Itinerary
Boat & Bike Romania: Danube Delta
8 days / 7 nights | Accomodation: Hotelboat | Guided tours
This cycling trip by “hotelboat” meanders through the stunning beauty of Europe's last natural paradise Danube Delta to mile "0", where the mighty Danube River empties into the Black Sea. The tour takes you through Romania’s Delta the second largest and best preserved of Europe’s deltas. You will travel along canals with floating reed islands, lagoons and lakes. The landscape alternates between gently rolling hills and swamp and prairie land and amazes one with its diversity and beauty. Life in small fishing villages is tranquil, the solitude and silence of the almost impenetrable thiket many times interrupted only by the calls of Dalmatian Pelicans, Cormorants and Egrets. Under expert guidance you will discover the fauna and flora of this landscape, which is also rich in history and enjoy Romania hospitality and cuisine on board your floating hotel and in the cosy guesthouse.
Highlights of this Bike & Barge Tour
✔ Staying on a floating hotel and in a cosy guesthouse
✔ Europe's last natural paradise with untouched land of beauty, nature and wildernis
✔ Hearing the calls of Dalmatian Pelicans, Cormorants and Egrits
✔ Enjoying Romanian hospitality and traditional food on board of a floating hotel.
Itinerary
Day 1: Individual Arrival
Individual arrival to Bucharest/Airport; 02:00 p.m bus transfer (approx. 4 h) into the Danube Delta to Tulcea; Embarkation on the comfortable floating hotel. Dinner and overnight.
Day 2: Nufaru – Sfantu Gheorge (Cycling 31 km / 20 miles )
Along the most southern Danube arm through the nature reserve Bestepe Hills. A wonderful view deep down into the Delta will make you forget some ascents. At the small fishing village Murighiol we enter by boat into a maze of channels, floating islands, dense forests and a pure wilderness experience. Overnight Hotelboat
Day 3: The journey to mile “0” (Cycling 25 km / 16 miles )
A bumpy gravel path – on the right the wide open of the Black Sea, on left side the lush green reeds and marsh land. In the loneliness of the Danube Delta Cormorants and Great White Egrets are our permanent companions. Mile “0” at Sulina: the Danube has reached its destination at the lighthouse and starts to meld with the salt of the sea. The thought of the long journey of this mighty river let us pause. Overnight Hotelboat
Day 4: Gulf of Musura – Crisan (Cycling 23 km / 15 miles)
Along the birds-paradise Musura-Bay on natural streets to the picturesque village Letea. It seems as time stays still here. The houses made of reed and loam, lovely painted in blue, and all around a contemplative silence. Nearby the village, located on a sandbank, a special wonder of nature can be seen – a tropical forest with climbing plants and lianes. We will reach the fishing village Crisan by boat. Overnight Hotelboat
Day 5: The Fauna & Flora of the Danube Delta (rest day)
During the boat ride through a labyrinth of narrow waterways we will pass by small fishing villages and again experience very intensively the incredible diversity of the Fauna and Flora of the UNESCO World Heritage Danube Delta. In the afternoon we return from a surreal dream world to the vibrant town life of Tulcea. Overnight Hotelboat
Day 6: Abbey of the Dobrogea (Cycling 26 km / 16 miles)
Round trip through a gently rolling landscape to the Orthodoxe nunnery Celic Dere, the biggest convent of the Dobrogea territory. The romantic, dreamy abbey of Saon with its distinctive windmill, is located amidst vineyards right on the bank of the Danube. Near parques from a ridge a fantastic view over the extensive, juicy green floodplain directly on the boarder to the Ukraine. Transfer back to Tulcea. Overnight in Tulcea guesthouse 4*
Day 7: Lagoon-tour to the cape Dolosman (Cycling 42 km / 26 miles)
By bus to the old, Turkish-populated village Babadag. By bike we are passing nesting sites of bee-eater colonies and reach the medieval fortress of Enisala, which is located high over the Danube. Lets take a breathtaking view over the Lagoon Razim! The nature reserve of Cape Dolosman with the Greek-Roman excavations of Argamum seperates the Delta-lakes Golovita and Razim. Overnight in Tulcea guesthouse 4*.
