Tours on Offer for Friends of Nature in the Landscape of the Year 2007-09 Danube Delta Page 1
English-speaking guides are available for all the programmes offered. Les programmes numéro 4 et 5 sont disponibles avec des guides francophones. Page 2
The Danube Delta Landscape of the Year 2007-2009 Through more than 10 000 years, the Danube river has shaped its delta into a gorgeous destination, where to this day, visitors can experience pristine nature at its best. Unfortunately, regions such as the Danube Delta have become rare in Europe and thus all the more valuable for our continent. Visitors to this priceless heritage are expected to show respect to both nature and the local population. They will be taken to the delta s most beautiful anthropospheres. 2 860km from its source (Donaueschingen in the Black Forest, Germany) in the border region of Romania and Ukraine the Danube river flows into the Black Sea. The surface area proper of the Danube delta is 4 152km², the major part of it on Romanian territory. Even though it is only the second-largest delta in Europe, its flora and fauna in particular the variety of bird species make it a point of attraction for tourists and scientists alike. This is where breeding bird species such as pink-backed and Dalmatian pelican, scarlet ibis, little egret, black-crowned night heron and squacco heron, whitetailed eagle, pygmy cormorant and ferruginous duck occur in greater numbers than anywhere else in Europe. The Danube Delta developed along with the three channels of the river - Sf. Gheorghe, Sulina und Chilia and has, to this day, retained the features that characterise every river delta: flat land, lots of floating reed islets and river banks. Another feature of the delta is the forest of Letea, one of the oldest primeval forests in Europe. The focus of all the tours described is on the above-mentioned, highly diverse ecosystems in the delta and on its fishing villages. Houseboat trips, day trips, canoe trips and a pilot cycling tour are all designed to guarantee an experience of the delta at its best. Page 3
Programme 1 Day Trip in the Danube Delta Landscape of the Year 2007-2009 Day 1 Arrival in Tulcea. Supper and overnight stay at the modern Hotel Delta (3*) on the bank of the Danube river. Day 2 After breakfast, we take a trip on an excursion boat with restaurant facilities, where we can enjoy our lunch amid nature. The trip will take about 4 hours. Starting out from Tulcea, we cruise on the Mila 36 channel along lake Nebnu (nature reserve). On this route sightings of little egrets, great white egrets, black-crowned night herons and squacco herons as well as of kingfishers, rollers and various woodpecker species are quite common. We return to Tulcea. Price includes: 1 overnight stay at Hotel Delta 1 supper 1 breakfast 1 lunch boat trip (ca 4 hours) specialist guide Danube Delta Permit Price per person (minimum of 10 participants in double rooms: 99 euro) Single supplement: 18 euro/per night Page 4
Programme 2 Houseboat Excursion in the Danube Delta (7 days) Landscape of the Year 2007-2009 Programme schedule for at least 8 persons Day 1 In the afternoon, participants will be met by the tour leader/s at the Bucharest main station or the Henri Coanda international airport and taken to the coach. It will take about 4 5 hours to cover the 290km from Bucharest to Tulcea. Upon arrival in Tulcea we shall board the houseboat. Day 2 Continental breakfast. The coach will take us to the northern part of the Razelm Sinoe complex with excellent bird watching sites, such as Saraturile Murighiol, Saraturile Plopu and the Sarinasuf fishery. This is where we can spot such rare bird species as pink-backed pelican, Dalmatian pelican, little egret, great white egret, purple heron, spoonbill, ruddy shelduck, red crested pochard duck, redfooted falcon, avocet, blackwinged stilt chick, Kentish plover, Mediterranean gull, roller, black woodpecker, yellow wagtail, etc. Picnic lunch. We shall return to Tulcea in the evening, have supper and spend the night on board. Day 3 Breakfast on the houseboat. Our floating hotel will head towards Maliuc. Lunch on board. In the afternoon we shall take a short walk to an eco-fish farm. We ll have supper and stay overnight on board. Day 4 Breakfast on the houseboat. Depending on the water level, nature and bird watching near Sireasa, Garla Sontea, Crinjala, Lake Fortuna or Lake Martinca with its cormorant colony. Lunch on board. In the afternoon the houseboat will take us to the old section of the Danube (Crisan). We ll have supper and stay overnight on board. Day 5 Waking up on the houseboat early in the morning is a singular experience! After breakfast we shall take a cutter cruise to Letea on the Sulina channel and on the natural Madgearu channel. From there we ll be taken by tractor to the Letea reserve, one of the oldest primeval forests in Eastern Europe. The silk-vine