The extensive, sweeping grasslands ofthe western Pontic Steppe arerestricted - in eastern Europe - toRomania, Moldova and the Ukraine. This isa land of distant horizons anduninterrupted views, dominated byextensive semi-arid grassland and low-lying wooded hills, through which tree-linedrivers flow and lakes are scattered.Parched by the hot summer sun and frozenduring the cold winter months, the steppeis also a land of extremes, but one that ishome to a rich assemblage of excitingplants and other wildlife. One of the best remnant areas of steppehabitat can be found within Romania'seastern region of Dobrogea. Here, the low-lying plains around the Danube Delta arebisected by the Macin Mountains, a smallchain of undulating hills, some 20kilometres in length and formed of graniteand Palaeozoic schist. These are clothedin steppe and supra-Mediterranean forests,and offer dramatic panoramic views acrossa largely unspoiled landscape of naturaloak forests, steppe thickets, andgrasslands with their characteristic feathergrasses and fescues.This is not a wholly dry landscape,however, for the dry steppelands ofDobrogea merge into the edge of themagnificent Danube Delta, one of Europe'sgreatest natural treasures. The broadfloodplains and reed-fringed lakes and waterways of the Delta are not only hometo an abundance of birdlife, but offer thebotanist a rich assemblage of plantspecies that are in stark contrast to thosefound in the dry habitats further inland.This exciting Naturetrek tour offers aunique opportunity to explore a number ofthe habitats associated with this region,and to enjoy the varied, often localised,plants and other wildlife they contain.Following a flight from London toBucharest, the capital of Romania, we willdrive to Tulcea, the principal city ofDobrogea and gateway to the DanubeDelta. Here we will stay on a floating hotelfor three nights and head deep into theheart of the Delta, using smaller boats toexplore the maze of waterways andchannels and to access the traditionalvillage of Letea for some terrestrialbotanising within the primeval oak forestnearby. Dominated by ancient Quercuspedunculifloraand Fraxinus pallisiaetrees,the forest also boasts impressive sanddunes on which grow the sedge, Carexcolchica, and Scabiosa argentea, plusrarer species such as the joint pine,Ephedra distachya, and the lyme-grass,Leymus racemosusssp. sabulosus. Onanother day we will explore the reed-fringed Furtuna and Baclanesti lakes, andstudy the aquatic and marginal flora of theDelta, including the threatened waterchestnut, Trapa natans, and the water fern,Salvinia natans. Naturally, we will also turn our eyes skyward to enjoy the abundantbirdlife of the Danube Delta which includesPygmy Cormorant, Glossy Ibis andmagnificent flocks of White Pelicans. The second half of our holiday will be land-based, in Tulcea, from where we'll headsouth each day to explore Dobrogea. TheEnisala Landscape Reserve protects an areaof rocky steppe and offers not onlymagnificent panoramas but also theopportunity to enjoy species such asEuphorbia myrsinitesssp. litarderei. Nearby,the Babadag Forest is one of the richestbotanical sites in the area and offers ahabitat comprising both Balkanic and supra-Mediterranean forests, as well as bothwooded and open steppe. It is also home tomany threatened species, such as the rareLizard Orchid (Himantoglossum caprinum),the feather grass, Stipa pulcherrima, andEuphorbia glariosassp. dobrogensis.The Macin Mountains are a prime locationfor many typical steppe plants. Here wewill look for the endemic bellflower,Campanula romanica, together with Silenecompacta. The Chervant-PriopceaLandscape Reserve, part of the MacinMountains, offers yet another habitat toexplore. The rocks here are a mix ofschists and limestone creating acharacteristic rocky steppe habitat,dominated by the thyme, Thymuszygioides, and the sandwort, Minuartiaadenotricha.At Vadu, on the Black Sea coast, we willbotanise among a mix of saltmarsh,brackish wetlands, lagoons and coastaldunes. On the mainland side of thelagoon, the Cheile Dobrogei NatureReserve sits atop a limestone hill, theremains of an ancient fossilised coral reef.This spectacular reserve is home to anexciting variety of plant species such asthe endemic sandwort, Moehringia jankae,and the nettle tree, Celtis glabrata. Otherinteresting species to look out for duringour time exploring the steppe include thesage, Salvia ringens, Yellow Asphodel(Asphodeline lutea) and Wild Jasmine(Jasminium fruticans). Finally, we mustretrace our steps back to Bucharest wherewe catch our return flight to London. Romania-Wild Flowers ofDobrogea&theDanubeDeltaAn 8-day botanical holiday by boat, on foot and by minibus, to Dobrogea and the Black Sea coast of Romania.Wednesday 13th June - Wednesday 20th June Cost: £1,295(This tour can be combined with our 'Romania - Wild Flowers of the Carpathians' holiday outlined on Page 111)Outline itineraryDay 1Fly Bucharest.Day 2/4Floating hotel, DanubeDelta. Day 5/7Dobrogea, from Tulcea.Day 8Fly London.AccommodationFloating hotel in the Delta.Comfortable, but simple, hotelselsewhere. All rooms have privatefacilities. FoodAll included in the price.GradingA/B. Easy to moderate day walks. FocusPlants and other wildlife.LeaderPaul Harmes, plus local guides.Single room supplement£195.ExtensionsExtra nights in Bucharest, or otheroptions, available on request.Web quick search: ROM05110Call now or visit www.naturetrek.co.uk for your free Trip ItineraryHUNGARYUKRAINEMOLDAVIASERBIABULGARIARIVER DANUBERIVER DANUBEBUCHARESTBABADAGTULCEADANUBEDELTAVADUDOBROGEAN PLAINCARPATHIANMOUNTAINSBLACK SEAROMANIAConvolvuluspersicusDalmatian PelicanPaeonia peregrina, Podisul Nord

