Le Delta du Danube est un univers hors du temps, hors des sentiers battus, différent, magique. Mais avec Fotodelta et Iliuta Goean, c'est encore plus féérique: un voyage entièrement conçu en fonction de vos attentes, une totale capacité d'adaptation au rythme, aux besoins, au confort des voyageurs, un voyage personnalisé permettant de répondre aux besoins de l'ornithologue aamteur ou chevronné, la gentillesse, le sérieux et le professionnalisme en plus! Tout est là pour vivre un voyage parfaitement réussi. Sans compter un hôtel de charme et une excellente cuisine!
Du 10 au 25 juin 2011, nous avons eu la chance d'observer plus de 100 espèces d'oiseaux grâce à Iliuta et à son guide, Ionut. Nous recommandons chaleureusement Fotodelta à tout amoureux de la nature en général et des oiseaux en particulier.

Noi am fost un grup de sapte persoane, mai mult de jumatate dintre noi pentru prima data in Delta si care am decis sa o descoperim in caiac. L-am avut pe Ionut in barca de asistenta si am plecat de la Tulcea ca sa ne oprim a doua zi la Mila 23.
N-am cuvinte sa va descriu intru totul experienta noastra. Flexibilitatea de care a dat dovada Ionut, daca am vrut sa ne abatem de la drum sa mergem in "recunoastere" pe un lac pe care il zarisem cu coada ochiului printre stuf, ne- ajutat si sprijinit, astfel incat toata aventura a avut si un aer de expeditie :)), cunostintele lui impresionante despre Delta, ideile cu care ne-au indrumat, atat el cat si Iliuta, modul relaxat in care se gaseau solutii la toate intrebarile sau nedumeririle noastre, mancarea Oanei, OH DOAMNE, CE MANCARE! Cand a trebuit sa ne intoarcem a doua zi, eu si Chris am decis sa mai ramanem inca doua zile, astfel incat am ajuns si la Grindul Letea si de-acolo la Sulina!
Ca sa scurtam povestea, noi ne gandim sa ne luam o barca acum. Si un nou obiectiv tele :))

Va multumim foarte mult pentru saptamana petrecuta in Delta intre 9 si 14 mai 2011. Ne-am bucurat sa va cunostem, pe dumneavoastra Iliuta, pe Oana, care este o persoana foarte placuta si care gateste foarte bine, pe Ionut Calin, ghidul nostru, care cunoaste foarte bine Delta si pasarile ei si care a dat dovada de mult bun simt si demnitate. Cazarea a fost deasemeni foarte buna (hotelul-pensiune in care am stat era curat si bine ingrijit) , ideea de a sta pe o insula, in afara satului, ne-a permis sa profitam de linistea naturii. Multumim si celorlalte persoane care s-au ocupat fie de casa, fie de bucatarie, pentru disponibilitatea in fixarea orele de masa in functie de programul nostru prin Delta.
Cu siguranta vom mai reveni, poate chiar in iarna. A fost o adevarat placere sa intalnim oameni plecuti, cinstiti si de cuvant.

O experienta de neuitat: locuri minunate, grup pasionat de fotografie si natura, ghid profesionist...multumim Iliuta! 

Cu siguranta, ma voi intoarce in Delta...pentru locuri si oameni.
 

Bafta in continuare in ceea ce faceti!

It was a wonderful experience. We've been there in May 2010 for 2 days and I can tell you: everything was on the professional level.
It is for people who want to know more about the birds and all nature in Delta.

From Slovakia,

Daniel

One hundred, that was our objective, see one hundred different birds during our three day stay in the delta. We reached unfortunably only ninety seven different ones but millions altogether. It was a great trip with personalized assistance that allowed us to make the maximun of our leisurely stay and not only on the bird side but on all the wildlife living in the area, from wild horses to water snakes and frogs of all sorts, and the scenery. Boarding and lodging provided also great moments since they allowed us to meet and join in with local groups. Finally, the cook drove us through the Danube delta specialties and we would not have wanted to miss this treat.



Kenneth Louveaux

Hi, we had a wonderfull time on the houseboat Anastasia. I could not imagine that we we saw such a different kind of birds.
I hope we dont have frightend the goose ,pelicans and comorans too much. We will come back certainly .



