Ruggedly beautiful Romania, in the very heart of Central Europe, offers the interested traveller a romantic glimpse of a traditional way of life. This tour opens up several enchanting prospects for exploration. Heading north from Bucharest to the villages of the Brasov area we find friendly people, proud of their customs and folklore, with a timeless rural way of life. Then we cruise through the myriad channels of the Danube Delta, one of the world's greatest wildlife sanctuaries, where rare birds come from afar to take advantage of the abundant food and warm, sunny summers. Finally, from the port town of Tulcea we have one and half days to explore Dobrogea on the Black Sea Coast.

The walks in the hills and mountains around Brasov are graded as easy, with some moderate sections and occasionally along rocky tracks, and are well within the reach of anyone who enjoys an active, outdoor life.

Depart UK (flight details to be confirmed) to be met at the airport in Bucharest the capital of Romania by our local guide and our own air-conditioned 28 seater mini-coach which will accompany us on all overland excursions. We shall drive to the Carpathian Mountains, a journey of around 3 hours. Our base for three nights, in the heart of Transylvania amidst spruce forests and in the shadow of Bran Castle which hopefully will not deter anyone of a nervous disposition!

We shall explore the area Rasnov-Bran, visit the Bran Castle and after that take a walk through Dambovicioara Valley to Dambovicioara Cave. There should be ample opportunity to find flowers, birds and butterflies. Three toed Woodpecker and Wallcreepers occur near the top of the woods and within the gorge but finding these elusive species will not prove easy; instead we may have to content ourselves with commoner birds such as Siskins and Hawfinches. Nutcracker is also a possibility. After dinner we may try some bear watching, though it could be well beyond midnight before we are successful. Brown Bears regularly descend to Poiana Brasov to scavenge, and often tolerate relatively close approach; this is probably the best opportunity for viewing bears in Europe.

This morning we reach for the skies with a visit to the top of Mount Cristianul Mare. The first cable car of the day, gives us an hour or so at the top before other visitors arrive. We may find some excellent alpine plants and butterflies here. Birds have included such elusive alpine species as Wallcreepers, Alpine Accentors, Rock Buntings and Alpine Swifts although they are not easy to find; Ring Ouzels, singing Black Redstarts, and Water Pipits are commoner sights. For the more energetic we can take a walk down the slopes, for the rest a return journey by cable car. In the afternoon we shall explore the Zarnesti gorge for more exciting birds amidst stunning scenery.

We make an early start to drive to Tulcea on the edge of the Danube Delta. The journey will take most of the day (c6 hours driving time), and will enable us to see the fertile plains, villages and towns of Romania. As we descend to the plains we will start to find our first Rollers, shrikes and Bee-eaters, which give good views on the roadside telephone wires. On our journey from the Carpathians there will be a dramatic change in scenery and culture as we pass from Transylvania, with its Hungarian and German towns, into the poorer region of Dobrogea. We shall make a couple of stops at lakes and reedbeds on route for bird watching and a leg stretch. Night in the best hotel in Tulcea which we have personally checked out. Dinner will be taken, as on each night in Tulcea at a local restaurant which gives a better atmosphere and choice than the standard hotel fair!

After breakfast we board our specially commissioned pontoon boat (with en suite facilities in each cabin and air-conditioning) -which serves as our floating accommodation - to travel down the main Sulina branch into the heart of the delta. We shall spend the next three nights aboard the pontoon and spend the days exploring the delta - to navigate the even smaller creeks and waterways we use small motor boats. The food is very good but basic with little choice, taken in a most relaxed atmosphere of the dining room. The day-to-day itinerary should be considered as a guide only, as to some extent we will plan our programme as we go along, to allow for greater flexibility.

