Transylvania: Walking and Wildlife
Bear Watching in the Carpathian Mountains
8 days selfguided (partly guided)
Transylvania, known through Bram Stokers ‘Dracula’ and Patrick Fermors ‘Castles of Transylvania’ is one of the great cultural landscapes of Europe still undiscovered yet. The remote mountains and forests of the Carpathian contain the highest population of bears, lynx and wolves in Europe. Although the Romanian Carpathians cover less than 1.5% of the European surface west of Russia, they are home to almost one third of all large carnivores.The Carpathian mountains are the home of the ‘Big Five’: Grey Wolf, Brown Bear, Lynx, Wild Boar and Red Deer. It is estimated that the numbers of bears is over 5000, that there are about 3000 wolves and around 2,000 lynx. Besides spectacular mountain views you walk through mountain villages, still unspoiled, to visit Dracula castle. You will watch bears from an observation point, see deer, boars and maybe chamois. You will stay in a very well coming ***pension with good Romanian food at the edge of the Piatra Craiului National Park.
Itinerary:
1st Day: Arrival Bucharest Airport. Transfer over the Carpathians to your pension the footsteps of the Piatra Craiuului mountains.
2nd day: Walk to the spectacular Prepestilor canyon You may see wall creeper, alpine swift and with some luck three toed wood pecker. In the evening you may watch a video about the Piatra Craiului Nationalpark and the ‘Large Carnivore Project’.
3rd day: Horse drawn cart into Birza valley. Walk with a forest ranger into the mountains to explore the ancient forest. You will look out of traces of ‘Large carnivores’.
4th day: Drive into the forests to a research station to watch deer and boar.
5rd day: Walk up to the Kalibasch mountain settlement of Magura just below the knife edge sharp main ridge of the Piatra Craiului mountains. Farms and old wooden houses are scattered over beautiful pastures and meadows covered with wildflowers. Then walk to Bran (either direct or via Pestera village) with spectacular views to the Bucegi. Visit Dracula castle. The Impaler never lived there, he attacked it once. It served as backstage for Roman Polanskis film ‘Dance of the Vampires’ and in former years the Romanian Queen Mary of Hohenzollern, the Granddaughter of Queen Victoria, as Refugium and Salon. Over night in Bran.
6th: Walk to Bran with spectacular views to the Bucegi. Visit Dracula castle. The Impaler never lived there, he attacked it once. It served as backstage for Roman Polanskis film ‘Dance of the Vampires’ and in former years the Romanian Queen Mary of Hohenzollern, the Granddaughter of Queen Victoria, as Refugium and Salon.
7th day: Walk in the surroundings or visit the medieval town of Kronstadt/Brasov. In the dawn Bear watching from an observation stand.
8th day: Transfer to Bucharest airport and departure.
Price: 845 Dollar (based on double occupancy)
SGL-Supplement: 85 Dollar
Included: 7 nights HB with picnic lunches, Transfer Bukarest airport – Zarnesti – Bukarest airport, map, route descriptions, 24 h telephon contact.
Wildlife excursion: On one of the days you will be taken at dawn for bear watching, one day guided walk with a forestry ranger, one day drive and walk with forestry ranger to watch deer and boar.
Not included photo fee: 50 Euro p.Person.
If you like you can go for a mountain walk with a forestry man to watch chamois. For this you should be reasonable fit. Additional fee: 35 Euro per Person.
Member discount:
10% discount for InfoHub customer. Request a free gift certificate.
Notes:
The price os based for one person (double occupancy), Group price on request
Also see tour packages in:
Hiking and walking outfitters
Europe
Romania
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