UNIQUE EXPERIENCES IN THE DANUBE DELTA
Group tour departure
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Group tours leave on set dates. Adding ±2 or ±3 days usually shows you more departures.
Our tours
Popular tours for 2027
Three nights in Mila 23, in the heart of the Danube Delta, with a day on the lakes and channels, a day trip to Letea Forest and a sunrise tour on the water.
From €470 per person
See the tour: Danube Delta Nature Tour 4d/3n, 2 day trips included, SHARED 2027
Skip the crowds: boat trips at sunrise and in the late afternoon, when the speed boats are gone and the Danube Delta is quiet again.
From €470 per person
See the tour: Danube Delta Summer Nature Escape, Skip the Crowds, 4d/3n, 2027
Destinations: Danube Delta
Four nights in Mila 23 and three days of birding from sunrise, on the lakes, at Letea and at Caraorman, with a specialised guide and at most 8 birders.
From €800 per person
See the tour: Danube Delta Birdwatching Tour 2027: Small SHARED Group, 5d/4n
Destinations: Danube Delta
8 to 10 hours of birding from sunrise, in an open boat built for the Danube Delta, to Mila 23, with a guide who is both a birder and a wildlife photographer.
A day by boat from Tulcea to Letea, with a coffee stop in Mila 23, a safari car to Letea Forest and an optional lunch in a local household.
Destinations: Danube Delta
Four nights in the heart of the Danube Delta, with a last night at Letea from April to June, sessions at sunrise and in the evening light and at most 4 photographers in the boat.
From €1,000 per person
See the tour: Wildlife Photo Tour to the Danube Delta, 5d/4n, 2027 SHAREDChoose your trip
Find your way into the Danube Delta
One day from Tulcea
Day Trips
Shared or private, by boat to Letea, Mila 23, Caraorman or Sulina, and by minivan into Dobrogea, with a guide who knows the way and the stories.
See the day trips
Stay in the heart of it
Multi Day Nature Tours
Two to six nights in Mila 23, a fishing village reached only by water, with boat trips at the best hours of the day and dinners cooked by your hosts.
See the nature tours
From sunrise, with a birder
Birdwatching Tours
Small groups and private tours in the Danube Delta and Dobrogea, with a specialised birding guide, for beginners and seasoned birders alike.
See the birding tours
In the first and last light
Photo Tours
A low open boat and a wildlife photographer guide, hides in Dobrogea, and photo tours to Lake Kerkini, the Balkan Mountains and Transylvania.
See the photo tours
Film crews, projects, agencies
For Professionals
Boats, permits, guides and local access for your production, your photography project or your groups. Everything on request.
See how we work
Before you come
Danube Delta Guide
When to come, how to get here, where to stay, what lives in the Danube Delta, and the birds month by month. Written by the people who guide you.
Read the guide
How we travel
The Danube Delta, without the speed boats
Most visitors see the Danube Delta from a covered speed boat, under a low roof, behind walls of cloudy plastic sheeting. You see almost nothing of the landscape, and the experience is close to zero. Add loud music, a boatman who speaks no English and a race from one stop to the next, and the birds fly away long before the boat arrives. We do it differently, and we are proud of it.
Open boats, at low speed
Our own boats, built for the Danube Delta, with low power engines. Nothing between you and the landscape: you see, hear and smell the Danube Delta all around you.
At the right hours
In summer, from about 9:30, hundreds of speed boats race through the main channels. Our summer trips leave at sunrise or in the late afternoon, when the Danube Delta is quiet again.
The right guide for your trip
Naturalists, specialised birders and wildlife photographers, each on the trip made for them. A nature tour, a birding tour and a photo tour are not the same trip.
Open boat means open. No roof, no shade, no heating. That is what makes it a complete experience. We offer you a fabulous day on the water; your part is to come prepared for sun, wind and rain.
Our guests
What our guests say
A very prepared team of guides who explained to us both the fauna, the flora and the different theories by which the Danube Delta was formed, developed. Very friendly people, respectful with a sense of humor. We were initially worried that the boats were not covered, considering that strong sun was announced, but it was ideal so we saw the birds from all sides. To as many tourists as possible!
