Romania: Transylvania and the Danube
Eastern Europe is an often-overlooked birding destination that holds not only incredible birds, but spectacular scenery and ancient history as well. On this adventure, we’ll explore Transylvania, famous for Vlad the Impaler and ancient old-growth forests, and the Danube Delta, considered the best-preserved delta in Europe. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991, the delta is home to over 300 species of birds, many of which congregate in large numbers during the fall migration. We’ll aim to observe this migration and explore the under-birded region that is Eastern Europe.
Itinerary
Day 1
Depart on evening, overnight flights to Cluj-Napoca to arrive on time for the official start of the trip.
Day 2
Arrive in the afternoon in Cluj-Napoca and enjoy the city on your own in the evening before the birding adventure begins tomorrow.
Night: Cluj-Napoca
Day 3
After the night in Cluj-Napoca, we’ll depart for Transylvania after breakfast. The drive is approximately four hours, so enjoy the roadside scenery! If time permits, we may be able to make some birding stops along the way.
Night: Hargita Bear Lodge, Sub Cetate
Meals: BD
Day 4
After a restful night’s sleep, enjoy optional pre-breakfast birding around the hotel garden. After breakfast we’ll head to Bicaz Gorge-Hasmas Mountains National Park, in search of Wallcreepers and other high elevation species. We’ll enjoy lunch in a roadside restaurant, then drive back to the lodge and enjoy an evening around the lodge area, seeing what birds may be around.
Night: Hargita Bear Lodge, Sub Cetate
Meals: BLD
Day 5
The day will start with optional pre-breakfast birding around the hotel garden. After breakfast, we’ll head high into the Harghita Mountains. We’ll spend today trying to locate some higher elevation species, such as Eurasian Pygmy-Owl, Eurasian Three-toed Woodpecker, Crested Tit, and, if we’re lucky, Western Capercaillie or Hazel Grouse. We’ll return to our hotel for lunch and then spend the afternoon visiting some old deciduous woodlands searching for a variety of woodpeckers, with a maximum of ten species being possible throughout the trip!
Night: Hargita Bear Lodge, Sub Cetate
Meals: BLD
Day 6
After optional pre-breakfast birding and breakfast, we’ll drive to Sighisoara, an area where an ancient oak tree reserve can be found. It’s a great place to enjoy forest birding, searching for such interesting woodpeckers as Black, Green, Gray-headed, White-backed, and Lesser Spotted. We’ll enjoy a picnic lunch in the forest, and if time allows, we’ll be able to explore Sighisoara itself, famous for being the birthplace of Vlad Dracul, aka Dracula.
Night: Hargita Bear Lodge, Sub Cetate
Meals: BLD
Day 7
Today, we’ll leave early and head to our next base in the Romanian Great Plain. We’ll cross the Carpathian Mountains and plan to reach the Balta Alba region in the afternoon. This is an area with superb shallow salt lakes and vast grasslands. In the afternoon we’ll visit part of Balta Alba, the main lake in the region.
Night: Balta Alba
Meals: BLD
Day 8
We’ll spend the morning exploring Balta Alba again and then drive to a steppe area to look for Eurasian Dotterels. This is a regular migration spot for these unique plovers. Later, we’ll cross the Danube by ferry and visit Macin Mountain National Park in the afternoon. During this time of the year, European Honey-buzzards, Booted Eagles, Short-toed Snake-Eagles, Levant Sparrowhawks, and White Storks all migrate in good numbers, so we hope to see them in the afternoon.
Night: Greci
Day 9
After pre-breakfast birding around the hotel, we’ll drive one hour to reach Tulcea and our boat to the Danube Delta. Here, we’ll use a special wildlife-watching boat to visit lakes and channels in search of Delta specialties and autumn migrants, including Great White and Dalmatian pelicans, Black-crowned Night-Heron, Glossy Ibis, Little Bittern, Pallas’s Gull, Little Crake, Red-footed Falcon, Eurasian Hobby, Levant Sparrowhawk, White-tailed Eagle, and more.
Night: Danube Delta
Meals: BLD
Day 10
Today we’ll have a full day in the Danube Delta. After the pre-breakfast walk around the hotel, we’ll spend the whole day on the boat looking for more Delta species, returning for lunch at the hotel before heading out again for the afternoon. The boat is comfortable, sun- and waterproof, so birding will be easy and enjoyable.
Night: Danube Delta
Meals: BLD
Day 11
After breakfast we’ll drive back to Tulcea and start discovering the coastal Black Sea area, where we’ll spend three more nights. On the way to our next base, we’ll stop to explore shallow lagoons for waders and any other species we may find.
Night: Vadu
Meals: BLD
Day 12
Today we’ll visit Techirghiol Lake, south of Constanta. This salt lake has great birding potential. If time permits, we may visit a nearby ringing (banding) station to have an insight into some of local research work.
