UNIQUE EXPERIENCES IN THE DANUBE DELTA
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See what is available for your group
- Day trip or a longer tour. Choose a day trip from Tulcea, or a tour of several days.
- How many of you. Select the adults and the children in your group. You see only the dates with enough available places for all of you.
- Your dates. For a day trip, pick the day in the calendar. For a longer tour, pick the first day you can start, then the last day you must be back. Gold dots mark group tour departures; adding ±2 or ±3 days usually shows you more of them.
Group tour departure
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This season
Season Offers
Destinations: Dobrogea
Your own birding guide and car among the wintering flocks of Red-breasted and White-fronted Geese, swans and eagles, on the lagoons and fields south of the Danube Delta.
PrivateBirding & PhotoPRIVATE Winter Birding & Bird Photography Day Trip in the Danube Delta, from Tulcea
Destinations: Danube Delta
Wintering birds, frozen reeds and empty channels, with your own boat and a birder photographer guide, when almost nobody else is on the water. Come dressed for real cold.
Destinations: Lake Kerkini
Four nights at Lake Kerkini and six boat sessions at sunrise and in the evening light, with Dalmatian Pelicans flying at eye level. Single room included.
Our tours
Popular tours for 2027
Destinations: Danube Delta
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
Destinations: Danube Delta
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.
Destinations: Danube Delta
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
AMAZING
Discover Danube Delta was a unique and unforgettable experience. Iliuta was an outstanding guide, who made sure to answer everyone’s questions and cater to the group’s needs. Moreover, his knowledge of the wildlife and history of the Danube Delta was not only beyond impressive, but also entertaining. The small size of the group is ideal, as one can completely enjoy and immersive themselves in this experience. Would definitely recommend to anyone who is interested in exploring and learning about the Danube Delta or to anyone who is looking for an out of the ordinary experience.
Discover Danube Delta Photo Tour - a must for any nature photographer from amateur to pro
I just returned from the 5d/4n Discover Danube Delta Photo Tour. Actually, I had no big expectations. I booked this trip as a reconnaissance mission to get a feel for the region and maybe find "serious" operator for a future true photography expedition. I couldn't have been more wrong.
From start of the tour, which begun with a transfer by boat from Tulcea to Mila 23 and finish (return to a starting point same boat) I was really surprised by the quality of service. Everything – transfer, boat cruising to channels and accommodation was handled with true professionalism, thanks to our group of 4 could focus entirely on the observation and shooting. Our guide (and at the same time co-owner of the tour operator) Iliutsa has incredible local knowledge, he seems to know every nook, every channel, every bend of Delta. We navigated the waters in a low-profile open boat in two sessions – early morning (5 am) and evening (5 pm) to catch the best light. I need to emphasize that open boat (no roof) is much, much better for good observation and photography, as it gives you 360 degrees view. Yes it is more windy & more cold, but that is a tradeoff which pays at the end of the day with stunning pictures. Our guide ensured we were always in the right place to capture spectacular wildlife moments - from majestic pelicans at sunset and hunting herons to marsh harriers attacking tern nests. The final day surprised us even more, as Iliutsa took us to Letea for a whole day to admire avocets, rare pratincoles, rollers, spectacular wild horses of Letea and the famous old oak tree forest (natilnal reserve Pădurea Letea)
We were accommodated at the Fishermen House in Mila 23. It was clean, cozy, and incredibly welcoming. The meals - mainly local fish made by Ekatereina, the true chef and owner of the Casa Pescarului. Any words cannot describe how delicious it was, you simply have to come to try it At the last dinner we had a chance to watch a wonderful performance of a local folklore choir from the indigenous Lipovan community. Very emotional.
I returned home with gigabytes of images and a really good portfolio that far exceeded what I thought possible for a short trip. To sum up - If you are looking for a photography-focused adventure in the Danube Delta, look no further - this tour delivers on every front. I highly recommend them to any photographer, from amateur to pro.
Pro-tip: take warm and rain clothes, do not underestimate the weather in Delta. In spring it can be very deceptive. Be prepared for every possible conditions.
Amazing experience
Amazing experience.,well organized ,our guide Mariusz is a great expert on birds, speaking several languages and he was very kind. We will recommended this fantastic experience.
Excellent photo tour in Delta
We spent three full days in Delta Danube. Photo tour trip was organized via Discover Danube Delta. Our guide was Ilia.
I can say that it was just excellent. Ilia is highly customer oriented person. He is very familiar with Danube Delta and he knows each channel and places with different type of birds there. It was unique experience thanks to Ilia and his team.
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.
Marius is the best guide! Truly awesome experience with great hosts and food in Mila23. Cheers from Poland to all your staff!
Extraordinary Journey
We spent twelve days in Romania. This trip was the highlight of our vacation. Victor is an amazing guide. He’s incredibly knowledgeable about the area: the vegetation, the birds, the insects, and all aspects of the ecosystem in the delta. Prepare for a long, but an extraordinarily meaningful day.
Perfect one day trip
Amazing tour, our guide Viktor was very knowledgeable and friendly, answered all our questions and more, so we definitely learned a lot! Danube Delta is so beautiful an unique, I highly recommend visiting it!
An unforgettable three-day expedition!
An unforgettable three-day expedition! Our guide introduced us to small unrun canals in the delta and introduced us to many birds, from the smallest to the largest. He gave us a lot of details about their manners, their habitat, the amount of individuals in the delta...
The accommodation was also up to standard with an excellent host cook who introduced us to local cuisine. In short, nothing wrong!
What an incredible experience! I've never experienced a tour with such care and attention to detail. Thank you so much for this wonderful experience!
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.
WOW!!!
This was the highlight of our holidays!!!
Wonderfully organized tour, all day in the channels of the delta, super friendly and funny, with a lot of knowledge about wildlife.
So mayne birds, 2 sea eagles above our boat included.
Just WOW!
We had a great tour with Ilie (hope it's the right way to write it). Very fond of nature and birds, he took the time to show us Delta's wonders. Good English and joyful to top it all. There was also a typical lunch in a fisherman's village.
Detailed ecology tour into Danube delta
Wonderful experience, guide with in-depth knowledge of birds, plants, environmental issues and ecosystems. Skillfull boat operator.
A wonderful agency. Thank you for existing, I recommend you with all my heart, to all those who want a unique and unforgettable experience in our wonderful Delta. For three consecutive years I have been returning with the same agency, on the same routes, the same circuit: 5 days, 4 nights Lakes, Letea and Sulina. Guides Ionuț in the first 2 years, and Iulian this year, we just returned, 13-17.08.2023. Accommodation in the first year at Pelicanul Creț, the last 2 years at Alexandru and Alexandra. Both amazing, food, and atmosphere, clean and beautiful rooms, about the food, superlative. BRAVO. I RECOMMEND with confidence.
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!