Bear Watching and Castle Hopping in Romania
The experience was made all the better by Cosmin, our guide, who was very enthusiastic and compassionate about animal conservation. Just wish he wouldn't keep stopping for every bloody bird he met Katrina, was our accomodating host at the guest house. She equally shared Cosmin's passion for wildlife and always around if we had any questions. Katrina gave us a guided tour around the bear conservation sanctuary. This was my first group holiday with Exodus and I was travelling on my own, so hoping for a nice group of fellow travellers, plenty to do, good food and accommodation and well planned and executed travel arrangements.
If you're unsure about anything don't hesitate to ask you guide. That evening I emerge from the forest and descend, as I had done 30 years before, to Cris. In 2006, the Bethlen family received some of their properties back from the Romanian state, including the castle, thus keeping their historic connection with the village alive. With great determination, the indomitable Countess Gladys Bethlen and her son Nikolaus have cut back the undergrowth and rebuilt the houses, which they are gradually turning into evocatively comfortable places to bed down.
Sip on some extraordinary wine from the Transylvania region at a cozy wine bar. No meal, or day in Brasov, is complete without a sweet dessert. The Tourist Information has online self-guided tourist maps.
In the morning you ride in the area surrounding the village of Szekely Varsag, passing fields and cultivated lands until reaching another wild mountain range. In former times, this "Road of the Salt" was an old trade route heading through this area and you will appreciated how difficult it was for the traders. Continue through thin forests to a wide open plain where shepherds are watching their flocks. You spend the night in a former riding stable which has been converted into a cozy guesthouse. After being greeted by your host Istvmm with Palinka and homemade cheese pastries you head out on a bear safari. From a safe distance you hopefully view the brown bears feeding, playing or even mating.
Likely targets are Larks, Isabelline Wheatear and Sousliks . Before the ascent you stop at a small mountain farm to tasty the local cheese, then you follow romantic paths through snow covered spruce forest to the summit. After lunch you return to the farm, crossing the river Olt which is the second largest in Romania.
Today you will be free to delve into the hidden treasures of Brasov’s charming Old Town, at your own pace. Discover Strada Sforii one of the narrowest streets in the city and allegedly one of the narrowest in Europe, located near Șchei Gate. Includes 2 nights on a half board basis, 5 nights on a bed and breakfast transylvania trips basis. All our tours are priced on a land-only basis, giving you maximum flexibility when deciding how to get to and from your tour. Anyone in a reasonable state of health, with an open mind and a sense of adventure should be perfectly able to cope with this tour, as many of the activities are optional.
The distinctive city of Bucharest awaits you first, with its ornate orthodox churches, Art Nouveau architecture, historic windmills and hipster coffee shops. After some time at leisure here, you'll stop by the former capital of Wallachia on the banks of the Argeș river before arriving in one of the oldest cities in Transylvania, Sibiu, to explore its medieval old town. Next up, it's the birthplace of the infamous Vlad the Impaler - Sighisoara - where you'll explore the medieval Citadel, awarded UNESCO World Heritage status. Another walking tour of Târgu Mureș links your journey to Bistrița, where you'll stay for the night. A week trail ride through the romantic wilderness of the Carpathian Mountains.
Seeing these bears' behaviour compared to the real wild bears from the hide was quite a contrast. Also the bear hide is a must, we spent a good couple of hours viewing well over a dozen bears plus four cubs. Shrouded in pristine pine forests, this is the perfect area for the European Brown Bear population to thrive.
It includes details about what to expect and why you should only consider visiting an ethical sanctuary and avoid other animal attractions. The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office provide the latest travel advice by country including safety and security, entry requirements, travel warnings and health. Current travel health information can be found by visiting a resource set up by the Department of Health. The advice can change on all sites so please check regularly for updates.
Tick-borne encephalitis is recommended by some medical sources if travelling in certain areas of Eastern Europe, at specific times of the year. The Foreign Office currently recommend considerations of vaccination against rabies if travelling in rural areas of Romania. Please check the latest requirements with your travel clinic or doctor prior to departure. Further information regarding vaccinations and travel health advice can be found by following the NHS and NaTHNaC links at Explore Travel Health and from your local healthcare provider. Visa and vaccination requirements are subject to change and should be confirmed by you before travelling.
Accommodation will be primarily hotel based, although you could still find yourself camping, or the guest of a local family. Depending on the destination and itinerary, you’ll likely be travelling in a private vehicle, with occasional use of public transport. This is adventure travel with some of the rough edges smoothed out. Unfortunately, today is your final day with the bears, so after saying your goodbyes, you will be transferred back to the airport for your return flight home or to commence your independent travel plans. Is a very well balanced trip offering lots of sightseeing, culture and history alongside the main focus of the trip - the bears. You'll have plenty of time as some of the activities are optional and you can choose what to do in your free time whether you like to relax and explore the cities or visit the museums in the area.
At the bear sanctuary, learn about the conservation efforts being made to protect some of their natural environment. Wildlife Worldwide provide tailor-made holidays and expert led small group tours including bear watching and a “Festival of Bears”. We have have been operating active self guided walking holidays for over 45 years. We handle all the necessary logistics so that you can relax and explore Romania at your own pace. Many of our tours depart daily, giving you even greater flexibility.
