Compare Transylvania Winter Walk & Snowshoe by Exodus Travels vs Romania in 14 days – Outdoor, Rural and Cultural Landmarks by Alpine Adventure Romania
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| Trip |
5 | Excellent
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5 | Excellent
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| Duration | 8 days | 14 days |
| Price From | $ 2,175 | $ 2,198 |
| Price Per Day | $ 272 | $ 157 |
| Highlights |
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| Trip Style | Small group tour | Private guided tour |
| Lodging Level | Standard | Standard |
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| Flights & Transport | Ground transport included | Ground transport included |
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| Meals Included | All breakfasts, six lunches and six dinners are included during our stay. Meals are a mixture of local produce and Romanian/Transylvanian specialties. Breakfasts usually consist of 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 include the following – a picnic lunch provided by a local farmer on one day, traditional soups, and self-made sandwiches that you can choose your own fillings from the buffet in the mornings. Each evening there is a choice of a meat dish or vegetarian option. If you are vegetarian or have special dietary requirements please let us know at the time of booking. One night we will have dinner in a traditional Romanian restaurant in Brasov, this meal is not included and you should allow approximately 100 Romanian lei (€20) – without drinks – for this. |
13 Lunches and 13 Dinners |
| Description |
Transylvania – the name alone conjures images of craggy mountains, gothic castles, horse-drawn carts and forests filled with hibernating bears. The reality is not that far off. Crisp winters add an extra dimension to this small corner of Europe as snow blankets the pastures, farmsteads and woodlands. Spend a week exploring this region, hiking or snowshoeing to small villages, into gorges, through valleys and up mountains as we also take time to visit a local bear sanctuary and, of course, one of the most famous castles in the world, Bran Castle, the fictional home of Dracula. From our comfortable guesthouse in the small village of Magura, we head out to uncover the region’s treasures on foot. Snow conditions will dictate whether we hike or snowshoe; either way, we get into the wilderness. On our travels, we meet local people who still live a traditional lifestyle, learn about the regional folklore and history, enjoy the mountain scenery and, with a bit of luck, see traces of the local wildlife including wolf or bear prints in the snow.Mountains, woodlands, pastures and villages all covered in snow and waiting to be explored in Romania |
This tour is first about Romania. It is about discovering Romania by climbing her most beautiful mountains, by experiencing the rural richness of Romania and by experiencing several of the old historical provinces of Romania: Muntenia from the old kingdom of Romania, Banat and Transylvania. All these by striking the right balance of physical effort during the outdoor hikes followed by cultural sightseeing dedicated days. |
Day 1 Start Magura, Transylvania
The trip starts in the village of Magura at about 3,410ft (1,040m), within the boundaries of Piatra Craiului National Park in Transylvania. However, as the guesthouse is 103mi (165km) from Bucharest Airport, we strongly recommend you join the group transfer (3hr 30min), which will take you to the guesthouse from the airport. Dinner on arrival will consist of a cheese and continental meat platter with bread. Our hosts at our guesthouse, Villa Hermani, are very hospitable and enjoy stopping to chat over a glass of local plum brandy. Accommodation: Villa Hermani
Day 2 Walk to a local bat cave and the village of Pestera
Heading out on foot, our first destination today is a local cave, which is a hibernation roost for a number of bats including lesser and greater horseshoe bats. Remember to bring a torch (flashlight) with you for the visit. We then continue to the nearby village of Pestera (which translates as ‘the cave’) witnessing the winter rural life of these mountain communities. After lunch at a local pub, we return to Magura. Accommodation: Villa Hermani
Day 3 Explore Kalibash villages
Magura is one of a number of villages known as the Kalibash villages. The Kalibash once fled Walachia to this remote area which, at the time, was under Austro-Hungarian rule. Here, houses stretch along hilltops like pearls on a string. Starting at our guesthouse, we hike up to Dealul Magurice (4,265ft/1,300m) where we may spot wolf, lynx and bear prints in the forest snow. Later, as we make our way back to Magura, we stop by a farm to share a hot tuica (homemade plum brandy) with the farmer. Accommodation: Villa Hermani