Thank you so much

Elena +Jens


April 2009

My memories of the Danube Delta are deeply buried in time... One first experience was in the '60s, when I was only 15, I believe. At that time I was busy "mastering" a FED2, a Russian copy of the Leica... I started coming to Sfintu Gheorghe, Portita or Sulina every summer, as a high school and then as a undergrad student. Later in my career, I had the chance to capture two research contracts around here for extracting guanin (the pearly pigment) from the fish scales and skin. That, in particular, was indeed some interesting and valued time I spent here... I left Romania in the late '80s and I didn't come back to this heaven ever since.

As everything happens for a reason, I had the random chance to meet shurub (Ilie Goean) on a relatively decent Romanian photo site and I decided to risk my precious, far-and-away, heavily-earned, 2009 vacation time and to pay him a visit. He didn't say much and accepted me, on a very quiet note, modestly presenting me bed-and-breakfast alternatives and not blindsided advertising his (marvelous) enterprise in any words at all. Nevertheless, he told me two details, which deterred all the hesitation in my mind: 1. as insects don't develop yet, April-May is a very good time for wandering the channels and 2. Delta is one of the most serious environments for taking shots... Well these things I certainly knew from my own experience... Then he added: "six years ago, I deserted my place in Bucharest and I decided to dedicate my whole life and well being to trying to become a wildlife photographer here". Well, I thought to myself, if this is not serious matter, then what is? I think I'll be in some of the best hands this zone may have to offer... a connoisseur and a photographer... happy me!

And indeed, I don't regret any second of my time spent with him, here at the pontoons he manages, in Uzlina, as well as on his boats. Starting with the spacious, clean and cozy rooms, going on with his care for every detail of the food he offered, including the preparation of the delicious sandwiches for the trips and day-overs and ending up with copious dinners and suppers... Later, in the evenings, photographic analyses, big screen TV slide shows were presented for the ones interested... Other guests could watch anything on TV on the second platform. But the day trips on his motorboats conquered my heart forever. It's not the fact that you would feel the crispy clean air of the morning hours, or you were able to smell the freshness of the flooding waters. This you could do with any boat and any boatman... The most important fact for me was that he knows his waterways, his shortcuts through the jungle-like vegetation, his lakes and ponds... he knows the nesting places, the bird colonies, their age and condition, their names and habits. And, maybe the most important thing of all, is that he is interested in taking pictures... he, himself! He stops, he returns and he turns around, he uses camouflage nets and easily provides safety and hiding equipment for all of us... He is always prepared and he is never in a hurry. This gives us, the guests, the pleasure of plentiful time for photo shooting the birds and the landscape (as opposed of trying to literally steal images form the other, more expensive, speedboats, operated by other ventures).

All those practical aspects brought me, personally, the gift of about 200GB of good pictures, definitely some of the best I ever shot in the Delta... and the envy for the other happy Romanian photographers, who definitely have the privilege to live in Romania and to be able to dedicate way more time than I had... My thoughts are to come back as soon as possible, because "the price is right", as they say in the New World about a very well done business!

I'll see you next time in good health, shurub! Thank you!

I spent two days at the end of april 2009 with Iliuta, taking so many pictures... I warmly recommend to work with him for those who want take their time to observe and photography birds and nature. His knowledges of the Delta and places to find birds are high. Leaving very early and coming back very late is not a problem, what I really appreciated! Last word, Iliuta is very sympathic, as all the people who work on the boat. Olivier

Hi people from "FotoDelta",

This is a well made and informative website !

I've been in the Delta in June 2008 and I really liked it,
the hotelship Anastasia and its crew are worth a strong recommandation
for all who really want to explore the Delta.

Peter from Bavaria

Iliuta este un ghid excelent iar tura foto parcursa impreuna a fost o adevarata incantare. Fara un astfel de insotitor, care cunoaste foarte bine delta si in plus este si fotograf, sansele sa tragi cateva cadre reusite in aceste locuri tin numai de noroc.

