Trip to the Evros Delta , An extensive photo report

The Evros Delta is an area of rare beauty formed by the estuaries of the Evros River – the second longest in Eastern Europe – before it flows into the sea.

It is one of Europe’s most important wetlands, teeming with life of all kinds: birds, plants, fish – all coexisting harmoniously in the river’s estuaries.

You won’t get tired of watching geese, ducks, swans, flamingos and other beautiful birds!

We visited the Evros Delta with an experienced local resident who owns his own Plava (the traditional wooden river boat) and a hut in the waters of the Evros.

Mr Kyriakos, an excellent connoisseur of the area, guided us through the secrets of the Delta.

Let’s discover them together!

The route – how to get to the Evros Delta

To reach the Evros Delta from Alexandroupoli, you need to follow the signs to the Information Centre – it’s near Traianoupoli, 14 km from Alexandroupoli, and all tours of the area start from there.

From there, you will be transported by special means to the Evros Delta to begin your boat tour.

If you have arrived in Alexandroupoli by bus, then you will need to hire a car or take a taxi to the Evros Delta.

We drove directly to where the plavas are moored, after a journey of about 25 km on a dirt road with many, many potholes!

We prepared the plava and, with Mr Kyriakos as our guide, began our boat trip.

Here, we should make a note and explain that the Plava is a traditional – wooden – boat used exclusively in rivers. It is made of water-resistant wood (often fishermen build them themselves) and is usually lined with neoprene or some other plastic material.

They are fitted with standard engines to provide sufficient propulsion and power in the treacherous waters of the area.

What you will encounter in the Evros Delta

The approximately 200 square kilometres covered by the Delta is a rare wetland area.

You will encounter many forms of life, including rare birds that spend their winter here, animals that feed on the area's flora, and several species of fish.

In the area, you will also find several hunters (don’t be alarmed by the… gunshots) as well as fishermen fishing in the Delta’s waters.

The waters in the Delta are quite shallow but dangerous, as it is essentially mud – meaning you could step in and sink!

There are many places to discover in the Delta, provided you find an experienced local guide who is willing and has the time to show them to you!

Dangers in the Evros Delta

At the mouth of the Evros River, there are several dangers – some smaller, some larger.

According to locals, there have been several incidents with traffickers attempting to smuggle migrants from Turkey into Greece.

Other times, migrants themselves knock on the doors of fishermen's huts for a little water and food.

Generally, if there is any coexistence of Turkish and Greek fishermen in the waters of the Evros, the atmosphere is calm, without any heated incidents.

The Delta huts

The huts found almost everywhere in the Delta are the makeshift homes of fishermen that are self-sufficient – meaning they have autonomous electricity (usually with a generator), heating with a stove and wood (or oil), and water from tanks fed by rain.

There, fishermen and hunters find shelter to rest.

Overall, staying in a hut in the Evros is a unique experience that you should definitely try if you have the chance, as it will be unforgettable!

Natural border with Turkey

The Evros River forms the natural border with Turkey. Thus, if you get close enough into the Delta waters, you will reach the lagoon and from there you will have a view towards the old Greek city of Ainos (today Enez in Turkey).

A boat trip in the Evros Delta will certainly be unforgettable, as you will see unique sights and nature at its best.

Before booking your trip to Alexandroupoli and the Delta, contact the information centre to organise your boat trip, to avoid any unexpected problems.

How to get to Alexandroupoli

You can reach Alexandroupoli easily and quickly by road via the Egnatia Odos motorway or by air with regular flights from Athens and Eleftherios Venizelos Airport. Flights from Athens to Alexandroupoli are operated by Aegean Airlines. You can find cheap Aegean flight tickets here.

By road from Athens, the journey takes about 8 hours, while from Thessaloniki it will not exceed 3 hours.

Enjoy an extensive photo report from the Evros Delta