Day 4 Snowshoe or walk between Piatra Craiului and Bucegi mountains
This morning, we walk up to a high plateau between Piatra Craiului and Bucegi mountains. In winter, this plateau is uninhabited, everything is still and a quiet serenity permeates the air giving a sense of truly being in a remote and special area. In the afternoon, we return to the guesthouse. Accommodation: Villa Hermani
Day 5 Visit Libearty bear sanctuary, the village of Vulcan and Brasov
Driving down into the valley, we make our way to the largest rescue facility for brown bears in Europe: Libearty. Founded in 2005, the rescue centre is home to nearly 100 bears, most of which suffered years in captivity as dancing bears or in circuses. The walk around the bear sanctuary will last approximately one hour. We drive to the village of Vulcan, which derives its name from the Slavonic word valc meaning wolf. This region is closely related to the history of Transylvanian Saxons who immigrated here 800 years ago from the Rhine-Moselle valleys. They built fortified churches, some of which have been designated Unesco World Heritage sites. Upon arrival in Vulcan, we are greeted with warm coffee and traditional cake in the yard of the fortified church. From Vulcan, we drive to Brasov for a tour around town and free time to explore. We then take our evening meal in a traditional Romanian restaurant and later return to Magura by minibus. Accommodation: Villa Hermani
Day 6 Walk to Bran Castle, also known as Dracula's castle
Today we hike from tranquil Magura towards busy Bran where we visit Bran Castle. It’s easy to see why Bram Stoker picked this castle to be the residence of Count Dracula. The character himself was based on Vlad Tepes, aka Vlad the Impaler, Duke of Walachia and a brutal tyrant. Though Vlad himself never went to Bran, Stoker saw an image of the castle and thought it the perfect setting for his dark tale. After, we stop by Dracula’s market where we can pick up vampire-inspired souvenirs. Later, we meet the minibus and return to Magura. Accommodation: Villa Hermani
Day 7 Snowshoe through Zarnesti Canyon to Piatra Craiului Mountains
This morning, we walk through a spectacular canyon, a gorge formed during the Jurassic period. We continue towards Curmatura Cabin just beneath the rocks of Piatra Craiului Mountain. The cabin is open year-round and we can relax here before going back to our guesthouse. Altitude gain: We first walk down to the gorge 655ft (200m), then hike up 2,300ft (700m) to Cabana Curmatura, walk down again 2,300ft (700m), and hike up to Magura 655ft (200m). Accommodation: Villa Hermani
Day 8 End Magura, Transylvania
Our adventure comes to an end today. Bid farewell to Villa Hermani and start your return journey home. Clients booked on the group transfer will be transported (3hr 30min) back to Bucharest Airport.
Day 1
Our objective for the day are the Danube narrows known as the Iron Gates. These spectacular narrows are to be found in South-West of Romania where the Danube separates Romania and Serbia. At this point, the river separates the southern Carpathians from the northwestern foothills of the Balkans.
It is a long way from Bucharest so we need to leave the capital city of Romania early in the morning. We drive for about 5 hours following the Bucharest – Pitesti – Craiova – Drobeta – Orsova route. After a well deserved lunch in the port city of Orsova, we head for the narrows by car.
We are going to leave the car at some point and walk along the steep river banks. The view there is gorgeous. But not more so than from above the gorges. Yes, we are going to hike the highest point above the narrows (Peak Ciucaru – 318 m) and see it all from above.
The hike is easy and re-comforting, but the drops to the Danube are quite vertical. This an unique landscape in Europe.
In the evening we are going to linger late at a guesthouse right on the bank of the Danube.
Day 2
Objectives for the day: Baile Herculane thermal bath resort and the remote villages of the Cernei Mountains. Romans, Turks, Austrians they all used the baths. The center of the resort is Austrian style. It could be, if restored, the best thermal resort in Europe.
As for the villages…well, they are truly special. There is no car road reaching them on top of the mountain. Nor they have electric light. The elders are still wearing centuries old types of garments and shoes. Unfortunately, the younger generation, out of economic reasons is leaving the birth place. This is something unique which should be seen while still there is something left of the old ways.
