8 days tour

Carpathian Walking & Bears

$ 1,800 .00 USD

Total price per person

Reserve with $1,800.00

Carpathian Walking & Bears

This tour includes:

Accommodation

We spend seven nights in Villa Hermani, a private guesthouse in the remote village of Magura. Itโ€™s ideally situated for our adventure, sitting at the foot of the Carpathian Mountains and within Piatra Craiului National Park. The property has twin and single rooms in a range of sizes and styles, almost all of which have private facilities (there are two rooms that share one bathroom). There is free wifi at the guesthouse. Our friendly hosts, German couple Hermann and Katharina Kurmes, possess a wealth of knowledge on Transylvania, wildlife conservation and serve delicious homemade food.

Meals

All breakfasts, five packed lunches and six dinners are included. Meals are a mixture of fresh local produce and Romanian/Transylvanian specialities. Transylvanian cuisine is influenced by several traditions and cultures (German, Hungarian and Romanian cuisine) but maintains a distinct character with a love for homemade cooking. Soups are a staple, main meals tend to be hearty with a strong focus on local produce, while desserts are varied and plentiful. Breakfasts are usually a small buffet including an egg dish, cold cuts, cheeses, boiled eggs, vegetables, spreads, bread, yoghurt, cereals, jam, juice, herbal teas and coffee. Lunches included on this trip will usually be self-made sandwiches; you can choose your own fillings from the morning buffets. Each evening there is a choice between a meat or vegetarian dish. Dinner on the first evening is typically a light snack (cold platters with local food and bread) due to the late arrival of the group. On one evening, we enjoy dinner in a typical Romanian restaurant in Brasov. This meal is not included, allow approximately 120 Romanian lei (US$25) โ€“ without drinks โ€“ for this. Vegetarian and special diets can be catered for, but options can be limited throughout Romania โ€“ please inform the office of any specific requirements upon booking.

Others

Listed activities

Guide

Tour leader throughout

Transport

Transfers between Bucharest Airport and the guesthouse will normally be by Mercedes Sprinter bus. Local transport will be by minibuses. During the week, we sometimes use local low-impact transport, such as horse-drawn cart.

Not included:

Insurance

Others

โ€” Travel insurance โ€” Visas and vaccinations โ€” Single supplement

Start planning your experience

Itinerary of your trip Carpathian Walking & Bears

  • Day 1 Day 1: Start Bucharest; Transfer To Magura (Dinner)
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 1: Start Bucharest; Transfer To Magura (Dinner)

      Our family-run guesthouse, and home for the week, is in the quaint village of Magura within Piatra Craiului National Park. It is approximately 105mi (170km) from Bucharest Airport and takes around 3hr 30min to reach by road. Therefore, we highly recommend you join the group minibus transfer. Due to the late arrival of the group transfer, dinner tonight is a light snack.

  • Day 2 Day 2: Walk To Visit Kalibash Villages (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 2: Walk To Visit Kalibash Villages (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)

      After breakfast, we spend the day exploring the area surrounding the unique Kalibash villages of Magura and Pestera, where the houses are built along mountain ridges with deep ravines and valleys in between. We learn about the history of the settlements, which were built against the medieval invasions of Mongols, Tartars and Turks.

  • Day 3 Day 3: Horse-Drawn Cart Ride And Hike In Barza Valley; Evening Brown Bear Watching (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 3: Horse-Drawn Cart Ride And Hike In Barza Valley; Evening Brown Bear Watching (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)

      Today, after a walk into the Barza Valley, we travel the traditional way as horse-drawn carts take us on a journey. As we slowly make our way, we enjoy a spectacular view to Piatra Craiului Mountain and the dispersed settlement of Poiana Marului. We then leave the carts and hike uphill through hay meadows to a hermitage in the rocks. This evening, we can go brown bear watching. A forester will take us to a safe hide deep in the forest. The hides are managed by the forestry commission and access is dependent on their permission, which is why it is organised and paid for locally. Not being able to get access to the hides is extremely rare.

