PRIVATE Birdwatching Tour in the Danube Delta & Dobrogea, 3 to 7 Days
Your own birding guide, at your pace and around your target list, in the Danube Delta, in Dobrogea or in both. From 3 to 7 days, with full board.
Duration
3 to 7 days
Tour type
Private, 2 to 6 birders
Birding
1 to 5 days, by boat or by car
Meals
Full board
Guiding
Birding guide, in English
Season
April to October, any start day
Danube Delta
Water birds
Dobrogea
Raptors & steppe birds
The tour in short
Your boat, your guide, your birds
A private birding tour in the Danube Delta, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and in Dobrogea, two of the richest birding areas in Europe. The guide is only for your group, so the days follow the birds you came for, not a fixed schedule.
You choose the length of your program, from 3 to 7 days, with full board. The first and the last day are for arrival and departure, and every day in between is a day of birding: 1 day on the 3 day program, up to 5 days on the 7 day program. Programs of up to 4 days run in one destination, the Danube Delta or Dobrogea. From 5 days, you can combine the two.
In the Danube Delta you stay in Mila 23, a fishing village in the middle of the Danube Delta, and bird from your own boat: the lakes and channels around the village, Letea with the salt marshes of the marine delta and the nesting and roosting places around the saline lakes, and Caraorman. In Dobrogea you bird by car and on short walks, on the rocky hills, in the old forests, on the open grasslands and at the coastal lagoons.
Your guide plans the routes around your target list and adapts them on the spot, to the season, the water level, the weather and the latest sightings.
Build your target list. Download our list of the birds of the Danube Delta and Dobrogea and tell us which species you want to see most.
The bird comes first, always. No chasing, no feeding, no lures. We keep a respectful distance and never enter nesting areas. Playback is used rarely, once or twice at most, and never near sensitive species or nests.
Where you go birding
Different habitats, different birds
Danube Delta · by boat
The lakes around Mila 23
Narrow channels, open lakes and reedbeds: pelicans, herons, egrets, Pygmy Cormorants, terns, warblers and Bearded Reedlings.
Danube Delta · boat and land
Letea and Caraorman
The salt marshes of the marine delta and the saline lakes around Letea, the shores and freshwater lakes at Caraorman: shore birds, terns and gulls.
Dobrogea · by car and on foot
Raptors and steppe birds of Dobrogea
Rocky hills, old forests and open grasslands: Long-legged Buzzards, eagles, Red-footed Falcons, larks, wheatears and the birds of the coastal lagoons.
Sample itinerary
Itinerary, a 7 day example
This is only an example, with both destinations. Your guide sets the order of the days with you, by the weather, the water level and the latest sightings.
Day 1 Tulcea to Mila 23
- After 14:00 Meeting with your guide at Port Tulcea Aval, at an hour agreed with you.
- Transfer We transfer you by boat to Mila 23, birding on the way.
- Evening Check in at your guesthouse and dinner.
Meals today: dinner
Day 2 Lakes and waterbirds around Mila 23
- Sunrise Birding by boat in the first light. The departure is at sunrise.
- Morning Breakfast at the guesthouse.
- Day Birding on the lakes and channels around Mila 23, in our open boat.
- Lunch Included, at the guesthouse or as a packed lunch, depending on where the birds take you.
- Evening Dinner at the guesthouse and the day’s list.
Meals today: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 3 Letea and the salt marshes
- Sunrise Birding by boat.
- Morning Breakfast at the guesthouse.
- Day To Letea, birding on the water and on the salt marshes of the marine delta, at the nesting and roosting places around the saline lakes. On land, your guide has a spotting scope.
- Lunch Included, on the way.
- Evening Back in Mila 23 for dinner.
Meals today: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 4 Back to Tulcea, first birding in Dobrogea
- Sunrise Birding by boat.
- Morning Breakfast at the guesthouse.
- Midday We transfer you by boat to Tulcea, birding on the way. Lunch included.
- Afternoon Check in at your accommodation in Tulcea.
- Evening First birding session in Dobrogea, by car, then dinner.
Meals today: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 5 Hills, forests and steppe of Dobrogea
- Early The departure is at sunrise, with breakfast to go. If you prefer breakfast at the accommodation, the departure is after it.
- Day Birding by car and on short walks, from place to place, for your target species. Lunch included, at a local restaurant or as a picnic in nature.
