4 independent reviews for Wolf tracking and watching holiday in Transylvania
Reviews for Wolf tracking and watching holiday in Transylvania
Becca Charron review 7 Feb 2023
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Finding very fresh wolf prints….also 4WD excitement in deep fresh snow!2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Ensure waterproof footwear and warm walking clothing and a good level of fitness.3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Definitely beneficial to local family running the guesthouse and the guides we had. Unsure on reducing environmental impact, but certainly a chance to partake in a little of the field work around Romanian Large Carnivores.4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
This excelled our expectations with constant personal guidance in cultural or large carnivores in this beautiful wild area of RomaniaKevin Hughes review 26 Feb 2020
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Seeing wolf tracks, the food at Mimi's guesthouse and the views. Also the knowledge of the people guiding the group each day.2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Be prepared for some steep and slippery inclines on snow, ice and mud in the dark (bring head torch), which for some people may require use of hands to ascend/descend. A reasonable level of fitness will be useful, as there will be hiking uphill to reach most viewing sessions. You may be standing/sitting very still in sub-zero temperatures for over 2 hours, so ensure you have adequate gear to keep core and extremities (feet, hands and head) as warm as possible. The cold weather gear needed for standing/sitting still is different to the gear needed for hiking in cold temperatures. In particular, consider larger boots to accommodate several layers of socks. If you are a large group you may want to split into two smaller parties and go out on different sessions (but this would be your choice). The accomodation was a guesthouse with plenty of good rooms and showers, and the food was far above expectations.3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
The holiday definitely benefitted local people. The holiday had a low environmental impact and supported the local research into the impact of tourism on wildlife in the area. The organisers constructed the various trips so as to minimise the amount of driving.4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
The holiday was really good. Talking to the very experienced specialists was very different to a guided tour, as you accompanied them whilst they worked and they were extremely generous with their expertise. Despite not seeing wolves, the scenary was stunning and seeing sunrise and sunset each day was very special and contributed to a number of excellent hikes. We saw wolf tracks and other animal tracks including seeing some local species up close and at a distance.Read the operator's response here:
Thank you Kevin, your group was amazing and it was our honor to have you joining us. Big hugs from all of us!
Melissa Hartshorne review 17 Feb 2020
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Seeing the wolves was the most memorable part and we felt so lucky to see them on our first day! Marius - our guide on the treks was very knowledgeable and knew the best spots for wildlife watching. To be honest all of the holiday was exciting and memorable. Not only did we see the wolves but we saw other beautiful wildlife. Simona was great and took us on trips every day in between our wolf walks, helping to make the holiday that extra bit special. :-)2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Make sure you take loads of warm clothes and thick socks. It would help to have snow boots or something similar as the steep mountain sides can get very treacherous. Its not so bad going up, its the coming down that can be a challenge!3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
I certainly feel that the holiday was put together to help benefit the local people as we stayed in a lovely guesthouse which was selected by Simona for the trip and I can see why. They are the most eco-friendliest guesthouse in the area and all their produce is freshly grown/sourced. It felt good to be taking part in a trip that involved seeing wildlife in their natural habitat but that also took into consideration the environment and conservation. Sticking to a small group is perfect for the animals and for the overall experience and I feel I left the trip understanding more about wolves. They are protected and this is clear to see. Marius demonstrated the upmost respect for the wolves, which I admired as I respect them too.4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
I would rate this holiday 10/10 as we both had the best time and experience, From the warm and welcoming pick up from Dragos, to meeting Mimi and her husband- who made mouth-watering food every day for us, catering for our vegan/vegetarian diets exceptionally well, to Simona taking us on trips daily and to Marius giving us the perfect insight into the idyllic landscape and the wildlife. One alteration that I can suggest.. Mimi's guesthouse deserves a higher star than a 2.. :-) Thank you Responsible Travel! I miss the Carpathian mountains already!Read the operator's response here:
Thank you Melissa, remember that you are always welcome back!
Tamara Lee review 6 Feb 2017
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Seeing wolves, lynx and almost a bear.2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Make sure you dress in layers as you can get very cold when standing around, but you can also get warm when trekking through the snow. You need a decent level of fitness for the wildlife tracking, otherwise you probably won't enjoy the holiday.3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
We definitely felt it supported conservation and we also felt it benefited some local people.4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
We absolutely loved it! Spending the time out in the snow-covered mountains tracking the wolves and other wildlife was exhilarating. The guides were also very knowledgeable and happily imparted their knowledge to us. The hostess at our accommodation was very attentive and catered fantastically for our vegan diets.Holiday Reviews
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