Three Days Danube Delta Catamaran Tour - 2025
Note:: We recommend the reservations to be made at least 15 days before the date of departure.
Considered the last wild area of Europe, the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve is a natural paradise, home to a wide variety of fish and bird species. The Delta is an extraordinary mix of cultures, fishing villages, and ancient traditions, making it a favorite vacation destination in Romania.
We offer you a unique way to explore this area through a three-day Danube Delta cruise on a catamaran. For three days, we will sail mainly through narrow channels and lakes, exploring the region's highlights. The catamaran can accommodate up to 11 passengers, but for your physical and financial comfort, we recommend groups of 6 to 8 people. It provides 360-degree visibility, smooth and comfortable transportation, and is equipped with a toilet, unlike many other boats.
A catamaran is the perfect way to explore this magnificent area, allowing navigation through narrow channels silently, getting closer to birds and other wildlife. The beauty of the Delta lies in its maze of small channels, islands, lakes, and peaceful, less-visited areas. Traveling by catamaran is comfortable, with space to stand, move, take photos, or enjoy a drink. Most importantly, it has a toilet onboard!
This will be a true Delta expedition, an unforgettable experience and memory.
Day 1 Program – Danube Delta Excursion
Tulcea – Tulcea Branch – Channel 36 – Trofilca Channel – Potcoava Lake – Cu Cotețe Lake – Sireasa Channel – Periteasca Channel – Sontea Channel – Near Nebunu Lake (strictly protected area) – Radacinos Channel – Radacinos Lake – Fortuna Lake – Olguța Channel – Mila 23 Village – Stop for accommodation and lunch with locals.
Duration: Approximately 4 hours.
We depart from Tulcea, enthusiastically heading down the Tulcea Branch to Channel 36, then exploring the northern Sireasa canals and lakes, continuing on the Sireasa, Periteasca, and Sontea channels. The highlight is the spectacular entrance to Radacinos Channel and Lake, followed by the stunning Fortuna Lake, filled with white and yellow water lilies and a wide variety of bird species, reaching the fishermen's village Mila 23.
See the route of the day on the inactive map below
Usually, the first to greet us are the pelicans! Then, it's our hosts’ turn.
The locals are hard-working yet incredibly hospitable people, happy to welcome visitors after the long and lonely winter months. They are excellent cooks and have learned that not everyone eats fish, so they prepare vegetarian, vegan, and allergy-friendly options. However, we strongly recommend trying the fish dishes, as they are cooked "just like at home – from the heart of the Delta."
The tradition here is that the husband, a fisherman, provides the fresh catch while the wife showcases her culinary talent, watching for signs of guest satisfaction. Soon, you will feel like you've known your hosts forever.
After a well-deserved siesta, we prepare for the afternoon excursion!
Optional: Before the evening excursion, we can visit the Ivan Patzaichin Museum in the village, which is open from Wednesday to Sunday between 12:30 PM and 7:00 PM.
For relaxation before dinner, we will take the following route: Mila 23 – Catavaia Channel – Ligheanca Lake – and return to Mila 23.
Completely relaxed, breathing the fresh air filled with the scents of the wetlands and with our eyes still captivated by the sunset, we head towards...
WHY TO CHOOSE THIS TOUR ?
A catamaran boat is the perfect way to discover this area with all its beauties. This boat can navigate the narrow channels without noise and we will be getting closer to birds or other animals. The beauty of the Delta consists in the labyrinth of small channels, islands, lakes, more quiet and less visited areas. It will be a real expedition in the Danube Delta, an experience and an unforgettable memory.
Day 2 Program – Danube Delta Excursion
Mila 23 – Eracle Channel – Lopatna Channel – near Ciulini Lake – Miazazi Channel – Miazazi Lake – Matita Lake – Suez Channel – Merhei Lake – Sidor Channel – Letea – Stop for visiting the forest and enjoy a packed lunch.
Continuation: Letea – Madgearu Channel – Old Danube Channel – Bogdaproste Channel – Bogdaproste Lake – 3 Iezere Lake – Eracle Channel – Return to Mila 23.
A full day awaits us, with the highlight being the village and Letea Forest. After a spectacular journey through channels and lakes, the Sidor Channel surprises us with a dramatic landscape shift! From a narrow canal surrounded by reeds and rushes, we suddenly encounter sand dunes, and with a bit of luck... the wild horses!
See the route of the day on the inactive map below
Letea Village and Forest is a locality located in the northeast of Tulcea County, in the Danube Delta, on the Letea ridge, 102 km from Tulcea. It belongs to the CARosetti commune, which consists of 4 villages. Sfiștofca and Periprava, inhabited by Lipovan Russians, Cardon, a village where Ukrainians and Bulgarians live and Letea, which is a village of Ukrainians. In the commune of CA Rosetti live many Moldovans who came in transhumance with sheep from Moldova and the Republic of Moldova.
