Danube Delta boat tour from Tulcea: Mila 23 and pelican colonies

Pelicans nest on Lake Fortuna, and you drift past them from a boat.

A guided boat tour of the Danube Delta from Tulcea explores channels and lakes over 5.5 hours, with stops at pelican colonies on Lake Fortuna and the fishing village of Mila 23. The tour includes a live guide in English or Romanian and entry to the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve. A traditional fish meal at Mila 23 or a visit to the Lotca Museum (honoring kayaker Ivan Patzaichin) can be added at the village stop.

Step-by-step itinerary

Danube Delta boat trip and village visit

• Explore Șontea Veche channel and Lake Băclănești
• Follow Lake Fortuna and visit pelican colonies
• Venture onto Șontea Lată channel
• Explore Olguța channel
• Stop at Mila 23 village for fish meal
• Visit Lotca Museum in Mila 23

The experience

How much of the Danube Delta can you actually see from the water in one morning? This tour answers it by boat, moving through Șontea Veche channel and across Lake Băclănești before reaching Lake Fortuna, where pelican colonies live among the reeds. The route then follows Șontea Lată channel and the Olguța channel, each one a different angle into the delta's waterways and the aquatic animals that depend on them.

Mila 23 is where the boat stops for the afternoon. It's a working fishing village, not a tourist stage set, and the choice there is yours: sit down for a traditional fish meal cooked by locals, or walk to the Lotca Museum, a small memorial to Ivan Patzaichin, the Romanian Olympic kayaker who made his name on these same waters. Both happen at the same stop, so you pick one or the other, not both.

The guide speaks English or Romanian throughout and knows the delta's birds, plants and channels by name. Entry to the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve is included, and private transportation gets you to the boat. The tour runs 5.5 hours total, which means you're on the water for most of it, moving slowly enough to watch the landscape change but fast enough to cover ground.

What’s included

• Private transportation to the boat.
• entry to the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve.
• a live guide in English or Romanian throughout the tour.

Before you book

Days and timesNext departure: 1 Apr 2027

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (3 to 11 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupUp to 60

Live guideEnglish and Romanian

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.Operator's directions: “At the street intersection, where the white parking barrier is located.”

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 13 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot for heart conditionsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Delta Spell Nautics

Is this one for you?The boat moves at a steady pace through channels and across open water for most of the 5.5 hours, so comfort on the water and a willingness to sit for stretches matter more than hiking or climbing. If you want to step off the boat and walk around, Mila 23 is where that happens.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Romanian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 11 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What animals will I actually see on this Danube Delta tour?

Pelican colonies are the main draw, visible on Lake Fortuna near Mila 23. The delta's aquatic animals (fish, water birds, and other wildlife) appear throughout the channels and lakes, though sightings depend on the season and time of day.

Can I eat at Mila 23 or do I have to visit the museum?

Mila 23 offers both options at the same stop: a traditional fish meal prepared by locals, or entry to the Lotca Museum honoring kayaker Ivan Patzaichin. You choose one when you're there. The boat waits for the group.

How long is the boat ride, and will I be sitting the whole time?

The tour runs 5.5 hours total, with most of that time on the water moving through channels and across lakes. The stop at Mila 23 breaks up the boat time, and you'll have time to walk around the village or the museum grounds.

What's included in the price, and what do I pay extra for?

Entry to the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve and private transportation to the boat are included. A traditional fish meal at Mila 23 or museum entry is optional and paid on site if you choose it.