Bear Watching and Castle Hopping in Romania
Spend the night camped next to an old farm and watch the farmers bring in their hay on horse-drawn carts. In the week you will hopefully have the chance to observe some bears in their natural habitat. Breakfasts and dinners are primarily stews of some sort, cooked on a campfire, whilst lunches are picnics eaten out during your riding day. This is hearty, traditional fare, quite simple but tasty and filling.
Colourful Rollers, Bee-eaters, Hoopoes and Lesser Grey and Red-backed Shrikes are frequent roadside birds. The breeding season is in full swing and specialities to photograph include Dalmatian and White Pelicans, Pygmy Cormorant, White-tailed Eagle and Purple Heron. Waterbirds are numerous and breeding-plumaged Great crested, Black-necked and Red-necked Grebes, Glossy Ibises, Spoonbills, Squacco Herons, Night Herons, Whiskered and Black Terns are abundant.
A superb trip with a great hotel, lovely staff and a fabulous tour guide. Probably worth adding that the Romanian people are certainly friendly / welcoming. Stating the obvious, the people on the trip really do help to make it.
After breakfas you take your airport transfer to Otopeni Airport for your travel home. Heading out from Podragu with a tasty packed lunch, it is a 13km walk to the summit via Podragu col , Vista Mare Peak, Romania's 3rd highest and then onto Moldoveanu. After pausing to absorb the scenery and the achievement, we return to Podragu for a second nigh. Leaving Romanian history behind for a while, we head to Busteni , in the Bucegi Mountains, for the first of a 2 night stay.
On the birdwatching trip, most of the birds had already migrated so avoid October departures if this is something you would particularly look forward to. Having said that, we were privileged to see two ural owls during the week. Food at the hotel was of a very high standard (took me by surprise if I'm honest) and our one vegetarian was well catered for. Our guide was very knowledgeable about local history, flora and fauna and most of the time put in plenty of stops to keep the group together. You will want to go on the optional bear hide trip as this is a highlight; you won't see bears on the hikes.
You'll mount your horses again after breakfast and will start your day in the saddle by riding through some small villages, situated near to Mount Budos. The area is very sulphurous transylvania trips and you and your nose will notice! The journey today leads you to Buffogo Moores and up into the mountains - the plateau here has vast meadows which are lovely for cantering over.
The good news is that owning a bare is now banned in Romania. The complete private tour of Romania from Bucharest covering Transylvania, Maramures and Bucovina. See Transylvania castles and medieval towns, Bucovina painted monasteries or Maramures wooden churches. All of our trips involve a level of general activity so are designed for people who are in good health, enjoy the outdoors, and have a taste for adventure and some level of fitness. As will be clear from our destinations, the climate may be different to that which you are used to, so please take this into consideration when choosing the most suitable holiday.
Sign up to get the latest on our holidays, offers and events. Many of the roads in the Romanian countryside are twisty and narrow and the road surfaces can be poor in places, so by using these smaller buses it means that we're able to access areas that the larger coaches can't get into. The minibuses usually have around 20 seats with two next to one another and then a single seat on the opposite side of the aisle and four along the back row. The seats are comfortable and equipped with armrests and seat belts. There's normally a rack for day bags and coats above the seats and the main luggage is stored in the rear boot. Leg room is however less plentiful than on a full size coach.
We are confident that, like previous very satisfied guests, you will discover that our tours give you excellent value for money. Today begin your connection with Dracula as we visit Sighisoara, birth place of Vlad Dracul. However Sighisoara, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is more than just about Dracula and our English speaking guide will help us appreciate its charms. Lunch will be taken in a central restaurant and later everyone will have free time for a wander. Our ‘Dracula’ experience continues today with a visit to Bran castle, every bit a vampire’s home. Today begins your connection with Dracula as we visit Sighisoara, birth place of Vlad Dracul.
All of our holidays include little extras designed to make a big difference to your trip, from fast-tracking you through airport check-in and security to our network of local concierges. First and foremost there is the fascinating cultural melting pot of Romanians, Saxons, Hungarians and Romany gypsies who have populated the area for millennia. The result is a landscape dotted with communities leading very distinct traditional lifestyles that have almost entirely disappeared in Western Europe. Elsewhere, the Arch of Triumph is a carbon copy of the one in Paris, there are some nice parks and lakes, and the Museum of the Romanian Peasant is worth a look.
During this time, Romanians were forbidden from owning land or houses in the city walls and so lived in the nearby area of Scheii Brasovului. Although the medieval city of Brasov had five entrances, Catherine’s Gate was the only one that Romanians themselves could use to enter the city during the Saxon rule between the 13th and 17th centuries. Catherine’s Gate is the last standing original medieval gate in Brasov, having been constructed in 1559 and bearing the Brasov coat of arms.
Here I watch the volunteers of Ambulanta pentru Monument, or The Ambulance for Monuments, mostly architecture students, as they clamber over the roof of the local church. Full of smiles, they repair lathes and pass tiles hand to hand to replace those broken or missing. This crew, led by Eugen Vaida of the Asociatia Monumentum, could no longer bear to watch the nation’s structural heritage crumble into oblivion, so are taking the situation into their own hands. For five years now, with much encouragement from The Prince of Wales, who has a soft spot for Romania, they have been riding to the rescue of properties in all corners of the country. I thoroughly enjoyed Sovata and could imagine spending a few days there. It would make a good rest stop on a longer road trip round Romania to have some time off driving.
You will be carrying just a day pack with camera, spare layers and a bottle of water. We get clients booking alone, as couples and in small groups of friends. If you have a group of friends or family who are interested in having their own customised trip, then please let us know and we can cost it for you. We work closely with our Romanian Tour Operator partners both before and during your adventure to ensure that they understand your needs and the standard that YellowWood Adventures expects. We believe that it is a very important positive aspect of Responsible Tourism, to employ the expertise of local suppliers, as well as offering you a much more informative and authentic experience.
