Carpathian Walking & Bears



Overview
Highlights
- Explore the wilds of central Romania, home to brown bears, Saxon villages and the Carpathian Mountains
- Visit the largest brown bear sanctuary in Europe and opt to join a bear-watching evening with a forester
- Hike through the spectacular landscape: meadows, forests and mountain trails
- Visit Vlad the Impaler’s Bran Castle, the inspiration for Bram Stoker’s Dracula
- Enjoy an authentic Carpathian welcome at Villa Hermani in the remote village of Magura
What's this trip about?
Details
Travel Themes
Destinations
Attractions
Activities
Min Group Size
Max Group Size
Trip includes
- All breakfasts, five packed lunches and six dinners
- All accommodation
- Free group arrival and departure transfers available
Itinerary

Our family-run guesthouse, and home for the week, is in the quaint village of Magura within Piatra Craiului National Park. It is approximately 105mi (170km) from Bucharest Airport and takes around 3hr 30min to reach by road. Therefore, we highly recommend you join the group minibus transfer. Due to the late arrival of the group transfer, dinner tonight is a light snack.
After breakfast, we spend the day exploring the area surrounding the unique Kalibash villages of Magura and Pestera, where the houses are built along mountain ridges with deep ravines and valleys in between. We learn about the history of the settlements, which were built against the medieval invasions of Mongols, Tartars and Turks.
Today, after a walk into the Barza Valley, we travel the traditional way as horse-drawn carts take us on a journey. As we slowly make our way, we enjoy a spectacular view to Piatra Craiului Mountain and the dispersed settlement of Poiana Marului. We then leave the car...
In the morning, we start from the guesthouse and hike uphill across the flower meadows. Here we have splendid views over the wide landscape of small hamlets and mountains. We stay on the ridge and walk slowly downhill through beech forests to busy Bran. Bran Castle w...
Today we hang up our hiking boots and take a combination of train and electric buses to Brasov (approximately one hour), the cultural and economic heart of the region. This medieval town has been a mix of nations ever since it was founded in the 12th century. We have ...
The first highlight this morning is a hike through Zarnesti Gorge, which was formed 3m years ago by water cutting through the limestone massif of Piatra Craiului. We hike up to Curmatura Cabin at 4,820ft (1,470m), right under the walls of Piatra Craiului, which is ope...
We head down to the valley and visit LiBearty, the largest brown bear sanctuary in Europe. Set in oak and hazel forests, it is home to more than 100 rescued bears, many of whom suffered years in captivity as dancing bears or in circuses. From the sanctuary, we go on ...
The adventure comes to an end after breakfast. Bid a fond farewell to the guesthouse, which may feel like a second home by now, and begin your return journey home.
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Dates & Availability
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The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.
Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

Exodus Adventure Travels Reviews & Ratings
Great walking holiday
Really enjoyed this trip. Many activities, so many that I had to have a day off. Saw bears. Lots. Bears. Bran Castle. Walking around mountain top in the fog. He w...
Picturesque places, lush landscape and beautiful bears.
A great way to spend the week, walking in the countryside, seeing many sites with fantastic architecture and cute bears doing their thing in the wild. Watching the ...
Carpathian Mountains a revelation
This was a thoroughly enjoyable trip. I was not expecting the Carpathian mountains to be so beautiful or there to be such an abundance of wild flowers. The accommo...
Transylvanian experience and hospitality at its finest
I booked this trip primarily to see the bears and enjoy some leisurely walks through the meadows and forests. It exceeded my expectations, mainly due to our guide ...
What does this mean?
This was a very well thought out holiday with an excellent mixture of walks and visits designed to give us an insight into the local way of life that fell exactly ...
Other Exodus Adventure Travels Reviews
Excellent service
Excellent service
Roger
They were very helpful, polite and knowledgeable
Quick invoice receipt sent...prompt
Quick invoice receipt sent...prompt, good service
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Logistics
What's excluded
- Travel insurance
- Visas and vaccinations
- Single supplement
Accommodation
The cancellation policies of this trip when booked through Travelstride are determined by the stated policies of the tour operator - Exodus Adventure Travels.
If you or any other member of your party decides to cancel a confirmed booking you must notify Travelstride in writing. Your notice of cancellation will only take effect when it is received in writing by Travelstride and will be effective from the date on which we receive it.
Period before departure in which you notify us
From the date your Booking Confirmation is issued up to, and including, 90 days prior to the departure date specified on the Booking Confirmation.
- 89 to 52 days (inclusive) prior to the departure date specified on the Booking Confirmation.
- 51 to 31 days (inclusive) prior to the departure date specified on the Booking Confirmation.
- 30 days or less prior to the departure date specified on the Booking Confirmation, or after the booking has started
Cancellation charge
Deposit can be transferred to a new booking which must be made within 3 months of the date the original booking was cancelled, and depart within 12 months of the new booking date. If a new booking is not made within this period then the deposit will be forfeited. Any remaining balance will be refunded excluding any non-refundable costs.
- 50% of the total holiday cost. Any remaining balance will be refunded excluding any non-refundable costs.
- 75% of the total holiday cost. Any remaining balance will be refunded excluding any non-refundable costs.
- 100% of the total holiday cost.
For Polar holidays, the following cancellation charges will be made:
Cancellation period (before departure) - Cancellation Fee (per person)
Outside of 180 days - No fee if cancelled within 15 days of booking date. US $1,250 cancellation fee if cancelled 16 days or more of booking date.
179 to 120 days - Loss of deposit.
119 to 90 days prior to departure - 50% of the holiday cost.
89 to 60 days prior to departure - 75% of the holiday cost.
59 to 0 days prior to departure - 100% of the holiday cost.
For more additional details, see the booking conditions of Exodus Adventure Travels at the following web address: https://www.exodustravels.com/us/about-exodus/exodus-booking-conditions
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