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Explore Romania's majestic mountains and rustic villages looking for Brown bears
The start hotel is approximately 165km from the airport and will take around three hours to reach by road. Therefore, we highly recommend you wait for the group at the airport and join the group transfer.On arrival of the group flight at Bucharest Airport we are transferred by minibus to our private guesthouse at the foot of the Carpathian Mountains. Food and refreshments will be served during the transfer. Our guesthouse is situated in the quaint village of Magura at 1020m and within the boundaries of the Piatra Craiului National Park.Villa Hermani Guesthouse
After breakfast we spend the day walking around the area surrounding the unique Kalibash villages of Magura and Pestera, where the houses are built along the mountain ridges with deep ravines and valleys in between. We visit these traditional houses and learn about the history of the settlements, which were built against the mediaeval invasions of Mongols, Tartars and Turks. Near Pestera we visit a bat cave, home to five separate species of bats (though not found year-round). Make sure to bring a good torch with you! Villa Hermani Guesthouse
Distance in Km: 12
Distance in Miles: 7
Activity Hours: 5
Altitude Gain: 350
Altitude Loss: 350
Today we travel the traditional way as horse-drawn carts take us into Barza Valley, a long valley stretching along the Barsa River. As we make our way slowly through the valley we can enjoy the spectacular view to Piatra Craiului Mountain and the dispersed settlement of Poiana Marului. We leave the horse-drawn carts and hike through the hay meadows uphill to a hermitage in the rocks where we have lunch and enjoy the tea made by monks from herbs picked in the meadows.This evening, those who want can take the opportunity to 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.Villa Hermani Guesthouse
Distance in Km: 10
Distance in Miles: 6
Activity Hours: 5
Altitude Gain: 350
Altitude Loss: 350
Setting off from Magura, we hike up to the alpine pastures. From here we can see the 25km ridge of Piatra Craiului as we enjoy the calm of the area. The silence is broken only by the bells of cows and sheep that are brought to these high pastures in summer to graze. We return to Magura in the afternoon.Villa Hermani Guesthouse
Distance in Km: 20
Distance in Miles: 12
Activity Hours: 6-7
Altitude Gain: 600
Altitude Loss: 600
Today we explore Postavarul Mountain, a well-known ski area in Romania during the winter and fantastic place for hiking in the summer. After breakfast, we set off from Magura to Postavarul Mountain. On arrival, we take the cable car up to Postavarul peak at 1,727 metres and continue to climb up to 1799m. At the top, we are welcomed with fantastic panoramic views over the whole region. Our walk continues down through Postarvarul Nature reserve towards the old Romanian quarters of Brasov. The trail is varied and will lead us over alpine meadows and through mixed forests (mainly beechwood and spruce) until we reach Piata Unirii the main square in Brasov, home to the Orthodox cathedral and the first Romanian school. From here it is about a 15-minute walk to the medieval historic town centre.After some free time to relax we meet the birder from the Romanian Ornithological Society and Brasov University. He will show us around a UNESCO Ramsar site at the Dumbravita lakes (near Brasov). In the evening we return to Magura for dinner. Please note: At times the cable car may be closed due to high winds and the road may be closed. In this case, we will hike along an alternative high alpine trail in the region. Villa Hermani Guesthouse
Distance in Km: 13
Distance in Miles: 8
Activity Hours: 6-7
Altitude Gain: 100
Altitude Loss: 690
Today we uncover Transylvanian culture at its best!After breakfast we drive to Bran Castle, also known as Dracula’s Castle. This impressive fortress was built on the border to Wallachia where Vlad Tepes (also known as Vlad the Impaler), the Duke of Wallachia, once ruled. Vlad, also known as Dracula, was a brutal tyrant and provided inspiration for Bram Stoker’s famous vampire story. Vlad himself never went to Bran Castle, but Bram Stoker saw an image of it and felt it was the perfect setting for his gothic tale.After Transylvania had become part of Romania in 1920, the castle was donated to the Romanian royal family. It became the summer residence of Queen Maria, a granddaughter to Queen Victoria.From Bran Castle, it is less than an hour’s drive to the region's culture and economic heart, Brasov. This mediaeval town has been a melting pot of nations ever since its foundation in the 12th century. We have a guided tour of the town before having some time to explore at leisure. In the evening we visit a traditional Romanian restaurant in Brasov for dinner (at own expense).Villa Hermani Guesthouse
We head down to the valley and visit Libearty, Europe's largest Brown bear sanctuary. Set in 70 hectares of oak and hazel forests, the sanctuary is home to more than 100 rescued bears, many of whom suffered over years in captivity as dancing bears or in circuses.From the Brown bear 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 Rhine‐Moselle valleys. Their strong fortified churches have attracted international attention and some of them are listed as UNESCO world heritage sites. Vulcan derives its name from the Slavonic word 'valc', meaning wolf. In Vulcan we will be welcomed with coffee and tea in the yard of the fortified church. The churches in Transylvania were strongly fortified during the Middle Ages when the region was raided a number of times by Mongols and Tartars.Villa Hermani Guesthouse
Distance in Km: 7
Distance in Miles: 4
Activity Hours: 2-3
Altitude Gain: 200
Altitude Loss: 250
Transfer to Bucharest airport. The trip ends upon arrival at Bucharest Airport for land only clients.
