Grand tour: Hortobágy, Transylvania, Carpathians and the Danube Delta
Hungary and Romania, 15 days

Our tour offers a unique combination of first class birding in several interesting habitats, such as the steppe of Hortobágy in Hungary, the hills and valleys of Transylvania and the mountains of the Eastern and Southern Carpathians, as well as the Black Sea Coast and Danube Delta in Romania.
The world-famous Hortobágy Puszta, part of the Great Hungarian Plain of Hungary, is the westernmost piece of the Asian Steppe in the heart of Europe. This extensive steppe harbours diverse habitats: seasonal salt marshes with salt-tolerant species, aquatic sedge and rush communities, grasslands and steppe oak forests. Hortobágy National Park preserves rare bird species such as Pygmy Cormorant, Glossy Ibis, Ferruginous Duck, Long-legged Buzzard, Red-footed Falcon, Great Bustard and Aquatic Warbler, to name just a few.
Romania should be high on the list of destinations for every birdwatcher. Transylvania is characterised by beautiful landscapes, scenic gorges and lakes, vast hay meadows and endless forests, where Golden Eagle, Wallcreeper and Rock Thrush are found. It is dotted with nice villages, mediaeval towns and fortresses. The Carpathian Mountains provide a good opportunity to discover exciting mountain species including Ural and Tengmalm’s Owl, Ring Ouzel and Nutcracker, plus rare mammals such as Chamois and Brown Bear. The Danube Delta is for those who enjoy spectacular birdwatching: flocks of pelicans, waders, cormorants, lakes and marshes full of herons, egrets and ibises. On the Black Sea Coast of Dobrogea sought after raptors fly overhead and in the forests, hills and plains nearby you find Levant Sparrowhawk, Sombre Tit and Pied Wheatear. The extensive wetlands along the sea provide habitat for rare resident species and thousands of migrating birds aas well, including pelicans, Ruddy Shelduck and Paddyfield Warbler.

Days 1-2
At the Budapest Airport the English speaking guide joins the group. En route to the famous Hortobágy National Park we check suitable places for Imperial Eagle. Inside the park we will explore marshes and fishponds to look for White-tailed Eagle, Pygmy Cormorant, Ferruginous Duck, Penduline and Bearded Tit and many exciting waders and herons. In September the spectacular crane migration should be underway. Many raptor species might be around the vast steppe areas of the park, but Long-legged Buzzard, Montagu's and Pallid Harrier and Saker Falcon are the ones to look for during our visit. Red-footed Falcons will be gathering in large numbers prior to migrating. Dotterels are on their staged migration grounds, Great Bustard and Stone-Curlew is also possible on the steppe or “Puszta” as it is called.
Accommodation: Hortobágy, Hungary

Days 3-4
Travelling towards the Romanian border we pass through the city of Debrecen where we stop to enjoy the woods that attract many species of woodpeckers. Black, Lesser Spotted, Middle Spotted, Great Spotted and Syrian Woodpecker are all present. As we cross into Transylvania we stop at Kings Pass to view raptors, then we travel through Secler villages with their huge wooden gateways until we reach the preserved Heritage Village of Torockó, where time stands still! We are staying in the delightfully restored houses with their ethnic furnishings and delicious fresh local cuisine.
From the village we make the short drive to the spectacular Turda Gorge, 2 miles long with 1,000 feet high walls. We may be lucky to see Golden Eagle that nests here, or even a late Rock Thrush. Rock Bunting, Hawfinch is present and Dipper hunts in the fast flowing stream. Grey-headed and Syrian Woodpeckers are usually also around.
Accommodation: Torockó Village, Transylvania

Days 5-6
Travelling along river valleys we reach the Fagaras Mountains in the Southern Carpathians, where we should see Three-toed Woodpecker, Nutcracker, Common Crossbill, Crested Tit and we still have a chance for Ring Ouzel. At Zarnesti is our wooden chalet hotel, situated in the mountains with a gorge nearby which we will explore. We will be searching for Eagle and Ural Owl, Wallcreeper, Water Pipit, Raven and Chamois. Wolf and Brown Bear are found in the area and we will have a chance of an evening visit to a bear watching hide.
Accommodation: Zarnesti, Southern Carpathian Mountains

Day 7
We travel to the town of Sinaia in the Bucegi Mountains. This settlement is situated in a mountainous valley. A small detour can be made to see "Dracula’s Castle" near Bran, which was built in 1378 atop a cliff; according to legend Vlad Tepes, better known as “Count Dracula”, lived here. In the Bucegi range we will look for Wallcreeper, Water Pipit and Alpine Accentor.
Accommodation: Sinaia, Southern Carpathian Mountains

