ITINERARY: 
Day 1 – Arrival in Bucharest & Transfer to Zărnești – May 22nd
Upon arrival at Bucharest Henri Coandă Airport, guests are met by the tour leader and begin the scenic 3-hour drive north to Zărnești, nestled at the base of the Piatra Craiului Mountains. The route passes through rolling hills and mixed farmland, offering early glimpses of Romania’s rural charm and potential roadside sightings such as Common Buzzard, White Stork, Eurasian Kestrel and Red-backed Shrike. In the late afternoon, an optional walk near our accommodation introduces us to the first woodland species of the tour. The area features mixed deciduous and coniferous forest, ideal for spotting Sombre Tit, Syrian Woodpecker, and Black Redstart. These species are often vocal in spring, with the Sombre Tit’s scratchy calls echoing through the understory and Syrian Woodpeckers often heard drumming on deadwood. The forest edges and gardens may also reveal Eurasian Treecreeper, Common Chiffchaff, and the delightful European Robin, while overhead, Common Swift and Barn Swallow begin their aerial foraging. Mammals such as Roe Deer and Red Fox are occasionally seen at dusk, and the surrounding meadows may host early butterflies like Orange-tip and Small Tortoiseshell. This gentle introduction sets the tone for the days ahead, offering a peaceful transition into Romania’s rich birdlife and mountain landscapes. 
Overnight: Zărnești – B,L,D

Day 2 – Zărnești & Piatra Craiului Mountains – May 23rd
Today’s birding takes us deep into the heart of the Carpathians, exploring the dramatic limestone ridges and mixed forests of Piatra Craiului National Park. The elevation gradient and pristine habitats here support a rich diversity of montane and forest specialists. We begin with a walk along forest trails lined with beech, spruce, and fir, listening for the high-pitched calls of Firecrest, Goldcrest, Sombre Tit and Crested Tit. Willow Tit and Marsh Tit are also present, often foraging in pairs. The haunting song of the Red-breasted Flycatcher echoes through shaded glades and will be high on our target list, alongside Red Crossbill and the gorgeous Eurasian Bullfinch, both of which can be silent and unobtrusive. As we ascend toward alpine cliffs, we scan for the elusive Wallcreeper, one of Europe’s most sought after species, and often seen fluttering along vertical rock faces like a large butterfly. Alpine Accentor, Ring Ouzel, and Water Pipit frequent the meadows and rocky slopes, while Spotted Nutcracker and Eurasian Jay patrol the forest edges. Raptors are a highlight here and with luck we could see Golden Eagle, Levant Sparrowhawk, and Short-toed Eagles soaring above the ridges, while Eurasian Sparrowhawk may dart low over the tree tops. Other possibilities include Tawny Owl calling from dense woodland and the huge Black Woodpecker drumming on old trunks. Mammals such as Northern Chamois and Red Deer are occasionally spotted, and spring wildflowers like hepatica and wood anemone add color to the trails. This is a day of classic Carpathian birding – diverse, scenic, and full of surprises. 
Overnight: Zărnești – B,L,D

Day 3 – Bucegi Foothills & Bran Area  – May 24th 
We begin today in the Bucegi foothills, nestled between the Carpathian peaks and the Transylvanian plains, offering a rich mosaic of habitats that make them a standout birding location in central Romania. These lower elevations are characterized by mixed deciduous forests, open meadows, rocky outcrops, and scattered orchards—each supporting a distinct community of birds and wildlife. Sombre Tit and Eurasian Nuthatch are often seen foraging along mossy trunks, and Treecreepers spiral up the bark in search of insects. The meadows and scrubby slopes are excellent for Hawfinch, Ortolan Bunting, Whinchat, and Tree Pipit, with butterflies like Brimstone, Peacock, Green-veined White and Map Butterfly adding vibrant color. We will keep looking up as raptors such as Levant Sparrowhawk, Short-toed Eagle, and Common Buzzard patrol the skies. Afternoon birding will take us to the Bran meadows, nestled in the rolling hills near Bran Castle, a pastoral haven shaped by centuries of low-intensity farming, offering a rich blend of hayfields, wildflower slopes, and scattered fruit trees that support an impressive array of wildlife. Birdsong fills the air with calls from the elusive Corncrake and Common Quail plus song flighting Skylark and Tree Pipit, while Red-backed Shrike and Lesser Grey Shrike perch on fence posts scanning for prey. Yellowhammers and Whinchat add a bit of color in the open fields, and nearby valleys may reveal the dazzling flights of both European Roller and European Bee-eater. Butterflies such as Adonis Blue, Marbled White, and Silver-washed Fritillary flit among the early orchids, campion, and knapweed, adding more excitement to this wonderful scene. Roe Deer graze at dawn, European Hares sit alert in the grasses, and Red Foxes stealthily patrol the edges. 
Overnight: Zărnești – B,L,D 

