Itinerary

Day 1

ROUTING: BUCHAREST : BRASOV - BRAN (200 Km)
- Arrival in Bucharest at Otopeni airport.
- Meet the tour leader and transfer by car to Brasov - Kronstadt by its German name
- Visit the medieval part of the city, including the Black Church (the largest Gothic church between Wien and Istanbul)
- We continue the way with the village of Bran
- Evening at your leisure
- Overnight in Bran
ACCOMMODATION: AGRO-TOURIST PENSION

Day 2

ROUTING: BRAN - FAGARAS - BALEA LAC (125 Km)
- After breakfast we visit the famous Bran castle (often referred to as Dracula's Castle).
- We depart towards Fagaras Mountains (the highest mountains in Romania : 2544 m altitude). We go by car or by cable (depending on the time of the year) through a scenic road up to 2040 m altitude, where the chalet to spend the night lies : Balea Lac : just on the border of Balea Lake, a glacier lake with a surface of 120 ha and a medium depth of 11 m. The glacier circle is an important natural reserve.
- The possibilities are multiple, so we can choose according to your physical condition.
Example:
* the tour of Caldarea Balea
* Saua Caprei (2315 m high) - Iezerul Caprei Peak (2417 m high)
* Saua Caprei (2315 m high) : Vanatoarea lui Buteanu Peak (2509 m)
* Saua Caprei (2315 m high) : Vanatoarea lui Buteanu Peak (2509 m) : Capra Lake

- Overnight in Balea Lac
ACCOMMODATION: CHALET
B

Day 3

ROUTING: BALEA LAC - SIGHISOARA - LACU ROSU (340 Km)
- After breakfast transfer by car to Lacu Rosu (The Red Lake), 980 m altitude : natural dam lake with specific flora and fauna. On the way we visit the town of Sighisoara, which houses one of the few still inhabited medieval fortresses in Europe.
- The road from Sighisoara to Lacu Rosu surprises us by the beauty of the landscape and villages. On the road we can observe the presence of 2 very strong minorities (The Szekeli and The Saxons) with their specific architecture and traditions.
- Overnight in Lacu Rosu
ACCOMMODATION: HOTEL
B, D

Day 4

ROUTING: BALEA LAC - SIGHISOARA - LACU ROSU (5 : 7 hours trekking, 600 m climb)
- Breakfast
- A full day of hiking in Cheile Bicazului - Hãºmaº National Park. Hãºmaº Mountains have a special charm due to the pastoral life and the ancient rituals surviving here. The view over Bicaz Gorges and over the surroundings is wonderful.
- Picnic lunch.
- In the evening return to the hotel in Lacu Rosu
- Overnight in Lacu Rosu
ACCOMMODATION: HOTEL
B, PL

Day 5

ROUTING: BALEA LAC - IZVORUL MUNTELUI - CEAHLAU MOUNTAINS - DOCHIA RIDGE (35 km, 3-5 hours trekking. 1000 m climb)
- Breakfast
- Transfer to Izvorul Muntelui (nearest town - Bicaz) for starting trekking in Ceahlau Mountains (National Park and High Importance Natural Reserve). These mountains are held sacred by Romanians due to their deep religious meaning (they are said to have been the home of the most important Dacian God, called Zamolxis. Although they cover a small area, they consist in spectacular relief formations, most of them having their own legend and being an example of beauty and grandeur.
- Lunch on the way.
- Hiking on the plateau; see some of the strange rocky formations: Panaghia, Toaca Peak (its shadow has the exact form of a pyramid in the month of August), Ciobanul etc.
- Overnight in Dochia ridge
ACCOMMODATION: CHALET
B, PL

