Romania wildlife holiday
| country: | Romania |
| location: | Carpathian Mountains |
| departures: | 2009: 15 Jun |
| price: | From £900 (8 days) including flights from the UK. Price includes accommodation, all meals and services of experienced local guide |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
the amazing things you'll be doing
Romania is home to dramatic national parks where natural deciduous and coniferous forests are almost untouched.
We will spend some time visiting the ancient oak forests in central Romania, before our trip takes us onto the Oriental Carpathian forests. These forests are the largest coniferous forests in Europe. Within these protected areas we will have the opportunity to see a range of insects and birds. Many large carnivores also inhabit the forests, including bears, lynxs, wild cats and wolves.
Our trip will end in Southwest Romania, were we will see the spectacular Danube River crossing the Carpathian Mountains. Here the unique forests provide the ideal home for many fascinating species of butterflies.
We will spend some time visiting the ancient oak forests in central Romania, before our trip takes us onto the Oriental Carpathian forests. These forests are the largest coniferous forests in Europe. Within these protected areas we will have the opportunity to see a range of insects and birds. Many large carnivores also inhabit the forests, including bears, lynxs, wild cats and wolves.
Our trip will end in Southwest Romania, were we will see the spectacular Danube River crossing the Carpathian Mountains. Here the unique forests provide the ideal home for many fascinating species of butterflies.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | The adventure begins. Meet your representative at Luton Airport for your flight to Cluj Napoca Airport. On arrival, you will meet Petru. Petru will take you to your hotel in Targu Mures, where you will stay for two nights. Once you have settled in, you will be shown around the area. Targu Mures is a cultural centre and has an atmosphere that is quite different from other nearby towns. The whole city seems to revolve around a single square, Piata Trandafirilor (Roses’ Square), which is flanked by buildings of amazing grandeur. Just to the south of the square, the Natural History Museum features indigenous and exotic butterflies and boasts the second largest Carpathian stag in the world. |
| Day 2: | Sighisoara and Saschiz. Today we will visit Sighisoara, which is about 60km south of Targu Mures. Perched on a rock encircled by the silver coils of the Tarnava Mare, and surrounded by forested hills, it is a wonderful place. Here you will be able to see the Breite Plateu, with more than 300 ancient oaks, each of which are over 600 years old. Some contain large hallows, where we will be able to inspect traps laid to collect saproxilic fauna. We will also have the chance to see an ancient medival fortress, Sighisoara citadel. It stands on a network of tunnels and catacombs. There are several ways into the citadel, but the most impressive entry takes you through the 14C Turnul cu Ceas, the massive Clock Tower that stands in the eastern walls. In the afternoon, we will go to Saschiz, where we will see the most amazing meadows. These meadows contain a vast array of wild flowers; an ideal opportunity to take some fantastic photographs. Tonight will be the last night staying in Targu Mures. |
| Day 3: | Mociar Forest and Red Lake. In the morning, we will travel towards the Oriental Carpathians. Our first stop will be Mociar Forest. Here we will explore the oldest oaks, some being over 700 years old. There will be the opportunity to see amazing saproxylic insects and to check nestboxes for dormice. Mociar Forest is of scientific interest due to the age of the oak trees. The oak forest stretches over a surface of 48 ha and has a density of 10 multisecular oaks per hectare, with diameters of between 1.5 to 2m and heights of 23m. In the afternoon, we will visit the Red Lake. The name comes from the reddish alluvia deposited in the lake by the Red Creek. The lake is considered a natural curiosity because of the dead tree stumps that poke through the greenish water at creepy angles. The dramatic scenery is a must see. Tonight we will stay near the Red Lake, where you will experience magnificent views. |
| Day 4: | Brasov and Olt Defile. After breakfast, we will travel to Brasov, the 7th largest city in Romania. It is located almost in the center of the country and is surrounded by the Carpathian Mountains. The city provides a mix of wonderful mountain scenery and medieval history with German influences in the old town. Brasov is known by tourists as the city where brown bears come from the surrounding forests in search for food. Having visited Brasov, we will continue our journey onto the Olt Defile. The Olt Defile is a defile that has been cut into the Transylvanian Alps in south-central Romania by the Olt River. In the surrounding mountains grow walnut and oak trees, wild roses and white ivy; a truly magical place. |
| Day 5: | Cozia Park and Baile Herculane. Today we will explore Cozia Park where we will see many species of tree, birds and flowers, before heading onto Baile Herculane. On our way, we will stop off at the town of Horezu. Horezu is well known for its people who make pottery. Whilst travelling to Baile Herculane, we will get the opportunity to view the magnificent Cerna Valley, with its limestone walls and unique flora and fauna. We will stay in Baile Herculane for the night for a well earned rest. |
| Day 6: | Domogled-Cerna National Park. Today will be dedicated to visiting Domogled-Cerna National Park. This national park is unique in the sense that it’s the only national park in Romania to comprise an entire river basin, namely the Cerna river valley. It is characterised by a remarkable floristic diversity, which comprises 1,110 species of vascular plants, 66 of which are endangered. There are also a number of other rare plants that only live in this part of the country. |
| Day 7: | Orsova. This morning, we will travel to Orsova, a port city on the Danube river. It is situated just above the Iron Gate, on the spot where the Cerna River meets the Danube. The Iron Gate is a gorge on the Danube River which forms part of the boundary between Serbia and Romania. The views are amazing and is a hot spot to see many interesting species of plants and animals. We will spend our last night in Berculane. |
| Day 8: | Goodbye. Today we will return to Cluj Napoca Airport for your flight back to Luton Airport. |
how this holiday makes a difference
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We have been funding Petru to carry out research on the habitat of saproxylic insects in the Mociar Forest. His research will hopefully provide us with a better understanding of how these species can be protected for future generations.
In line with our strong beliefs in responsible tourism our trip to Romania is locally run from start to finish. Guests will stay in local guesthouses where they can sample traditional Romanian food and drink, including sarmale, which is mincemeat wrapped in cabbage or vine leaves, as well as ardei ghiveci, which are delicious stuffed peppers. Food is bought and often grown locally and the restaurants where you will dine, which again are locally run, come highly recommended by your Romanian guide. You can also rest assured that a fair price has been paid for all your travel, guides, accommodation and meals. We have been funding Petru Istrate, your guide on the trip, for his work on the habitat of saproxylic insects in the Mociar Forest. With the exception of the overheads for our small UK office, all of the money paid for the trip remains in Romania - with Romanians. Aside from the economical issues, using local guides ensures you will learn from the best when it comes to the indigenous and endemic flora and fauna of Romania and the conservation projects and plans to protect them. We provide our clients with advice on responsible travel behaviour and keep the group size small to reduce the possibility of any negative impacts on the areas you visit. Your guide is also keen to educate you during your trip and you will leave knowing more about the wildlife, conservation programmes and way of life in Romania. We work towards ensuring a future for endangered species worldwide and believe sustainable practices have a role to play within this. Back in the UK, as part of our environmental policy we operate a recycling, energy-saving and waste reducing programme in our office. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |