PRIVATE Guided Day Trip in Danube Delta, Tulcea to Caraorman
About 8 hours with your own boat and guide, deep into the south of the Danube Delta: through Mila 23 and along the Old Danube to Caraorman, a quiet village at the edge of an ancient oak forest and its great sand dunes.
Duration
About 8 hours
Tour type
Private, only your group
Route
Tulcea, Mila 23, Caraorman
Lunch
Optional, in Caraorman
Guiding
In English
Start
Any day you choose
The day in short
To the forest that few visitors reach
Most people who come to the Danube Delta have heard of Letea. Far fewer have heard of Caraorman, and fewer still make the journey. That is exactly what makes it special: an old oak forest, high sand dunes and a village where time moves slowly, far from the busy routes.
Soon after leaving Tulcea, your boat turns off the main river into small channels and quiet lakes. You stop for a coffee in Mila 23, the fishing village in the heart of the Danube Delta, then follow the wide, winding Old Danube south, past the village of Crișan, towards Caraorman.
In Caraorman you leave the boat for a safari vehicle, sometimes a car, sometimes a tractor with a trailer, and drive on sandy tracks to Caraorman Forest. Centuries old oaks grow between the dunes, in the hollows where fresh water once flowed, while the dunes themselves rise bare and golden around them. With some luck you may see roe deer, golden jackals or free roaming horses. Back in the village you can have an optional lunch with a local family and take a short walk along its sandy streets before the boat brings you back to Tulcea, on a slightly different route.
Water, sand and forest in one day. Few places show you so clearly how varied the Danube Delta is. In the morning you glide through reeds and willows; by midday you are walking on sand under old oaks. Your naturalist guide explains how these landscapes came to sit side by side, and because the boat is yours, you decide where to stop on the way.
You’ll travel in our open boat, built for the Danube Delta, at low to medium speed, never like a speed boat.
The highlights
What the day holds
Morning · by boat
Mila 23 and the Old Danube
Small channels and lakes, a coffee in Mila 23, then the slow curves of the Old Danube to the south.
Midday · safari vehicle
Caraorman Forest
Old oaks between the dunes, golden sand all around and, with luck, roe deer or golden jackals.
Afternoon · in the village
Lunch in Caraorman
Fresh fish cooked by a local Ukrainian family, and a short walk through the sandy village.
Hour by hour
Itinerary
The day Tulcea, Mila 23, Caraorman and back
- 8:30 to 9:30 Meeting with your guide at Port Tulcea Aval, at an hour agreed with you.
- Morning Through small channels and lakes, away from the main river, in our open boat.
- Morning Coffee stop in Mila 23, with toilets.
- Late morning Along the Old Danube, past the village of Crișan, to Caraorman.
- Midday Caraorman Forest by safari vehicle, about one hour among the oaks and the dunes.
- Afternoon Lunch with a local family in Caraorman, if you want it (paid separately), then a short walk through the village.
- Afternoon Back by boat, on a slightly different route than in the morning.
- Late afternoon Back in Tulcea, about 8 hours after you set off.
Lunch in Caraorman, if you want it. A home cooked meal with a local Ukrainian family, usually fish caught that day, or chicken or a vegetarian dish if you prefer. There is no menu card, so tell your guide in the morning and the family will cook for you. Count on 100 to 150 RON (€20 to €30) per person, in cash.
The exact channels depend on the season, the water level and the weather, so your guide chooses the route on the day.
Private day trip · 2027
from
€500
per boat
One price for the whole boat: €500 for 1 to 5 guests, €550 for 6 to 10 guests. Your naturalist guide, fuel and the Danube Delta fees are included.
