Bears & Birds Photo Tour: Transylvania, Danube Delta & Dobrogea, 10d/9n, 2027 SHARED
A shared wildlife photo tour from Bucharest to Bucharest: brown bears from a hide in Transylvania, the water birds of the Danube Delta from our open boat, then Bee-eaters and Rollers in Dobrogea. A photographer guide and at most 4 photographers.
Duration
10 days / 9 nights
Tour type
Shared, up to 4 photographers
Photography
Bear hide, boat and bird hides
Meals
Half board, optional lunch
Guiding
Photographer guide, in English
Season
Late June
Transylvania
Brown bears, from a hide
Danube Delta
Water birds, by boat
Dobrogea
Bee-eaters, from hides
The tour in short
From bear country to the Danube Delta
Three of the wildest corners of Romania in ten days: the deep forests of Transylvania, the lakes and reedbeds of the Danube Delta and the dry hills of Dobrogea. Three landscapes, three ways of working, one photographer guide from the first day to the last.
We pick you up in Bucharest and take you to Transylvania for three nights. In the afternoons you photograph brown bears from a hide built for photographers, low to the ground and facing the best of the afternoon light. In the mornings you sit in a bird hide in the forest.
On day 4 we drive you to Tulcea and transfer you by boat to Mila 23, a fishing village in the middle of the Danube Delta, for four nights. From our open boat you photograph pelicans, herons, egrets and many other water birds at sunrise and in the evening. Each boat session lasts 3 to 5 hours, so every day gives you about 8 hours of photography, all in the best hours of light, and you rest in the middle of the day.
On day 8 we transfer you back to Tulcea, your base for the last two nights. From there we take you by car to Dobrogea, where you photograph European Bee-eaters and European Rollers from hides placed for the light and the background. On day 10 we drive you back to Bucharest.
The animal comes first, always. No chasing and no lures. With the birds we never use food, never drive at a bird to make it fly and never enter nesting areas. Playback is used rarely, once or twice at most. A good photograph is one taken without the subject noticing us. The bear hide is a special case, made for the bears’ sake, as you can read below.
Included in the price
Bears, boats and hides
Days 2 and 3 · from a hide
Brown bears in Transylvania
Two afternoon sessions in a professional bear hide, at eye level with the bears, in the warm light before sunset.
Days 4 to 8 · by boat
The Danube Delta
Sunrise and evening sessions around Mila 23: pelicans in the morning mist, birds in flight and low angle shots from the water.
Days 8 and 9 · from hides
Bee-eaters and Rollers
Two of the most colourful birds in Europe, close up, from hides placed near their perches in Dobrogea.
Day by day
Itinerary
Day 1 Bucharest to Transylvania
- Morning Pick up at Bucharest airport or at a meeting point with parking in the city centre, at 11:00 at the latest.
- Day We drive you to Transylvania, to bear country. Check in.
- Evening Dinner at the accommodation and a short briefing on the days ahead.
Meals today: dinner
Days 2 and 3 Bird hide and bear hide
- Morning Breakfast, then a session in a bird hide in the forest.
- Midday Free time and optional lunch.
- Afternoon Into the bear hide, with our local partner, for the brown bears in the best light of the afternoon.
- Evening Dinner at the accommodation.
Meals today: breakfast, dinner
Day 4 Transylvania to Mila 23
- Morning Breakfast and check out. We drive you to Tulcea.
- Afternoon We transfer you to Mila 23 during the first photo session. Keep your camera ready.
- Evening Check in at the guesthouse and a traditional fish dinner. Tell us about any dietary needs when you book.
Meals today: breakfast, dinner
Days 5 to 7 Lakes and channels around Mila 23
- Sunrise Photography by boat in the first light, on the lakes and channels around Mila 23, in our open boat.
- 9:30 Breakfast at the guesthouse.
- Midday Rest, image review and optional lunch, while the light is hard.
- Afternoon Back on the water for the last hours of light, until after sunset, on a different route.
- Evening Dinner at the guesthouse.
Meals today: breakfast, dinner
Day 8 Back to Tulcea, first session in Dobrogea
- Sunrise A last boat session around Mila 23.
- 9:30 Breakfast and check out.
- 10:30 We transfer you by boat to Tulcea, with your camera ready on the way, and then to your accommodation in town.
- Midday Free time and optional lunch.
- Afternoon We take you by car to Dobrogea for your first session in the hides, until the light fades.
- Evening Dinner at your accommodation in Tulcea.
Meals today: breakfast, dinner
Day 9 Bee-eaters and Rollers
- Early morning The departure is early, at a time your guide gives you the day before, to the Bee-eater site, to be in the hides for the first light.
- Late morning Back in Tulcea when the light gets hard. Breakfast, rest and optional lunch.
