When to go
April – October
Price
From £1,649 pp (including flights)
Flight time
3hrs 6mins
Introduction
Romania is home to a wide variety of wildlife, including Brown Bears, the lynx, and wolves. In fact, the region is home to about half of the total population of Brown Bears in Europe! Aside from the beautiful array of wildlife, Romania is rich with, largely, untouched forests, vast snowy landscapes in winter, and towns with Medievil-origin architecture.
Good For
At a Glance
Duration
8 days & 7 nights
Guide price
Group: £1,649pp (including flights)
Cities/Destinations (in order)
Bucharest – Magura – Kalibash Villages – Barza Valley – Dracula’s Castle – Brasov – Curmatura Cabin – Vulcan – Bucharest
Tour Type
Experienced local tour manager and guided sightseeing
Tour Theme
Group Tour
Activity Level
2 out of 7 - Leisurely / Moderate
Age Range
16+
Star Rating of Tour
Superior
Accommodation
Villa Hermani Guesthouse
Board Basis
Varied - please see the sample itinerary for details
Min|Max Group Size
Average 4 people with a maximum of 16
Start/Finish
Bucharest – Bucharest
Highlights
Watch Brown Bears in a Comfortable Hide
During your trip, you will visit a safe and cozy hide, where you can watch native Brown Bears congregate. The hide is safe and accessible virtually all year round, with very rare exceptions dependent on staff permission.
Go on Hiking Trails Through Meadows, and Forests
There are plenty of hiking opportunities in Romania. These include the hiking trail in Barza Valley, where you will enjoy lunch and tea made by monks at the end of the walk, and the uphill hike to Dracula’s Castle, which’ll take you through sprawling flower meadows.
Stay in a Comfortable Private Guesthouse
The Villa Hermani Guesthouse is a family-run facility. It is located between Transylvania and Wallachia, at an approximate altitude of 1,080m in the Măgura mountain village. There are 17 rooms, a spacious dining area with terrace, and a conference room for about 25 people.
Recommended Hotels
Villa Hermani Guesthouse
Sample Itinerary
Carpathian Walking & Bears
Trek deep into the Romanian wilderness with an 8-day long journey to the Carpathian Mountain and surrounding region. In this sample itinerary, you will marvel at the beauty and wonder of native brown bears from a safe hide, go on a horse-drawn cart ride, visit Dracula’s castle, and go on a city tour of Brasov, a medieval town founded in the 12th century.
Day 1: Fly to Bucharest | Magura
Fly from London to Bucharest. Then transfer to the private guesthouse, located at the foot of the Carpathian Mountains, via minibus.
Accommodation for the entire duration of your trip will be at the Villa Hermani Guesthouse.
(D)
Day 2: Kalibash Villages
Enjoy a delicious breakfast made from homegrown vegetables and produces. Then explore the Kalibash villages of Magura and Pestera. The houses in the region are built along the mountain ridges, with distinctive valleys and ravines that give them a unique visual appeal. You will visit some of these houses and learn about their historical significance, of which many were built during the medieval era.
(B, L, D)
Day 3: Barza Valley | Brown Bear Watching
Start the day with a memorable horse-drawn cart ride and hike to Barza Valley. During the cart ride, you will marvel at the incredible views of the Piatra Craiului Mountain and the Poiana Marului settlement. Then depart from the carts and hike uphill. Upon reaching your destination, you will enjoy lunch and tea prepared by local monks with hand-picked herbs.
In the evening, go to a nearby Hide and watch Brown Bear activity from the safety, and comfort, of a professionally run hide. The hide is accessible, pretty much, all year round with very rare exceptions.
(B, L, D)
Day 4: Dracula’s Castle
Hike uphill across the flower meadows and enjoy stunning views of the wide landscape. Then head slowly downhill to Wallachia, and reach the iconic Bran Castle, where the Duke of Wallachia once ruled. The castle is said to be the inspiration for Bram Stoker’s novel Dracula. Return to Magura in the afternoon.
(B, L, D)
Day 5: Brasov
Drive to the medieval town of Brasov and explore the region. Established in the 12th century, the town is rich with beautifully preserved architecture, along with a wealth of surrounding forested hills. In the evening, enjoy some of the finest Romanian cuisine at a local restaurant, then return to Magura.
(B)
Day 6: Curmatura Cabin
In the morning, hike to the Zarnesti Gorge. This incredible natural landscape was formed over 3 million years ago, when the nearby water source cut through the limestone massif of the Piatra Craiului.
You will then hike up to the Curmatura Cabin, which sits at a height of 4,820 ft. If weather permits, and if you have the physical ability, you can further climb the Piatra Mica, for which the highest peak is at 5,941 ft. Return to Magura in the afternoon.
(B, L, D)
Day 7: Brown Bear Sanctuary | Vulcan
Make your way to the largest brown bear sanctuary in Europe, known as LiBearty. The reserve is located in the beautiful oak and hazel forests, and is home to around 100 native brown bears, many of which have been rescued from years of captivity and being forced to dance or serve as circus entertainment.
After the sanctuary, take a gentle hike to the village of Vulcan. The region is actually composed of two separate villages: Vulcan and Colonia 1 Mai. It was founded around the year 1377 and is considered an important village in the Burzenland area, largely due to the once strong presence of the Transylvanian Saxon community.
Upon arrival, you will enjoy coffee and tea in the yard of a fortified church.
(B, L, D)
Day 8: Bucharest | London
Transfer to Bucharest and fly back to London.
(B)