One hour by car and we are in Herculane but we are not going to visit the resort, but only in the evening. We are going to hike first to Inelet and Scarisoara villages in a round circuit. In order to reach the first village, we need to climb some wooden ladders. Remember, the villagers do it too. Up there is another epoch. The whole hike takes about 4-5 easy hours.
Late evening we are back in Herculane and enjoy the resort.
Day 3
This day, we are going to be on our way to Retezat, but not before seeing some of the most beautiful places of Banat: the water mills from Rudaria, the Nerei gorges and the Waterfall of Beusnita.
We will pass the old mining city of Anina, the city of Caransebes and then we will reach the site of the capital city of the Roman province of Dacia – Sarmizegetusa Ulpia. From there we will enter the kingdom of Retezat.
The evening will find us at a guesthouse at the foot of Retezat mountains
Day 4
The biggest glacier lake of Romania – Bucura – is the objective for the day. And not only this: jagged peaks, lots of glacier lakes, river valleys, juniper forests, etc. What a hike this will be in the oldest national park of Romania.
For this we need to drive 30 km on a gravel road and enter the heart of the mountain. After two hours we will step with our bare feet in the cold water of Bucura lake. It is a wonderful camping site. Not for us this time. We climb a little more following the lake trail: Lia, Viorica…all lakes with girl names, flowing one into another.
We will come back spellbound to the same guesthouse.
Day 5
After the physically taxing previous day, this day is about discovering Sureanu mountains and its villages and caves. We will go to Cioclovina protected area and let us drifted by the river meanders and the limestone landscape. This is one of the areas that were the power basis of the Dacians, the ancient people who fought (and lost with dire consequences) against the Romans.
In the evening we will move to Alba Iulia city.
Day 6
It is time for a city. But not any city. It is a symbol of Romania. It is here that the great union of Transylvania and the old kingdom of Romania was made in 1918. The marvel is that you can see at once several layers of history at the same time: this was the Roman castrum of Apulum, this was also the medieval city of Alba Iulia with its wall still standing but this was as well where a modern fortification cannon resistant was build in the eighteen century. Its three histories into one. We will actually take a very relaxing walk into the moat of the citadel.
Day 7
From Alba Iulia, we will go to Rimetea village and hike upon the Piatra Secuiului Peak. And not only, we will also have time for some gorges: Ampoita, Rimetului.
Day 8
It is time to get higher. Higher mountains we mean. And not any mountain but he Transylvanian Alps, the highest in Romania. This is a 2500 m hike. This is the home of fog, glacier lakes and of the most beautiful road in the word as labelled by the former Top Gear show.
We will drive on this road up to Bilea lake at 2000m where a tunnel cuts the mountain and gets on the South side. We will have a wonderfull hike towards lake Capra and see both sides of the mountain: old Romania in the South and Transylvania in the North. If the weather is on our side, we get to see the highest peaks of Romania, Moldoveanu and Negoiu.
Day 9
Sibiu was in 2007 the Cultural Capital City of Europe. This day is dedicated to this city. Our objectives or choice are the Museum of Village – a must see for the old houses which were build en purpose for preservation, and the old town of Sibiu, a wonderful Saxon imprint.
Day 10
This day we will enter the heart of Transylvania. We head for the city of Sighisoara.
Central Sighișoara has preserved in an exemplary way the features of a small medieval fortified city. It has been listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Each year, a Medieval Festival takes place in the old citadel in July.
The medieval citadel of Sighisoara is one of a must see places in Transylvania. With its walls, churches, guild towers, restaurants this city is made to charm. Just keep in mind that the old medieval houses in the citadel are still inhabited. Every year here a medieval festival takes place.
On the way back to Brasov we pass to Viscri and other Saxon villages where we will visit the fortified old medieval churches. You know, here is where Pince Charles of England bought a farm and spends summers.
Day 11 - 14
After the highest range of Romania (Transylvanian Alps), we aim for perhaps the most beautiful: Piatra Craiului.
We reach Zarnesti, the main city at the foot of Piatra Craiului, we take a Western country road which follows the river Barsa. In about 10 km we will be at the start of our hiking route. Almost all the West side of Piatra Craiului is visible from this spot offering us a continuous unbroken vertical wall of more than 1000m. It is breathtaking! And we shall go right at it, underneath it.
