Sound recording expedition to Romania
18-25 April 2026

Join me on this small group expedition to the wild North of Romania where we will record the sounds of wildlife in one of Europe’s last wildernesses. Spring is the perfect season to record birds here, with Capercaillie leks and lovely dawn choruses, but we will also focus on capturing the sounds of mammals. April is the height of Lynx mating season and we will aim to capture its rarely heard calls. It is also possible to record wolves, even though it’s not their mating season. Lastly, we have access to wild roaming bison, and there is a chance to capture their sounds. Additionally, there is potential for frog and toad sounds, depending on weather.

Key facts

Fee - £2100 per person (+VAT if you are in the UK)
Group size - 3 attendees plus expedition leader
Dates - April 18-25 2026
Pickup/dropoff - Iasi airport, Romania (IAS)
Base - hotel in Pascani and/or Targu Neamt, Romania
Proficiency level - basic sound recording knowledge required
Equipment - bring your own, some kit available to borrow
Fitness level - moderate physical activity expected
Fee includes lodging on a single basis, food, snacks, coffee, transportation, access
Fee does not include flights, visas, personal expenses, alcohol, tips
50% required to confirm attendance, balance due two weeks before the trip

What to bring

• head torch

• thermos flask

• cold weather clothing

• base layers, ideally merino wool

• binoculars

• waterproof footwear

• insect repellent

Discussions

Introduction to wildlife and nature sound recording
Listening in the field
Recording equipment basics
Attended vs unattended recording - drop rigs, tree ears
Field recording for sound design
Working with studios and brands

Field work

We aim to spend full days in the wild exploring the landscapes and recording sounds. We will be driving and hiking to reach our recording locations and we have local support from porters and rangers if needed. We will do animal tracking and species observation so we can understand their behaviours and capture their calls. Our main approach to field recording will be unattended with drop rigs, but we will also bring directional microphones to capture sounds as we go.

We will do at least two dawn chorus sessions, going out before sunrise and immersing ourselves in the land- and soundscape. Our schedule will be flexible as we need to adapt to weather conditions. There are more good locations than time permits so I will do some recces before the expedition starts so we can make informed decisions about where to go.

Key species

• Northern raven - Corvus corax

• White stork - Ciconia ciconia

• Ural owl - Strix uralensis

• Tawny owl - Strix aluco

• Boreal owl - Aegolius funereus

• Eurasian eagle owl - Bubo bubo

• Black woodpecker - Dryocopus martius

Expedition leader

I am George Vlad and I have more than 15 years of experience as a field recordist and sound designer. I grew up in these landscapes and I have a very deep connection with the land here. I’ve worked on many high profile projects including Dune Part II, Mufasa the Lion King, Google Sound Matters for Pixel devices etc. I’ve had the privilege of recording in many parts of the world but I come back to Romania a few times every year. More info about me at https://mindful-audio.com/george-vlad-credits.

Disclaimer

April is a great time to record wildlife in this part of Romania, but the weather can be unpredictable. In some years it’s been warm and dry, while others have brought heavy snow and frost. While access might be more difficult, we aim to explore these landscapes regardless of the weather. We will have support from local rangers and explorers, plus capable vehicles and excellent local knowledge.

A note on recording wildlife and nature. The outdoors isn’t a zoo and wild animals are unpredictable. I have been exploring and recording in these landscapes for decades but there is never a guarantee of seeing/hearing certain species. Maximising time in the field and immersing ourselves in the landscape merely gives us the best chances of encounters. The rest is up to chance.

Questions/How to book

Email me through the contact form and I will get back to you. See you out there!