Unique and memorable experience on the water
Excellent, knowledgeable and friendly guide. Full day experience. We saw many birds, plants and beautiful waterways and lakes. The vastness of the delta was awe-inspiring. We enjoyed the visit and substantial homemade traditional lunch on island. Highly recommended, great value for money.
Detailed ecology tour into Danube delta
Wonderful experience, guide with in-depth knowledge of birds, plants, environmental issues and ecosystems. Skillfull boat operator.
Amazing adventure in the Danube Delta.
We (a family of 4) took the 3 night, 4 day birdwatching and Letea tour. Victor was an amazing guide, extremely knowledgeable about birds, local flora and fauna and the history of the region. We saw so many birds- two types of pelican, kingfishers, white tipped sea eagles, a hobby,not to mention snakes, a jackal and the wild horses. Nothing was too much trouble for him. The guesthouse - Alexandra and Alexandru- was spotlessly clean with very hard working staff. The swimming pool was a very welcome extra after hot days out in the delta. Vegetarian food was provided on request and was both plentiful and delicious. An added bonus was the singing and dancing provided one evening by local performers.
Overall we were very impressed- the tour was exactly as described. Very well organised with a high standard of facilites and clear explanations throughout. We absolutely loved our time in the delta! Thank you.
Highly recommended tour
Great tour. You can see the unique nature of the delta. The organization is very committed and extremely well trained. Both in history and biology.
Educational and beautiful
The tour guide had extensive knowledge of ornithology, botany, and mythology. He was able to answer our questions and more. The boat captain was also top-notch. He knows the delta, it is his home, and he steers the boat safely. We saw many birds and also the wild horses. The traditional food in the delta was served by friendly locals and it tasted good. It was a wonderful day and we will recommend this excursion.
Definitely worth it!
Beautiful views and experiences of the Danube Delta with such great flora and fauna that are well explained.
Including very good local food and beautiful photos of course!
This was an outstanding day trip. Such beautiful scenery and rare birds on every corner - we saw so many birds we have never seen before. Our guide Ilie was really knowledgeable and knew the name of every bird in English as well as Romanian. He also had great stories about the history of the area, and his passion for nature and conservation really shone through. The meal at Letea was amazing - I highly recommend including it in your trip, if you like fish. After reading previous 5 star reviews, we hoped the trip would be good, but it really exceeded expectations. Huge thank you to Ilie for the day.
Highly recommended for the serious birder
We went on a full day trip with guide Marius and boat driver Paul. Started 5:30 am, back by 15:00.
It was above and beyond my expectations, and the knowledge of Marius, from the ID challenges of Caspian Gulls versus Yellow-legged, to finding Syrian Woodpecker (a photo species need I had).
Once in a lifetime experience
I spent amazing days bird watching in the Danube Delta - they started already with a group of pelicans flying over us in Tulcea and ended with a few spotted eagles on the way back to Tulcea. In between we saw and heard so many birds! From the picturesc fishermen village Mila 23 we had excursions to Letea and Caraorman. Our tour hosts Iliuta and Marius were increadibly caring and knowledgeable. The employees of our hotel showed a kind of hospitality like visiting long not seen relatives, while offering impeccable services.
I will never forget the days of peaceful gliding along the canals and lakes.
A great one-day-long experience. The 3 of us had our private little boat, because no one else applied for this day. Our guide was really helpful and has a great knowledge. He even gave us his binoculars if there were interesting birds. We had one stop halfway before we entered Letea. It can be a bit uncomfortable to sit this long in a boat, but it's still acceptable. The food was delicious even though I didn't eat fish, I had chicken instead. Each meal is traditional. There was a little problem with the safari car as it got stuck in the sand, but after like 10 minutes, we got out. The car goes on a bumpy road so you need to be careful not to hit your head or drop your belongings. Anyway it was an awesome experience to spend a whole day in the nature.
A truly amazing trip
Into the pristine #danubedelta with @discoverdanubedelta today, traveling from #Tulcea to the island of #Letea.
Saw so much #flora and #fauna including #whitetailedeagles, #pelicans, feral #horses, #waterlilies, #ibis, #frogs and #PurpleHerons to name but a few. Our guide, Marius, also saved a #moorhen from a fish trap.
Experience to do
The experience was fantastic, we could see a particular place and have the experience of eating in a fishing house.