Fotografie, Murighiol, Delta Dunarii, vara, soare, cald, pasari, Dunare, canale, lacuri, Marea Neagra, Sfantu Gheorghe, baie, Sahalin, pelicani, foarte cald, Buhaz, Zaton, Perisor, si mai cald, cormorani, sfrancioci, libelule, prigorii, stuf, apa, vanturei, Dranov, codalb, rate, gaste, lebede, cai, vaci, salcii, iar cald, iar baie, oops - pana de benzina ..... aaaaa, mai avem o sticla dosita in banchete, pescarasul albastru, tanti Rodica, tanti Carmen, peste, mult peste, prea mult peste .... ma rog, nu sunt in ordine dar esenta cam aceasta este.

PS: Ti-am spus doar ca nu sunt un bun scriitor.

MP

Dupa multi ani am revenit in tara mea natal si mi-am adus si noua consoarta, de alta origine, sa-i prezint tara de care sunt (sau eram) atat de mandru. Dezamagire este un cuvant prea mic pentru a descrie ceea ce am simtit. De la muntii falnici ai copilariei mele pana la litoralul studentiei (ah! Vama! ce ai fost si ce ai ajuns!) totul este infect si mizerabil, poluat de tot felul de mizerii, de oameni agresivi, de oameni rigizi, prosti, rauvoitori. Turismul este o mare minciuna, totul este o minciuna si o ipocrizie. Unde vreti sa ajungeti dragi romani?

Din fericire am ajuns in Delta, trebuie sa-i multumesc unui bun prieten care a insistat sa nu merg asa cum imi doream eu, sa caut o barca la Tulcea si sa plec in calatorie prin Delta. Asa am ajuns la Iliuta (GHIDUL din Delta Dunarii).
In sfarsit am gasit un turism normal deci DOMNILOR ROMANI! SE POATE! am gasit multa bunavointa, am gasit un profesionist, am gasit multa intelegere, am gasit un om fericit ce traieste in PARADIS, nu am auzit vesnicul romanesc "nu se poate", aici totul se poate (desigur, totul se regaseste la sfarsit pe factura dar asa este si normal). Cazarea excelenta! Domnul Stamate este un om deosebit, mancarea a fost peste asteptari (ah! acea masa la Sfantu Gheorghe, sub vita-de-vie, as vrea sa traiesc asa ceva macar o data pe an), informatiile oferite de Iliuta, locurile salbatice in care ne-a dus chiar si intr-o Delta invata de turisti, traseele numai de el stiute, pasarile care par sa-l iubeasca, felul discret in care am trecut printr-o natura unica pe planeta, toate acestea au reparat vacanta noastra. Toate acestea mi-au amintit de Romania copilariei mele.

Intr-o tara in care totul este exagerat descump si m-am simtit furat la fiecare pas, in fiecare hotel, in fiecare restaurant am descoperit Delta Dunarii, probabil cel mai scump loc din Romania dar macar am simtiti ca a meritat fiecare banut cheltuit aici.

Iliuta, ti-am promis un feedback si mi-am facut un rezumat al vacantei la tine pe site, sper sa nu te deranjeze. Stiu ca am discutat mult pe tema asta si totusi tin la parerea mea! TOT EU AM DREPTATE!
Continua tot asa! Nu te lasa calcat in picioare de gloata, esti mai presus decat ei, ii poti invata, asta-le ca se poate, asa a fost peste tot la inceput, intotdeauna cineva a fost primul si a deschis un drum. Poti fi tu acela!

Cand ne-am hotarat noi temerari sa plecam in Delta habar nu aveam ce minuni de vor astepta acolo...desi, eu personal eram avida dupa lumini, culori, cadre...Multumesc (in numele propriu, o las pe Lavinia sa comenteze personal ) ca mi-ai deschis si mai mult ochii asupra Deltei. A fost ca o poveste. Excelent turul...peste ceea ce ma asteptam in dimineata aia cetoasa. Si am senzatia ca a fost doar inceputul!

Prima mea tura foto in Delta a fost o experienta foarte frumoasa datarita lui Iliuta care este un ghid excelent si o gazda foarte primitoare.
M-am inscris intr-o grupa de 4 persoane dar pana la urma doar eu am ajuns in Delta.
Alti organizatori probabil renuntau la tura in situatie similara! Foarte frumos faptul ca a tinut tura doar cu mine.
Orele lungi in barca nu au fost plictisitoare deloc, mereu asteptand "prada" si descoperind canalele si lacurile cunoscute foarte bine de Iliuta.
Cu siguranta ma voi intoarce in Delta de mai multe ori.