7 nights at the Villa Hermani Guesthouse 5 centre-based day walks Group
normally 4 to 16, plus leader. Min age 16 yrsAltitude maximum 2505m, average
1300m
All breakfasts, 6 lunches and 6 dinners are included during our stay.Meals
are a mixture of fresh local produce and Romanian/Transylvanian
specialities.Transylvanian cuisine contains different dishes and is
influenced by several traditions and cultures (German, Hungarian and Romanian
cuisine) but still maintains its own distinct character with a love for
homemade cooking. Soups are a staple and much loved dish, main meals tend to
be hearty with a strong focus on local produce and desserts are varied and
plentiful.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 usually consist of self-made sandwiches, and 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. Dinner on the first evening is typically a
light snack 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
and you should allow approximately 25EUR (without drinks) for this.Vegetarian
and special diets can be catered for, but options can be limited throughout
Romania –please inform the office of any specific requirements upon
booking.
7 nights at the Villa Hermani Guesthouse 5 centre-based day walks Group
normally 4 to 16, plus leader. Min age 16 yrsAltitude maximum 2505m, average
1300m
The trip is Activity level 2 (leisurely/moderate) and has a safari rating of
3.Walking times will vary from half to full days walking. There are numerous
uphill sections on paths and tracks and distances walked are up to 20km with
optional longer walks sometimes available. The trip goes up to altitudes of
almost 2000m, so a reasonable level of fitness is required. The exact trails,
lengths and difficulties may be adapted dependent on local weather and trail
conditions and fitness of the group.Please be advised that the chance of
seeing Brown bears from the hide is good and in the past groups have seen
wolves, beavers and other wildlife too. Our leaders are knowledgeable about
the local wildlife but with all wildlife viewings a large part is down to
chance and we cannot make any guarantees. You should be aware that Baiting is
a common practice in attracting wildlife to aid sightings of certain animals
in many areas around the world which has led to discussions on the ethics of
feeding wild animals. In some circumstances we are strongly against baiting.
However, in this area the bears are wild animals foraging freely in their
natural habitat, and in no way reliant on the small quantities of maize put
out at the hide which is more of a supplementary snack for them. Because of
this, we believe that the practice can lead to conservation benefits for
Brown bears and more understanding and protection of the species in this
area. We ensure that our clients do not have direct contact with the bears
and are only allowed to watch from the hide, and that our clients are not
just seeing the brown bears but actually learning and understanding them and
their behaviour. This also helps to raise awareness of the issues and
importance of conserving the wildlife. Growing support locally to protect the
wildlife is important in Exodus taking this stance.The itinerary may be
followed in a different order due to various reasons such as weather and
local conditions, but we will still do all of these activities even if on
different days.
GuesthouseWe will spend 7 nights in the comfortable private guesthouse, Villa Hermani
that offers twin and single rooms.Villa Hermani is situated in the remote and
beautiful village of Magura at the foot of the Carpathian Mountains, located
within the boundaries of the Piatra Craiului National Park. Our friendly
hosts at the Villa Hermani possess a wealth of knowledge on Transylvania,
wildlife conservation and serve delicious homemade food.Almost all rooms have
private facilities but some do have shared bathrooms. In such cases, however,
there are never more than two rooms sharing one bathroom.There is Wi-Fi
available at the guesthouse. However, due to the weak internet lines in this
remote location and the need to go via satellite which is provided by an
external provider, the hosts of the guesthouse kindly request guests to pay a
small fee of €5 for 750MB which should be enough for a week with checking
emails. Single supplements are available on request.
All breakfasts, 6 lunches and 6 dinners are included during our stay.Meals
are a mixture of fresh local produce and Romanian/Transylvanian
specialities.Transylvanian cuisine contains different dishes and is
influenced by several traditions and cultures (German, Hungarian and Romanian
cuisine) but still maintains its own distinct character with a love for
homemade cooking. Soups are a staple and much loved dish, main meals tend to
be hearty with a strong focus on local produce and desserts are varied and
plentiful.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 usually consist of self-made sandwiches, and 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. Dinner on the first evening is typically a
light snack 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
and you should allow approximately 25EUR (without drinks) for this.Vegetarian
and special diets can be catered for, but options can be limited throughout
Romania –please inform the office of any specific requirements upon
booking.