Colourful Rollers, Bee-eaters, Hoopoes and Lesser Grey and Red-backed Shrikes are frequent roadside birds. The breeding season is in full swing and specialities to photograph include Dalmatian and White Pelicans, Pygmy Cormorant, White-tailed Eagle and Purple Heron. Waterbirds are numerous and breeding-plumaged Great crested, Black-necked and Red-necked Grebes, Glossy Ibises, Spoonbills, Squacco Herons, Night Herons, Whiskered and Black Terns are abundant.
A superb trip with a great hotel, lovely staff and a fabulous tour guide. Probably worth adding that the Romanian people are certainly friendly / welcoming. Stating the obvious, the people on the trip really do help to make it.
After breakfas you take your airport transfer to Otopeni Airport for your travel home. Heading out from Podragu with a tasty packed lunch, it is a 13km walk to the summit via Podragu col , Vista Mare Peak, Romania's 3rd highest and then onto Moldoveanu. After pausing to absorb the scenery and the achievement, we return to Podragu for a second nigh. Leaving Romanian history behind for a while, we head to Busteni , in the Bucegi Mountains, for the first of a 2 night stay.
On the birdwatching trip, most of the birds had already migrated so avoid October departures if this is something you would particularly look forward to. Having said that, we were privileged to see two ural owls during the week. Food at the hotel was of a very high standard (took me by surprise if I'm honest) and our one vegetarian was well catered for. Our guide was very knowledgeable about local history, flora and fauna and most of the time put in plenty of stops to keep the group together. You will want to go on the optional bear hide trip as this is a highlight; you won't see bears on the hikes.
You'll mount your horses again after breakfast and will start your day in the saddle by riding through some small villages, situated near to Mount Budos. The area is very sulphurous transylvania trips and you and your nose will notice! The journey today leads you to Buffogo Moores and up into the mountains - the plateau here has vast meadows which are lovely for cantering over.
The good news is that owning a bare is now banned in Romania. The complete private tour of Romania from Bucharest covering Transylvania, Maramures and Bucovina. See Transylvania castles and medieval towns, Bucovina painted monasteries or Maramures wooden churches. All of our trips involve a level of general activity so are designed for people who are in good health, enjoy the outdoors, and have a taste for adventure and some level of fitness. As will be clear from our destinations, the climate may be different to that which you are used to, so please take this into consideration when choosing the most suitable holiday.
Sign up to get the latest on our holidays, offers and events. Many of the roads in the Romanian countryside are twisty and narrow and the road surfaces can be poor in places, so by using these smaller buses it means that we're able to access areas that the larger coaches can't get into. The minibuses usually have around 20 seats with two next to one another and then a single seat on the opposite side of the aisle and four along the back row. The seats are comfortable and equipped with armrests and seat belts. There's normally a rack for day bags and coats above the seats and the main luggage is stored in the rear boot. Leg room is however less plentiful than on a full size coach.
We are confident that, like previous very satisfied guests, you will discover that our tours give you excellent value for money. Today begin your connection with Dracula as we visit Sighisoara, birth place of Vlad Dracul. However Sighisoara, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is more than just about Dracula and our English speaking guide will help us appreciate its charms. Lunch will be taken in a central restaurant and later everyone will have free time for a wander. Our ‘Dracula’ experience continues today with a visit to Bran castle, every bit a vampire’s home. Today begins your connection with Dracula as we visit Sighisoara, birth place of Vlad Dracul.
All of our holidays include little extras designed to make a big difference to your trip, from fast-tracking you through airport check-in and security to our network of local concierges. First and foremost there is the fascinating cultural melting pot of Romanians, Saxons, Hungarians and Romany gypsies who have populated the area for millennia. The result is a landscape dotted with communities leading very distinct traditional lifestyles that have almost entirely disappeared in Western Europe. Elsewhere, the Arch of Triumph is a carbon copy of the one in Paris, there are some nice parks and lakes, and the Museum of the Romanian Peasant is worth a look.
During this time, Romanians were forbidden from owning land or houses in the city walls and so lived in the nearby area of Scheii Brasovului. Although the medieval city of Brasov had five entrances, Catherine’s Gate was the only one that Romanians themselves could use to enter the city during the Saxon rule between the 13th and 17th centuries. Catherine’s Gate is the last standing original medieval gate in Brasov, having been constructed in 1559 and bearing the Brasov coat of arms.
Here I watch the volunteers of Ambulanta pentru Monument, or The Ambulance for Monuments, mostly architecture students, as they clamber over the roof of the local church. Full of smiles, they repair lathes and pass tiles hand to hand to replace those broken or missing. This crew, led by Eugen Vaida of the Asociatia Monumentum, could no longer bear to watch the nation’s structural heritage crumble into oblivion, so are taking the situation into their own hands. For five years now, with much encouragement from The Prince of Wales, who has a soft spot for Romania, they have been riding to the rescue of properties in all corners of the country. I thoroughly enjoyed Sovata and could imagine spending a few days there. It would make a good rest stop on a longer road trip round Romania to have some time off driving.
You will be carrying just a day pack with camera, spare layers and a bottle of water. We get clients booking alone, as couples and in small groups of friends. If you have a group of friends or family who are interested in having their own customised trip, then please let us know and we can cost it for you. We work closely with our Romanian Tour Operator partners both before and during your adventure to ensure that they understand your needs and the standard that YellowWood Adventures expects. We believe that it is a very important positive aspect of Responsible Tourism, to employ the expertise of local suppliers, as well as offering you a much more informative and authentic experience.
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