Am plecat in graba in Delta, sa vedem un prieten drag...si am gasit mult mai mult decat atat: profesionalism, daruire, dragoste pentru natura din cea profunda, adevarata...o armonie deplina. Iliuta, caci despre el este vorba, intareste proverbul "Omul sfinteste locul". Desi vazusem delta cu multi ani in urma, ceea ce am vazut acum lasandu-ne pe mainile lui au fost locuri magice, de unde nu mai voiai sa pleci. Sufletul mi-a ramas acolo si sper sa stea cat mai mult pe canalele inguste, parca desprinse din poveste, pe lacurile cu apa limpede in care ne oglindeam, si mai ales la libertatea pasarilor, la multitudinea lor si la raritatea cu care ne-a binecuvantat Dumnezeu pe aceste meleaguri.
Cum am fost la un tur foto cu profesionisti in domeniu, eu nefind o impatimita in ale fotografiei, va imaginati ca am plecat de acolo fiind un alt om pentru ca pot intelege acum fotografia la un alt nivel.
Trebuie sa adaug si gusturile minunate ale mancarurilor cu peste (eu sunt fan peste) si pensiunea in care am stat (Casa dintre salcii - Uzlina), unde am avut tot ceea ce ne-a trebuit.
Imi doresc in delta numai vizitatori iubitori de natura, care sa aprecieze ceea ce am primit in dar si care sa nu puna pret doar pe propriile interese.
Duceti-va in delta, cautati-l pe Iliuta, si veti pleca mai frumosi si mai armoniosi, cu siguranta.

MULTUMIM PENTRU EXPERIENTA FRUMOASA DIN DELTA, PENTRU FRUMUSETILE PE CARE NE-ATI FACUT SA LE VEDEM CU ADEVARAT.





IMI DORESC SA MAI REPET INCAODATA EXPERIENTA DIN DELTA ...BINEINTELES ALATURI DE ILIUTA SI DAN DINU!!!

Un tur de Delta intr-un teambuilding, cu un ghid experimentat si foarte glumet; tot grupul a apreciat profesionalismul si calmul lui Iliuta. Felicitari! Irina, 25 mai 2010

O tura foto de initiere in wildlife excelenta cu cel mai tare ghid din cati am imblanzit Barca, trezit la 4 dimineata, pelicani, apa, multa apa, egrete (Vasile), atmosfera, starci, chire, lebede, lopatari si ibisi, canale, lacuri, povesti faine, scrumbie (buna, buna) - totul super. Si sa nu uit, "crocodili cu gat rosu" si oua ochiuri :-). Si s-ar putea sa nu scapi de mine pentru o panda ca la carte!

Zile bune!
Si ai grija de delta

A fost o iesire foarte bine organizata si pe gustul meu. Mancarea traditionala de peste excelenta. Iliuta cunoaste foarte bine zona si are multa rabdare cu turistii.Astept cu nerabdare sa revin.

Iliuta, ma bucur ca prima mea iesire in Delta s-a intamplat sub supravegherea ta. 

Nu ne-a lipsit nimic, am mancat si peste (si asta datorita iscusintei in bucatarie a doamnei Pusa), iesirile au fost placute chiar daca vremea nu ne-a ajutat foarte mult. 

O sa vin si la vara.  Ma gandesc ca pana atunci, barza care isi face cuib langa casa ta va reusi sa impleteasca macar 100 kg de cuib din cele 1-2 tone estimate

Multumesc, Iliuta, pentru sederea de asta-vara din delta. Ne-am simtit foarte bine la tine, avem multe amintiri frumoase si ne vom intoarce cu placere. Multumesc pentru cum v-ati ocupat de noi. Felicitari pentru felul in care iti conduci echipa, foarte profesionist si eficient. Speram sa te gasim si vara viitoare.
Patricia Serbac din Tirgu-Mures

