Romania adventure holiday
Romania is one of the most exciting parts of Europe, tucked away in a remote corner where few visit and fewer still have much knowledge of. Blessed with large swathes of virtually untouched countryside, much of Romania follows a way of life that has been extinguished elsewhere in Europe, and the centuries old folklore and traditions still thrive in its picturesque villages.
Our tour goes right to the heart of this captivating country – rather than simply skim over its highlights we take you not only to important cultural gems such as the medieval towns of Sighisoara and Sibiu in Transylvania, but spend time getting to grips with life in the villages, often staying in rural communities as guests of local families, where local culture is at its strongest.
We explore the spectacular Carpathian Mountains, home to bears and wolves, and devote to the Danube Delta the time that it truly deserves, staying at an isolated settlement deep within its backwaters. Taking in the gorgeous painted monasteries of Bucovina and the enigmatic wooden churches of Maramures, this trip encompasses the very best that Romania has to offer. But Romania cannot simply be experienced by ticking off its sites – it is the genuine cultural encounters that we have with local people that make this tour so very special, and will leave you with enduring memories of this truly enchanting country.
Day-by-day itinerary
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Day 1: | Bucharest. Arrive in Bucharest. Depending on arrival, you may have a chance to explore the city. Overnight Hotel Capitol or similar. |
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Day 2: | Brasov. Travel along the Prahova Valley to Brasov, with its incredibly picturesque Baroque old quarter. We explore the town before heading to Moeciu, a small village with a dramatic location between the mountains of Piatra Craiului and Bucegi where we spend the night in a local guesthouse. This evening those who wish can take an optional trip to look for bears. (BD) |
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Day 3: | Bran Castle – Sibiu. This morning we visit the stunning Bran Castle, tenuously linked to the legend of Dracula, and then head to Sibiu, one of the best preserved medieval cities in Romania and carefully restored in recent years. We have time to explore the old centre with its ramparts, churches and narrow alleys. We then head to the small village of Sibiel, a very traditional shepherd community whose inhabitants still practice age old customs. Overnight local house or guesthouse. (BD) |
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Day 4: | Biertan - Sighisoara. We head to the village of Biertan with its imposing fortified church, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. After visiting the church we head to Sighisoara with its beautiful medieval citadel. We explore the fortress and also visit the house where Vlad the Impaler was born. Our hotel tonight is in the centre of the citadel. Overnight Hotel Sighisoara or similar. (B) |
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Day 5: | Cluj - Breb, Maramures. We leave Sighisoara behind and head to Cluj, one of the most important cities in Transylvania. After exploring the town we travel to the beautiful and isolated region of Maramures, one of Romania’s most traditional regions. We stay in the village of Breb, one of the best preserved villages in the area, and our accommodation tonight is in a traditional wooden house at the foot of the Gutai volcanic mountains. (BD) |
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Day 6: | Sapanta - Sighetu. Drive to Sapanta to visit the ‘Merry Cemetery’ known for its brightly painted gravestones and humorous epitaphs. We then visit Sighetu and its old Austrian prison, today home to a superb museum dedicated to the repression suffered during Communist times. Later we drive back to the Mara Valley and in the village of Harnicesti we take a short walk through orchards and gardens and along the shores of Mara river, before returning to Breb for the night. Overnight guesthouse. (BD) |
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Day 7: | Poienile Izei - Ieud. We visit the workshops of traditional craftsmen before continuing to Poienile Izei, a remote village home to a traditional wooden church, which contains impressive frescoes depicting visions of hell. We then travel to the village of Ieud, and our accommodation with the welcoming Ilea family. We visit the oldest wooden church in Romania, dating from 1364, and we also pay a visit to the local blacksmith of the village. Overnight local house. (BD) |
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Day 8: | Carpathian Mountains - Bucovina. We spend today walking in the stunning Carpathian Mountains, home to fascinating wildlife and isolated villages. Walking up to the Gargalau Saddle we are afforded superb views of the mountains as well as dramatic waterfalls. After meeting our transport we follow the shores of the Bistrita River and pass through the beautiful villages of Botos and Ciocanesti, surrounded by high mountains covered in thick black conifer forests. Later we arrive in Sucevita where our accommodation is in a traditional local house in the village. Depending on time we will visit the gloriously painted Sucevita Monastery. (BD) |
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Day 9: | Painted Monasteries of Bucovina. In the morning we visit Moldovita Monastery, a wonderful masterpiece of Moldavian Gothic architecture adorned with lively exterior frescoes dating back to the beginning of the 16th century. Later we visit Voronet monastery – the best known of the painted monasteries and a UNESCO World Heritage Site -– also named the Sistine Chapel of the East. In the evening we return to our hosts in Sucevita, the Trandafir family, who are waiting for us with a home-cooked dinner. (BD) |
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Day 10: | Tarpesti - Galati. This morning we visit a traditional pottery workshop before heading to the village of Tarpesti and the remarkable Popa Museum. At his home, Nicolae Popa has gathered an incredible collection of Romanian folk art and handicrafts, giving us a fantastic insight into the ancient traditions of this region. We visit the museum and have a home prepared lunch here, before continuing via the traditional villages of Valea Seaca and Valea Arini until we reach our final destination for the evening, Galati, situated on ancient trade routes between the Black and Baltic Seas. Overnight tourist class hotel. (BL) |
