Tour highlights

• Bucegi National Park
• Piatra Craiului National Park
• Zarnesti Cayon
• Bran Castle
• Brasov medieval city 

Itinerary

Day 1 – Welcome to Romania

Your guide will meet you either at Bucharest Airport (OTP) or at your hotel in Bucharest.  You drive north, across the Carpathian Mountains to Transylvania. about 3 hours 

Check in at our “base camp” lodge in Bran.  We will spend all 6 nights at this lodge so you don’t have to pack and unpack every day.

Before dinner we can do a short exploratory walk in the area.

Day 2 – Walking in the Piatra Craiului National Park

Drive to the head of the trail, in the Zarnesti Gorges. We start gently through a narrow lime stone canyon, a former cave who’s ceiling collapsed millions of years ago forming this spectacular Zarnesti Gorges.

After about 3 hours we arrive to Curmatura chalet. Enjoy hearty lunch on the chalet’s terrace, surrounded by jagged peaks, and fairy tale meadows.

On the way down we take another trail through the woods, along the Cat’s Canyon, and back down into Zarnesti Gorges and to the pick up point

After the walk we explore the 13th century, mountaintop fortress at Rasnov Fortress. One of the most spectacular strongholds of Transylvania, built in the 13 Th century by the Teutonic Knights, Rasnov Fortress is one of the top 10 snow castles in the world according to Conde Nast Traveler

The fortress was enlarged by the villagers of Rasnov and it became a small walled city protecting the villagers from the invaders. The villagers had to build an impressive 480 feet deep well, to get the vital water needed during prolonged sieges, weeks or months long. The construction took 17 years of hard labor, under precarious conditions.

Overnight back in Bran

Distance 10 km, ascent 600 Meters, descent 600 meters – Duration about 4 hours

Day 3 – explore one of the most picturesque villages in Romania

A 3 hours round trip to Magura, one of the most the photographed villages inRomania. Traditional houses, scattered on superb green hills, wild flowers, and the tranquil sound of cow bells, all gathered in the most stunning mountainous landscape.

Visit Bran Castle in the afternoon. The castle was built in the 14th century on the border between Transylvania (Hungarian Empire) and Wallachia (controlled but the Turkish Ottoman Empire) It is hard to imagine the magnitude of the battles that this castle withstood during it’s 600 years of existence. Latter in 1889 Bram Stocker picked Bran Castle to be the gloomy castle of the terrifying Count Dracula. The castle is anyway, one of the best medieval structures in Romania

Distance 10 km, ascent 200 Meters, descent 200 meters – Duration about 4 hours

Return to Bran for the night

Day 4 – Medieval town Brasov and Tampa Peak

Discover the beautifully preserved, historic center of Brasov. Enjoy a guided walk along the cobbled streets to discover amazing architecture and incredible, centuries old stories 

Some of Brasov’s highlights are the Council Square, the Gothic Black Church – blackened by a fire more than 300 year ago – and the “Rope Street” – one of the narrowest streets in Europe. Outside of the city walls we get to the Black Tower for an amazing panorama over the old Brasov.

Walk to the Tampa Peak – a 2.5 hours trail starting from the historic center of Brasov. At the top you will get an amazing view over the medieval town 700 feet bellow us

Return for the night at Bran

Day 5 – The bears Sanctuary + Bucegi National Park

In the morning we visit the LiBearty bear sanctuary in Zarnesti. A place where brown bears were rescued from improper zoos and circuses. Here the bears have a second chance to a normal life, living in almost complete wilderness.

After the sanctuary we take a scenic trail through the foothills of Bucegi National Park. As the trail follows the very edge of the mountain, you will get to see amazing panoramas over the jagged peaks ahead and green valleys bellow

Return for the night at the lodge in Bran

Day 6 – Round trip to the highest village in Romania

The village of Fundata, is the highest locality in Romania at 1300 meters elevation, and boasts some of the best scenery in the country.

We will take a 4 hours round trip to Fundata, Depending on the date of your trip you may encounter the villagers doing their hay on the steep slopes of the mountain, or logging in the woods.

Enjoy a hearty lunch at the Fundata ski resort overlooking the picture postcard views, before descending back to our lodge

Distance 10 km, ascent 300 Meters, descent 300 meters – Duration about 4 hours

Day 7 – Departure

Transfer to Bucharest or Bucharest Airport

If you fly out on this day, you should allow a 3 hours drive to the airport

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