O excelenta excursie 17-20 sept.2009 am avut in Delta Dunarii alaturi de Iliuta.
A fost senzational ! Am fost placut surprins ! Iliuta este o gazda excelenta cu o rabdare de fier . Sunt incepator. si dupa ce mi-am cumparat un aparat foto (am crezut eu, performant - un aparat de amator ) am aparut la intalnirea cu Iliuta . A schitat un zambet in coltul gurii, si mi-a laudat aparatul . Ulterior am inteles ce inseamna un aparat de profesionist ! Totusi in trei zile cu aparatul meu am realizat cca 2000 de fotografii (10 % bune ) cu care am facut senzatie printre neprofesionisti !
Dintre pasarile din Delta mi-au placut cel mai mult pelicanii (cârd de peste 1200 ) king fisher-ul si egretele . Aveti ce fotografia, dar va trebuie rabdare.

Iliuta, iti las un mesaj cu intarziere.
Iti multumesc din suflet, din partea tuturor, pentru ca ne-ai facut cea mai frumoasa vacanta. Cand ne-am hotarat sa venim in Delta Dunarii chiar nu ne asteptam sa vedem atatea lucruri minunate. Pasarile, animalele, florile, apa, stuful, salciile toate iti sunt prietene si chiar sti sa faci orice novice sa se bucure de ele.
Vrem neaparat sa venim si anul viitor, poate reusim in mai la migratie.

Hy si Buna Iliuta! Am ajuns cu bine inapoi in Germania dupa un popas splendid la voi si excursii de neuitat in delta! Multumim pe aceasta cale! Thank You friends for the beautiful trips we made togheter in the delta in June 2009! We all will never forget this an tell our friends to come to join with You this beautiful places. Thank You all and greetings from Baden-Baden in Germany! Your Werner

Good afternoon Iliuta! When arriving early this June in Uzlina on Anastacia II we had a rough estimation and some dreamy ideas what to expect in the Danube Delta.
After leaving, our minds and receptors were packed and enriched with multidimensional experiences. Eyes, ears, noses, touch and culinary senses encountered new and marvelous impressions in the various channels, lakes, river and island parts. And there was room for more. Esp. ornithological combined with botanical understanding as well as of local and international culture were circulated through our brains. Importantly, in a professional, unobstructive way. The service linked in this positive experience by friendliness, attentiveness and courtesy. A wonderful experience, not only for one season! Thanks indeed.

My memories of the Danube Delta are deeply buried in time... One first experience was in the '60s, when I was only 15, I believe. At that time I was busy "mastering" a FED2, a Russian copy of the Leica... I started coming to Sfintu Gheorghe, Portita or Sulina every summer, as a high school and then as a undergrad student. Later in my career, I had the chance to capture two research contracts around here for extracting guanin (the pearly pigment) from the fish scales and skin. That, in particular, was indeed some interesting and valued time I spent here... I left Romania in the late '80s and I didn't come back to this heaven ever since.

As everything happens for a reason, I had the random chance to meet shurub (Ilie Goean) on a relatively decent Romanian photo site and I decided to risk my precious, far-and-away, heavily-earned, 2009 vacation time and to pay him a visit. He didn't say much and accepted me, on a very quiet note, modestly presenting me bed-and-breakfast alternatives and not blindsided advertising his (marvelous) enterprise in any words at all. Nevertheless, he told me two details, which deterred all the hesitation in my mind: 1. as insects don't develop yet, April-May is a very good time for wandering the channels and 2. Delta is one of the most serious environments for taking shots... Well these things I certainly knew from my own experience... Then he added: "six years ago, I deserted my place in Bucharest and I decided to dedicate my whole life and well being to trying to become a wildlife photographer here". Well, I thought to myself, if this is not serious matter, then what is? I think I'll be in some of the best hands this zone may have to offer... a connoisseur and a photographer... happy me!

