Bird watching in Transylvania

Mountain birdwatching holidays, birdwatching trips

Bird watching in Transylvania gives you the opportunity to enjoy spectacular landscapes, enjoy great home grown food and beverages and see both mountain species of birds, as well as wetland species of birds in what is called “The Danube Delta of the Carpathians”, a Ramsar bird protected area. For centuries, people living within the elbow of the Carpathians have existed in harmony with a rich variety of birds and animals. The preservation of ancient agricultural traditions is the main reason for an amazing flora, and the beauty of the landscapes creates the perfect scenery for an unforgettable holiday. This trip gives you the chance to enjoy a spectacular area and look for birds like Ural owl, Alpine Accentor, Sombre Tit, Wallcreepers, Alpine swifts, Eagle owl, Golden eagles, woodpeckers, Tawny Owls, buzzards and other birds of prey, as well as Pelicans, Egrets, Cormorants and other wetland species.

difficulty grade: B – click here for explanations

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Program Description

Bird watching in Transylvania trip gives you the chance to look for mountain and wetland species of birds in spectacular landscapes, see bears and wild boar and enjoy some of the things that Transylvania is famous for.

Arrival and transfer to a local guesthouse in Zarnesti with en-suite facilities.
After breakfast we are driven to the beginning of Birsa Valley where we start walking towards Coltii Chiliei. Our route passes through a mountain meadow, full of wild flowers in spring and summer, and leads up to a shrine in a cave not far from Zarnesti. Our guide will trace the origin of this shrine back to the 1300s and explain about agricultural traditions and the impact of technology on local life. On our way back we stop at the visitor centre of Piatra Craiului National Park to find out more about the elements that make this area worth protecting. Amongst the interesting species that can be observed today: Honey Buzzard, Collared Flycatcher, Black Woodpecker, Red-backed Shrike, Black Redstart.
Today we are driven to the point where we start a longer guided hike in the Piatra Craiului National Park. On the way we can see signs of wildlife, rare or endemic species of flora and insects, and shepherd camps. If the weather allows us, we can see the entire limestone ridge (22 km long) which was declared scientific reserve. We stop at Curmatura Cabin (1470 m) and enjoy the beautiful scenery. The way back takes us through an impressive limestone canyon. With 40-80 m high walls, it gives us the chance to look for birds like Wallcreepers or Alpine Swifts. Besides the rare birds mentioned above, today we can look for Ural Owl, Nutcracker, Alpine Accentor, Water Pipit, woodpeckers (Three-toed Woodpecker, Black Woodpecker) and different songbirds (Goldcrest, Firecrest, Crossbill, Serin).
In the morning we drive (app 1 h) to Dumbravita Fishing Complex for bird watching. This is a 420 ha of special protected area/Ramsar site, and your guide will explain what species of birds we can see and why this area is on the Natura 2000 list for protected areas. Some of the bird species that are most interesting today are the Lesser Spotted Eagles, Corncrake, Bittern, Little Bittern, Great White Egret, Purple Heron, Black Stork, Ferruginous Duck, Whiskered Tern, Stonechat and Red-backed Shrike, Lesser Grey Shrik, but the list is much longer.
In the afternoon you will have a delicious early dinner in a restaurant, then you’ll be driven to a wild boar hide, a facility where wild boars are attracted with food for observations.
Very early in the morning we drive app 1h to one of the numerous protected areas around. This is an 400ha oak forest with numerous marshes, which make ideal home for a great variety of birds and butterflies, as well as mammals like bears and wild boars. Besides beautiful butterflies and mammal tracks, today we can see interesting birds like Lesser Spotted Eagle, Middle Spotted Woodpecker, Hoopoe, Great Grey Shrike, Woodlark, Wood Warbler. You’ll pack your breakfast and lunch, as the area is worth all this effort in terms of wildlife.
After breakfast we drive to the Sinca area (app. 1 h drive). We drive and walk slowly in the area looking for the numerous species of birds, insects and plants. Today is very feasible to see Ural Owls, Tawny Owls, Lesser Spotted Eagle, and Short-toed Eagle, White-backed Woodpecker, Middle Spotted Woodpecker, Corncrake, Great Grey Shrike, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Collared Flycatcher, Fieldfare and few other rare birds. In the evening we’ll have an early dinner in Sinca Noua (the first eco-village in Romania), then go to a bear hide (a special feeding place where wild bears are attracted with food). On the way back we’ll drive very slowly looking for owls, red and roe deer, wild boar and other animals.
In the morning we take another „shot” at birdwatching at Dumbravita lake and fishpond system.
Later, we drive to Brasov, a 770 years old town, with beautiful medieval buildings and historic places. We stop at the Black Church and visit the old centre of the town. Short time free for shopping and walking.
Transfer to the airport and departure.

Profile

Reasonable level of fitness required.
Accommodation in one of the local guesthouses in double room with en suite facilities. Available also accommodation in a hotel in the medieval part of Brasov (different costs)
Meal basis: full board starting with dinner on the first evening
Travel is by minibus/car and horse drawn cart.

Thank you for choosing this trip for bird watching in the Transylvania!

 

 

Costs

Cost: 1500 Euro per person (accommodation in Zarnesti. Available also hotel in the medieval part of Brasov, but at different cost)

This cost is calculated for a group of minimum 2 persons.

Included: 7 days full-board accommodation in a double room, local English-speaking guide, special guidance as stated in the itinerary, transfer from/to the airport, local transportation, visit to a bear hide, picnic and dinner at restaurant as stated in the itinerary, entrance fee to places of interest included in the itinerary

Single room supplement: 15 euro/day

Thank you for choosing us for your trip in Transylvania focused on bird watching!

Birds Transylvania, Birds Brasov, birds Romania