draped oaks stand in stark contrast the sand dunes. With a bit of luck we shall spot a whole variety of woodpeckers, white-tailed eagles, honey buzzards, lesser grey shrikes, whinchats, corn buntings, etc. Picnic lunch in the Letea forest. Return trip via the old section of the Danube to the houseboat. We ll have supper and stay overnight on board. Day 6 In the morning we ll visit the Danube Delta Information Centre in Crisan. After that we ll take a motorboat trip on the Bogdaproste channel, on lake Bogdaproste and on lake La Amiaza. Lunch on board. The houseboat will take us back to Maliuc. We ll have supper and stay overnight on board. Day 7 Having taken leave of the crew, participants will be transferred to Tulcea and from there to Bucharest main station or airport. Price includes: 6 overnight stays on the houseboat (9 doubles with private shower and toilet) full board (6 suppers, 6 breakfasts, 6 lunches including mineral water, coffee and regional dry wines) Page 5
motorboat trips specialist tour guide/s Danube Delta Permit Letea Forest Permit tractor ride to the Letea Forest admission to the Crisan Information Centre Price per person (minimum number of 8 participants in double rooms) 570 euro + 20 euro for transfers/bucharest-tulcea-bucharest single supplement: 18 euro/per night Page 6
Programme 3 Houseboat Excursion in the Danube Delta (7 days) Landscape of the Year 2007-2009 Programme schedule for groups of fewer than 8 persons Day 1 In the afternoon, participants will be met by the tour leader/s at the Bucharest main station or the Otopeni international airport and taken to the coach. It will take about 4 5 hours to cover the 290km from Bucharest to Tulcea. Upon arrival in Tulcea we shall board the cutter which will transfer us to the houseboat in Maliuc. We ll have supper and spend the night on board. Day 2 Breakfast on the houseboat. Nature and bird watching (depending on water level) near Sireasa, Garla Sontea, Crinjala, Lake Fortuna or Lake Martinca with its cormorant colony. Lunch on board. In the afternoon we ll take a short walk to an eco-fish farm. Supper and overnight stay on board. Day 3 Breakfast on the houseboat. Small motorboats will take us to Crisan, where we ll visit the Danube Delta Information Centre. Picnic lunch. Motorboat trip on the Litkov channel and on lake Gorgova. Supper and overnight stay on the houseboat. Day 4 Continental breakfast. Waking up on the houseboat early in the morning is a singular experience! After breakfast we ll take a one-day motorboat trip to Letea on the Sulina channel and on the natural Madgearu channel. From there we ll be taken by tractor to the Letea reserve, one of the oldest primeval forests in Eastern Europe. The silk-vine draped oaks stand in stark contrast to the sand dunes. With a bit of luck we shall spot a whole variety of woodpeckers, white-tailed eagles, honey buzzards, lesser grey shrikes, whinchats, corn buntings, etc. Picnic lunch in the Letea forest. Return trip via the old section of the Danube to the houseboat. We ll have supper and stay overnight on board. Day 5 Today s special treat is lake Rotundu and its unique landscape. Lunch on board; afternoon off. Supper and overnight stay on board. Day 6 In the morning we are going to visit the Mila 23 fishing village, a typical Lipovan village. Lunch on board. Supper and overnight stay on board. Day 7 Having taken leave of the crew, participants will be be transferred to Tulcea, from where the coach will take them to Bucharest. Price includes: 6 overnight stays on the houseboat (9 double rooms with private shower and toilet) full board (6 suppers, 6 breakfasts, 6 lunches including mineral water, Page 7
coffee and regional dry wines) motorboat trips specialist tour guide Danube Delta Permit Letea Forest Permit tractor ride to the Letea Forest admission to the Crisan Information Centre Price per person (fewer than 8 participants in double rooms) 570 euro + 20 euro for transfers/bucharest-tulcea-bucharest single supplement: 18 euro/per night Page 8
Programme 4 Excursion to the Danube Delta Staying at Fishermen s Boarding Houses (6 days) Landscape of the Year 2007-2009 Programme schedule for groups of fewer than 8 persons, individual travellers and families Day 1 In the afternoon, participants will be met at the Bucharest main station or at the Otopeni international airport. Your tour leader will take you to the coach/passenger car. It will take about 4 5 hours to cover the 290km from Bucharest to Tulcea. Supper and overnight stay in Tulcea. Day 2 After breakfast we ll visit the town of Tulcea and the Danube Delta Museum. We ll then take the passenger boat to Crisan, move into fishermen s boarding houses and have lunch. After lunch we ll take a boat trip on lake Bogdaproste. We ll have supper and stay overnight at the fishermen s boarding houses. Day 3 Breakfast. Visit to the Danube Delta Information Centre. Lunch. Motorboat