Day 8
We will be birding and raptor spotting whilst travelling to Mamaia on the Black Sea coast, where we spend the next 2 nights. We drive via Bucharest and we pick up the guests joining us here. Those on the 8-day trip will leave us here as well.
Accommodation: Mamaia, Black Sea Coast

Day 9
We visit one of the best birding areas in Europe, the wetlands of Histria and Vadu.
At Histria the habitat of muddy pools, ponds, extensive reedbeds, steppe and sandy scrub attracts many resident and migrating bird species. White and Dalmatian Pelicans can often be seen over the lakes, Pygmy Cormorant, Little Bittern, Glossy Ibis, Ruddy Shelduck, Ferruginous Duck, Marsh Sandpiper, Calandra Lark, waders, marsh terns and many surprises await us! Bearded Reedling, Savi’s and Moustached Warbler are in the reeds and we may even find a Paddyfield Warbler. The area of the Greek-Roman ruins holds migrating passerines.
The extensive salt marshes of Vadu support a good population of Pratincoles including Black-winged, and a fine selection of waders, gulls and terns can be observed here.
Accommodation: Mamaia, Black Sea Coast

Day 10
We head north towards the Danube Delta crossing Babadag Forest that is excellent for raptors. Levant Sparrowhawk, Honey and Long-legged Buzzard, Short-toed, Booted, Lesser-Spotted and Eastern Imperial Eagles have all been sighted here. In the woods we search for Sombre Tit, Hawfinch and Collared Flycatcher. At Enisala we have another chance to enjoy the spectacle of Pelicans! Red-footed Falcons and other raptors are often seen here and Sousliks inhabit the area below the castle. The pools may hold Red-crested Pochard, Glossy Ibis and herons along with numerous interesting waders.
We arrive to our own chartered floating hotel in Tulcea in the afternoon to set sail immediately. Dinner will be served on the boat.
Accommodation: floating hotel in the Danube Delta

Day 11
This is birdwatching at its most relaxed! 2 full days birding along the rich waterways in the heart of the Danube Delta! After breakfast on board, we leave on a motor boat to find our way through narrow channels towards Letea Forest, where we spend the morning. This remarkable forest is the breeding area for White-tailed Eagle, Red-footed Falcon, Black Stork, woodpeckers and Thrush Nightingale. Stone-Curlew breeds on nearby sandy areas. During the afternoon the motor boat takes us along the Dunarea Veche, the Old Danube, to meet the floating hotel. We continue on the floating hotel towards the village of Mila 23. Black-necked and Red-necked Grebes, Spoonbill, Glossy Ibis, Squacco Heron, Bearded and Penduline Tit can be seen around the boat.
Accommodation: floating Hotel in the Danube Delta

Day 12
We visit Mila 23, a village among extensive marshes and ponds and look out for Spanish Sparrows sharing the nests of White Stork. Black and Grey-headed Woodpecker can be seen in riverside copses, often giving close views. We sail along Sontea Channel to the tranquil Fortuna Lake, where Dalmatian and White Pelicans, Pygmy Cormorant, Squacco Heron, Glossy Ibis and Kingfisher can be seen. White-tailed Eagles often perch on the old trees. In the afternoon, we pass through lakes Baclanesti and Nebunu and in the late evening we arrive in Tulcea. Farewell dinner will be served on board.
Accommodation: floating Hotel in the Danube Delta

Day 13
After breakfast we leave the boat and head for the Macin Hills. We visit different rocky and pasture habitats to look for Pallid Harrier, Long-legged Buzzard, Red-backed and Lesser Grey Shrike, Tawny Pipit, Isabelline Wheatear and Rock Thrush. During the afternoon we return to our hotel in Mamaia, birding en route.
Accommodation: Mamaia, Black Sea Coast

Day 14
We visit Cheia Gorge, a scenic valley among vast steppes and arable lands. We will search for Short-toed Lark, Rock Thrush, Pied Wheatear and raptors on the rocky crags, dry grassland and in the deciduous forest. Returning to the coast we might revisit the wetland of Histria and later we can seawatch with the setting sun behind us.
Accommodation: Mamaia, Black Sea Coast

Day 15
We leave the Black Sea and head for Bucharest. “Eyes in the sky” for more raptors and if time permits we stop at interesting places en route.