- Afternoon We pick you up for the evening session in Dobrogea.
- Evening Dinner at your accommodation in Tulcea.
Meals today: breakfast, dinner
Day 10 Back to Bucharest
- 7:00 Breakfast at your accommodation.
- 8:00 We drive you to Bucharest.
- About 13:00 Arrival in Bucharest, at the airport or in the city centre. End of the tour.
Plan your flight or your onward travel after 16:00.
Meals today: breakfast
Every session is planned for the light. The boat sessions last 3 to 5 hours, for about 8 hours of photography a day, in the best hours of light. The routes and hide sites change with the weather, the water level and the latest sightings. Lunch is optional: count on 100 to 150 RON (€20 to €30) per person, paid in cash.
Shared photo tour · 2027
from
€2,850
per person
9 nights with half board in a double room, bear hide, boat and bird hide photography with a photographer guide, all transfers from Bucharest and back, and Danube Delta fees.
- Single room + €360
- Deposit to book 20%
Practical
- StartDay 1, by 11:00, in Bucharest
- EndDay 10, about 13:00, in Bucharest
- Stay3 nights in Transylvania, 4 nights in Mila 23, 2 nights in Tulcea
- Group2 to 4 photographers
- Minimum age12 years
Price details
What the price covers
The price includes
- A wildlife photographer guide, speaking English, for the whole tour
- 9 nights at 3 star level, with en suite bathroom, in a double room: 3 nights in Transylvania, 4 nights at a guesthouse in Mila 23 and 2 nights in Tulcea
- Half board: dinner on day 1, breakfast and dinner on days 2 to 9, breakfast on day 10
- Two afternoon sessions in the bear hide and two morning sessions in a bird hide, in Transylvania
- Photography by boat in the Danube Delta: the transfer to Mila 23 on day 4, sunrise and evening sessions on days 5 to 7 and a sunrise session on day 8
- Photography from hides in Dobrogea, on the evening of day 8 and on day 9
- All transfers by car and boat, from Bucharest to Bucharest
- Fees for visiting the Danube Delta
The price does not include
- Optional lunches. Count on 100 to 150 RON (€20 to €30) per person, paid in cash
- Drinks, other than water
- Single room supplement: €360 per person, for the whole tour
- Insurance of any kind (travel, camera equipment and so on)
Photo gallery
Images from Transylvania, the Danube Delta and Dobrogea
Shared departures
2027 dates and prices
€2,850 per person in a double room, single room + €360, in euro, VAT included.
Available dates
Choose your start date in the table below and click Book now. In the booking request form, tell us if you need a single room, where we pick you up (at the airport or in the city centre) and which species you most want to photograph. We will get back to you to confirm and to send you the next steps.
Period | Places | Price |
|---|---|---|
21 Jun - 30 Jun | 2850 |
How to book
- Send a booking request. Choose your start date and guesthouse in the table, add the number of guests and fill in the form. We usually answer in less than 24 hours. Please check your spam folder too.
- We confirm and send you the payment link.
- Your booking is confirmed when you pay the 20% deposit, online, through the payment link. Until then, no places are held for you.
- Pay the balance at boarding, in cash or by card (RON or EUR).
A request is not a booking. Please pay within 3 days of our email. If we do not receive the 20% deposit by then, the request expires and the places go to other guests. If you decide later, write to us first to check that there is still room. Do not pay an old payment link without asking us: if the places are taken, we can only refund you.
Bookings are taken only through the form or by email. The phone is for information only.
Cancellation policy
- More than 90 days before the tour, you can postpone your trip. You receive a voucher valid for 2 years.
- Less than 90 days before the tour, the deposit is not refundable.
- The balance is paid on day 1, at pick up, in cash or by payment link, in RON or EUR.
Children
- The minimum age for this tour is 12 years.
- Children over 12 pay the adult price.
- Parents are fully responsible for supervising their children during the tour.
Our boats
Open boats, the complete experience
In the Danube Delta you photograph from our 7.3 m open boat, built for the Danube Delta. It is stable, sits low on the water and, with at most 4 photographers, gives everyone room for long lenses and a clear line of sight. Nothing stands between you and your subject.
- No roof. The boat is not covered when it rains. Protect your camera.
- No shade. You are in the sun for much of each session.
- No heating. Sunrise on the water can be cold, even in summer.
We offer you a fabulous experience. Your part is to come prepared.