- Evening Back in Tulcea for dinner.
Meals today: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 6 More of Dobrogea
- Early The departure is at sunrise, with breakfast to go, or after breakfast if you prefer.
- Day Birding in other habitats of Dobrogea, from the hills to the coastal lagoons, for the species still missing from your list. Lunch included.
- Evening Back in Tulcea for dinner.
Meals today: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 7 End of the tour in Tulcea
- Morning Breakfast at the accommodation. End of the tour.
- After breakfast Optional transfer to Bucharest airport or Constanța airport, if you booked it with us.
Meals today: breakfast
The first and the last day are for arrival and departure, not for birding. A 3 day program has 1 day of birding. If you want the first or the last day as a day of birding too, it costs €350 extra per day, for the guide, the boat or the car and the fuel. Lunch on that day is not included.
Private birding tour · 2027
from
€690
per person
The price per person depends on the number of days, the accommodation and your group size. For example, on the 5 day program: €2,730 per person for 2 birders, €1,200 per person for 6.
- Single room from + €90
- Children under 12 50%
- Deposit to book 20%
Practical
- StartDay 1 in Tulcea, any time after 14:00
- EndLast day in Tulcea: around 12:00 if your program ends in the Danube Delta, after breakfast if it ends in Dobrogea
- StayMila 23 for the Danube Delta, Tulcea for Dobrogea
- Group2 to 6 birders, only your group
Price details
What the price covers
The price includes
- A private boat and a specialised birding guide, only for your group, speaking English, for the whole tour
- Standard or premium accommodation, as you choose, in a double room: in Mila 23 for the Danube Delta, in Tulcea for Dobrogea
- Full board, from dinner on day 1 to breakfast on the last day
- The days of birding of your program: by boat in the Danube Delta, by car in Dobrogea
- A spotting scope, always with the guide for the birding on land
- Binoculars on loan for the tour, if you do not have your own
- Boat transfers between Tulcea and Mila 23, and all transport in Dobrogea
- Fees for visiting the Danube Delta
The price does not include
- Drinks, other than water
- Single room supplement, per room, for the whole tour (see the price table)
- Transfer from Bucharest airport, €300 per car one way, or from Constanța airport, €200 per car one way, for 1 to 6 guests, on request
- The first or the last day as a day of birding: €350 extra per day, lunch not included
- Parking at the port in Tulcea, about €8 per car per day
- Insurance of any kind (travel, equipment and so on)
Photo gallery
Birds from our tours
Private tour
2027 prices
Prices are in euro (EUR), per adult, for the whole tour, with full board, VAT included. They depend on the accommodation, the number of days and the size of your group.
Find your price
Choose standard or premium accommodation, then find your number of days and your group size. Count only adults and children over 12; children under 12 pay 50% of that price. Click on a price, then choose your start date in the booking request form, and we will get back to you to confirm availability and the next steps.
Please choose your start date first.
| Days Guests | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | Single room |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 days / 2 nights1 day of birding | + €90 | |||||
| 4 days / 3 nights2 days of birding | + €120 | |||||
| 5 days / 4 nights3 days of birding | + €160 | |||||
| 6 days / 5 nights4 days of birding | + €200 | |||||
| 7 days / 6 nights5 days of birding | + €240 |
| Days Guests | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | Single room |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 days / 2 nights1 day of birding | + €120 | |||||
| 4 days / 3 nights2 days of birding | + €150 | |||||
| 5 days / 4 nights3 days of birding | + €200 | |||||
| 6 days / 5 nights4 days of birding | + €250 | |||||
| 7 days / 6 nights5 days of birding | + €300 |
Price per adult, for the whole tour, VAT included. Single room supplement per room, for the whole tour. On a phone, swipe the table sideways to see all group sizes.
Booking request
How to book
- Send a booking request. Click on your price in the table, or fill in the form directly, with your preferred dates, guesthouse, meals and number of guests. 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 and cannot be moved to another program.
Children
- Your group size counts only the guests who pay the adult price: adults and children over 12.
- Children under 12 are not counted in the group size. Each child under 12 pays 50% of the adult price for your group size.
- For example, 2 adults and 1 child under 12, on the 4 day program with standard accommodation: you look at the price for 2 birders, €2,050. Each adult pays €2,050 and the child pays €1,025.
