Romania is a country of fascinating wildlife and history. The relatively inaccessible forested region of Transylvania, ringed by the Carpathian Mountains, is home to the greatest number of large carnivores (Brown Bear, Lynx and Wolf) in Europe. The extensive plains to the south and east, combined with the mighty Danube Delta which empties into the Black Sea within Romanian borders, support one of the highest diversities of bird species in Europe. Romanian culture and buildings have also been preserved, including the medieval city of Sighisoara, and the many fortified churches and castles such as Bran Castle which has long been associated with the legend of Dracula.
This tour is one of our most popular international destinations. We include the alpine areas for species such as Alpine Marmot, Wallcreeper, Alpine Accentor and Ring Ouzel, the wild forests of Transylvania for large carnivores and raptors like Lesser-spotted Eagle, the Danube Delta for a huge variety of waterbirds including White and Dalmatian Pelican, and the Black Sea for a variety of gulls and terns. We are once again offering this trip in late spring/early summer as soon as the Transfăgărașan Pass opens, so that we have further opportunities to see spring wildflowers. We will be staying in comfortable en suite rooms in hotels and B&Bs throughout and will also have exclusive access to a floating hotel with en suite rooms on the Danube from which we will go out exploring the smaller channels in a boat.

At the crossroads of Europe and Asia, Bulgaria is a country of beautiful landscapes, fantastic birds and ancient history. Our tour visits the best places in the country from the biodiversity hotspots of the Balkans and Rhodope Mountains, across the Upper Thracian Plain to the cliffs, beaches and wetlands of the scenic Black Sea coast. Bulgaria is excellent for raptors, including Levant Sparrowhawk and Imperial Eagle, as well as Egyptian Vulture and the huge and majestic Eurasian Griffon and European Black (Cinereous) Vultures. Many eastern bird species extend into Bulgaria, among them Isabelline and Pied Wheatear, Paddyfield Warbler and the sought-after Rose-coloured Starling, which visits over summer. The country is also known for its plant diversity, especially around the Rhodope Mountains, and its many species of reptiles and butterflies. On top of this, it has a long and rich cultural history, which we will explore at Perperikon, the ruins of an ancient rock city occupied in waves from the Bronze Age until the 14th century, when it was finally abandoned to nature.

This tour has been designed to adjoin our Romania tour so you are welcome to join us for both (and a discount will apply!)