autumn birding in Europe’s largest wilderness
One of the very few holidays to include a week on a floating hotel, exploring the spectacular wildlife of the Romanian Danube Delta.
Download leaflet
Wildlife Travel leaflet Danube Delta autumn 2026
Dates
28th September – 6th October 2026
Leader
Price
£2,390
Single Room Supplement – £350
Included
Return flight London Heathrow to Bucharest. Local transport as specified in itinerary. Eight nights accommodation, full board.
Not included
Refreshments. Gratuities. Travel insurance. ETIAS/visa costs. Covid tests and associated costs.
Group size
Minimum 4, maximum 14.
At the end of a 1,700 mile long journey across Europe, the great Danube River reaches the Black Sea. Here, the river splits into numerous channels and canals, creating the second largest delta on the continent. Vast expanses of swamps and forests, as well as a scattering of lakes surrounded by thick reedbeds, provide a perfect sanctuary for over 300 species of birds, many year round residents; others summer breeders or passage migrants.
This holiday is timed to coincide with the big build up of waterbird numbers, as they gather in great flocks before heading south for the winter. As well as the bird life, autumn can be a great time for mammal watching, and we will be keeping our eyes peeled for Golden Jackal, Raccoon-dog and Wild Cat, Wild Boar and Roe Deer along the channel banks. These waterways are also home to Otter, Muskrat and the very rare European Mink.
In the Delta we stay on a very comfortable, travelling houseboat, equipped with all the ‘mod cons’ we might need, along with an open deck for birdwatching and relaxing as we travel. Our meals are as local as it gets, with Danube Herring, carp, goose and marshland lamb all likely to feature on the menu, along with good Romanian wine.
The holiday is aimed at providing a unique visit to one of the last remaining wilderness areas of Europe.
Download trip report
Please note that holidays change, although sometimes only slightly, from year to year and previous trip reports may not reflect the planned itinerary, or other holiday details, for the current trip. Please ask us if you would like to know of any significant differences.
Day 1 After arrival in Bucharest we transfer to our hotel in Amara, approximately two hours away.
Day 2 An early morning exploration of the nearby lakes will be our first introduction to the wetland birdlife of Romania. Little Bittern can often be seen flying between the patches of reeds, while Ferruginous Duck may be found amongst the wildfowl on the open water. After breakfast, we travel eastwards, stopping at various spots along the way. If the day is a sunny one, the last of the summer’s butterflies and dragonflies should still be on the wing. Our lunch stop will be in the Babadag forest, home to various reptiles including Balkan Wall Lizard and Spur-thighed Tortoise. After checking out the dry grassland around Inala, and the salt lakes near Murighiol, we join our houseboat Kingfisher.
Day 3 Today we have a leisurely cruise to Sfantu Gheorghe, one of the most beautiful fishing villages in the delta, right at the mouth of the Danube where it empties into the Black Sea. From the deck of the boat we will see many of the typical birds of the delta such as egrets, pelicans, herons and the ever present Marsh Harriers, the peace only disturbed by the occasional White-tailed Eagle hunting overhead. After arriving in Sfantu Gheorghe in the early afternoon we will visit the village to see the local houses in the Ukrainian style.
Day 4 We explore the local area around Sfantu Gheorghe by small boat, including the sandy Sahalin Island, at the mouth of the Black Sea. After lunch, we take a walk, looking for migrating waders on the marshes, and various south-bound migrants in the bushes. If we make it to the beach, we will look for the Steppe Runner, a central Asian lizard that only reaches Europe in this corner of Romania.
Day 5 After an early morning bird walk back along to the marshes behind the village, we have a leisurely day on the boat, travelling towards the Dunavat channel, giving us the choice of birding from the upper deck or simply indulging in a siesta!
Day 6 The day will be spent exploring some of the more remote areas of the Delta: fingers crossed today we might catch up with some of the shyer animals – Wild Boar or even Golden Jackal occasionally put in an appearance along the river bank.
Day 7/8 We spend more time in the small boats as we explore the shallow lagoons and lakes hidden amongst the reedbeds, off of the main channel. The reeds should be alive with family groups of both Bearded and Penduline Tits, while egrets, herons and bitterns stalk the margins, and various waterbirds gather on the open water, hopefully in large numbers. Black and Grey-headed Woodpecker haunt the wet woodlands, while hirundines can gather in large numbers at their reedbed roosts. We gradually make our way back upstream to our original mooring point at Uzlina.
Day 9 We bid farewell to the boat and head back towards Bucharest, stopping along the way for one last spot of birdwatching before we finally return to Bucharest for our onward journeys home.
Please note that the itinerary may be changed to suit the weather or other practicalities at the discretion of the leaders.
Our first night is spent in the Hotel Diamant in Amara. On the delta, our home is the Kingfisher, a comfortable house boat, with panoramic view s from the dining room and the viewing/sun deck, from where we will watch the wildlife along the waterways as we travel between moorings. The nine cabins are all on the same deck, with twin or double beds, en-suite shower room/WC and a window.
On our way to/from the Delta, we will travel by small coach.
Our meals will be a mixture of Romanian and International dishes, with an emphasis on local cuisine, including local game (boar and goose) and plenty of local fish.
Group flights
Group flights are with British Airways from London Heathrow to Bucharest.
28th September depart London Heathrow 08.50, arrive Bucharest 14.05
6th October depart Bucharest 18.15, arrive London Heathrow 19.40
Overland travel
You can reach Romania by train from the UK. From London you can reach Bucharest in one night, with sleeper trains available. Contact us to find out more, and to make your holiday flight-free.
Time zone
Romania is two hours ahead of UK time.
Entry requirements
If you hold a British passport you can travel to countries in the Schengen area (including Romania) for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa. Your passport must be issued less than ten years before the date you enter the country and valid for at least three months after the day you plan to leave.
Starting in 2026 British passport holders will need to apply for the ETIAS European Travel Authorisation to visit Schengen countries. This must be applied for online prior to travel, at a cost of €7 (free for over 70s). Once granted, your ETIAS will be valid for three years.
The weather is likely to still be pleasantly but autumnally warm by the end of September, although cooler and wetter weather is always possible. We will do our best not to be out long in the sun. There should be no major problem from mosquitoes at this time of year in the Delta.
You will need to be able to climb in and out of small boats, sometimes directly onto the bank. We will spend quite a bit of time sitting in the small boats (not all have back supports). As this tour involves considerable moving around in boats, it may not be suitable for people with limited mobility.