trip on the Litkov channel and on lake Gorgova. Supper and overnight stay at fishermen s boarding houses. Day 4 After breakfast we ll take a one-day motorboat trip to Letea on the Sulina channel and on the natural Madgearu channel. From there we ll be taken by tractor to the Letea reserve, one of the oldest primeval forests in Eastern Europe. The silk-vine draped oaks stand in stark contrast to the sand dunes. With a bit of luck we shall spot a whole variety of woodpeckers, white-tailed eagles, honey buzzards, lesser grey shrikes, whinchats, corn buntings, etc. Picnic lunch in the Letea forest. Return trip to Crisan via the old section of the Danube. Day 5 Excursion to Mila 23, a typical fishermen s village. Picnic lunch. We ll explore the lakes in the environs of Crisan by motorboat. We ll have supper and stay overnight at the fishermen s boarding houses. Day 6 We take leave of our host families and return to Tulcea-Bucharest Price includes: 5 overnight stays at fishermen s boarding houses full board (5 suppers, 5 breakfasts, 5 lunches including mineral water, coffee) motorboat trips specialist tour guide/s Danube Delta Permit Letea Forest Permit tractor ride to the Letea Forest admission to the Crisan Information Centre Price per person (fewer than 8 participants in double rooms) 480 euro + 20 euro for transfers Bucharest-Tulcea-Bucharest Page 9
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Programme 5 Canoe Tour Landscape of the Year 2007-2009 Programme schedule for groups and individual travellers We ll paddle through the delta s diverse anthropospheres and get the most vivid experience of nature under the guidance of a biologist and a local guide. We ll spend a few nights at fishermen s boarding houses and become acquainted with the life of the local people. The countless branches of the river, the channels, lakes and floating reed islets (called plaur ) will make our tour an unforgettable adventure. Our precise itineraries will depend on the weather and the water level, every year holding new surprises. Main features and schedule of the tour: The itinerary we have opted for criss-crosses the Danube Delta and provides manifold opportunities for exploring its singular flora and fauna. On our tour through the delta we can commune with nature and make contact with the local people who keep up the century-old tradition of subsisting on fishing, stock-breeding and partly on farming. Throughout our tour we ll be accompanied by a motorboat that carries our gear, making paddling less strenuous. 1 Day We drive from Bucharest-Otopeni to Tulcea. From Tulcea we ll set out for Maliuc, a village on the middle branch of the Danube the Sulina channel. In Maliuc we ll get brief instructions in canoeing, have supper and spend the night in tents. 2 Day Having breakfasted and packed our gear, we ll set out on our (water) route, following the most beautiful channels in the area. We ll paddle on the Cranjeala channel as far as lake Martinca with a 10 000 strong cormorant colony. After a picnic lunch we continue on the Sontea channel, near lake Fortuna. This is the area where we ll pitch our tents and spend the night. 3 Day We paddle as far as Mila 23, a typical fishing village in the Danube Delta. Lunch in Mila 23 (fisherman s boarding house). Then we follow our itinerary, crossing three lakes (Cazanel, Trei Iezare and Bogdaproste), as far as Crisan. On our way we ll be accompanied by grey herons, great white egrets, black-tailed godwits, rollers and falcons. This day s tour is a little longer than usual, but particularly fascinating and beautiful. At the fishermen s boarding houses, where we are going to spend two more nights, we ll be welcomed with a hot meal. 4 Day Our first destination is Crisan, where we ll be shown a documentary film supplying more information on the delta. Lunch with the fishermen s families. In the afternoon we can relax and have a look at the village of Crisan. Supper and overnight stay with the fishermen s families. Page 11
5 Day If possible, we shall accompany one of the fishermen on his round of emptying the fish traps early in the morning and then have breakfast at a fisherman s boarding house. Alternatively, we ll take a canoeing trip after breakfast on lakes Zapatna and Iacub. Lunch at a fisherman s boarding house. In the afternoon we ll paddle as far as Sulina (Busurca channel), where we ll sleep in our tents next to the camp fire. 6 Day In the morning we ll take the passenger boat to Tulcea. We ll arrive in Tulcea at about 12 a.m. and start readjusting to civilisation. Lunch in Tulcea. Afternoon off. Supper and overnight stay in Tulcea. 