  • Day 4 Day 4: Visit Draculaโ€™S Castle (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 4: Visit Draculaโ€™S Castle (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)

      In the morning, we start from the guesthouse and hike uphill across the flower meadows. Here we have splendid views over the wide landscape of small hamlets and mountains. We stay on the ridge and walk slowly downhill through beech forests to busy Bran. Bran Castle was built on the border to Wallachia, where Vlad the Impaler, Duke of Wallachia, once ruled. Vlad was a brutal tyrant and provided inspiration for Bram Stokerโ€™s Dracula. Vlad himself never went to Bran Castle, but Stoker saw an image of it and felt it was the perfect setting for his gothic tale. In the afternoon, we are picked up and return to quiet Magura.

  • Day 5 Day 5: Take A Train To Brasov, City Tour (Breakfast)
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 5: Take A Train To Brasov, City Tour (Breakfast)

      Today we hang up our hiking boots and take a combination of train and electric buses to Brasov (approximately one hour), the cultural and economic heart of the region. This medieval town has been a mix of nations ever since it was founded in the 12th century. We have a guided tour before time to explore at leisure. In the evening we taste Romanian cuisine in one of the restaurants before taking the train back to Magura. Please note that potential delays in train services can be expected in the summer months. The last train back to Magura is normally around 8:20pm.

  • Day 6 Day 6: Hike Through Alpine Pastures To Curmatura Cabin (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 6: Hike Through Alpine Pastures To Curmatura Cabin (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)

      The first highlight this morning is a hike through Zarnesti Gorge, which was formed 3m years ago by water cutting through the limestone massif of Piatra Craiului. We hike up to Curmatura Cabin at 4,820ft (1,470m), right under the walls of Piatra Craiului, which is open to hikers year-round. If weather and fitness allow, we can go further and climb Piatra Mica, the highest peak is at 5,941ft (1,811m). The return leads us over shepherd meadows and forest into the valley and finally up again to Magura.

  • Day 7 Day 7: Visit Brown Bear Sanctuary; Hike To Vulcan (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 7: Visit Brown Bear Sanctuary; Hike To Vulcan (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)

      We head down to the valley and visit LiBearty, the largest brown bear sanctuary in Europe. Set in oak and hazel forests, it is home to more than 100 rescued bears, many of whom suffered years in captivity as dancing bears or in circuses. From the sanctuary, we go on a gentle hike across meadows to the village of Vulcan. This region, around Brasov, is closely related to the history of the Transylvanian Saxons, settlers who emigrated 800 years ago from the Rhineโ€Moselle valleys. Their strong fortified churches have attracted international attention and some are Unesco World Heritage sites. We will be welcomed with coffee and tea in the yard of a fortified church. The churches in Transylvania were strongly fortified during the Middle Ages when the region was raided several times by Mongols and Tartars.

  • Day 8 Day 8: To Bucharest Airport; End (Breakfast)
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 8: To Bucharest Airport; End (Breakfast)

      The adventure comes to an end after breakfast. Bid a fond farewell to the guesthouse, which may feel like a second home by now, and begin your return journey home.

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Experience Style

Experience Style

Mixed

There will be challenging activities such as hiking, biking, canyoning and trekking, but youโ€™re also going to have other means of transportation and relaxed moments to just chill.

Accomodation level

Accomodation level

Medium

This accommodation includes essential services like a hot shower, electricity, and a nice and comfy bed.

Experience Type

Experience Type

Small Group

Youโ€™ll be accompanied by a small group of travelers just like you.

Physical Rating

Physical Rating

Basic

Almost everyone is fit for these activities. Every hike or physical exercise last less than 30 minutes, such as paragliding and horseback riding. Please ask about specific conditions.

Age range

Age range

Min: 16 / Max: 99

Age range allowed for this experience.

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