Treasures Of The Danube Delta

“There is no season like the month of May” – for the people of the Danube Delta it’s common knowledge shared with any traveler asking what is the best time to visit.

May is THE month when the brightest, juiciest shades of green take over, and nature exudes its most vivid energies. It’s when the Danube Delta is at its most instagrammable: myriads of birds strutting about and teaching their young to spread their wings, Lipovan fishermen slowly paddling in their old boats through reeds as not to disturb an ancient balance of things, water lilies in bloom over the canals in the most beautiful tapestry of the year.

(all photos via Unsplash.com)

The Black Sea gardens

What makes this piece of heaven so unique among other places in the world?

First, it is without a doubt the wildest and the best-preserved biodiversity delta ecosystem in Europe and also the second largest (after Volga’s delta at the Caspian Sea).

It is a land of never-ending metamorphosis, a realm that a relentless Danube builds and rebuilds second by second, year by year, century by century with its muds dredged along nine countries, from the mountains of Germany all the way to the Black Sea. A labyrinth of eternal renewal and past centuries’ traditions, of solitary Lipovan fishermen in wooden boats, of old small reed roofed villages lost among the canals.

And when the Danube meets the Black Sea, the experience is otherworldly: currents suddenly change and the boat, long accustomed to the mellow rocking of the Danube, is suddenly taunted by the nervous embrace of the sea.

An experience to remember, that we always include in our bespoke selection for our travelers.

Oh, and for the closing act: sunset at the spot where the sea and the river have their final dance. Simply stunning, as you get to see the sun slowly melting into the sea in the sounds of gulls and albatrosses, among pelicans and cormorants eyeing their last catch of the day.

Bird watching heaven

There’s no other stop like the Danube Delta if you are a birdwatcher.

In the labyrinth of canals covered with reed and flanked by willow trees and wild poplars, thousands of species of birds, some of which very rare, make their home here. It’s not uncommon to spot tufted ducks, greylag geese, pygmy cormorants, purple herons, egrets, spoonbills, and for the real oases of bird life and the ultimate bird watching experience just talk to a local guide or fisherman. We might just know the perfect man. He’ll be happy to take you to the most secluded secrets of the delta. And share with you in the evening a glass of something strong and a fried fish treat you’ll not forget.

The magic of Letea

If you are in the Delta, Letea is an absolute must. A UNESCO world heritage treasure and the only tropical forest in Europe, this woodland of white poplar and elm is home to the famed wild horses of the delta. There is a high chance you’ll see some, as there are more wild horses than people living in Letea nowadays.

And while there, you have to stop in the village and have Viorica Maxim’s legendary fish soup. The taste of the Danube Delta at its finest.

Fish soup legends galore

Brace yourself, you’ll hear a lot of fishermen’s tales about fish and fish soups during your stay. We think it is only fair, while leaving you the joy of a good legend, to still give you some facts about the mythical Danube Delta fish soup: the almighty “storceac”.

You might hear that it’s the “real Lipovan fish soup made with genuine Danube water”. Well, we don’t know about the water, but what’s real is its unforgettable taste – as it’s made with a combination of 3, 4 or more types of lean and fat fresh fish, to which the fishermen add potatoes and onions in winter, and enrich with tomatoes and bell-peppers during vegetables season. One other thing is that the soup is served by itself and the fish separately, and with a mousse of garlic. And yes, all these make it legendarily yummy.

Secret no. 5

We know that words are cheap and if they could not sway you to come visit the Danube Delta, perhaps images might do it. Instagram, that absolute realm of photo aficionados, has ranked the Danube Delta as the fifth natural wonder in the world by number of tags behind Yosemite, Niagara Falls, Grand Canyon and the Sahara Deserts. In the words of the great Larry David: “Preeety good, preeeety, preeety good”.

PS: E-mail us to get a sample itinerary for a trip to discover the Danube Delta.