Day 4 – Zărnești to Tulcea (Danube Delta)  – May 25th 
Today we make the long eastbound journey from the Carpathian foothills to Tulcea, birding our way across southern Romania at one of the most active times of year, with mid‑May delivering peak song, migration, and breeding activity. As we leave Zărnești, the mixed farmland and orchards can hold Red‑backed Shrike, European Turtle‑Dove, Corn Bunting, Common Whitethroat, Common Cuckoo, and Golden Oriole, while raptors such as Common Buzzard, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, and Honey‑buzzard are all realistic. Further east, the open farmland and steppe belt is excellent for European Roller, European Bee‑eater, Hoopoe, Lesser Grey Shrike, Ortolan Bunting, Whinchat, Northern Wheatear, Calandra Lark, Greater Short‑toed Lark, and calling Common Quail, with Red‑footed Falcon, Western Marsh Harrier, and Booted Eagle all possible overhead. As the landscape flattens and the first reedbeds appear, roadside wetlands may produce Glossy Ibis, Black‑winged Stilt, Avocet, Purple Heron, Grey Heron, White Stork, Whiskered Tern, White‑winged Tern, Garganey, and Ferruginous Duck, while reed margins support Great Reed Warbler, Reed Warbler, Savi’s Warbler, Cetti’s Warbler, and Penduline Tit. By the time we reach Tulcea, an evening walk along quiet channels should reveal classic Delta species including Squacco Heron, Little Egret, Great Egret, Pygmy Cormorant, Black-crowned Night Heron, Little Bittern, Common Kingfisher, and swirling flocks of Common Swift, Pallid Swift, Barn Swallow, and Sand Martin, marking a dramatic shift into the wetland birding phase of the tour.
Overnight: Tulcea – B,L,D 

Day 5 – Danube Delta: Full-Day Boat Excursion  – May 26th 
A full day on the water opens up the secluded channels, broad lagoons, and immense reed expanses of the Danube Delta, where wetland birds reach their highest densities of the year. Dalmatian Pelican and Great White Pelican dominate the open waters, while Pygmy Cormorant, Glossy Ibis, Purple Heron, Grey Heron, Little Egret, and Great Egret move constantly between feeding sites. Muddy fringes can hold Black‑winged Stilt, Kentish Plover, Curlew Sandpiper, Little Stint, and occasionally Broad‑billed Sandpiper. Over the reedbeds, White‑tailed Eagle is a regular presence and Western Marsh Harrier quarters low over the vegetation. The reed thickets themselves are alive with the songs of Savi’s Warbler, Eurasian Reed Warbler, Great Reed Warbler, Cetti’s Warbler, and the distinctive calls of Eurasian Penduline Tit, while Bearded Reedling may be glimpsed skimming across narrow channels. In select mixed reed–grass patches, the localized Paddyfield Warbler can also be detected, with males starting to sing in mid‑May. The combination of close boat access and exceptional bird concentrations makes this one of Europe’s most rewarding wetland experiences.
Overnight: Tulcea – B,L,D 

Day 6 – Danube Delta & Northern Wetlands – May 27th 
The northern reaches of the Danube Delta bring a very different feel, where broad lagoons open into dry steppe and long, winding channels thread through immense reed expanses. This blend of habitats creates superb conditions for raptors, and the area is one of the best places in Romania to watch Saker Falcon, Levant Sparrowhawk, and Lesser Spotted Eagle working the open skies. Out on the water, we search for Dalmatian Pelican, Ferruginous Duck, and Red‑necked Grebe, while the fringes of shallow pools and meadow edges can hold singing Black‑headed Bunting and Ortolan Bunting. The quieter channels in this sector often allow unusually close views of secretive wetland birds, with regular encounters with Glossy Ibis, Purple Heron, and Pygmy Cormorant, and a steady drift of dragonflies over the sedges. Out on the steppe margins, early summer butterflies gather on flowering patches, adding colour to the open grasslands. With its mix of raptor‑rich uplands, productive wetlands, and wide open horizons, this part of the Delta delivers a varied and rewarding day that contrasts beautifully with the central waterways.
Overnight: Tulcea – B,L,D 

