In Love with the old Times - Romania hike in the Carpathians Maramures & Bucovina & Trasnylvania This is the most complex itinerary. Will take you to see the highlights of all Romania. With stops at major tourist sites and visits at several UNESCO World heritage sites in Maramures - the wonderfull wooden churches, in Bucovina - the superb painted monasteries, inside and outside 500years old frescoes and in Transylvania - the strong medieval fortifications. Everyday time for a short walk away of the beaten paths to explore the rural areas, the nature with plenty of time to take photos. the days will start after a cultural stop or you will arrive only in the afternoon, after a nice hiking, at a nice site to find out all the historical backgrounds and stories. Optional: Watching bears from a hide in the forest.

Starting from: 1.559EURO/person for minim 6 participants - single supplement: 190EURO/person What's included ? EXTENSION TRIPS - details available Detailed itinerary Trip dossier(*.pdf) ~1.3Mb Flight / transportation Daily altitude charts - details available 14 days/13 nights 3*** cosy hotels & family run guesthouses full guided trip Grade Easy - Moderate Recommended for anyone in good health and reasonably fit. type: hiking & culture and lots of traditions Trip Highlights: 3*** hotels or family run guesthouses the wooden churches of Maramures - UNESCO sites the painted monasteries of Bucovina - UNESCO sites Bucegi Mnt - Sphinx & Biddies rock formations medieval town of Brasov / Kronstadt with Black Church Dracula's Castle (Bran) and vampire stories vs. myth horse and cart ride traditional folk and dance show time to meet and speak with the locals; get a real feeling of the local's life outdoor bar-b-que - grill, spend the evening out by a camp fire ... and much more

Detailed itinerary for the Romanian trip (land only)

Day 1: Arrive and train transfer north to Maramures Region(D)
Pick up from Bucharest Otopeni Airport and spend the afternoon in Bucharest. Take the night sleeper train transfer north to Sighetu Marmatiei, in the far up north part of the country in Maramures region. There is an option for 4 or 6 people in each couchette. Train arrives at Sighet at 7:06am the next day.
Accommodation: sleeper train – couchette of 4 or 6 people

Day 2 & 3: Maramures region – land of wooden churches(B, L-box, D)
Note: The itinerary for any particular day is subject to minor changes upon weather conditions based on group decision. traditions & customs of the locals. Time is measured here in terms of seasons (sowing, mowing, harvest season) and Christian Events (Lent, Easter, Christmas). Two easy / moderate day hikes over the rolling hills will take our steps to see the beautiful wooden churches – UNESCO sites – passing over meadows covered with wild flower or alpine pastures. The afternoon and evenings are kept for meeting the locals. You will have the chance to see corn flower coming out from a water powered mill, the village brandy distillery, a carpenter at work, a traditional hat maker, … while serving traditional home cooked meals at the family run guesthouses.
Accommodation: 2 nights in family run guesthouse

Day 4 & 5: Hikes in Bucovina area (B, L-box, D)
Morning transfer east to Bucovina region. The beautiful area of Bucovina will enchant our eyes admiring pure rural life, people wearing traditional costumes, working the fields with their animals. The hikes will be over hills, not very strenuous and not on to high mountains. Clearings in the unspoilt forest will give us the chance to admire the landscape all around. Bucovina is also well know for its beautiful painted monasteries – UNESCO World Heritage Sites – with inside and outside frescoes since 16th century. Our hikes will start or end at those monasteries, a truly inspiration point for the religious ones.
Lots of pilgrims come every day to the nuns and their churches. The Easter celebration is prepared way in advance by painting beautiful eggs with traditional motifs.
Extras:

• Hike over the Bucovina hills observing the people’s life and activities
• visit the unique UNESCO world heritage sites – the famous Bucovina painted monasteries with 500 years old frescoes;

Day 6: Full transfer day to Medieval Sighisoara (B, L-box, D)
Morning transfer south to the heart of the Carpathians, within Transylvania region. Optional visit to the largest nunnery in Romania at Agapia, where about 600 nuns are taking care of the establishment. See the carpet workshop. The driving route will go through Bicaz Gorge. The gorge is the most impressive gorge in the country accessible by car. Stop for lunch on the way. Optional visit at Praid Salt mine – a spa and therapy centre. Afternoon arrive in Sighisoara for dinner and overnight. Sighisoara is the best preserved medieval town continuously inhabited by people.
Accommodation:2 nights in 3*** hotel, full of character, in the very heart of medieval town of Sighisoara