7 Day We ll leave the hotel and drive to Bucharest (main station). We ll take leave of the crew and return to our home countries. Access trip: Access trip by rail (Bucharest North Station) or plane (Bucharest-Henri Coanda Airport), where we ll be met by our tour guide/s. A coach will take us to Tulcea, the largest place on the middle channel of the Danube river the Sulina channel. Our Canadians will be ready for us in Maliuc. Board and lodging: We are going to spend the nights in tents and/or small fishermen s boarding houses, private rooms and with local fishermen s families. We have carefully selected the boarding houses. Participants will need to be ready to rough it in the outdoor camps. Full board will be offered throughout the tour, using local eateries, inns, groceries, etc. The famous Delta fish soups, offered by fishermen s families, will always be welcome. In our outdoor camps, we ll spend unforgettable moments next to the camp fire Price includes: 6-day tour maximum number of participants: 15 transfer Bucharest-Tulcea-Bucharest Danube Delta Permit canoe tours overnight stays at boarding houses, in tents, private rooms with local fishermen s families full board double Canadians with paddling gear tour guide/s and tour manager Requirements: being able to swim being fit for 5-8-hour canoe tours on lakes and reed-lined channels being ready to rough it (outdoor camps) team spirit and flexibility Special treats: floating reed islets (called plaur ) bird watching fishing villages evenings at the camp fire accommodation: tents and fishermen s boarding houses, full board activity: canoeing Page 12
Price per person for the canoe tour: 4 people 570 euro + 35 euro for transfers 6 people 510 euro + 35 euro for transfers 8 people 480 euro + 35 euro for transfers 10 people 450 euro + 35 euro for transfers 13 people 420 euro + 35 euro for transfers Page 13
Programme 6 Cycle-Canoe Pilot Tour in the Danube Delta Landscape of the Year 2007-2009 Programme schedule for groups of not more than 15 people Day 1 In the afternoon, the participants will be met at the Bucharest main station or at the Otopeni international airport and taken to the coach by their tour leader/s. It will take about 4 5 hours to cover the 290km from Bucharest to Tulcea, where we ll have supper and stay overnight at a hotel. Day 2 Breakfast. Today we ll cycle as far as Maliuc (Sulina channel). Starting from Tulcea, we ll cycle to Nufarul, where we ll board the ferry and cross the southern Sf. Gheorghe channel. We ll follow our itinerary along the Sulina channel to Maliuc. Supper and accommodation on a houseboat. Day 3 Breakfast on the houseboat. We ll continue our cycling tour as far as Gorgova, where our canoes will be ready for us. From there we ll paddle on the Danube to Crisan, where we ll relish our lunch at a fisherman s boarding house. In the afternoon we are going to visit the Danube Delta Information Centre. Supper and overnight stay at a fisherman s boarding house. Day 4 We ll have breakfast and prepare for a trip to the village of Caraorman and the steppe area dotted with more than 600-year-old oaks. After a picnic lunch we ll return to Crisan. Supper and overnight stay at a fisherman s boarding house. Day 5 The splendid scenery of the Bogdaproste channel and lake will leave us with a lasting impression of pristine nature. Lunch at a fisherman s boarding house. In the afternoon we are going to paddle on lakes Zapatna and Iacub. Supper and overnight stay in Crisan. Day 6 This day will be a bit tougher than usual. We ll paddle as far as Sulina, having lunch en route. Upon arrival we ll pitch our tents and prepare for the night. Supper and overnight stay in tents. Day 7 After packing our gear, we ll start out for Sulina. At the end of the trip we can spend time and relax on the Black Sea coast. Lunch at a fisherman s boarding house. Afternoon off. Supper and overnight stay in tents. Day 8 The longest stage of our cycling tour is before us. 40km from Sulina to Sf. Gheorghe, along the Tataru channel and the Black Sea coast. Lunch en route. Supper and overnight stay at a fisherman s boarding house in Sf. Gheorghe. Day 9 We ll take the passenger boat to Tulcea. Lunch in Tulcea. Drive to Bucharest. Supper and overnight stay in Bucharest. Day 10 Breakfast and transfer to airport/main station Page 14
Price includes: 9 overnight stays, full board canoes, canoe trips motorboat trips specialist tour guide/s Danube Delta Permit Admission to the Crisan Information Centre tents Price per person /fewer than 10 participants 790 euro, transfers included single supplement 18 euro/per night Please note: bicycles have to be brought by participants!!! THER ARE NO CYCLING TRAILS!!!! We shall cycle along the Danube river on dams or roads (if any). Page 15
Further information and registration: Tiberio Tioc (Tibi) Naturfreunde Rumänien Tioc Natur- und Studienreisen Tel. (mobil): +40-743025154 Web: www.tioc-reisen.ro e-mail: contact@tioc-reisen.ro tibidonaudelta@gmx.net Tours are on offer from the beginning of May to the beginning of October Registration: As early as possible, but not later than three months before your preferred date. Page 16