At the edge of the Black Sea, the mighty Danube opens out to become a wild and beautiful wetland, the largest on the continent, with astonishing biodiversity including more than 300 species of birds. The UNESCO World Heritage Site is a region of marshes, floating reed islets, sandbars, beaches and forests. It's a place to slow down and appreciate nature's wonders.
- Duration
- 5 nights
- Type
- Walking and boating
- Price
- £2,895 per person
- Group size
- Maximum 12
- Good To Know
This Expert-Led Journey differs to most Slow Cyclist experiences as we'll be eschewing bikes and travelling primarily on foot and on small boats - the best way to explore the delta. We will send a packing list closer to your departure but recommend packing light as your luggage will be transported on the water.
Welcome to The Slow Cyclist
After nearly a decade welcoming Slow Cyclists to Transylvania, and about two of those spent exploring the country myself, Romania continues to surprise me in all the best ways. I am delighted that, in partnership with our colleague and good friend Mişu David, we will be welcoming guests to Romania's most biodiverse region - and perhaps its greatest natural wonder - for the first time in 2024.
Perhaps surprisingly, the area is home not only to vast wetlands, but to eroded mountains, sandy steppe and virgin forests. The delta and wider Dobrogea have remained a timeless land, even under the steamroller of 20th and 21st century modernity. And it is rare to see a place this alive, especially in May when the birdlife in these wetlands is so abundant.
I hope that you will join us, and that you have the most wonderful time.
Oli BroomFounder, The Slow Cyclist
The Journey
We begin our journey in Somova, a small village at the edge of the Danube Delta where we will explore on foot and by kayak. From there, we enter the Danube Delta proper from Tulcea, the gateway to the delta and an important harbour since the 7th century BC. Our private boat will transport us through the labyrinth of channels spotting birdlife along the way. We then base ourselves in the small riverside town of Crisan for two nights, visiting Letea Forest to the north. For our final night we will travel by boat to the Southern Delta and to Dunavatu de Jos, spending the afternoon cruising to the Black Sea. Walking and journeying by boat enables us to slow down and immerse ourselves in the peace of this unique and special environment. Our journeys take place in May, June and September, prime time for bird watching, when fishing is prohibited and the weather is warm during the day.
Expert-Led
Our lead guide is Mişu David, who has been a firm favourite with our Transylvanian guests for a number of years owing to his sharp wit and extensive knowledge of nature and wildlife. He is a keen naturalist with 15 years experience of guiding in the delta and Carpathians. As a child, he visited the Danube Delta nearly every year to live with locals and fish in the labyrinth of channels. He developed a passion for the local wildlife which has continued to grow ever since.
Is It For Me?
Our journeys are built around friendship, exceptional hospitality and the great outdoors. Slow Cyclists are curious travellers with a bit of juice in their legs, approaching our time on foot as an opportunity to explore rather than test our fitness. That’s not to say we don’t work hard sometimes, just that we are often distracted by the food, history and people that make a place special. When we see something interesting, we tend to stop and take it in rather than race by. If this sounds like you, we're pretty sure you'll love your time exploring the Danube Delta with us.
The Walking & Boating
Travelling on foot and by boat is a wonderful way to experience the delta and see its vast array of birds and other wildlife. You will also have time to experience local life, food and wine and to slow down to enjoy this magnificent natural wonder. Whether you are a novice or experienced twitcher, you'll be amazed by the range of birds that settle in the delta at this time of year. The walks are not technical although you will need to be comfortable walking on uneven ground and across sand. We will have opportunities to kayak in the delta throughout our journey. You don't need to have kayaked before; Misu will be there to guide you.