Day 7: The remote fortified church - Viscri Village (B, L-box, D)
More time to explore the town of Sighisoara, the place where Vlad Dracula was born. Visits to the famous Clock Tower, the Weapons Museum and the Torture Room. Day trip to the remote Viscri village to experience the old church fortifications and how the Saxons were defending against the Muslim invasions. Short hike around the village.
Accommodation: old houses in the remote Viscri village

Day 8 - 12: Hiking the Medieval Transylvania (B, L-box, D)
Based in Zarnesti – at the foot of Piatra Craiului National Park we will use short bus transfers at the beginning or ending of the hikes. The hikes will be in Bucegi Mountains, and/or Piatra Craiului National Park. The days on the trail will take us through nice beach or fir tree forests, with several observation points where from we can admire the landscape or through Prapastiile Zarnestilor (canyon) where cliffs are 2-300 meters high on both sides, enjoying the sounds of birds, and the fresh and ozonic tonic air.
At the beginning or ending of the hiking days we will also visit the medieval fortress of Rasnov, Bran Castle – well known as Dracula’s Castle, the medieval town of Brasov with inside visits at the famous Black Church, The Museum of the First Romanian School and/or The Weavers Tower where you are surrounded by very old houses & narrow street.
We will also see the Romanian mountain villages where people are still using the horse and cart as a main transportation vehicle. A stop at a small bats cave for the interested ones or enjoy the wonderful area that was the filming set for “Cold Mountain” film – Oscar awarded.
The hike in Bucegi Mountain will start with a cable car ride to take us up to ~2000meters (~6600 feet) high. From there we start with an easy walk to reach 2505 meters - the very peak of Bucegi mountain, about 5-6 hours easy walk, on the Bucegi Plateau. Return with the cable car. In the evening, transfer back to Zarnesti or stay in Sinaia for overnight.
Trip highlights - included:

• use horses and carts to travel to the next hill;
• spend one evening around a camp fire eating grill and singing Romanian and international songs;
• visit a shepherd camp to see how cheese is made;
• hike at 2500 meters reaching the Omu Peak on Bucegi Mnt.

• spend one evening at a bear observation hide to see wildlife;
• Listen to an organ concert in the famous Black Church.

Day 13: The Pearl of Carpathians (B, L-box, D)
Visit the Pearl of The Carpathians which is The Peles Palace - The Royal Summer Residence. Continue to Bucharest for a city tour. Optional visit to the Palace of Parliament building – the second largest administrative building in the world after Pentagon, built in communism time. Spend the evening watching a folklore show while eating Romanian traditional food.
Accommodation: 3*** or 4**** stars hotel in central Bucharest
Distance by bus: 2-3 hours, with stops on the way

Day 14: Time to say goodbye & transfer to airport (B, L-box, D)
Morning at leisure in Bucharest or for later flights we include a Bucharest city tour, shopping and transfer to Bucharest's Otopeni airport. The city tour includes inside visit at the second largest administrative building in the world after Pentagon – The Palace of Parliament or to the Village Museum or Peasant Museum.

Land transfers by motor coach;
all land only transfers included from/to Bucharest Airport. All transfers will be by motor coach / minivan / station wagen vehicle depending on group size. There will be single group trasnfers from / to airport. Last night will be spent in Bucharest - 30 minutes away from the Otopeni international airport. Return flights can be booked at any hour starting with 7th June 2009.
If you are considering any extension trips, do book your flight accordingly.

Extensions

• The Danube Delta - the birds paradise

  prices starting from xxx.-USD/person sharing a double room for minimum 6 participants xxx.-USD/person for only 2 participants sharing a double room

  Visit the Danube Delta - UNESCO Naturel site - and admire pelicans, swans, coots, ducks, cormorants, sea gulls and many other birds; use small boats to get into the heart of the Delta on small water channels; eat fish meals for all courses; transfers included; access taxes and boat ride included

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• more nights in Bucharest - the Romanian Capital.
  Time for visiting more museums or for shopping
  
  

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• connect your trip with a few days in Bulgaria
  We can recommand our partners from Bulgaria to offer you quality services for private or group cultural trips or hiking trips on Piril and Rodopi Mountains.
  
  

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Optional trips described in the itinerary will be added only at request for the final price.
For a detailed itinerary and tailored offer please contact us on email on office@activeholidays.ro
Note: itinerary subject to minor changes, especially on the first and last day depending on flights arriving/departing schedule.

Number of participants: minimum 2
the trip can be organized for less participants - please note that there will be a price difference

Travel dates: 24 May - 7 June 2009
other travel dates are available on request

Duration: our standard programme is 14 days long, but other durations are available on request