The Letea Forest emerged about 6,000 years ago after the waters of the Black Sea receded. It is not a typical forest, as plants grow on sand rather than soil. The ancient oak trees, some over 780 years old, are a major attraction for visitors. Others range between 400 and 500 years, though only two of these trees remain visible along tourist trails today. Interestingly, the roots of the trees grow horizontally instead of vertically due to the sandy soil. The shallow groundwater is close to the surface, making the trees vulnerable to strong winds and weather conditions, leading many of them to break and fall.
Many tourists visit the Letea Forest hoping to see not only the sand dunes and ancient oaks but also the famous wild horses. However, they don't always appear since they roam freely across the 6,000 hectares of the reserve. Experts estimate around 2,000 wild horses live in the Letea area, left behind during the communist period when locals could no longer care for them due to food shortages or disease outbreaks.
The most popular activity for tourists is a cart ride through the forest, offering a more scenic experience. At some point, tourists leave the cart and walk through the stunning forest to the sand dunes, where they can admire a wide variety of plants and birds.
No matter the season, the natural beauty of Letea Forest offers a spectacular experience. It is essential to protect this natural wonder so that future generations can enjoy its magic just as we do today.
The packed lunch provided by our host can be enjoyed either in the forest or onboard the catamaran.
Our return to Mila 23 will follow a different path than the one we arrived on! We will leave Letea via the Madgearu Channel, then continue along the “Great M” – the ancient natural course of the Danube before the Sulina Branch was dug.
We will pass through the stunning lakes Bogdaproste and 3 Iezere, finally returning to Mila 23 via the Eracle Channel, where dinner awaits us...
Day 3 Program – Danube Delta Excursion
Departure to Tulcea as it follows:
Mila 23 – Catavaia Channel – Ligheanca Lake - Vacaru Channel – Vacaru Lake – Sontea Channel – Baclanesti Lake – Candura Bend – New Sontea Channel – Sireasa Channel – Channel 36 – Tulcea Branch – Tulcea
We bid farewell to our hosts and head back to Tulcea through the Catavaia Channel and Ligheanca Lake, continuing to Vacaru Channel and Lake, where pelicans and cormorants often work together to empty the lake of fish but still allow us to admire them from a respectful distance without disturbing their feast.
See the route of the day on the inactive map below
Passing Baclanesti Lake, we enter the Șontea Channel, rich in bird diversity. The trip continues along the peaceful New Șontea Channel, where only local fishing boats can be seen. Swans, great and little egrets, coots, moorhens, various heron species, ibises, rollers, and bee-eaters can be spotted, all watched over by the majestic white-tailed eagle circling high above.
Optional: We can stop for a traditional fisherman's lunch on the Șontea Channel bank.
The final part of the journey leads through the lush Periteasca and Sireasa Channels, offering a relaxing and scenic finish on Channel 36 back to Tulcea.
Customize your Danube Delta Cruise
If you want a private tour just for you and your friends or family, held another period than the standard, or if you want to change the type of accommodation, services included, etc., please send your request in the reservation form of or by email. We will make immediately an customized offer so you may enjoy a holiday in the Delta Danube the way you wish.
What is included:
3-day boat rental (fuel and captain included!)
Full board accommodation with locals in Mila 23 – 2 nights
Visit of Letea forest
Danube Delta Access Permit – 3 days
Price: calculated according to the number of participants
8 pers. – 220 EURO / pers. / tour
7 pers. – 230 EURO / pers. / tour
6 pers. – 250 EURO / pers. / tour
5 pers. – 275 EURO / pers. / tour
4 pers. – 315 EURO / pers. / tour
3 pers. – 410 EURO / pers. / tour
2 pers. – 510 EURO / pers. / tour
Children policy
Free for children under 5 years
Children between 5-12 years, pay 50% of the rate
Children over 12 years are considered adults and pay the full price
Optionals:
Traditional fisherman's lunch on the Șontea Channel: 80 RON/person
Danube Delta Guide: 240 EUR/group/3 days
General conditions:
Routes may be adjusted depending on water levels, floating islands, fallen trees, or other unpredictable natural conditions.
Tours in the Danube Delta - 2025
-
6-7 hours
-
35 EURO / pers.
Traditional fish lunch included details -
- Points of interest:
- Sireasa canal - Sontea Noua canal – lunch at the fishermen’s hut - “Roookeries” lake
-
8-9 hours
-
41 EURO / pers.
Traditional fish lunch included details -
- Points of interest:
- Fortuna Lake - Mila 23 village - lunch with the locals - Sontea Noua canal - “Rookeries” lake
-
2 days
-
130 EURO / pers.
Accommodation on full board basis details -
- Points of interest:
- Fortuna lake - Mila 23 village - Bogdaproste and 3 Iezere lakes
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4 days
-
300 EURO / pers.
Accommodation on full board basis details -
- Points of interest:
- Fortuna lake - Mila 23 village - Letea forest - Sulina