Some of the most striking sites are those which link to Romania’s Communist era. Riding through the dramatic mountains and lakes of Austria we bed down in Hinterglemm for 2 nights where we have a day off to relax or to get back in the saddle for a couple of rideouts. Either venture up to the Eagles nest- Hitler’s summer retreat or take a dizzy ride on the Grossglockner high alpine road, the highest mountain pass in Austria! We then leave Austria and make our way through two national parks in Hungary and after crossing the Danube journey into Romania and our overnight stop in Timisoara.
If you're unsure about anything don't hesitate to ask you guide. That evening I emerge from the forest and descend, as I had done 30 years before, to Cris. In 2006, the Bethlen family received some of their properties back from the Romanian state, including the castle, thus keeping their historic connection with the village alive. With great determination, the indomitable Countess Gladys Bethlen and her son Nikolaus have cut back the undergrowth and rebuilt the houses, which they are gradually turning into evocatively comfortable places to bed down.
Sip on some extraordinary wine from the Transylvania region at a cozy wine bar. No meal, or day in Brasov, is complete without a sweet dessert. The Tourist Information has online self-guided tourist maps.
In the morning you ride in the area surrounding the village of Szekely Varsag, passing fields and cultivated lands until reaching another wild mountain range. In former times, this "Road of the Salt" was an old trade route heading through this area and you will appreciated how difficult it was for the traders. Continue through thin forests to a wide open plain where shepherds are watching their flocks. You spend the night in a former riding stable which has been converted into a cozy guesthouse. After being greeted by your host Istvmm with Palinka and homemade cheese pastries you head out on a bear safari. From a safe distance you hopefully view the brown bears feeding, playing or even mating.
Likely targets are Larks, Isabelline Wheatear and Sousliks . Before the ascent you stop at a small mountain farm to tasty the local cheese, then you follow romantic paths through snow covered spruce forest to the summit. After lunch you return to the farm, crossing the river Olt which is the second largest in Romania.
Today you will be free to delve into the hidden treasures of Brasov’s charming Old Town, at your own pace. Discover Strada Sforii one of the narrowest streets in the city and allegedly one of the narrowest in Europe, located near Șchei Gate. Includes 2 nights on a half board basis, 5 nights on a bed and breakfast transylvania trips basis. All our tours are priced on a land-only basis, giving you maximum flexibility when deciding how to get to and from your tour. Anyone in a reasonable state of health, with an open mind and a sense of adventure should be perfectly able to cope with this tour, as many of the activities are optional.
The distinctive city of Bucharest awaits you first, with its ornate orthodox churches, Art Nouveau architecture, historic windmills and hipster coffee shops. After some time at leisure here, you'll stop by the former capital of Wallachia on the banks of the Argeș river before arriving in one of the oldest cities in Transylvania, Sibiu, to explore its medieval old town. Next up, it's the birthplace of the infamous Vlad the Impaler - Sighisoara - where you'll explore the medieval Citadel, awarded UNESCO World Heritage status. Another walking tour of Târgu Mureș links your journey to Bistrița, where you'll stay for the night. A week trail ride through the romantic wilderness of the Carpathian Mountains.
Seeing these bears' behaviour compared to the real wild bears from the hide was quite a contrast. Also the bear hide is a must, we spent a good couple of hours viewing well over a dozen bears plus four cubs. Shrouded in pristine pine forests, this is the perfect area for the European Brown Bear population to thrive.
It includes details about what to expect and why you should only consider visiting an ethical sanctuary and avoid other animal attractions. The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office provide the latest travel advice by country including safety and security, entry requirements, travel warnings and health. Current travel health information can be found by visiting a resource set up by the Department of Health. The advice can change on all sites so please check regularly for updates.
Tick-borne encephalitis is recommended by some medical sources if travelling in certain areas of Eastern Europe, at specific times of the year. The Foreign Office currently recommend considerations of vaccination against rabies if travelling in rural areas of Romania. Please check the latest requirements with your travel clinic or doctor prior to departure. Further information regarding vaccinations and travel health advice can be found by following the NHS and NaTHNaC links at Explore Travel Health and from your local healthcare provider. Visa and vaccination requirements are subject to change and should be confirmed by you before travelling.
Accommodation will be primarily hotel based, although you could still find yourself camping, or the guest of a local family. Depending on the destination and itinerary, you’ll likely be travelling in a private vehicle, with occasional use of public transport. This is adventure travel with some of the rough edges smoothed out. Unfortunately, today is your final day with the bears, so after saying your goodbyes, you will be transferred back to the airport for your return flight home or to commence your independent travel plans. Is a very well balanced trip offering lots of sightseeing, culture and history alongside the main focus of the trip - the bears. You'll have plenty of time as some of the activities are optional and you can choose what to do in your free time whether you like to relax and explore the cities or visit the museums in the area.
At the bear sanctuary, learn about the conservation efforts being made to protect some of their natural environment. Wildlife Worldwide provide tailor-made holidays and expert led small group tours including bear watching and a “Festival of Bears”. We have have been operating active self guided walking holidays for over 45 years. We handle all the necessary logistics so that you can relax and explore Romania at your own pace. Many of our tours depart daily, giving you even greater flexibility.
Some of the most striking sites are those which link to Romania’s Communist era. Riding through the dramatic mountains and lakes of Austria we bed down in Hinterglemm for 2 nights where we have a day off to relax or to get back in the saddle for a couple of rideouts. Either venture up to the Eagles nest- Hitler’s summer retreat or take a dizzy ride on the Grossglockner high alpine road, the highest mountain pass in Austria! We then leave Austria and make our way through two national parks in Hungary and after crossing the Danube journey into Romania and our overnight stop in Timisoara.
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