- The tour takes at most 6 guests, children included.
- Parents are fully responsible for supervising their children during the tour.
Our boats
Open boats, the complete experience
You bird from our 7.3 m open boat, built for the Danube Delta. Everyone has room to move and scan, you hear a bird before you see it, and nothing blocks your view of the sky.
- No roof. The boat is not covered when it rains.
- No shade. You are in the sun for much of the day.
- 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
Essential
- Your binoculars, 8×42 or similar. If you do not have any, we lend you a pair
- A field guide or a bird app in your language
- Clothes in natural, muted colours, long trousers and long sleeves
- A sun hat with a brim, not a cap, and sunglasses
- A warm layer for sunrise and a rain jacket or a rain poncho
- Comfortable walking shoes, waterproof if possible
Recommended
- Your camera, ideally with a telephoto lens
- A small backpack and a water bottle
- Sunscreen and insect repellent
Try Kite Optics stabilised binoculars. On the tour you can test the Kite Optics APC 42 ED 14×42 stabilised binoculars in the field. If you like them, use the code ILGO10KO for 10% off.
Before you book
Is this tour for you?
A birding tour
Early starts, long sessions in the field and a guide who knows the birds. If you want a relaxed private discovery of the Danube Delta, see our private tour in Mila 23.
A private tour
The guide, the boat and the car are only for your group, from any start day you choose. Travelling alone or as a couple on a budget? Our shared birding tour costs less.
Boat, car and short walks
In the Danube Delta you sit mostly in the boat. At Letea, at Caraorman and in Dobrogea you walk a little, on easy ground.
Meet our guides
Experts in the wild
Our guides are more than birding experts. They are conservationists, researchers and naturalists, some with degrees in biology, who take part in bird monitoring and conservation projects. Years in the field mean they know where the birds are, how they move through the seasons and how to watch them without disturbing them.
Specialised birders
They know the calls, the plumages and the difficult identifications, and help you at your own level.
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
Nature comes first
Our tours are designed to keep our impact low, in the Danube Delta and in Dobrogea. Our sightings feed into bird monitoring, and every tour supports local guides, boat drivers and guesthouses.
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.
A slow, steady pace
Moving slowly protects the aquatic vegetation and the banks, and reduces stress on migratory and resident birds.
Distance from nests
We never enter nesting or breeding areas, and we keep our distance from nests along the shoreline. No sighting is worth disturbing a bird.
Questions and answers
Frequently asked questions
What birds can we see?
In the Danube Delta: Great White and Dalmatian Pelicans, herons, egrets, Spoonbills, Glossy Ibises, Pygmy Cormorants, terns, shore birds, warblers, Bearded Reedlings and White-tailed Eagles. In Dobrogea: raptors, steppe birds and passerines of the hills and forests. It depends on the month. Wildlife is wild, so no species can be promised.
Why should I send you my target list?
Because on a private tour the routes are built around it. Tell us the species you want to see most when you book, and your guide plans the days for them.
Are the first and the last day days of birding?
No. They are for arrival and departure, so a 3 day program has 1 day of birding. If you want the first or the last day as a day of birding too, it costs €350 extra per day, for the guide, the boat or the car and the fuel. Lunch on that day is not included.
Does the tour run in July and August?
Yes. In the hot months you bird at sunrise and in the evening, and rest in the middle of the day, when the birds rest too.
I am a beginner. Is this tour for me?
Yes. Your guide helps with identification and adapts the pace to your group.
I do not have binoculars. Can I still come?
Yes. Tell us when you book, and we lend you a pair for the whole tour.
Is lunch included?
Yes. The tour is full board, from dinner on day 1 to breakfast on the last day. Lunch is at the guesthouse, packed for the boat, or in Dobrogea at a local restaurant or as a picnic, depending on the day.
I travel alone. Can I book a private tour?
Yes. You pay the price for 2 birders, and the room is yours. On a budget, our shared birding tour is a good choice.
How do I get to Tulcea?
By car, bus or train, or with our transfer from Bucharest airport (€300 per car one way) or Constanța airport (€200 per car one way), for 1 to 6 guests. If you come by car, parking at the port costs about €8 per day.
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!
Coming from Bucharest?
Tulcea is about 300 km from Bucharest. Book our private transfer together with your tour, or come by train or minibus.
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