Romania Tours

Name: Romania
Brand: Exodus
Rating: 4.7 (178 reviews)

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

Activities in Romania

Cycling in Romania Winter in Romania Wildlife in Romania

Beyond the folklore. Into a living culture.

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 Top Destinations in Romania

Bucharest Carpathian Mountains Transylvania

Romania Tours

8 Days from USD 1810

Guided Group (Excl. Flights)

Wildlife

Majestic sunset and winter landscape,Carpathians,Romania,Europe

8 Days from USD 2185

Guided Group (Excl. Flights)

Winter

14 Days from USD 4882 USD 4445

Guided Group (Excl. Flights)

Culture

10 Days from USD 3675

Guided Group (Excl. Flights)

Culture

9 Days from USD 3675

Guided Group (Excl. Flights)

Cycling

8 Days from USD 2060

Guided Group (Excl. Flights)

Hiking

8 Days from USD 1565

Self-Guided Holidays (Excl. Flights)

Hiking

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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.

I was attracted to this trip in large part because it promised a fair bit of scrambling, and it did not disappoint (see other reviewers comments). Great fun. The expectation of minimal crowds was also an attraction, and that did not disappoint either. Other highlights including seeing a bear in the wild and the food and hospitality at Villa Hermani. Finally, our guide, Sebi, was outstanding — a capable guy who was also great company.

Bruce Bongarten Summits of the Transylvanian Alps

Transylvania is a fantastic destination for hiking with stunning scenery, fabulous views, and so many wildflowers.
The areas we hiked in felt remote and unspoilt. We saw very few hikers on the routes we took and even had one of the mountain huts to ourselves.
As some of the other reviews say, this is a challenging week and requires a good head for heights (some parts are very exposed) and a good level of fitness. The days are long (8-10 hours of walking on the first three days, 6 hours on the last three days as the walks were cut short to avoid afternoon storms) which means little ‘down time’. The terrain is varied (rocks and scree, pastures, meadows, forests).
A significant amount of scrambling is required the first three days, and in particular the third when heading up to La Om. The other days don’t require scrambling but are still demanding in terms of the terrain and elevation gain/loss.
Two nights are spent in simple huts, with basic facilities (outside drop toilets), but the location of Cabana Malaiesti is spectacular as well worth it.

victoria glendinning Summits of the Transylvanian Alps

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