The programme tends to be determined by prevailing local conditions (e.g. weather, water depth in the channels) and the up-to- date knowledge of our guide whose family live in the delta. The delta is incredibly rich in breeding birds, and the outline given below is merely a taster - no doubt we will encounter additional surprises. The Sulina branch that runs past Tulcea is wide and straight to facilitate passage of large freight through to the Black Sea , so we shall aim to get access to the smaller, less disturbed channels as quickly as possible where bird life is more abundant. Typical sights include feeding Glossy Ibises, Egrets, Herons, Cormorants (including the globally threatened Pygmy Cormorant), which can gather in impressive numbers where the water levels are low. Large flocks of White Pelicans glide serenely overhead whilst in the shallower channels Kingfishers are ubiquitous and Common Sandpipers, Green Sandpipers and Greenshanks feed along the banks. Fringing reeds hold family parties of Penduline Tits and other reed bed species (including Little Bittern) although the smaller birds can be hard to see at this time of year. Raptors will include frequent sightings of Marsh Harriers, whilst Red-footed Falcons may be seen in small groups hunting insects. White-tailed Eagles are very quiet in the summer, but there is always a chance of locating one of the ten breeding pairs. One particularly large lake (lake Furtuna ) lies just to the north of Maliuc, in the heart of the delta. We shall visit this site as, at this time of year, it can hold an impressive selection of birds. Migrating waterfowl and waders mingle with resident species and White Pelicans often gather in huge numbers to feed and roost. We shall also undertake short walks on land where willow forest yield further species of interest. In open areas Bee-eaters, Hoopoes, Rollers and shrikes are very common. The woodlands support five species of woodpecker including Black, Grey-headed and Middle Spotted. The life style of the delta's residents is also fascinating to see, with waterborne transport the only viable way of getting around and fishing the predominant source of income. A visit to the delta is an unforgettable experience in every respect.

We arrive back in Tulcea to explore the region immediately south of the delta. The most productive site is a lake near Plopu, which has recently been given "protected area" status. If there is time, further sites around the shores of Lake Razelm can be visited. In the late afternoon we may be able to get a couple of hours in at Babadag Forest where several species of woodpeckers, Hawfinches, Sombre Tit and raptors such as Honey Buzzard, Imperial Eagle and Booted Eagle are common and have been seen. Overnight best hotel in Tulcea. Dinner in local Restaurant.

After breakfast we shall travel southwards, passing through small villages to the Sinoe-Razelm lake complex. An extensive sand spit has isolated the area from the Black Sea and has left behind a series of shallow, brackish lakes which are extremely rich in birds. Our main stop - for lunch - will be at Histria, where there is a large saltmarsh containing scattered pools. Herons and ducks can be seen in large numbers and this is also the main feeding area for the small delta population of Dalmatian Pelicans. We shall walk across the marsh to the ancient Greek-Roman port of Histria; a variety of wild flowers should also be seen. Overnight Tulcea and dinner in local restaurant.

This is the day when we must make the long journey back to Bucharest (c5 ½ hours driving time) but we shall break the journey where possible. We shall also visit Hasarlac Lake, good for wildlife and bird-watching. Mid afternoon flight back to UK.

We kindly request that if you are a smoker you do not smoke in vehicles or on the Pontoon. We respectfully request that cigarette butts are disposed of suitably.

These details are correct at the time of printing. Although Worldwide Journeys and Expeditions have no intention of making changes, it is possible that alterations may have to be made as a result of factors that are beyond our control.

Should you have any further personal travel requirements, such as a private extension to your holiday or flights to and from a regional airport, please ask. We shall be pleased to assist you.

If you have a medical condition that could affect the group or your own involvement in the tour it is important you discuss this with us before booking.

Price: £1385.00 per person based on two sharing

Single supplement: £95.00 (subject to availability)

Maximum group size: 16

Price includes: Return flights from London to Bucharest, airport departure taxes, accommodation, meals as outlined in the itinerary, all transport and services of a local guide

Price excludes: Travel insurance, drinks, laundry and other items of a personal nature

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