Day 7 – Babadag Forest  – May 28th 
We devote the day to the Babadag Forest, a vast block of mature oak and hornbeam woodland that forms one of Dobrogea’s most species‑rich terrestrial habitats. Its mix of old trees, sunlit glades, rocky clearings, and dense understory creates ideal conditions for a wide range of breeding birds. Slow, quiet walking along the forest trails offers superb opportunities to watch woodland specialists in soft morning light, with Sombre Tit, Middle Spotted Woodpecker, Syrian Woodpecker, and Short‑toed Treecreeper among the key targets. The songscape is equally rewarding: Red‑breasted Flycatcher, Blackcap, Garden Warbler, Wood Warbler, and Common Nightingale fill the lower layers, while Spotted Flycatcher, Eurasian Nuthatch, Great Tit, and Eurasian Treecreeper forage along moss‑covered trunks. Hawfinch may appear quietly in fruiting trees, and Golden Oriole flashes through the canopy with its unmistakable blaze of yellow and black. The forest is also excellent for raptors, with Levant Sparrowhawk, Lesser Spotted Eagle, and Eurasian Hobby frequently seen above clearings, and Long‑legged Buzzard drifting over nearby open slopes. Edges and glades attract European Turtle‑Dove, Ortolan Bunting, and Woodlark, while rocky patches can hold Subalpine Warbler and Eastern Black‑eared Wheatear. Early summer insects add another layer of interest, with Camberwell Beauty, Green Hairstreak, Map Butterfly, and a variety of dragonflies feeding along sunny paths. The combination of mature woodland, open glades, and surrounding steppe makes Babadag one of the most rewarding forest birding sites in Romania, offering a peaceful, species‑rich contrast to the wetlands and reedbeds of the Delta.
Overnight: Tulcea – B,L,D

Day 8 – Dobrogea Steppes & Măcin Mountains – May 29th 
The Măcin Mountains introduce an entirely different atmosphere to the tour, with ancient granite ridges, sun‑baked slopes, and wide open steppe creating a landscape unlike anywhere else in Romania. These rugged hills are a stronghold for southeastern specialists, and the rocky terrain is ideal for species that favour exposed cliffs and scattered boulders. We’ll scan the limestone faces for Wallcreeper, while Blue Rock Thrush, Common Rock Thrush, and Pied Wheatear move actively across the outcrops. The surrounding steppe supports Isabelline Wheatear, Eurasian Hoopoe, Calandra Lark, and Greater Short‑toed Lark, with Woodlark and Northern Wheatear also possible in more open patches. Raptors are a major feature of this area, with realistic chances of encountering Saker Falcon, Long‑legged Buzzard, and Booted Eagle hunting along the ridgelines, and Short‑toed Snake Eagle often appearing over the warmer slopes. Lower down, scattered shrubs and meadow edges can hold Ortolan Bunting, Black‑headed Bunting, and Eastern Black‑eared Wheatear, adding even more variety. With its dramatic scenery, ancient geology, and a suite of species not found elsewhere on the itinerary, the Măcin region offers one of the most distinctive and memorable days of the trip.
Overnight: Tulcea – B,L,D

Leaving the Delta behind, the journey back toward Bucharest is broken up with a rewarding stop at Comana Natural Park, a compact reserve where wetlands, willow thickets, and mixed woodland come together to create excellent late‑spring birding. The marshes can hold Black Stork, Ferruginous Duck, Little Egret, Pygmy Cormorant, and Western Marsh Harrier, while the surrounding wet meadows often produce Yellow Wagtail, Savi’s Warbler, Great Reed Warbler, and lingering migrants moving north through the Balkans. The drier edges and scattered trees offer chances for Short‑toed Eagle, Levant Sparrowhawk, and Eurasian Hobby, with European Turtle‑Dove, Common Nightingale, and Red‑backed Shrike frequently encountered along the tracks. Reed‑fringed pools may also hold Glossy Ibis, Purple Heron, and Black‑winged Stilt, and the woodland margins support Golden Oriole, Woodchat Shrike, and Spotted Flycatcher. With its mix of habitats in a small area, Comana provides an excellent final burst of diversity before reaching the capital. By early evening we arrive in Bucharest, where we can review the final checklist and reflect on the highlights of the tour.
Overnight: Bucharest – B,L,D

Depending on your flight time there may be time for some optional morning birding around Bucharest may yield Sombre Tit, Blackcap, Eurasian Wren, and Common Swift. Urban parks and wooded edges offer a gentle final outing before transfer to Henri Coandă Airport – B