Finland and Romania are deemed to be two of Europe's premier brown bear locations. The remote forests and mountains of Central Europe are home to half of Europe's brown bear population, plus a third of its wolf and lynx populations. In addition, the Danube Delta is simply teeming with birdlife, fi sh, fl ora and fauna - spotting bears and cruising the delta's channels are two very special wildlife experiences, close to home and affordable.Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Fusce in vulputate risus. Pellentesque scelerisque diam nec urna aliquam ut luctus augue scelerisque. Aliquam erat volutpat. Fusce ut ipsum sed odio blandit pretium. Suspendisse lorem tellus. Martinselkonen Wilderness Lodge, Finland MID Martinselkonen Wilderness Lodge is comfortable with 12 twin or double and two single en-suite rooms, a relaxing, communal dining area and saunas. Walking trails lead straight from the lodge. The two hides house nine and ten people, have areas for sleeping and comfortable seating/viewing areas.Elena Guesthouse, Romania MIDElena Guesthouse is a friendly, family-run hotel, beautifully located at the foot of a mountain. It has sound environmental principles; established as a result of the Carpathian Large Carnivore Project. It's a comfortable base for a wildlife holiday, and serves excellent home-cooked food. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Fusce in vulputate risus. Pellentesque scelerisque diam nec urna aliquam ut luctus augue scelerisque. Aliquam erat volutpat. Fusce ut ipsum sed odio blandit pretium. Suspendisse lorem tellus. Danube Delta Apartment, Romania MID In the heart of the Danube Delta, we use a comfortable apartment, which is excellent for birders. Rooms are en-suite and the apartment has balconies for admiring the views and a dining room serving hearty, traditional meals. Bears and birds of Finland and Romania80EuropeTalk to an expert 0845 130 6982In focusThe Brown BearThe brown bear is the largest predator in Finland. The male can grow to be 2.85 metres tall and weigh in at 390 kilograms; females only grow to a little over half that size. Their name is a little misleading: some brown bears can have a creamy colour to their coat, while others are nearly black. They can run at speeds greater than 50 kilometres an hour for short distances and, at slower speeds, can run for several minutes when chasing down food, such as a young caribou. However, while most people see brown bears as voracious meat-eaters, they actually eat both plants and animals - much of their diet is made up of plants, berries and roots.FinlandRomaniaFebruaryThe start of the wolf-tracking season in Romania. March is also a good time to go. Pages 81April The best birdwatching in the Danube Delta begins and continues until the end of October. Pages 81May The bear-watching season starts at the hides in Finland and Romania as the bears come out of hibernation. Pages 80-83

Zarnesti, Romania Zarnesti is nestled at the border of Kingstone Mountain National Park, well-known for its population of wolves, brown bears and lynx. Bears in Romania are plentiful, but elusive; nevertheless you can be assured of a good opportunity to view them feeding close to the hide. Other wildlife you may see here includes red fox and very occasionally wild boar and red deer. Birdlife here includes woodpeckers, grouse, buzzards and owls. A walk in the Zarnesti Gorges is likely to reveal wallcreepers, alpine swifts and three-toed woodpeckers.Danube DeltaSpread over 2,200 square kilometres, Romania's Danube Delta is teeming with natural life. A World Heritage Site and a Biosphere Reserve, the Delta's varied habitat is home to many species of birds, fi sh, fauna and fl ora. You will explore the channels and crystal clear lakes of the Delta by boat, hopefully seeing many of the species of birds to be found here including the largest colony of white pelicans in Europe as well as Eurasian spoonbills, cormorants, ibis, herons, egrets and white-tailed sea eagle. The fl ora here is also amazing with many endemic species of trees and plants. 81SUGGESTED ITINERARYDay 1 Depart UK for Bucharest. Danube Delta, 5-nights, apartments (BLD)Day 2 Explore the channels and crystal clear lakes of the Delta, looking for the myriad bird and fi sh species which inhabit this unique area (BLD) Day 6 Depart Romania for UKDeparture dates Daily, April to OctoberCost per person From £1295What's included Flights, transfers, meals as indicated, fi ve nights comfortable local accommodation, guided activitiesNATURE IN THE DANUBE DELTAA holiday exploring the Danube Delta, which teems with wildlife including many bird and fi sh species, fl ora and fauna. The only way to discover its beauty is by boat, where you can get close - hopefully! - to many birds, including white pelican. This itinerary also presents some wonderful photographic opportunities and the chance to sample some of Romania's fantastic culture and delicious cuisine.TAILOR-MADESUGGESTED ITINERARYDay 1 Depart UK for Bucharest. Zarnesti, 3-nights, Elena Guesthouse. Drive via the Carpathian Mountains (BLD) Day 2 Brown bear viewing from hides (BLD) Day 4 Depart Romania for UKBEARS AND WOLVES IN ROMANIADuring this four-day break there will be plenty of opportunity to look for bears, and the tracks of wolf and lynx. The park is well known for its healthy brown bear population and staying in a hide near to where they feed increases your chances of seeing these wonderful creatures. You will also have the option to visit eerie 'Dracula's Castle' on your way back to Bucharest!TAILOR-MADEOr visit us on the web www.wildlifeworldwide.comEUROPE | FINLAND & ROMANIASUGGESTED ITINERARYDay 1 Depart UK for Bucharest. Zarnesti, 4-nights, Elena Guesthouse. Drive via the Carpathian Mountains (LD) Day 2 Easy trek in the Zarnesti Gorge, a good place for Chamoix (BLD) Day 3 Explore virgin forests near to mountains which house sheep folds - good for animal tracking (BLD) Day 5 Visit 'Dracula's Castle' before driving back to Bucharest for your fl ight home (B)Departure dates December to MarchCost per person From £1130 (Dec - Jan), £1060 (Feb - Mar) What's included Flights, transfers, meals as indicated, four nights guesthouse accommodation, guided activitiesWINTER WILDLIFEThe winter months provide an interesting time to enjoy spectacular icy scenery and a different wildlife experience in Romania. You will walk amidst forests and gorges tracking wolf, deer and chamoix, as well as searching for tracks in the snow. Cross-country skiing adds more excitement and enables you to cover more ground. TAILOR-MADEDeparture dates Daily, May to SeptemberCost per person From £1070 (Apr- Jul), £995 (Aug - Oct) What's included Flights, transfers, meals as indicated, three nights guesthouse accommodation, guided activities