Bears & Danube Delta & Dobrogea Photo Tour 10d/9n SHARED 2026
The ultimate Romanian wildlife trilogy
Ten days. Three ecosystems. A lifetime of wildlife encounters. From the secretive bears of Transylvania to the pelicans of the Delta and the colorful birds of Dobrogea, this is Romania, raw and untamed, seen through the eyes of a photographer.
Forests. Wetlands. Steppes. One wild journey
This 10-day / 9-night wildlife photography tour is a full-spectrum dive into Romania’s wild heart. It combines three dramatically different habitats, dense mountain forest, sprawling wetland labyrinth, and dry steppe into one carefully crafted journey designed for photographers who want it all.
Begin in the Carpathians, with 3 nights in Transylvania and 2 full days of photographing Brown Bears from professional hides. Tucked deep in the forest, these hides give you front-row access to one of Europe’s most iconic and elusive predators, often in magical light and with minimal human presence. It’s all about patience, silence and that unforgettable moment when a bear steps into view.
From there, you’ll travel to the Danube Delta for 4 nights and 3 full days of boat-based photography. Guided by local experts, you’ll drift through channels and lakes in a specially built photo boat, getting close to pelicans, herons, ibises, terns and more. Each morning and evening brings a new light, a new mood and endless subjects, from elegant flights to chaotic feeding scenes.
Finally, you head to Dobrogea, Romania’s steppe region, filled with cliffs, open skies and dryland species rarely seen elsewhere. Over 2 nights and one and half day of photography using mobile hides and flexible field setups, you’ll target colorful and charismatic birds like European Rollers, Bee-eaters, shrikes and steppe raptors.
The tour begins and ends in Bucharest, with all transfers, accommodations, half board and guiding included. Limited to a maximum of 4 participants, this small-group format ensures you get time, space and expert support for every shot. From forests to wetlands to open steppe, this tour is built for those who want their wildlife portfolio to explode with variety, story and soul.
The price of this tour is:
2.440 euro/pers
The price is per person (accommodation in double room), per tour and it is in euro (EUR).
360 euro/pers/program single supplement
*To ensure comfort and privacy, we do not offer shared accommodation to guests booking separately. Solo travelers are kindly asked to book a single room, which require a single supplement.
Data for this program in 2026:
Period | Places | Price |
|---|---|---|
11 May - 20 May | 2440 | |
8 Jun - 17 Jun | 2440 |
Click on available number of place in the table and fill up the form. Our agents will process the request and answer to you (usually in less then 24h). Please check also the SPAM folder for our email.
Bookings
Bookings are based on a 30% deposit of the price of the program.
Included in this price:
- Accommodation at 3* level, en-suite bathroom, for 9 nights
- Half board (dinner on the first day, breakfast and dinner for days 2-9, breakfast on day 10)
- 2 days Birds&Bears in Transylvania + 3 days Boat Photo Tours + 1,5 days mobile hide BIRDS Photo Tour.
- ENGLISH guidance – specialized photographer guide
- All the transfers for this tour, from Bucharest to Tulcea
- Fees for visiting the Danube Delta
Optionally:
- Lunch meal – the price is 15-25 euro/pers (payment directly in cash, RON or EUR, on the spot)
The price does not include:
- Beverages, other than water
- Lunch meal
- Insurance of any kind (travel, goods, etc.)
Children policy:
- Minimum age to participate is 12
- Children over 12 years are charged as adults
- Responsibility of children’s supervision during trips belong to parents
- All children will wear life jackets during boat trips
Cancellation policy:
- More then 90 days before the program you can postpone the trip (you will receive a voucher available 2 years).
- Less then 90 days before the trip, the deposit is non refundable.
Itinerary
Day 1 – Pick-up | Transfer to Transylvania
We’ll pick you up from Bucharest Airport or Hotel, in the morning and transfer you to Transylvania.
Latest pick-up hour is 11:00.
Check-in to the accommodation. Dinner is to the accommodation.
Days 2 and 3 – Breakfast | Morning session | Free time for lunch | Bears hide session | Dinner
Breakfast to the accommodation then morning birds hide session.