And indeed, I don't regret any second of my time spent with him, here at the pontoons he manages, in Uzlina, as well as on his boats. Starting with the spacious, clean and cozy rooms, going on with his care for every detail of the food he offered, including the preparation of the delicious sandwiches for the trips and day-overs and ending up with copious dinners and suppers... Later, in the evenings, photographic analyses, big screen TV slide shows were presented for the ones interested... Other guests could watch anything on TV on the second platform. But the day trips on his motorboats conquered my heart forever. It's not the fact that you would feel the crispy clean air of the morning hours, or you were able to smell the freshness of the flooding waters. This you could do with any boat and any boatman... The most important fact for me was that he knows his waterways, his shortcuts through the jungle-like vegetation, his lakes and ponds... he knows the nesting places, the bird colonies, their age and condition, their names and habits. And, maybe the most important thing of all, is that he is interested in taking pictures... he, himself! He stops, he returns and he turns around, he uses camouflage nets and easily provides safety and hiding equipment for all of us... He is always prepared and he is never in a hurry. This gives us, the guests, the pleasure of plentiful time for photo shooting the birds and the landscape (as opposed of trying to literally steal images form the other, more expensive, speedboats, operated by other ventures).

All those practical aspects brought me, personally, the gift of about 200GB of good pictures, definitely some of the best I ever shot in the Delta... and the envy for the other happy Romanian photographers, who definitely have the privilege to live in Romania and to be able to dedicate way more time than I had... My thoughts are to come back as soon as possible, because "the price is right", as they say in the New World about a very well done business!

I'll see you next time in good health, shurub! Thank you!

Prima mea experienta in Delta a fost una groaznica, in care nu aveai nici un mijloc de transport serios, pe nimeni care sa te indrume, cazare pe unde nimereai... si asta nu se intampla mai devreme de anul trecut. Nu sunt eu mare pretentios insa ma simteam jecmanit. Nu voiam sa mai aud prea curand de Delta desi ma atragea.

In primavara aceasta am plecat din nou, de asta data alaturi de expeditia Wild Wonders of Europe, pentru a il cunoaste pe Manuel Presti si pentru a putea documenta un pic experienta lui de acolo. Nu pot spune decat ca a fost cu totul alta mancare de peste :).

Nu recomand nimanui venirea in Delta fara un om de nadejde si din punctul meu de vedere Iliuta s-a dovedit a fi un astfel de om. M-am simtit minunat impreuna cu ei, desi orele lungi de panda din barca ne-au cam tabacit fundurile. Am facut multe fotografii interesante zic eu si cu siguranta o sa mai revin. In curand puteti citi despre aventura lui Presti din Delta intr-un numar din Photo Travel. Toate bune si sa ne vedem la panda prin tufele din Delta.

Dan Dinu

daca nu doriti sa veniti in delta doar ca sa spuneti prietenilor ca ati fost si voi pe acolo,daca nu doriti sa veniti in delta si sa ascultati manele,daca nu doriti sa veniti in delta si sa mancati mici cu mustar.............atunci o sa gasiti aici ceea ce ar trebui sa fie turismul in DELTA DUNARII !

p.s. daca sunteti si fotografi,atunci chiar ati ajuns exact acolo unde trebuie si ati dat,culmea,si peste omul cel mai potrivit,iubitor impatimit al naturii si explorator neobosit al frumosului lacustru...

Fratilor, care ajungeti pe acolo
1. Nu credeti cand vi se spune ca e usor sa stai 8 ore in barca.
2. Nu mancati tot ce vi se da, o sa crapati.
3. Cand mergeti la Letea luati-va apa cu voi, multa, multa, multa.
4. Luati-va vitamine cu voi can plecati cu Surub in expeditie, o sa aveti nevoie de multa energie.

In rest ... abia astept sa ma duc din nou ... poate anul asta. Sper eu!

Am mai fost in Delta si pana sa vin cu grupul de fotografi dar niciodata nu am trait o asemenea experienta.
De la venire si pana la plecare totul a fost diferit, oamenii, MANCAREA!!!, plimbarile, locurile si MAI ALES! ghidul.
Multumesc Iliuta, tie si intregii echipe!

Am pornit spre Delta cu intentia de a bifa acest coltisor de tara pe care nu il vazusem niciodata si de a trece mai departe. Nu ma asteptam sa descopar un loc atat de frumos, care mi-a intrat pe sub piele si pe care abia astept sa il revad.

Excursia in Delta a fost prima mea tentativa de a poza "wildlife" si recunosc ca fara un ghid priceput, nu as fi avut nici jumatate dintre pozele cu care m-am intors acasa.