The Danube Delta
Lying mostly in the south-eastern Romanian region of Dobrogea, and partly in Ukraine, the Danube Delta is the largest and best preserved delta in Europe
Daniel Onea, 09.09.2018, 12:00
The Danube Delta was included in the UNESCO Heritage list in 1991 and is rated as a biosphere reserve at national level.
Today, well talk about the Danube Delta in 2018, in tourist terms. Catalin Tibuleac, president of the Danube Delta Tourist Management Association, explains why this travel destination is suitable for all categories of tourists: “Its uniqueness comes both from its multiculturalism, and, more importantly, from its biodiversity. Tulcea County is home to 16 ethnic minorities, each having its own features and contributing a variety of traditions and customs. On the other hand, environmental protection is essential for tourism, be it adventure tourism or leisure. This is very important because Tulcea County, northern Dobrogea and the Danube Delta ensure the best conditions for all forms of tourism, ranging from mountain tourism, in the Macin Mountains Reserve, to seaside tourism, on the Danubes Sulina branch, in Sfantu Gheorge and Gura Portitei.
The Danube Delta is crossed by a number of routes that travellers can follow aboard floating hotels in order to explore as much of the area as possible. These vessels comply with all relevant standards, but mobility is the chief advantage as compared to standard accommodation options. As a rule, floating hotel managers discuss with travellers about what they would like to see.
Catalin Tibuleac, president of the Danube Delta Tourist Management Association, with details: “These floating hotels have always been an attraction here. You basically take the hotel into the Delta and stay there for several days. But this is not the only interesting option here. There are also tourist compounds and boarding houses that offer exceptional accommodation standards. The response is generally good, because most tourists seek predictability during their stay. There is yet a lot more to be done, but what is important is for tourism development to go hand in hand with the protection of the Delta. So we invite everyone to come see the Danube Delta.
Many of the travel packages available for the Danube Delta area include visits to Mila 23, the native village of Olympic rowing champion Ivan Pataichin, and Sulina, a town with exquisite churches and museums, and with an interfaith cemetery reminding of the golden age of the European Unions easternmost city. Another must-see site is the Letea Forest, the oldest nature reserve in Romania, which has been researched by scientists ever since 1930.
Trip advisor Ciprian Enea emphasised however the human heritage, the traditions and customs in the region: The Danube Delta, is, from our point of view, Europes most beautiful tourist destination of its kind. Our holiday packages were thought out so as to cater for all categories of visitors, from birdwatchers to families with children, or seniors who come over to relax and enjoy the typical atmosphere of the Delta. We lay emphasis on nature and traditions. After all, this area, which is unique in Europe, namely the Danube Delta biosphere reserve boasts a rich biodiversity, a breathtakingly beautiful scenery which blends with Lipovan, Ukrainian, Turkish and Romanian traditions, and not only that! This area is unique in Europe!
And here is a proper holiday offer! With details on that, here is Ciprian Enea back at the microphone: A five-day stay, including accommodation for four nights in our three and four-star hotels in Uzlina and Murighiol, a coach trip from Bucharest to Murighiol, transfer by boat from Murighiol to Uzlina and buffet–style HB or FB, costs a minimum of 399 lei per person. As we approach peak season, the cost for such a stay may reach 699 lei per person, in the months of July and August. Apart from such facilities offered by the aforementioned holiday clubs, tourists can also enjoy a campfire, Lipovan stories, a swimming pool and boat rides as an option. This is on offer for the main destinations, Sulina, Letea, Sfantu Gheorghe, as well as for the lake region, the nesting area for some of the most interesting bird species in this part of Romania. All meals are buffet-style, we mainly use local produce, fresh fish from the Danube Delta, whenever the season permits. We offer Lipovan dishes, as the locals try to provide as healthy a diet as possible to their guests.
Ciprian Enea will tell us more on the events that are being organized in the Danube Delta: There are lots of events taking place in the region, yet we thought out our own events package, which is different from the other events. In effect, from the Fish soup festival to the Anonimus Independent Film Festival in Sfantu Gheorghe, there are all sorts of concerts and local events. Local communities learn the ropes of starting up tourism and have been doing really fine in this area. They learn how to show their traditions and how ready they are to host guests from all over the world. Locals have their special way in which they welcome their guests. They are tough, resilient people, who know how the Danube Delta works, in a natural environment that must be respected. They are equally welcoming and make the perfect host, when they deal with guests. Tourists from Canada are coming over, as well as tourists from Japan, Italy, Spain, Israel. Each group has their own expectations. By and large, expectations are exceeded, scenery and tradition-wise, but also as regards the tourist services that were offered. After all, it is a UNESCO heritage asset, which we try to introduce to our guests with everything thats best in it.
For a personalized offer, do please contact your travel agent straight away. Make sure you have a unique stay in the worlds largest reed thicket compact area.