Day 8: Disembarkation – Transfer Tulcea - Bucharest Airport
After breakfast transfer by bus back to the airport Bucharest; arrival approx. 2 p.m.; we recommend to book flights with a departure time of 4 p.m. or later.
Possibility of additional nights in Tulcea or Bucharest.
Due to changing wind and weather conditions as well as organizational requirements we reserve the right to make changes of routing and program.
Map
Your Hotelboat
Your Floating Hotel
The ship association exists of a raft with cabin tract, sun deck and restaurant as well as a main ship with an engine. Besides there is an accompanying boat that fetches the cyclists also from the narrowest canals of the delta and brings them back to the main ship and there is as well another small one with a platform especially for the bicycles.
In the air-conditioned restaurant typically Rumanian specialities are served - you are surprised from the ingenuity of the national kitchen!
Our floating hotels have transformed into very quiet islands. We have installed 24 kWh of solar panels and 60 kWh of lithium batteries to become more environmentally friendly and give our customers a whisper quiet experience in nature. So our floating hotels are using renewable energy and are self sustained.
Cabins
The cozy cabins are equipped with separate beds and two windows. Showers and toilets are provided in each cabin. The windows can be openend. The cabins have a size of approx. 9 m² and no aircondition is installed in the cabins. However, the evenings on the water are not especially hot. The windows are equipped with insect protection, therefore you can enjoy your nights.
Catering
The cook on board is a member of the crew and prepares the breakfast, packed lunch and a warm dinner in the evening. The catering consists of full board. Catering starts with the dinner on the arrival day and ends with the breakfast on the departure day. Vegetarian catering is possible, please announce this with reservation and discuss it again with the tour guide on site.
Languages on Bord
German, English
Travel Dates & Prices 2025
Boat & Bike Romania: Danube Delta
5% EXTRA DISCOUNT:
5% Discount on cabin price. This discount is valid for bookings until 60 days before departure and can be combined with the early bird, regular customers and group discount.
Travel Dates and Prices 2025 per Person
Please click at the travel data to open the request form.
Travel Dates
Prices 2025 per Person in €
Apr 18
Sep 20
May 18, June 19, Sep 10
Twin cabin
1799,- €
2099,- €
Single Cabin
2429,- €
2729,- €
Optional services / Notes
Bicycle rental, 21 gears
119,- €
Bike helmet hire
free,- €
E-Bike hire
329,- €
Extra night in Tulcea guesthouse/ double room
59,- €
Extra night in Tulcea guesthouse/ single room
95,- €
Extra night in Bukarest 4* /double room
72,- €
Extra night in Bukarest 4* /single room
125,- €
Transfer to Bukarest after extra nights in Tulcea
349,- €
- * Price per vehicle (1-3 pers.); only required for extra nights in the Danube Delta. The transfer on the 1st and 8th day is included.
- Minimum number of participants: 12
Included
- 5 nights hotel boat 4*, cabins with private facilities, 2 nights in comfortable guesthouse 4* in Tulcea
- Schedule incl. all transfers according to itinerary from/to Bucharest (day 1 + 8)
- Full Board: breakfast, lunchbox or picnic, dinner
- Bike-Guide/Wildlife-Guide
- Support van and support boat
- Road book, maps and information material per cabin/room
Rental bikes
Our bicycles are modern and high stardard quality of KTM. We offer 28-Zoll-Unisex-tourbikes with deep comfort-entrance. The bikes are equipped with 24-derailleur-gear (depending on ship) with override, caliper breaks and robust wheels. Our bicycles are mostly not older than 3 years. During the journey, you are liable for any damage, loss or theft. A corresponding bike insurance can be completed on board.
We offer touring bikes with freewheel. All bicycles have a deep comfort entry (wave frame) *, men’s frames are available from a height of 186 cm.
E-bikes are 12-speed E-Mountainbikes with freewheel.
