Village life in Transylvanian Carpathian mountains - 8 days

Day 1: Bucharest airport - Brasov or Brasov airport - Brasov

1. Brasov
   1 day
   Transfer Otopeni Airport - Brasov (the most important touristic city of Romania) approx. 3 hours or Brasov Airport - Brasov (20-30 minutes). Accommodation at a 3* guesthouse/hotel located nearby the old city center. Depending on the flight time we can have an evening Brasov walking tour. Fringed by the peaks of the Southern Carpathian Mountains and resplendent with Gothic, baroque and renaissance architecture, as well as a wealth of historical attractions, Brasov is one of the most visited places in Romania. Founded by the Teutonic Knights in 1211 on an ancient Dacian site and settled by the Saxons as one of the seven walled citadels, Brasov exudes a distinct medieval ambiance and has been used as backdrop in many recent period films.

Day 2: Brasov - Bran Castle (aka Dracula's Castle) - Magura mountain village

1. Bran Castle
   1h · Admission ticket included
   We visit Bran Castle (on Mondays it opens at 12:00) also known as ‘Dracula’s Castle’ — a hilltop estate that conjures up visions of howling wolves and bats fluttering in the moonlight. Wander the castle’s Gothic chambers and learn about its ties to Bram Stoker’s undead antihero.
2. Magura
   1 day
   Than we start from Bran our first day of walking in Piatra Craiului National Park toward Magura village - an authentic and cozy mountain village. The path is the route which links Bucegi Mountains to the Piatra Craiului National Park. The route is easy to medium, through forest and meadows, with great views to both mountains and to the Bran area with its mountain villages (4-6 hours, medium effort, uphill/downhill walk: 400 m/400 m).

Day 3: Piatra Craiului National Park full hiking tour

1. Piatra Craiului National Park
   6h · Admission ticket included
   Breakfast. Today we do we trek in the heart of Piatra Craiului National Park crossing the epic Zarnesti Gorges up to Curmatura hut at 1470 m. Info about the hike: 5 - 6 hours, medium, uphill/downhill walk 700 m, 14 km. Picnic lunch. Dinner at the guesthouse.

Day 4: The mountain villages walk

1. Fundata
   6h
   Our 4th day of walking tour. Today we trek crossing the most authentic and beautiful mountain villages from the bottom of the Piatra Craiului National Park and Bucegi Natural Park - Magura - Pestera - Sirnea (the first touristic village of Romania) – Ciocanu - Fundata, meeting the locals (5-6 hours; easy to medium, uphill/ downhill walk: 639 m/ 445 m).

Day 5: Fundata - Fundatica mountain villages

1. 5h
   Today we have a walk in the villages of Fundata and Fundatica (4 - 6 hours, easy to medium, uphill/downhill walk: 300 m/300 m). Lunch pack and home made dinner. Surrounded by the Bucegi Mountains and the Piatra Craiului Mountains, Fundata's altitude of 1360 m makes it the highest commune in Romania. In August 1916, when troops from the Romanian Old Kingdom entered Austria-Hungary, the first village they took was Fundata, also capturing their first prisoners there and suffering their first battle death.

Day 6: Simon Village - Bucegi Natural Park

1. Bucegi Mountains
   5h · Admission ticket included
   Short transfer to Simon village (about 40 minutes). Full day hiking trip in Bucegi Natural Park. We hike on the northern part of the mountain which is wilder and no so touristic. During the hike discover the Devil's Mill Waterfall and a local sheep farm (from middle of June to middle of September). Transfer back at the guesthouse. Info about the hike: 5-6 hours, medium effort, uphill/downhill walk: 800 m/ 800 m, 14 km.

Day 7: Seven Ladders Canyon - Brasov

1. Seven Ladders Canyon
   4h · Admission ticket included
   Breakfast. Transfer about 1 1/2 hour to the starting point for "7 Ladders Canyon" from Piatra Mare mountain. The canyon has been carved in Jurassic limestone and is composed by seven waterfalls, the tallest being 15 meters high. The trail within the canyon is arranged with metal stairs and platforms. Duration: 4-5 hours, medium effort, uphill/downhill walk: 400 m, 8 km. Lunch pack. Transfer to Brasov (about 30 minutes). Accommodation at a 3* guesthouse/hotel located nearby the old city center and farewell dinner.

Day 8: Bucharest airport or Brasov airport

1. Otopeni
   Pass by
   Breakfast. Transfer to the Bucharest airport (about 3 hours) or to the Brasov airport (about 20-30 minutes).
   OPTIONAL: 1 extra night in Bucharest, with 4-hour Bucharest Panoramic Tour included - from 140 euro/person (minimum 2 people). More details about it at the time of the booking.

• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
• Not recommended for pregnant travelers
• Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
• Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
• Small group experience; Min 2 - Max 10.
• We provide hand sanitizer. We are cleaning vehicles after every tour.
• Optional - Upgrade at 3* to 5* hotels in Brasov located in the old city center (eg. Bella Muzica, Safrano Palace, Casa Chitic, Schuster Boarding House, Radisson Blu Aurum, subject of availability).
• This tour is awarded by the ECO-ROMANIA ecotourism certification scheme from December 2023 until November 2026!
• Starting August 1st, 2025, guided tours inside Bran Castle will be conducted exclusively by the Castle’s official guides or independently, without being accompanied by our tour guide, due to Bran Castle’s new policies—more details on their website.