Night: Vadu
Meals: BLD
Day 13
After a pre-breakfast walk in the village, we’ll spend the morning at a nearby coastal marshy wetland. Small wetlands in the southern tip of the huge Sinoe lagoon are great places for birding.
After lunch, we’ll visit an abandoned rock quarry to search for Pied and Isabelline wheatears. This site is also usually a good place for raptors, including Long-legged Buzzard, Short-toed Eagle, and sometimes the endangered Saker Falcon.
Night: Vadu
Meals: BLD
Day 14
After some early morning birding, we’ll have breakfast, then make the three-hour drive straight to Bucharest Airport, where our tour ends.
Tour Leader
Matt Bell
EcoTravel Frequently Asked Questions
Why travel with EcoTravel?
We’re proud to offer small group travel in support of conservation, both locally and across the globe! By traveling with EcoTravel, you’re supporting environmental education and habitat management everywhere we go. When traveling internationally, we strive to use local companies who know the best places to visit, providing an intimate experience with the culture and wildlife.
What's included in the cost of the trip?
Most everything. Most every travel expense is included in one up-front price – airport transfers as specified in the itinerary, all hotel accommodations, birding/sightseeing with experienced guides, meals as specified in the itinerary, airport transfers, services of local guides, and more.
Most meals are included on EcoTravel journeys. All breakfasts are included, and some dinners. Occasional lunches in special locations may also be included. Although some dinners may not be included, suggestions for dining options will be offered by your tour leader. Many EcoTravel guests choose to dine together to share in new friendships and discoveries, but the choice is yours. Dining is a delightful and integral part of the EcoTravel experience – and that is why we select restaurants that offer a true taste of each region you visit. Most included meals offer limited choice menus, and some may be from a set menu or buffet. All appropriate gratuities for included meals are included.
For exact information of what’s included on a specific trip, please check the trip page.
What's not included in the cost of the trip?
Alcoholic beverages are not included, nor are meal gratuities for not-included meals, local guides, luggage handling, bellmen, doormen, and dining room servers. EcoTravel guides and driver gratuities are not included and should be offered individually, not as a group. Transfer driver gratuities are included.
Luggage service on EcoTravel tours is not included.
For exact information of what’s not included on a specific trip, please check the trip page.
What's your cancellation policy?
All trips are non-refundable.
Day Trips run as scheduled, and all participants are expected to be there. In the event weather postpones the trip and you can’t make the new date, or we don’t receive enough signups to run the trip, you’ll receive a non-expiring credit for the full value paid.
Overnight Trips can be partially refunded outside of 120 days before departure. Payment is due in full 120 days before departure, and no refunds are given. Exact details for each trip can be found in the terms and conditions on the Printable Itinerary.
What's the average group size?
Almost all of our trips are kept to single digits! We believe that small groups give a better experience to everyone. Day Trips and certain overnights may include up to 14 participants, with two guides.
Many of our trips run with just 4-6 participants!
What level of birder do I need to be?
All levels are welcome! While some trips are more intense than others, our guides are skilled at helping everyone see as many birds as possible while having a great time.
Do you sell travel insurance?
EcoTravel is an authorized agent of Travelex travel insurance. Please call the office for more information.
What happens if the tour doesn't fill?
Day Trips: Cancellation results in a credit for the full value that can be used for future trips.
Overnight Trips: Travelers are given the chance to rebook the same trip for a future year, or to move their money at full value to another trip.
What's the activity level of the tours?
It varies! Some tours have lots of walking, while others are more sedentary. For exact information on the activity level of a specific trip, please call the office.
How far in advance can I / should I book?
We encourage you to make your reservation just as early as possible – especially if you are limited to the time period in which you can travel. EcoTravel journeys are popular and tend to fill quickly.
Can EcoTravel help make arrangements for pre-tour and post-tour hotel nights?
Absolutely! Many guests choose to extend their stay and we’re happy to help. As a service, EcoTravel will make hotel reservations before and/or after your journey at select pre-/post-stay hotels offered for that tour. Rooms are reserved at the first or last night’s hotel property of any EcoTravel journey, so there’s no worry of having to change hotels or rooms at the start or end of your trip. Rooms are reserved on a space-available basis, and the cost will be added to your tour cost.
Arranging hotel accommodations in the city where your journey begins for the night preceding your EcoTravel itinerary not only gives you more time to explore on your own, allows your group to become better acclimated to time changes before your journey begins and helps to relieve stress from potential travel delays – important factors to consider! Guests wishing to spend more time in cities where our journeys end can extend their stay – a great way to make your vacation last a little longer.
Are transfers included to and from my pre-tour and post-tour hotels?
Complimentary transfers are included from the airport to your pre-stay hotel for the start of your journey and from your post-stay hotel to your departure airport.
Please Note:Transfers are included for EcoTravel-approved pre- and post-stay hotels. Non-EcoTravel hotel transfers must be approved prior to leaving on your tour.
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