At lunch you’ll have some free time then you’ll enter to the Bears Hide.
Our local partner is one of the best in this activity, he knows the Bears very well and feed them fairly only with seeds and fruits. This hide is not to attract the Bears but to stop them on the way to the Village.
Dinner to the accommodation.
Day 4 – Breakfast | Transfer to Tulcea
After breakfast, the guide will transfer you to Tulcea, to continue the trip to the Danube Delta.
Transfer and accommodation at the guesthouse in Mila23
You will go to Mila23 and check in at the guesthouse. The transfer takes 2-2,5 hours. During the transfer, we have enough time to talk about our route, Danube Delta peculiarities, nature photography, rules and behavior in a natural reserve and the program for next two days.
In the evening, the host will wait for you with a traditional dinner based on fish (if you have any food restrictions, please let us know when you make the booking).
Days 5-6-7 – Morning Photo Session | Breakfast | Rest/Free time | Evening Photo Session
Your trip into the Danube Delta will begin early in the morning, before sunrise, to catch its magic light and birds that begin to feed. The morning tour takes about 5-6 hours and you will have the breakfast to go or on return to the accommodation. After the morning session, you will return to the guesthouse to have some rest. With 4 hours before sunset, you will start for the evening session. You will travel to different places in Danube Delta, the routes being decided on a day to day basis, depending on weather conditions, water level and our guides experience. After taking your last shots in the dusk, you will come back to the accommodation. Don’t forget to download your photos and recharge your batteries!
We will be looking for the stars of these places: Pelicans, both the White and the rare Dalmatians. Of course, we will be looking for any kind of bird, starting with the common Little and Great Egrets, Gray, Purple, Yellow, or Night Heron, the agile Kingfisher, the majestic White-tailed Eagle and noisy Coots. We will also look for surf birds or birds that look for food in muddy stretches: Godwits, Spoonbills, Ibises, Ruffs, Stilts and others.
Of course we will not neglect the mammals, we will always seek to find and show you the playful otters, the cautious wild boars, the elegant roe deer, the funny muskrats or the beautiful raccoon dog.
Lunch is optional (you can order it to the guesthouse). Dinner is at the guesthouse.
Day 8 – Breakfast | Transfer to Tulcea | Evening Photo Session
After a relaxed breakfast (8:30 a.m.), this time without sunrise session, you will return to Tulcea, but now, in the morning, you will have the best light for this route. This is a good chance to have good pictures from the fantastic Danube Delta. Around 12:00-12:30 you will be back to Tulcea.
We’ll pick you up from Port Aval, at the returning from the Danube Delta Tour and transfer you to the accommodation in Tulcea. You’ll have some free time for check-in and breakfast then you’ll depart to the afternoon/evening session.
Dinner at the accommodation.
Day 9 – Morning session | Evening session | Dinner
Early in the morning is the departure to the Bee-eaters place, the guide will let you know the departure hour for this session. When the light will be too harsh for photography, come back to the city, have the breakfast, rest and you’ll picked up again in the afternoon, for the evening session.
Dinner to the accommodation.
Day 10 – Breakfast | Transfer to Bucharest
Breakfast at 7:00 and 8:00 is the departure to Bucharest. At 13:00 you’ll be in Bucharest.
To ensure a comfortable and successful nature experience, we recommend bringing the following items:
- Camera Gear: DSLR or mirrorless camera with telephoto and wide-angle lenses, extra batteries, memory cards, and a sturdy tripod.
- Clothing: Layered clothing suitable for early morning and late evening chills, waterproof jacket, hat, and gloves for cooler temperatures.
- Footwear: Comfortable.
- Accessories: Binoculars for spotting distant wildlife, insect repellent, sunscreen and a refillable water bottle.
- Other Essentials: A small backpack for daily excursions and any personal medication you may need.
Contact
Email: office@ilgotours.com
Phone: (Voice, SMS, WatsApp):
+40 740 357 073
* For bookings or requests, we always prefer to communicate by email. Thank you!