Our bicycles are equipped with: puncture-proof tires, 1 good sized, waterproofed pannier bag and 1 handle bar bag
Helmets: Bike helmet rental, free of charge. We recommand you to bring your own helmet with you.
Private bicycles: on request - only possible if you arrive on your own directly to Tulcea as the transfer bus from Bucharest to Tulcea can not store bikes.
Take your own e-bike (max. 23 kg without the battery)
General information
With our experienced local wildlife and bike guides you learn to recognize birds by their noise or in flight discover rare plants and animals, about the life of the Delta residents and the incredible eventful past of this region, which already fascinated the Romans, Greeks and Dacians. You are accommodated, on a modern 4* floating Hotel and in a family run, comfortable 4* guesthouse. The meals are traditional with fish, meat and vegetable, for lunch picnics or lunch packs will be offered. You bike in groups of 12-20 people. Therefore it is necessary to have some experience in bike tours. Sand- and gravel roads require a bit of physical condition, but should be succeed by everybody as the daily stretches are quite short. Some stretches are done by boat or bus. Itinerary is subject to change – in case of high forces (water level, through no fault of one’s own engine- or drive breakdown). Before and after your bike tour you also have the possibility to book extra nights in Tulcea or Bucharest.
Tour Level
You will bike in groups of 12-20 persons, you bring already some experience in bike-tours. Sand- and gravel roads require a bit of physical condition, but should be succeed by everybody as the daily stretches are quite short. If possible longer routes to choose. Some stretches will be done by boat or bus. Itinerary is subject to change – in case of high forces (water level, through no fault of one’s own engine- or drive-breakdown).
With our experienced local wildlife and bike-guides you will learn to recognize birds with their noise or in flight, discover rare plants and animals, about the life of the Delta residents and the incredible eventful past of this region, which already fascinated the Romans, Greeks and Dacians. Before and after your bike-tour you also have the possibility to book extra nights in Tulcea or Bucharest
4* Guest house Tulcea
In Tulcea you will be spending 2 nights in a comfortable family run guest house close to the market place. The rooms are comfortably furnished and have air conditioning.
Arrival
Arrival by plane
Airport: Bukarest/Otopeni (OTP), Baneasa (BBU)
Otopeni, (officially called Henri Coanda), Bucharest’s main airport: after getting off the plane and easing your way through the passport control, you’ll find yourself in the baggage reclaim area. Ignore all of the services on offer here. You should especially ignore the currency exchange desks: they do not offer decent rates. Instead, grab your luggage, which usually arrives promptly, and then it’s off through customs to the arrivals area. (If your luggage fails to arrive, head for the small office on the left hand side of the exit, where staff will help you find out where it might have gone). In the arrivals area, there are loads of ATMs, a press shop and a small cafe. To the right, there is a passage leading to the departures terminal: the passage is lined with car hire desks and a few shops, including a chemist.
Departure
Transfer by bus back to Otopeni airport. Arrival approx. 14:00. Please book return flights only from 16:00.
Transfer
Taxi transfer from airport - hotel (necessary if you have booked pre or post tour nights in Bucharest):
To order a taxi by yourself, look for the multi-language touch screens in the arrivals hall. They are fully automated and very easy to use, and you can choose from the full range of Bucharest taxi companies: all have their tariffs clearly displayed. Once the taxi company of your choice has informed you (via the screen) how long the taxi will take to arrive, and what ID number the taxi has (take the ticket which will be printed), you simply go outside to wait for your taxi.
Just make sure you get into the correct taxi: check the company name and ID number with the one on your ticket. While most of the rip off taxis of yore have now gone, there are still sometimes touts hassling visitors inside the arrivals hall: ignore them. You should also ignore the sign saying ’Rapid Taxi.’ These are overpriced taxis allowed - for some unfathomable reason - to wait directly outside the internal arrivals terminal, underneath international arrivals.
Airport Baneasa: approx. 10 km away from Otopeni, is mostly used by low cost airlines.
Taxi from/to the airport Otopeni: approx. € 10,-
From/to airport see via "Dates and Prices".
Reservation within flight dates necessary.
