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Carpathian Conservation And Culture
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A Wolves, bears, walking and sightseeing in the spectacular mountains of Transylvania |
Ref: EX-DRC
9 days
from £759 (minimum 6 passengers)
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Destination:
Romania
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Wolves, bears, walking and sightseeing in the spectacular mountains of Transylvania
One of the last remaining true wilderness areas in Europe is found amongst the peaks and ancient forests of the Carpathian Mountains in central Romania. For centuries the people here have farmed the mountain pastures and harvested the produce of the forest, existing in finely-balanced harmony with a rich variety of rare wildlife. This area of wild and undeveloped habitat is home to Europe’s highest concentration of bears, wolves and lynx, but there is increasing economic pressure for change. This unusual active holiday is a blend of walking, culture and wildlife, and is designed to support a conservation initiative backed by the World Wildlife Fund. This project passes the benefits of a developing tourism industry to the local population, giving them an incentive to preserve the wilderness areas and at the same time promoting sustainable economic activity. A donation is made to the conservation project to support their good work.
During guided walks of up to five hours per day, with the odd uphill section, we can learn about this remarkable indigenous wildlife as well as the local culture and traditions. No visit to this region would be complete without seeing Bran Castle and the mediaeval town of Brasov with its imposing buildings in Baroque and Viennese Rococo style. Finally we spend a night in Bucharest with time to visit some of the magnificent sights of the city.
Extend your stay:
additional accommodation can be booked at the hotel in Bucharest on a B&B basis. Singles £87, doubles £125. A £5 booking fee is added to the invoice.
Further Information
Special equipment required:
walking boots are essential, small daypack, water bottle, and waterproofs. A pair of binoculars may prove useful along with a torch.
Extra Expenses:
for lunch in Bucharest allow £5 - £10. Extra drinks and snacks are not included; tipping in restaurants is generally modest.
Meals Included:
breakfastand dinner in Bucharest and all meals in Zarnesti from evening meal day 1 to breakfast day 8.
Transport:
transfers between Bucharest and Zarnesti and from the hotel in Bucharest to the airport are by minibus. From Zarnesti we will use local low-impact transport such as horse-drawn cart to the start of some walks.
Children:
this group holiday is not available to children under the age of 16. Families can book this holiday as a private group.
Joining locally:
the local joining point for those booking land-only is Bucharest airport. The leaving point is the hotel in Bucharest.
Group & Staff:
Min. 6, max. 15 plus local leader.
Accommodation:
Our accommodation in Zarnesti is in a comfortable family-run guesthouse with a friendly welcome and a quiet situation. Twin and single rooms are available, most have private facilities but a few have shared bathrooms, (no more than two rooms share one bathroom). In Bucharest we use a centrally-located tourist class hotel, where twin and single rooms are available and all rooms have private facilities.
Food:
Typical Romanian cuisine is based around a meat dish with a rich sauce, served with potatoes/pasta and bread. Dessert is often a highlight of the meal with placinta (turnovers), clatite (crepes), cozonac (a brioche) and saraillie (almond cake and syrup) being some of the more common favourites. Breakfasts are generally continental in style with cereal, yoghurt, bread, cold meats, cheeses, jam and honey being the norm. We will make our own packed lunches on the walking days from a selection of food available at our guesthouse. On one night there is a barbeque and we spend the evening around a campfire.
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Day 1 | Depart London, fly to Bucharest. On arrival travel to Zarnesti. Those booking land-only arrangements should join at Bucharest airport in good time to meet the arriving group. | Day 2 | After breakfast we learn about the conservation project for large carnivores. We may even meet a hand-reared wolf. Next is a walk into the mountains where we look for signs of wild animals and explore the remote, ancient forest of Transylvania. After a traditional dinner there is a video presentation of the different activities of the Carnivore project.
| Day 3 | Depart for Prapestile Zarnestilor canyon at the east side of Piatra Craiului. After a walk through this spectacular canyon we will continue up towards Curmatura cabin, passing a shepherd camp to see how cheese is made in the traditional way and how flocks are herded to protect them from wolves and bears. On a good day it is possible to continue up towards the ridge of Piatra Craiului where there is a spectacular view over the Carpathians. | Day 4 | A daywalk to visit the unique villages of Magura and Pestera, where the houses are built along mountain ridges separated by deep ravines and valleys. We will see traditional houses and learn about the history of the settlements. | Day 5 | The area of Pasta Varu Mountain is home to one of the wolf packs. We will explore this area on foot, passing through the ancient forest and visiting one of the pack's dens. In the late afternoon we return to Piatra Craiului for a barbeque. | Day 6 | Drive to Bran Castle, the famous castle of Dracula. Continue to Brasov to explore the old town, including the famous “Black Church”. After lunch in Brasov we continue to Prejmer where we will visit the largest church-castle in Romania. In the evening we have dinner in a local restaurant and if possible we will watch bears coming out of the woods to eat. | Day 7 | After a late breakfast we walk from Zarnesti along the foot of the Piatra Craiului through spruce forest. After two to three hours we arrive at a little hidden chapel, which from time to time is used by hermit monks. We walk back to the guesthouse for a farewell dinner. | Day 8 | After breakfast we depart for our hotel in Bucharest, and spend the afternoon visiting the sights of the city. | Day 9 | Transfer to the airport for our flight back to London. Those with land-only arrangements end the trip at the Bucharest hotel. |
Departures Between | Price from | 16 Oct 04 | *£759 | | *Prices subject to confirmation |
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FLIGHT INCLUSIVE PRICE
Conservation project donation €75 (approx. £55) paid locally.
Single supplement £70
Insurance £33
This holiday is operated by Exodus Travels Ltd. ATOL 2582.
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Carpathian Conservation And Culture
A Wolves, bears, walking and sightseeing in the spectacular mountains of Transylvania
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