Transfers between the Bucharest Airport and the village guesthouse will
normally be by Mercedes Sprinter bus. Local transports will be by minibuses.
During the week we will sometimes use local low-impact transport such as
horse drawn cart.
Travelling flight inclusive from London: 8 daysThe group flight from London
is a daytime flight departing on Day 1 of the itinerary.Flights from
LondonWe normally use the scheduled services of TAROM Romanian (depending on
availability). As flight timings and schedules change regularly we recommend
you call one of our specialist sales staff or your agent to confirm
up‐to‐date timings. Please note timings may change at a later date and
cannot be confirmed until approximately two weeks before
departure. Travelling land only: 8 days starting in Magura and ending at
Bucharest AirportYour trip normally starts at our accommodation in Magura in
the evening of Day 1 of the itinerary. Details of how to reach the start
point are provided in the Final Joining Instructions – sent approximately
two weeks before departure.
Airport transfers are included for those on the group flights. Please note
that transfers are not included for clients arriving on any other flight,
even if Exodus has booked it.If you require airport transfers, you may (by
prior arrangement only) be able to join the group transfer. Transfers are
arranged to coincide with the arrival time of the group flight – please
check the group flight details 2 weeks before departure. If you do not take
this transfer, or miss it, you must make your own way to the joining point at
your own expense.The start hotel is approximately 165km from the airport and
will take around three hours to reach by road. Therefore, we
highly recommend you wait for the group at the airport and join the group
transfer. It is possible to reach the start hotel by taxi, but it will cost
around 130EUR. If you decide to make your own way, on arrival at the hotel
please make the reception staff aware that you are part of the Exodus group.
Please contact Exodus as soon as possible to discuss your arrangements to
meet the group.
Romania enjoys a continental climate with warm summers and cold snowy
winters. Rainfall is usually quite low except in the mountains; spring and
summer are the wetter seasons. The weather changes abruptly from winter to
summer and spring is generally short. The Carpathian Mountains can be
blanketed in snow until mid to late May at higher altitudes. Summer days are
often long and warm with ten to eleven hours of sunshine, whilst nights can
range from pleasantly warm in the lower valleys to cold at higher elevations.
September temperatures tend to be lower than those in July and August but at
any time of the year changeable weather with cloud, rain and chilly daytime
temperatures can occur. Expect temperatures in the village to be lower than
Bucharest.
Day-pack (25 to 30 litres capacity should be sufficient)Strong walking boots
with good ankle support and sturdy solesRefillable water bottle (1-2 litre
capacity)Waterproof jacket Warm jacket/jumperSome lighter clothing for the
summer months (t-shirts, shorts etc.)Torch/flashlightSunglasses, sun hat &
sunscreenWalking PolesLunchbox for packed lunches
Waterproof trousersHatGlovesBinoculars
Drinks are not included but the guesthouse has a bar to purchase drinks from.
Payment for any drinks purchased can be paid at the end of the week by cash
only (card payment not possible). The Villa Hermani accepts Euro, GBP or
Romanian Lei.Snacks are not included and you may wish to buy souvenirs. You
should allow approximately 120 Romanian Leu (EUR 25) for dinner and 50
Romanian Leu (EUR 10) for lunches on days when these are not included (see
itinerary). Please note that prices regularly change in Romania. Optional
ExcursionsThe bear hide visit is approx. EUR 45 per person (subject to
availability). This is organised and paid for locally in cash at Villa
Hermani.Please be familiar with your camera settings. You will need to turn
off the flash and illuminator. Please also mute any camera noises. We do not
want to disturb the bears when we are in the hide. The cost of the bear
sanctuary is included in your tour package. Please note; there is a charge of
50 RON to use your camera. At the moment you can take pictures using your
mobile for no extra charge.
Tipping is of course entirely at your discretion, but it is customary in
Romania. Our Romanian leader will offer guidelines on appropriate tipping. In
restaurants it is usual to tip 10% of the bill. Although optional, a tip for
the leader at the end of the trip is greatly appreciated. As a guideline we
recommend a contribution of between EUR 15 and EUR 20 per client per week. It
is also customary to leave a tip for the driver and the local staff at the
Villa Hermani Guesthouse. This can be handed in to your leader at the end of
the week. For the local staff we recommend to budget approx. EUR 10-EUR 15
per person.
Travel insuranceVisas & vaccinationsSingle supplement
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