The Highlights
- Exploring a surprising variety of delta landscapes from sandbanks to forests
- Meandering through the delta channels by boat
- Pre-breakfast walks to experience the stillness of the delta at its best
- Discovering and tasting the varied ways of cooking fresh fish
- Meeting locals, hearing traditional music and learning about the culture of the region
- Spotting a myriad of birds, from white-tailed eagles to squacco herons, bee-eaters to sandpipers; the list is vast
Food & Drink
Unsurprisingly, the traditional cuisine in the delta is mainly based on fish. For non-fish eaters we can provide alternative options, but this is a perfect destination for fish lovers who can try the best fish grills and soup in Romania. Over the years, most of our guests in Romania have commented on how well they have eaten. The local cuisine tends to be simple, fresh, delicious and the very definition of organic.
Itinerary
Day 1 - Thursday 23 May - Arrival
Transfer 4 hours
An afternoon transfer from Bucharest airport brings us to the edge of the Danube and the village of Somova where we will spend the next two nights. Here we will stay at a picturesque family-owned guest house and enjoy our first taste of the unique flora and fauna of this extraordinary environment next to the lagoons and channels of the Danube Delta. The guest house enjoys lovely views from the garden, two swimming pools, and homemade regional cuisine.
Day 2 - Friday 24 May - Around Somova
For the early risers, Mişu will take you on an early morning bird-spotting walk. After breakfast, we’ll slowly paddle our way along the waterways of the delta via kayak, an opportunity to meander at your own pace. We’ll have a picnic lunch along the way before returning to our guest house. There will be free time in the afternoon to explore or relax beside the pool before heading to a local vineyard for wine tasting. Dinner will be back at the guest house.
Day 3 - Saturday 25 May - Somova to Tulcea to Crisan
In the morning we will journey by boat deep into the northern canals and channels of the delta near to Somova. We’ll spend most of the day meandering our way to Crisan, with a picnic lunch onboard. In the early evening we’ll arrive at our guest house, our home for the next two nights nestled in the heart of the Danube Delta, and only accessible by boat.
Day 4 - Sunday 26 May - Letea Forest
Today we travel by boat to Letea with bird watching along the way. After walking through the remote old village we will arrive at the virgin forest of Letea with its 800-year-old oak trees and 10-metre high sand dunes, not to mention wild horses and many interesting species of plants and insects. A local villager will host us for lunch at his home before we make our return by boat to Crisan for dinner at the guest house.
Day 5 - Monday 27 May - Dunavatu de Jos
Today we have the option to enjoy an early morning boat ride to a lagoon as the sun rises. After breakfast we’ll take our boat to the southern Delta and the small village of Danavatu de Jos where our guest house has its own mooring. After a light lunch we’ll make our way by fast boat to the Black Sea, before returning to our guest house for our final evening in this magical place and a farewell dinner.
Day 6 - Tuesday 28 May - Departure
Transfer 4.5 hours
After breakfast we will say our goodbyes and transfer you back to Bucharest airport.
Practical Information
Guiding & Support
Our attention to detail sets us apart. You will be accompanied by a member of The Slow Cyclist team from the UK who will act as your host. In addition, you will be guided throughout by Mişu David, who is fluent in English and passionate and knowledgeable about the delta. We’re sure you will become firm friends by the time you leave. Finally, your bags will be transported by boat each time we change guest house.
Accommodation
We have chosen to stay at two local guest houses and a small hotel rather than one floating boat hotel, enabling us to enjoy a variety of accommodation, hospitality and food. Our first two nights are in the village of Somova at a beautiful family owned guest house. Our third and fourth nights are in a simple yet wonderfully located guest house in Crisan on the banks of the central branch of the delta. For our final night we will stay overnight in a small hotel in the southern delta next to a peaceful channel.
Packing & Reading
Well in advance of your travels we will send you an online Information Pack including various details you need to know in advance. This will include a suggested packing list. You may also wish to start reading about the Danube Delta and Romania. While the country has a notable and rich literary tradition stretching back centuries, we have chosen this selection of books as providing a varied insight into Romania before, during and after communism. It is a list that includes Romanian, Hungarian and foreign authors. Should you wish to buy any, we recommend doing so from our favourite bookshop, Mayfair's Heywood Hill.
We partner with Trust My Travel so that, in accordance with travel industry regulations, your funds are 100% protected.
