Romania. The name resonates with a drama born of ancient folk legends - of fantastic castles, fiendish vampires, and sinister medieval princes. The truth is that today's Romania, while it possesses all the wildly romantic settings and the imaginative disposition that gave rise to these vivid traditions, is a varied landscape of fascinating ecosystems and rich cultures just waiting to be explored and appreciated.

We are pleased to offer you a very special journey into the natural and
folkloric heritage of this fascinating nation. The centerpiece of our
travels is a five-day/four-night cruise through the hauntingly beautiful
Danube Delta, a UNESCO "Biosphere Reservation." At one time almost destroyed by Ceausescu's grandiose attempts to make it "profitable," this precious and utterly unique criss-cross of channels, backwaters, floating islands, sand banks, and reed marshes has made an almost miraculous comeback in the last decade.

The Danube Delta now harbors 1,150 plant species and 3,400 species of
vertebrates and invertebrates, some of them unique in all the world. Eleven converging migratory bird routes make it the richest area in Europe for bird life, with over 300 species. The Delta harbors 60% of the world's Pygmy Cormorants and Europe's only significant colonies of White Pelicans and Dalmatian Pelicans. The Delta supports a diversity of terrestrial animals, while about 160 species of fishes are found in its waters. Plant life of the region is equally diverse, and includes several carnivorous species. Of special interest are the curious reed islands, which provide habitat for diverse life forms. Exotic lotus flowers and water lilies dot the waters, while a variety of trees cluster along the riverbanks.

We view the region from exclusive, 20-passenger barges, "floating hotels," that offer all the exquisite comfort and pampering of first-class land accommodations. Onboard restaurants serve up Delta fish and mollusks in delicate sauces accompanied by fresh local produce and specially selected wines. The barges' shaded decks have been designed for relaxed viewing of the wildlife from onboard, while fleets of smaller motorboats ferry us through the Delta's tiny, labyrinthine channels. Strategically placed watch towers have been erected for close-up wildlife viewing.

A second highlight of our journey is Bucovina, nestled in the Carpathian foothills. It was here that a distinctively Romanian art form flowered on the walls of fifteenth- and sixteenth-century churches and monasteries, achieving a breathtaking blend of Byzantine style with regional folk lyricism that is irresistibly captivating. We visit a number of these resplendent edifices, many of them UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and all of them covered, both inside and out, with exquisitely-detailed frescoes.

Finally, we discover the tree-lined boulevards and serene parks of Bucharest, Romania's "Little Paris," home to fine ethnological and natural history museums, opulent palaces, grandiose monuments and colossal government buildings.