Packing list
Bring with you
Camera gear
- A telephoto lens of at least 300 mm, a teleconverter if you have one. For the Bee-eaters, longer is better
- A shorter zoom for the bears, when they come close to the hide
- A wide or standard lens for landscapes
- Plenty of memory cards and spare batteries, and your charger
- A waterproof bag or a rain cover for your camera
- A bean bag or a monopod for the boat, and a tripod for the hides, if you use them
Clothing and comfort
- Clothes in natural, muted colours, long trousers and long sleeves. Avoid red, white, yellow and bright blue
- A warm layer for sunrise and for the evenings in the mountains, and a rain jacket or a rain poncho
- A sun hat with a brim, not a cap, and sunglasses
- Sunscreen and insect repellent
- Water and a few snacks for the hide sessions
You will be on the water. Keep your gear protected from rain, spray and the waves of passing boats, especially when you shoot close to the water. We do not offer any warranty or insurance for your photographic equipment.
Before you book
Is this tour for you?
A photo tour, not a workshop
The days are about images: early starts, waiting for the light, long hours in a hide. There are no lessons, but your guide gladly answers your questions.
On the road
Days 1, 4 and 10 include long drives between Bucharest, Transylvania and Tulcea. You photograph with other guests, in the same car and boat, at the same hours: at least 2 photographers for a departure, never more than 4.
Less time?
Our 7 day photo tour to the Danube Delta and Dobrogea starts in Tulcea and leaves out the bears.
Meet our guides
Experts in the wild
Our photo guides are professional wildlife photographers and experienced naturalists. They read the light, know how the birds behave and position the boat for the light, the background and the angle, without disturbing the subject.
Wildlife photographers
They photograph here all year and know where and when the light and the birds come together.
Local
They live and work in the Danube Delta and Dobrogea, and are in the field in every season.
The bird comes first
No chasing, no flushing, no stress for a picture or a tick on the list.
Our commitment to conservation
We let wildlife stay wild
Great wildlife images come from natural behaviour, and that only happens when animals feel safe. You go home with authentic photographs, and the places stay as you found them.
Bears kept away from the village
The bear hide is a special case. It was built to stop the bears before they reach the village, where meeting people can end with a bear being shot. They find only seeds and fruit there. By joining this tour, you help fund the project that keeps the bears away from the houses. We work only with partners who follow the principles of nature conservation and ethics in wildlife photography.
No staged scenes with birds
No chasing, no food, no lures. Playback is used rarely, once or twice at most, and never near nests. The bird hides are placed so the birds keep their routine.
Lower power engines
Our boats run on engines with less power than they would normally carry. That means less disturbance in the water, less fuel and lower emissions.
Questions and answers
Frequently asked questions
What can we photograph?
In Transylvania: brown bears, and forest birds from the bird hide. In the Danube Delta: Great White and Dalmatian Pelicans, Little and Great Egrets, Grey, Purple, Squacco and Night Herons, Kingfisher, White-tailed Eagle, Spoonbills, Glossy Ibis, Black-winged Stilts and other shore birds, and with luck otters, wild boar, roe deer or raccoon dogs. In Dobrogea: European Bee-eaters and European Rollers. Wildlife is wild, so no species can be promised. Tell us your target species when you book.
Are the bears fed at the hide?
They find only seeds and fruit there, and it is an exception to our rules, made for conservation. The place stops the bears on their way to the village, where they would be in danger of being shot. Part of your tour fee helps fund this project.
Is the bear hide safe?
Yes. The hide is run by our local partner, who knows these bears very well. You stay inside the hide for the whole session and follow his instructions.
How long are the sessions?
Each boat session in the Danube Delta lasts 3 to 5 hours, one at sunrise and one in the evening, so you have about 8 hours of photography a day. The bear hide sessions are in the afternoon, and in Dobrogea the hide sessions follow the first and last hours of light.
Do I need professional equipment?
No. Any camera with a good zoom works. A telephoto lens of 300 mm or more helps a lot, especially for the Bee-eaters, but you can come home with beautiful images with modest equipment.
Will the guide teach me photography?
This is a photo tour, not a workshop, so there are no lessons. Your guide is a wildlife photographer and gladly answers your questions and helps you in the field.
Where do you pick us up in Bucharest?
At Bucharest airport, or at a meeting point with parking in the city centre, which we send you before the tour, at 11:00 at the latest. We do not pick up from hotels.
When should I book my flight home?
Book a flight that leaves after 16:00 on day 10.
Is lunch included?
No. The tour is half board. You can have an optional lunch during the midday break. Count on 100 to 150 RON (€20 to €30) per person, paid in cash. Tell us about any dietary needs when you book.
Can I have a room to myself?
Yes, with a single room supplement of €360 for the whole tour. Solo travellers book a single room.
How many photographers are needed for the tour to run?
A minimum of 2. There are never more than 4 photographers on this tour.
Contact
- Emailcontact@discoverdanubedelta.com
- Phone, SMS, WhatsApp+40 763 869 400
+40 757 894 456 - For bookings and requests we always prefer email. Thank you!
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