The tour was in English, but we were lucky that the Guide also spoke Italian.
We really had an AMAZING time in the delta with our guide. He was wonderful in every way - from caring for our personal needs to his unbelievable skill in navigating the area and his encyclopaedic knowledge of the species and the ecology. He was able to showcase so many amazing species for us but above all he was so sensitive to, and understanding of, the ecological dynamics of the area and the processes at play in the delta today. Any visit to habitats is bound to have some impact on the habitat and species but I felt confident he did everything possible to minimise that impact. On top of that he was wonderful company. Everything just wonderful - thank you
Wonderful Adventure
Incredible trip! Well planned, in a beautifully designed boat for birding, with each trip out being different but equally amazing. Our hosts Iliuta and Marius were extremely knowledgable and kind, going that extra mile to make the trip special for us. The scenery and wildlife were breathtaking - waves of pelicans taking off and flying just above our heads, watching an osprey eating its catch, seeing four otters swim right up to the boat and the best ever sunrises we have seen, to name but a few highlights. A nature photographer's dream! Ticked off all the birds we were hoping to see and more, like a pallid harrier! Lovely hotel, overlooking the Danube which was very clean, staff were delightful and the food was delcious with a large variety of fresh fish for me but also other local food for my vegetarian husband. An unforgettable experience!
(Penny and Jon)
Read more reviews on TripAdvisor and Facebook.
Who we are
A local team, based in Tulcea since 2004
We are guides, birders and wildlife photographers who live and work in the Danube Delta and Dobrogea, in every season. We show you the Danube Delta as we see it: wild, quiet and full of life, away from the crowds. Read more about us or meet the team.
Licensed tour operator
Alternative Travel, operated by SC Dobrogea Misterioasă SRL, with a licence and an insolvency insurance policy renewed every year.
Our own boats and guides
Boats built for the Danube Delta and guides who know where the wildlife is this week, not last year.
Nature comes first
Members of the Ecotourism Association of Romania and of the Rewilding Tourism Network. We never enter nesting areas and never chase wildlife for a sighting or a picture.
Danube Delta guide
Read before you come
Our boats
Why we travel in open boats
What an open boat means for your day on the water, and why it changes what you see and hear.
Places
The trip to Letea Forest
Old oaks between the dunes, the horses of Letea and the long way there, from the river delta to the marine delta.
Birds
Birds of the Danube Delta and Dobrogea
Our list of the species, month by month, to plan your visit or build your target list.
Questions and answers
Frequently asked questions
Where do the tours start?
Almost all our boat trips and tours start at Port Tulcea Aval, Intrarea Marmurei 3, Tulcea. It is not the public harbour and not the town promenade. The page of each tour tells you the meeting hour.
How do I get to Tulcea?
By car, bus or train, or with our transfer from Bucharest or Bucharest airport, on request. If you come by car, there is a guarded car park at the port, paid separately.
When is the best time to visit the Danube Delta?
April to June is the busiest season for birds, with the colonies, the pelicans and the spring migration. In July and August go out at sunrise or in the late afternoon, away from the speed boats and the heat. September and October bring the autumn migration and quiet water. From December to February we run winter birding and photo trips, for those who come dressed for real cold.
What is the difference between a shared and a private tour?
On a shared tour you join other guests on a fixed program and pay per person. On a private tour the boat and the guide are only for your group, and you pay one price for the group.
I am not a birder or a photographer. Which tour is for me?
Choose a day trip or a multi day nature tour. They are made for nature lovers, at a relaxed pace, with a guide who explains the places, the wildlife and the life of the villages. Birding and photo tours have other hours, other routes and other guides.
Are the boats covered?
No. Our boats are open, with no roof, no shade and no heating. Bring a hat, sunscreen and a rain jacket or a rain poncho, and a warm layer for the early mornings.
How do I book?
Open the tour, choose your date and send us a booking request. We send you the confirmation and the payment link. Your booking is confirmed only when the payment shown on the tour page is made. A request is not a booking.
Contact
- Emailcontact@discoverdanubedelta.com
- Phone, SMS, WhatsApp+40 763 869 400
+40 757 894 456 - Meeting pointPort Tulcea Aval, Intrarea Marmurei 3, Tulcea
- For bookings and requests we always prefer email. Thank you!