Day 6

ROUTING: DOCHIA RIDGE - IZVORUL MUNTELUI - BUCOVINA - VAMA (160km, 3-4 hours trekking)
- After breakfast descend to Izvorul Muntelui (nearest town - Bicaz).
- Transfer by car to Bucovina region, oasis of Romanian spirituality, housing the famous painted monasteries (Voronet, Moldovita, Sucevita, Arbore and Humor) included in UNESCO's heritage list. We have time to visit one of them - Moldovita monastery : and to discuss with one of the nuns.
- Overnight in Vama village. (Nearest town - Campulung Moldovenesc).
ACCOMMODATION: PEASANT HOUSE
B, D

Day 7

ROUTING: VAMA - VORNET - MOLDOVA (80 km, 3-4 hours trekking, 400 m climb)
- After breakfast visit the most famous of all monasteries in Bucovina: Voroneþ - also named the Sixtine chapel of the East, due to the magnificent frescoes of the exterior and to its unique color “Voronet Blue”
- Transfer by car to Moldova region
- In the evening we visit the collection of the popular artist Nicolae Popa, author of the famous ceremonial masks used at the heathen solar festival, in Târpeºti; have a traditional dinner prepared by the family of the artist
- Overnight in Tarpesti village.
ACCOMMODATION: PENSION
B, D

Day 8

ROUTING: MOLDOVA - SIHLA HERMITAGE - PIATRA-NEAMT (60 km)
- After breakfast we will hike through beautiful forests towards Sihla hermitage, where we will visit St. Teodora's Cave (Teodora was a hermit woman, who lived for about 20 years in this cave). Nowadays we can still see hermits living in this area
- Picnic lunch.
- In the evening transfer to Piatra-Neamt
- Overnight in Piatra-Neamt
ACCOMMODATION: PENSION
B, PL

Day 9

ROUTING: PIATRA-NEAMT - BUCHAREST (360 km)
- After breakfast transfer to Bucharest and final good-bye from your guide
B

Extra Information

Inclusions -

Local taxes

Exclusions -

Airfare - Alcoholic drinks - Gratuities - Photo or video taxes during the visits - Extra charges of hotel, eg. Laundry, telephone or fax charges, room service, etc.. - Insurance

Extras -

Hiking and Trekking are mankind's oldest forms of adventure and they still remain his favorite. They allow you to truly get to know a region, to absorb the sights and sounds of the nature, to learn about local culture and enjoy numerous adventures along the way.

Together we will do hiking and walking through scenic landscapes in forests, mountains, national parks and traditional villages; we will observe the nature, maybe have the chance to see some wild animals (bears, chamois, wild cocks etc.); we will get in contact with the culture and the local people and their everyday life.

Trekking the Carpathian Mountains - Romania ToursOne third of the Romanian territory consists in mountains - The Romanian Carpathians, also called "the back bone" of the country. Although they are not very high (2544m - in Fagaras Mountains), the Carpathians are very diverse and hide many treasures that the tourists are to discover. The flora of the Carpathians includes more than 1350 species, among which many are endemic. Deep forest cover more than one third of the country's surface. The fauna of the Romanian Carpathians is also extremely rich and diverse. Here is found the highest concentration of large carnivores anywhere in Europe (about 6000 brown bears - mare than half of Europe's bear population, about 3500 wolves (over a third of Europe's wolves), along with 2000 lynx (35% of Europe's lynx).

Walking Trails in Transylvania - Romania ToursThe Carpathians create a wonderful scenery, with green valleys nestled between foothills ascending to wild crags or precipitous gorges. The little villages encountered on the way, the secret shepherd's paths bring a unique, pastoral fragrance, long forgotten by the modern world.

The mountains beautiful forests and glades, lakes and springs, waterfalls, bizarrely eroded rock formations, glaciers, canyons, caves etc offer a wealth of natural beauty, history and adventure matched only by the country's rich cultural heritage.

Eco Tourism and Wildlife - Romania ToursPhysical and equipment requirements: A typical hiking day has about 4 to 7 hours walking on trails, forest roads and village roads so it is advisable you had prior hiking experience. Necessary equipment: mountain boots, rain coats and warm cloths!


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Trek the Carpathian Mountains of Romania!!! {-italic}