UNIQUE EXPERIENCES IN THE DANUBE DELTA
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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
Great experience!
Beautiful visit on the delta. Guide was fantastic, prepared and helpful. The safari I would say quaint, the typical lunch with fish was really hearty and good. The used boat had no cover therefore sunscreen, long sleeved shirt, hat that covers the ears if the wind bothers you.
Even better than I expected
It was one of the most amazing trips I have made in my live. Everything was perfect. The Danube Delta was absolutely wonderful, but what I appreciate most is the kindness and professionalism of the trip organizers. I would repeat the trip without hesitation.
We had a wonderful experience in the Delta! The guide (Mr. Ionuț) was very involved in showing us the most wonderful places! The boats are very clean, used only for tourists. The speed of travel is average, at points of interest (frogs, white-tailed deer, swans, water lilies, etc.) there are stops for photography. Professional agency. I recommend.
Deep insight into the Danube Delta
The ranger who led the tour was outstanding. Not only were the birds seen explained, but also the problems in protecting the delta were reported.
Must go
Fantastic trip to the Danube Delta, Victor was s great guide and the pelicans were a highlight. Everyone made us (me and my mum) feel so welcome and it was lovely to meet everyone. The trip was great value too and would recommend this to anyone
It was a great day in an incredibly beautiful landscape that allowed us to discover Danube Delta.
The exploration tour with Discover Danube Delta more than met our expectations.
Although we had an error in the payment and therefore the booking was not complete, they spontaneously looked for a guide and still made the tour possible. Super flexible and customer friendly. The ride itself was totally informative and we could see many unique birds and their breeding grounds thanks to the competent guide.
Once in Letea there are delicious fish dishes in huge portions, what its money is really worth.
All in all, the landscape of the Danube Delta is a strong recommendation for any naturalist and Discover Danube Delta makes the ride unforgettable.
Amazing
We had a very pleasant and exciting day visiting the Danube Delta. Victor was a very accommodating, kind and informative guide who spoke good English. We would highly recommend this amazing tour. To top it off it was excellent value for money as well.
We were very happy with our day trip to the Danube Delta and felt very safe and well looked after. We gratefully followed the recommendation to wear a sun hat with a band (which can be purchased cheaply in the shop before departure), as well as long-sleeved tops and trousers – plus SPF 50 sunscreen! – and strongly advise everyone to do the same. The boat had no roof, which gave us a sensational view of the birds and wildlife. The owner didn't miss a single animal on the trip; he showed us the beauty of the Danube Delta. I would book a tour with him again anytime. Top-notch!
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!
A wonderful day trip to the Danube Delta. Excellent tour guide. Highly recommended. The diversity of wildlife is fascinating. The large number of pelicans and wild horses were a highlight for me. It's something you simply have to see. I would have gladly given more than 5 stars.
Professionals at their best! Thank you Discover Danube Delta for helping me make the dreams of some special people of mine to come through! No one in the whole Danube Delta would have given the trip of one’s life to a highly reduced mobility person. Discover Danube Delta did it in glory!
We bought a 5-day stay, everything is extremely well organized, our guide named Iulian is a true professional, he amazed us with information, explanations and examples throughout the stay, making daily excursions to the most important areas of the Delta. We chose accommodation at the Casa Vanessa guesthouse, impeccable for all the accommodation services offered. Very good food, cleanliness and great interest in the client. We thank the hosts on this path, we thank the guide Iulian and we thank the company ''Despoteră Delta Dunării,, If it were possible I would give 50 stars. Thank you.
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.
Highly Recommended
I am a professional wildlife photograper and author based in Singapore. The purpose of my visit was do research for a chapter in a future wildlife publication. I had booked a 8 day programme with Iliuta; three days bear watching in Transulvania and spending the rest of the time in the Danube Dela.
Iluita and his staff handled the trip promptly and competently from the beginning to the end. Iliuta's professional photo experience and extensive knowledge of fauna and flora proved invaluable during my visit, and he managed to make sure that we were at the right place and time to maximise the many photo opportunities. It should be added that I got excellent images of all key species on my list.
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!
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!