Carpathian Walking & Bears

I wasn't sure what to expect of Romania, but was lured by the wildlife I might see. Romania exceeded my expectations in every way- the scenery, the wildlife, the food, the people. The Transylvanian countryside is stunning- serene and peaceful, the rural areas were full of flower meadows and woodland. Cows and sheep grazed with shepherds and their dogs, birds sang as the people hand scythed the first hay harvest of the year. There were few cars on the road so the only ambient noise was the birds, the dogs, the cowbells and the church.

A one week holiday staying at one well run boutique hotel. The location was quiet and beautiful. An idyllic setting for some fun and sometimes vigorous hikes over the hills.

A superb trip with a great hotel, lovely staff and a fabulous tour guide.

Waking up every morning to the glorious Autumn colours of the Carpathians is something I will remember for the rest of my life. The beauty of the forests, the splendour of the mountains and the simplicity of the life there is something I never imagined. Granted, I was initially inspired by my interest in the Dracula legend to go but after experiencing the wilderness there, I can honestly say that I fell in love with “the land beyond the forest”.

The walking was good, but maybe it was the varied other experiences and activities that made the trip more special. The visits to Bran Castle, the fortified church, the local "bar", Brasov. And of course the wildlife - the bears and the fire salamanders. Most exceeded expectations. The dip in the weather meant what were probably going to be the best hikes were not possible. I feel that some re-arranging of the itinerary might have benefitted us. Lovely and varied scenery, though. The guesthouse as a base was great, and we were well looked after. Hikes straight from the door are always a plus. As is unpacking and packing just once.

A hidden gem of Europe.

So much more than just a walking holiday!  Friendly B&B, spectacular scenery, gorgeous European Brown Bears, interesting tours (Bear Sanctuary, Bran castle & Saxon ruins) yummy food and great Romanian wine. Who could ask for more!?!?

This was a really interesting trip in rural Romania; we were blessed with amazing weather, so the views and scenery were quite beautiful. The trip was a good mix of sight seeing, exploring and walking. The walking wasn't difficult and very leisurely, plenty of time to soak in the surroundings. Personally, I would have enjoyed more walking , but visiting Bran Castle and Brasov was interesting. The visit to the bear hide was undoubtedly the highlight, we watched 9 females and 5 cubs for over an hour, a very special moment. The guest house was comfortable and the food was delicious, home cooked and plentiful. There were no options, vegetarians and vegans may struggle.

Great accommodation, good food and excellent group leader. Unique combination of outstanding scenery, history, flora and fauna. Interesting insight into a charming and often overlooked part of Eastern Europe. Definitely worth doing if you're looking for something a bit different.

A good mixture of wildlife, walking and culture.