Carpathian mountains summer sunset landscape with dramatic sky and blue mountains

Romania

Step back in time in rural Romania, where the horse and cart still leads the way and bears roam the hills

Tours in Romania

Fairytale castles; vast tracts of wooded wilderness patrolled by brown bears; delightful meadows strewn with pastel-coloured flowers and chocolate-box houses; soaring mountains cloaked in countless pine trees… it doesn’t quite sound real, does it? But Romania holidays are enchanting. In possession of breathtaking beauty, the country offers both culture and environment that's relatively untouched by tourism.

The Transylvanian Alps provide a haven for wildlife – bears, wolves and even lynx – and there are great walking and cycling, passing by ancient villages little changed in 100 years. They’re home to some of Europe’s most hardy, yet remarkably welcoming people. Perhaps the area's most famous inhabitant – standing high and proud amid the undulating forested hills – is Bran Castle, home of legendary Count Dracula and birthplace of the myth of the undead. Its grandiose structure dominates the Romanian landscape.

Our travellers rate our Romania holidays as

 4.6 / 5 based on 137 reviews

Romania Adventure Holidays

Cycle Romania

31 reviews

Cycle through the ancient villages and isolated landscapes of Romania

Cycling
Suitable for:
Age 16+
Activity level:
Moderate
9 Days from $2,479
Guided
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Carpathian Walking & Bears

94 reviews

Explore Romania's majestic mountains and rustic villages looking for Brown bears

Wildlife
Suitable for:
Age 16+
Activity level:
Leisurely / Moderate
8 Days from $2,049
Guided
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Circumnavigation of the Black Sea

  • New
  • Platinum

Wander through a wealth of historic sites and architectural treasures, sample local Georgian wines, and cruise through the winding canals of the Danube delta.

Small Ship Cruises
Suitable for:
Age 17+
Activity level:
Leisurely / Moderate
14 Days from $19,920
Guided
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Activities in Romania

Winter

Expert opinion: Highlights of Romania trips

1. Walking and trekking: “In the Carpathian Mountains we set off each day without knowing what the day would bring, or who or what we might bump into: a flock of 900 sheep being herded along the edge of a rocky cliff-side; five endearing puppies running around a farmer’s yard; a couple of children taking a nap under a tree with their herd of cows; and a giant bear paw-print freshly made in the mud…”

2. Wildlife: “Romania is home to around 6000 wild brown bears and as well as spotting their footprints we visited a bear hide, which enabled us to watch wild bears in safety. An eight-month-old cub came running alongside its mother, trying to suckle and play with her before giving up and behaving.”

3. The people: “From the smiley shepherds who happily and willingly pose for photos and show off their sheep, to laid-back villagers who are only too pleased to give you a sample of some of their homemade cheese, the people of Romania are extremely friendly.”

4. The legends: “Bran Castle is an imposing fortress on the border of Wallachia and Transylvania. Bram Stoker, author of ‘Dracula’, was inspired by Vlad the Impaler who lived nearby, and felt that this striking castle would be a good setting for his tale.”

Exodus Expert Alice Bzowska reflects on her holiday to Romania. Read more insights from our experts here.

Romania map
Responsible travel

We offer more than 500 holidays across 100 countries on all seven continents. And although we’ve grown in the past 40 years, our philosophy has stayed the same: to bring like-minded people together on authentic adventures, with minimal impact to the environments and cultures we visit. We work only with reputable partners, with whom we’ve built long-standing relationships, and participate in various community and environmental projects around the world. Read more about our responsible travel initiatives here.

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