Birdwatching Danube Delta River Cruise
After a luxurious hotel stay in Bucharest, explore Romania’s Danube Delta by River Cruise and on smaller boats. This birdwatching and cultural holiday explores the Danube Delta wetlands which provide a habitat for over 300 species of birds.
A two-night hotel stay in the cultural capital city of Bucharest and the opportunity to see some of the main attractions during an included tour marks the start of your holiday. After embarking Spirit of the Danube in Tulcea, another included excursion visits the silver-domed Saon Monastery and Danube Delta Museum. Begin your five-night cruise along the Danube, passing through the untouched natural scenery of the wildlife-rich Danube Delta before stopping at the historic fishing village of St Georghe for a two-night mooring on the south east tip of the Danube Delta reserve.
From here you’ll venture into the delta on two included trips aboard smaller boats, which can negotiate the lakes and marshes which are out of reach to larger vessels. It is believed that over 300 bird species inhabit the reserve including herons, pelicans, eagles, songbirds and seabirds, so be sure to bring your binoculars, although these will be available on board. To enhance your experience further there will be wildlife themed talks from our expert host back on board Spirit of the Danube. Spend the final full day of your holiday in the Romanian town of Braila, where you can explore independently or head across the border to Moldova for an optional excursion to the traditional village of Valeni.
Your Tour Includes
TRAVEL
VIP door-to-door travel service from anywhere on the UK mainland
Included travel insurance
Return flights and transfers
ACCOMMODATION
5 nights Full Board on board, 2 nights Half Board in a hotel (2022 departures)
5 nights All Inclusive on board, 2 nights Half Board in a hotel (2023 departures)
Complimentary Wi-Fi on board
All gratuities on board
EXPERIENCES
Cruise Host
Expert host
Bucharest city tour
Visit to Soan Monastery and the Danube Delta Museum in Tulcea
Two days Delta exploration aboard a smaller vessel
FOOD & DRINK
19 meals: 7 breakfasts, 5 lunches and 7 dinners
Wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner on the ship (2022 departures)
Free bar open 15 hours a day (2023 departures)
Drinks reception and Captain’s dinner
Day 1 UK - Bucharest
Fly to Bucharest and transfer to the locally rated 4-star Novotel Bucharest Hotel (4Q) for a two-night stay with dinners included.
Day 2 Bucharest
Enjoy an included tour of Romania’s lively capital city, Bucharest – popular with the jet set and known as ‘Little Paris’ in the 1900s. See the enormous Palace of the Parliament – dictator Nicolae Ceausescu’s egotistical folly – and the Patriarchal Church. Enjoy some time at leisure to explore independently before dinner back at the hotel this evening.
Day 3 Bucharest - Tulcea
Leave the capital after breakfast and transfer to Tulcea – a journey of approximately four hours plus a comfort stop for lunch en route – where you will embark Spirit of the Danube.
Enjoy dinner on board as you remain moored here overnight.
Day 4 Tulcea - St Georghe
This morning an included excursion visits the Saon Monastery and the Danube Delta Museum. The complex, which is set atop a hill near the Danube Delta, incorporates a traditional windmill, several churches and the monastery with its three silver domes. It’s surrounded by a lake, orchards and a working farm which is home to ostriches and roaming peacocks. After your visit return to Tulcea where you can join a guided tour of the museum dedicated to the history of the Danube Delta.
Spirit of the Danube sets sail in the early afternoon bound for the beautiful scenery of the Danube Delta, a wetland biosphere that is Europe's second largest delta and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The reed beds and groves of willow, oak and poplar provide sanctuary for over 300 species of bird! You will sail through the heart of the delta to reach the Black Sea coast, where your ship will moor for the next two nights at the historic fishing village of St Georghe, located at the very south east tip of the reserve, close to the longest stretches of beach on the Romanian coast. With a history dating back to the 14th century, the village is renowned for its traditional cooking and in particular its famous black caviar.
Day 5 Danube Delta
This morning you are in for a treat as you will step aboard a smaller vessel to explore the waters and wildlife at closer quarters.
The Delta is known the world over as a haven for birdlife and more than 300 species are believed to inhabit the reserve. Many more migrate thousands of miles to spend time in the biosphere at different times of the year.
Keep an eye out for herons, egrets, storks, white and Dalmatian pelicans, pygmy cormorants, several varieties of eagle, and many songbird species.
Day 6 Danube Delta
Enjoy another morning on board a smaller ship, negotiating a different area of the delta, where the lakes and marshes are inaccessible to larger cruise vessels.
Your ship departs St Georghe late this afternoon and sails overnight across the border into Romania, towards Braila.
Day 7 Braila
Enjoy a full day in the Romanian town of Braila, once an important trading port and home to some elegant merchants’ villas as a result. You can explore independently or perhaps join an optional excursion across the border to Moldova.
Cruise through the night towards Chiciu.
Day 8 Chiciu - Bucharest - UK
This morning, disembark Spirit of the Danube and transfer to Bucharest, a journey of approximately two hours depending on traffic, for your return flight to the UK.
