area can be productive for observing bird migration, with possible sightings of Long-legged Buzzard, Lesser Spotted Eagle, and Marsh Harrier.

We then continue to the Măcin Mountains, an area known for its open rocky landscapes and steppe habitats, hosting a distinctive bird community. Species that may be encountered include Long-legged Buzzard, Isabelline Wheatear, Rock Thrush, Ortolan Bunting, Corn Bunting, Hoopoe, and other steppe and scrub specialists.

In addition to the excellent birdwatching, the scenery here is remarkable — the Măcin Mountains are considered the oldest mountain range in Europe, offering gentle relief, ancient geology, and wide open views across northern Dobrogea.

Dinner and overnight accommodation are at a comfortable 3-star guesthouse or hotel, providing a relaxing end to a rewarding day of birdwatching in southeastern Romania.

After breakfast, we travel southwards through small traditional villages of Dobrogea, heading towards a series of important birdwatching sites in southeastern Romania. Our first stop is the Babadag Forest, a well-known forest habitat where several species of woodpeckers, Hawfinch, and raptors such as Honey Buzzard and Imperial Eagle are regularly observed. The area is also rich in rare and endemic plant species, adding botanical interest to the morning walk.

Continuing south, we reach the Sinoe–Razelm Lake Complex, located along the southern edge of the Danube Delta. This vast wetland system is separated from the Black Sea by an extensive sand spit, forming a series of shallow brackish lakes that support exceptionally high numbers of birds.

Our main stop for lunch is at Histria, where a large salt marsh with scattered pools provides excellent birdwatching opportunities. Herons and ducks are often present in large numbers, while Acrocephalus warblers can be observed well in the reed beds. Other possible species include Balkan Yellow Wagtail, various waders, and additional wetland specialists. This area is also a key feeding site for the small Danube Delta population of Dalmatian Pelicans.

We have time to walk across the marsh to explore the ancient Greek-Roman port of Histria, where a rich variety of wildflowers can often be seen, depending on the season. During the day, we also enjoy views of the Black Sea coast, completing a diverse birdwatching and nature experience.

Dinner and overnight accommodation are at a comfortable 3-star guesthouse or hotel, concluding another rewarding day of birdwatching in Dobrogea and along the Black Sea coast.

Leaving early in the morning, we transfer from Tulcea to Bucharest, a journey of approximately 4–4.5 hours, including a coffee stop along the way.