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Day 11: | Danube Delta. Travel to Tulcea to meet our boat to take us into the Danube Delta. After reaching the village of Crisan we change boats to travel away from the main tourist thoroughfares deeper into the Delta’s backwaters and the village of Mila 23, a traditional fishing settlement of thatched cottages. We stay with a local family in their home and guesthouse and get to see how daily life is lived in this most idyllic and picturesque of settings. (BD) |
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Day 12: | Danube Delta. Spend the full day exploring the lesser visited channels of the delta by small boat, allowing us to reach some of its most beautiful parts. There are superb opportunities for spotting some of the region’s spectacular wildlife, as well as seeing some of the isolated communities deep within the backwaters, some of which still contain traditional houses built with reeds. In the afternoon we head back to our hosts who are waiting for us with a home cooked dinner. Overnight local house / guesthouse. (BLD) |
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Day 13: | Tulcea - Bucharest. We leave the Delta behind and travel by boat back to Tulcea, arriving at lunchtime. From there we head back to Bucharest for our final night. Overnight Hotel Capital or similar. (B) |
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Day 14: | Bucharest. Tour ends. (B) |
Typically you will be sharing your experiences with between 4-20 like minded travellers (depending on the trip, operator and how many others are booked on the trip) and you'll have a group leader with you. Whether you are travelling alone or with friends its good value, and a great way to meet new people! While itineraries are pre-planned there is some flexibility and you'll have plenty of privacy. This trip will appeal to travellers of all ages who enjoy meeting new people as well as seeing new places.
How this holiday makes a difference
Environment
We spend time walking in pristine environments such as the Carpathian Mountains, and our guides are careful to brief travellers on appropriate behaviour and the importance of taking all rubbish with us. Travellers also have the opportunity to go bear watching – the fees paid for this go towards the conservation of this increasingly rare European mammal.
On our full day spent in the Danube Delta we use small rowing boats to travel through the waterways and look for wildlife. This not only enables us to get closer to the prolific birdlife of the region, but the quiet method of transport, in contrast to the motorboats that are used for most visitors, means that we do not disturb birds – especially important in the nesting season.
The village guesthouses and local homes that we stay in use predominantly local produce in the preparation of meals, avoiding as much as possible bringing food from far away and thus reducing carbon footprints.
Community
This trip has a strong focus on staying in rural communities. We believe that staying small village guesthouses and family homes in regions such as Maramures and Transylvania not only gives travellers an authentic and very special insight into the lives of Romanian people, but brings tangible benefits to small communities that may otherwise be overlooked by the tourism industry. Spending time with local hosts enables far more cultural interaction than travellers would experience when staying in large hotels, and staying with such welcoming hosts as the Trandafir family in Sucevita makes this tour very special. In the Danube Delta we forgo the usual quick day trip into the region and stay two nights in a small village deep within the waterways, allowing us to see the area as local people do.
Our philosophy is to only use small and locally owned suppliers, meaning that the income remains within the country and creates a real economic contribution. We also feel that the passion inherent within such suppliers means that your experience will be enhanced. We also try to engage with our suppliers on an equal basis – getting the lowest possible price usually isn’t the best outcome for local communities and is ultimately unsustainable. We aim to always treat our suppliers fairly and with respect; they are after all part of the key to our success and to us working together is much more than just a business arrangement, but an ongoing relationship that we aim to ensure truly benefits everyone involved.
We believe that tourism is a double edged sword that needs to be wielded very carefully. Our philosophy is to have a limited amount of departures – usually between one and three a year - for each of our itineraries. By limiting our presence in areas where local culture can be quite fragile, we hope to avoid as much as possible the phenomenon whereby an area changes in character due to repeated and prolonged exposure to tourism. We want to visit an area as friends, not intruders and to ensure that what we see will also be there for others to enjoy for many years to come.
We only employ local staff and unlike many operators we believe that to send a foreign Tour Leader along to accompany your trip is an unnecessary burden on your wallet and our carbon footprint. We believe that locals know best. Our local operators only use locally owned accommodation. This means your money stays in the area to benefit the local community. When possible we use local transport, (i.e. rail or bus) and we always use local restaurants, markets and shops and encourage our clients to interact both financially and socially with the communities that they are passing through. In doing this your travels are supporting and encouraging the development of local services.
We only work with operators who are as committed as we are to putting something back into the communities we visit. This may include giving a percentage of the profits from each tour to a foundation to help street children or local conservation projects. Furthermore, in order to allow our clients to make an informed decision on where a greater proportion of their money should be spent, we avoid including pre-paid full board meals where possible. Local restaurants and cafes then benefit.
Our groups average only six clients, and many tours operate on a private basis with just two travellers. This has much less impact when travelling through rural areas, reducing our environmental and social affects. Finally to emphasis our commitment to Responsible Tourism all clients will receive a copy of our Travellers Code of Conduct with their travel documents.