The Carpathian Mountains attain theirgreatest width and beauty inTransylvania, the forest-clad provinceof central Romania that is steeped inlegend and folklore. Here, the toweringpeaks of the Fagras Mountains and PiatraCraiului National Park offer a diversity oflandscapes and habitats unrivalled inEastern Europe. Above extensiveconiferous and deciduous woodlands liegreat alpine meadows, awash with flowersin the montane spring. Spectacularlimestone gorges carve through the hillsand the numerous meadows of the valleyshold a rich flora preserved by thetraditional farming techniques that are stillpractised here, in harmony with the naturalworld. This diversity of landscape, coupledwith the lack of modern farming methods,has created a botanical treasure-housewhich attracts naturalists from around theworld and which is the focus of thisexciting Naturetrek holiday.As it is a 2-centre tour, we are based firstlyin the Carpathian village of Zarnesti, andthen at a beautifully located chalet high inthe Fagras Mountains. We start, however,with a flight to Bucharest, the capital ofRomania, where we meet our local guideand drive north into the 'TransylvanianAlps' to Zarnesti, our base for four nights.On our first full day in the mountains wewill take a funicular railway high into themountains of the Bucegi National Park, tothe Babele Hut located at 2,200 metres.From here we will explore a range ofhabitats, from beautiful alpine meadowsdown to the spruce and beech forest. Thewide range of plants to be found here,which may include Artemisia petrosaandVeratrum album(White Hellebore), will only be rivalled by the magnificient 360-degree view! Next we explore the Zarnesti Gorge, aspectacular cleft that divides the limestonemountains on the edge of the PiatraCraiului National Park. The gorge ispartially lined with mixed forest of spruceand beech and its sheer and towering rockfaces are home to the beautiful crimson-winged Wallcreeper. The flora here is quiteexceptional; indeed, to date, the plant listfor Piatra Craiului National Park containsan amazing 1,108 species! The alpinemeadows at the head of the gorge hold anespecially rich flora, including the endemicCampanula carpatica(CarpathianBellflower) and Hepatica transsilvanica,plus Dianthus spiculifolius, Campanulapatula (Spreading Bellflower), Trolliuseuropaeus(Globeflower), Gentiana lutea(Yellow Gentian), Viola biflora(YellowWood-violet), Aster alpinus, Leontopodiumalpinumand Rhododendron kotschyi.On our final day around Zarnesti we willreturn to the Bucegi Massif and take acable car to Mount Postavaru. The viewsfrom the top are once again spectacularand we will have the whole morning inwhich to admire them and descend slowlythrough the alpine meadows and mixedwoodland in search of such flowers asDigitalis grandiflora(Large YellowFoxglove), Saxifraga corymbosa,Pedicularis verticillata(Whorled Lousewort),Gentiana verna(Spring Gentian),Campanula transsilvanica, Primula minima(Alpine Primrose) and Senecio integrifolius.In the afternoon we will explore the RasnovGorge, a second limestone cleft in which awide variety of plant-life should be found,including Viola alpina(Alpine Pansy) andViola dacica.We now move west to our second base, inthe Fagras Mountains - the mostimpressive and spectacular sector of theTransylvanian Carpathians. For our threenights here we will stay in a wonderfullypositioned mountain chalet set high abovethe tree-line and overlooking the beautifulLake Balea. There is no need for ourminibus here, for we can walk andbotanise from the front door of the hotel!The scenery is dominated by highmountains, glacial valleys and cirques.Waterfalls tumble from precipitous cliffsand small lakes dot the landscape. Valleys,such as the nearby Doamnei Valley, arecarpeted in a wealth of flora; whilst in thealpine meadows, that lie at around 2,200metres on a base of crystalline schist andlimestone, such species as the endemicSoldenella carpatica(CarpathianSnowbell), Aquilegia transsilvanica(Transylvanian Columbine), Campanulaalpina, Listera ovata(Common Twayblade),Gentiana punctata(Spotted Gentian) andArmeria alpinamay all be found. A glanceskyward may even reveal a passingGolden Eagle. With our holiday in the Carpathiansdrawing to a close we must leave themountains and retrace our steps back tothe airport. Those wishing to add a littleculture to their tour, however, may considerextending their stay in Romania with anight or two in Bucharest, the country'scolourful and vibrant capital. Romania - Wild Flowers of the Carpathians An 8-day botany holiday to the beautiful Carpathian Mountains of Romania. Wednesday 20th June - Wednesday 27th June Cost: £1,295(This tour can be combined with our 'Romania - Wild Flowers of Dobrogea & the Danube Delta' holiday outlined on Page 110)Book direct on 01962 733051or see page 280 for Booking InformationHUNGARYUKRAINEMOLDAVIASERBIABULGARIARIVER DANUBERIVER DANUBEBUCHARESTZARNESTITULCEADANUBEDELTACONSTANTACARPATHIANMOUNTAINSBLACK SEAROMANIAFAGRASMOUNTAINSOutline itineraryDay 1Fly Bucharest and transferZarnesti.Day 2/4Zarnesti.Day 5/7Fagras Mountains.Day 8Fly London.AccommodationSimple but comfortable tourist classhotels with private facilities. FoodAll included in the price.GradingB. Easy to moderate day walks. FocusPlants.LeaderPaul Harmes.Single room supplement£195.Web quick search: ROM02111Meadow ClaryCarpathian Mountains