- Deposit to book 50%
- Safari vehicle €10 per person, min. €50
- Lunch, optional 100 to 150 RON (€20 to €30)
Essential
- StartPort Tulcea Aval, between 8:30 and 9:30
- EndIn Tulcea, about 8 hours later
- GroupOnly your group
- SeasonLate April to early October
Price details
What the price covers
The price includes
- A private boat and guide, only for your group, for the whole day
- Guiding in English, by a naturalist guide who knows the landscapes, the wildlife and the people of the Danube Delta
- Boat trip Tulcea, Mila 23, Caraorman and back to Tulcea, fuel included
- Fees for visiting the Danube Delta
The price does not include
- Safari vehicle to Caraorman Forest and back, paid in cash to the driver: €10 per person, with a minimum of €50 per vehicle
- Lunch in Caraorman. It costs 100 to 150 RON (€20 to €30) per person, paid in cash
- Drinks
- Insurance of any kind (travel, belongings and so on)
Photo gallery
Moments from the trip
Private day trip
2027 price and booking
Any day from late April to early October 2027. The price is for the whole boat, in euro, VAT included: €500 for 1 to 5 guests and €550 for 6 to 10 guests. For a larger group we use more boats; write to us for the price.
Choose your date
Choose a date and the number of guests, children included, and click Request this date. Fill in the booking request form and we will get back to you to confirm availability and to send you the next steps.
Booking request
How to book
- Send a booking request. Choose your date and 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 50% 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 50% 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 trip, you can postpone it. You receive a voucher valid for 2 years.
- Less than 90 days before the trip, the deposit is not refundable and cannot be moved to another program.
Children
- The price is per boat, so children do not change it.
- Every child, of any age, counts as one guest.
- Parents are fully responsible for supervising their children during the trip.
Our boats
Open boats, the complete experience
Our boats are open. You see, hear and smell the Danube Delta all around you: the water, the reeds, the birds, the wind. Nothing stands between you and the landscape, and that is what makes it a complete experience.
- No roof. The boat is not covered when it rains.
- No shade. You are in the sun for the whole trip.
- No heating. Early mornings on the water can be cool.
We offer you a fabulous experience. Your part is to come prepared.
Packing list
Bring with you
A long day on the water and on sand. The essentials below are needed, the recommended items make the day more pleasant.
Must bring
- Long trousers and long sleeves, against sun and insects
- A sun hat with a brim, not a cap
- Sunglasses
- A jacket and a rain jacket or a rain poncho
- Comfortable shoes for walking on sand
- Sunscreen
Recommended
- Insect repellent
- Water for the day
- Cash in RON or EUR for the safari vehicle and the optional lunch
Before you book
Is this trip for you?
Off the beaten track
Caraorman sees far fewer visitors than Letea. If you want the quieter side of the Danube Delta, this is the day for you.
A long day
About 8 hours, most of them in an open boat, plus a bumpy ride on sand to the forest. Keep your evening free: no bus, train or flight on the same evening.
Prefer the north?
Our private day trip to Letea takes you to the other great forest of the Danube Delta, where you have a better chance to see the horses.
Our commitment to conservation
Nature comes first
Our tours are designed to keep our impact low and to protect the delicate ecosystem of the Danube Delta. By choosing this trip you support a slower, more careful way of exploring it.
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 that fish need for breeding, prevents erosion of 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 bird nests along the shoreline.
Questions and answers
Frequently asked questions
Is the price per person or per boat?
Per boat: €500 for 1 to 5 guests, €550 for 6 to 10 guests, children included. The safari vehicle and the optional lunch are paid separately, on the spot, in cash.
What time do we leave?
Between 8:30 and 9:30, at an hour agreed with you, from Port Tulcea Aval. You are back in Tulcea in the late afternoon.
Caraorman or Letea?
Letea and Caraorman were once one and the same forest, later separated by the Sulina branch of the Danube, so the habitat is the same: old oaks among sand dunes. Letea is better known and has more horses. Caraorman is quieter, and the way there follows the Old Danube. See also our private day trip to Letea.
Is lunch included?
No. A local family in Caraorman can cook for you, mostly fish, or chicken or a vegetarian dish if you prefer. Count on 100 to 150 RON (€20 to €30) per person, in cash.
What wildlife can we see?
On the water, often pelicans, herons and cormorants. In and around the forest, with some luck, roe deer, golden jackals or free roaming horses, though there are fewer horses here than in Letea. Wildlife is wild, so no sighting can be promised.
Do we wear life jackets?
Yes. A life jacket is provided for everyone and must be worn during the whole boat trip.
How many people can join?
The price on this page is for one boat, with up to 10 guests, children included. For a larger group we use more boats; write to us for the price.
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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