Large Carnivores and the Danube Delta

Natural attractions in Transylvania and Danube Delta

Termin: upon request and based on availability

Trip schedule

Day 1: Our trip will start at Bucharest or Sibiu airport, or in Brasov, depending where you are coming from. After meeting our guide, the same for the whole trip, we will travel to Magura, a village situated at 1040 meters altitude inside the National Park Piatra Craiului. Here we will be staying in a Pension run by a Transylvanian native family, Herman and Katharina Kurmes.

National Park Piatra Craiului is the youngest national park of Romania. The park stretches over an area of approximate 15.000 ha and includes both, worked surfaces and one of the largest surface of un-fragmented forest from Europe. Piatra Craiului is very attractive for nature lovers because of the great biodiversity. Here are found especially many species of plants and insects. Magura Village is located on a high plateau between the Piatra Craiului and Bucegi mountains. In case we arrive at the Pension early we can take a hike around the Magura village.

Day 2: Mountain Villages, Magura and Pestera
The houses of Magura and Pester village are lined up the same as a pearl necklace. These villages were built as a shelter against Turkish attacks. Hereby the natives of this area could maintain their culture, tradition and lifestyle untainted. Today, these villages are inside the National Park Piatra Craiului and offer the sightseer varied landscapes with meadows filled with many species of flowers still mowed manually. In the evening there is the possibility of bear watching in their natural habitat from a shelter built by Forest Rangers. (Additional cost of 35 Euro/person).

Day 3: Life in Carpathian Mountains
In the morning the route will take us through the spectacular canyon of Zarnesti. The vertical walls accommodate bird species as: Martins, Wallcreepers, etc. From here we will hike to the hill tops, where we will rest at a shepherd’s house to see and learn about how to process milk into cheese of different types and forms, cheese that is later distributed with horses and donkeys to the nearby cities. At night the shepherds sleep near their flock of sheep and dogs, to guard the sheep from wolves and bears attacks. At night we will have a BBQ dinner at the Pension.

Day 4: Transfer to Tulcea
On the road we will stop to visit the mud vulcanoes, one of the few active mud vulcanoes in Europe. Here we find very interesting geological formations in a lunar landscape. In Tulcea, the gate of Danube Delta, we will embark on the pontoon where we will stay for the rest of the trip and serve dinner at this time. Time permitting we’ll drive the pontoon to Maliuc.

The pontoon is a 40 meter long boat equipped with 8 double rooms with own bathroom. Above the rooms there is a terrace from where nature can be observed. The dinning room is situated in a familiar setting. Each room is provided with a matrimonial bed and a child bed above. All rooms are provided with 220V power outlets, mosquito net at the windows, heating and air-conditioning system. The pontoon is moved on water by a large motorboat that sometimes serves as a boat for our daily trips. Most often we will be using small motorboats for our daily trips to facilitate the entries into tighter canals, which will allow a better observation of nature.

Day 5 – 9 Danube Delta
After breakfast we will discover the deep mysteries of Danube Delta from inside the small motorboats. Here are no roads. To go through the Delta canals we will be using small boats with or without engine. In the mornings we will travel along lakes as Fortuna, Ciobanica, Baclanesti, Iacub, fish farm Maliuc where we will observe pelicans and other birds acclimated to this aquatic ecosystem. Cormorant, Pigmey cormorant, Glossy ibis, White pelican, Dalmatian pelican, Red-footed falcon are just a few species to discover together in the wonderful Danube Delta. WWF coordinated projects, famous Letea forest, Letea village with its inhabitants will accomplish our trip.

Day 10
Transfer to Tulcea/airport or train station.

Important information:
Program changes, flight timetable do not enter our competencies. On Monday all museums are closed. Water level and weather conditions can influence our program.

About the Danube Delta: About the Danube Delta: The routes described are normally departing from Tulcea. Each season the water level is changing and according to this the routes will be adapted to fit the present environmental conditions. In the Spring the water level is high so that trips can be made on routes that normally are located on land. Besides, various restrictions imposed by DDBRA (Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve Administration) may appear, restrictions correlated with the birds nesting time period. Our guides are capable of finding alternative routes to avoid these restricted areas so that the client can still observe other things that are beautiful to see at that moment. Special landscapes with reed, reed mace, sand dunes, the broad biodiversity will enchant our eye.

Included services:
The price is per person. Accommodation in double rooms. Each room has a bathroom with shower, sink and toilet. Full board. Entry fees. Specialized guide.

Not included:
Transfer Bucharest Airport to Tulcea and return, single room supplement, health insurance and canceling expenses, repatriation expences, personal expences.

For more information and prices list please contact us.

Our tours


My foto

Tioc Emil Tiberiu

TIOC NATUR UND STUDIENREISEN

Guide
Biologist/Ecologist and specialist in Ecotursim
Yob 1975
Founder of Tioc Natur- und Studienreisen


Proficiency and background
Long time experience for such a short time! 23 years activ in tourism and conservation of the environment occupying various posts and functions.
Managing TIOC NATUR- UND STUDIENREISEN for the past 23 years offering nature specialized trips, theme trips, active trips, involved in various social projects and in preservation projects, founding member of Romanian Ecotourism Association (AER), founding member of Romanian Friends of Nature (spokesman), founding member of Danube Center of Competence (DCC - Belgrad, Serbia), consultant on issues of ecotourism and tourism marketing under CJ Tulcea, collaborator at Danube Delta Biosphere Administration (ARBDD) and National Institute of Research INCDD, etc

Profession
Tourism Technician Expert
Biologist/Ecologist, Master in Systematic Ecology and Sustainable Development.