What You’ll Experience

The Balta Mare a Brailei (Great Marsh of Braila) is one of Romania’s best-kept natural secrets. Located about two hours east of Bucharest, this vast wetland ecosystem is a miniature version of the famous Danube Delta — with the same wildlife, the same serene waterways, and the same timeless fishing culture, but without the long journey to Tulcea.

We depart Bucharest in the early morning and drive through the Baragan plain — Romania’s vast agricultural heartland, a sea of wheat and sunflower fields stretching to the horizon — until we reach the wetlands. Here, we board a traditional boat and glide through narrow channels lined with reeds and water lilies. The silence is profound, broken only by the calls of birds and the gentle splash of the oar.

Your guide will help you spot pelicans, cormorants, herons, egrets, and dozens of other water bird species that nest in these marshes. In spring and early summer, the water lily carpets are particularly spectacular — vast sheets of white and yellow floating on the calm water.

We’ll visit a traditional fishing village where time seems to have stopped. The fishermen here use techniques passed down through generations — mending nets by hand and reading the water the way their grandfathers taught them — and you’ll have the chance to see their traditional boats and nets. For lunch, we’ll enjoy freshly caught fish prepared by a local family — grilled, fried, or in a traditional fish soup (ciorba de peste) — one of Romania’s great culinary treasures.

Why Book With Us

All our trips are private and fully customizable. Combine destinations, adjust the pace, add experiences. Tell us what you love and we’ll craft your ideal day.