Pricing & Booking
Price
£2,895 per person
Extras |
|
|---|---|
| Single Supplement | £395 |
We are often told how nice it is that almost everything is paid for up front. So, while you are with us you can forget about your wallet, relax and enjoy yourselves. Included are:
- Group airport transfers (1 x arrival, 1 x departure)
- Support vehicle and luggage transfers
- Expert guide and TSC host
- All accommodation, meals, snacks & drinks
- All activities
- 100% financial security
- Donation to a local cause that is aligned with our values
- Flights
- Personal costs
- Tips (optional, of course)
- Travel insurance
- Visas (if required)
For private groups a 30% deposit is required from the group leader and, thereafter, from each member of the party. A minimum of 50% of the party are required to book and pay their deposit within one month of the group leader. The balance is due 8 weeks before the departure date.
If you are travelling on one of our Scheduled Journeys, we require a 30% deposit on the core trip price (i.e. not on any extras) at the time of booking. The balance is due 8 weeks before the departure date.
Please make sure you are familiar with our Standard Terms & Conditions before booking.
You will receive two emails shortly after booking. First, a payment receipt, then a second email explaining next steps. Within two working days you will then be contacted by a member of our Guest Services team who will look after and advise you in the lead up to your travels.
All of our experiences are covered by Trust My Travel who protect our travellers their payments
Flights
You are responsible for booking your own flights. They are not included in the cost of the trip. We recommend morning flights to Bucharest, either British Airways from Heathrow or Wizz Air from Luton. Return flights from Bucharest back to Heathrow or Luton should be late afternoon or evening, giving time for the transfer back from the delta which can be 4 to 5 hours with a brief stop en route. If you do not wish to book your own flights, we recommend using Liz Rees who can be contacted at liz.rees@travelcounsellors.com or +44 7816 936876. Please let her know your departure dates and preferred airport.
Transfers
Transfers take about 4 hours from Bucharest to Somova and 4.5 hours back to Bucharest from Dunavatu de Jos. We will provide one transfer for the group on arrival and another on departure, which includes short stops for lunch and stretching the legs on both ways. If you need to look at alternative transport options because you are arriving or leaving earlier or later, we recommend contacting Liz Rees (see Flights), who helps many of our guests with their supplementary transport requirements.
Protect the Planet
We are thrilled that increasing numbers of our guests are choosing to travel to Romania by train, often for environmental reasons. We understand that this may not be practical, but urge you to consider doing so if you can make it work. Local train stations include Braila and Tulcea. The best place to start your research is bahn.com, or Liz Rees can organise your journey for you.
Although primarily known for its vast array of wildlife, the Danube Delta has a fascinating human history, too. Inhabited by the Dacians, the area was invaded by the Goths before changing hands many times. In the 15th century, it became part of the Ottoman Empire. The area became part of Romania following the defeat of the Ottoman Empire by Russia and Romania in 1878. During the 19th century, the delta became a major waterway, welcoming workers and businessmen from Europe and the Middle East, as well as pirates seeking riches. The area is scattered with port towns and villages which are still home to fishing communities. The 6th Century Roman city of Halmyris sits in the fishing village of Murighiol. Excavation continues to this day. In 1991, the Romanian part of the Danube Delta became a UNESCO World Heritage Site and, in 1998, the full delta area (over 6,000 square kilometres) was established as a biosphere reserve.
Exceptional Quality
Our passion for creating exceptional shared experiences in places we love is reflected in the journeys we design. We don't rest on our laurels, seeking continued improvement and innovation so that you, our guests, are enriched around every bend in the road.
Community Driven
The Slow Cyclist was born as an antidote to mass tourism. All stakeholders, from our guests and team in the UK to our local guides, from food producers we work with to the communities whose lives we touch, must feel our influence and impact is positive.
Future Focused
We travel with a light footprint but that’s not enough. We can always do more. We are part of a generation that must act responsibly in business and in tourism; one that begins to restore our planet's biodiversity and delicate ecosystems.