Transylvania holidays

Our Transylvania holidays immerse you in local communities and traditional ways of life here. The landscape of Transylvania is dotted with some 150 or so fortified churches dating from the 13th century, something which has not gone unnoticed by UNESCO, and medieval cities such as Brasov, Sighisoara and Sibiu are a delight to wander with a camera. But for the most satisfying taste of Transylvania, nothing beats staying in one of the old Saxon villages in the foothills of the Carpathians. Here, you’re never far from a friendly greeting of “buna ziua”, a swig of homemade plum brandy, or a lift on a hay cart.

And if the thought of staying with a count in Transylvania appeals, then his own account (sorry) of how he has taken on the task of revitalising his village through cultural tourism will fascinate you. Just a handful of guests at a time are welcomed to stay in the count’s beautifully restored guest houses, which are decorated with traditional furnishings and a few home comforts. Expect completely unique accommodation, easy-going walking trips into the countryside, horse-drawn carriage rides and scenic picnics, as well as the evening ‘cow parade’. And above all, an unparalleled introduction to rural Romanian culture.

When it comes to walking you can find both self-guided, and guided small group options among our Transylvania holidays. Jagged limestone ridges cast shadows over gorges, farmsteads and valleys below with precarious paths along narrow spines allowing access to some of the most stunning settings in the whole of the southern Carpathians. Piatra Craiului National Park is just one of several fantastic sites for trekking in Transylvania with fairly steep terrain to be found throughout Zarnesti gorge. If you prefe

r pleasant pastures to steep ascents there are several sign-posted trails and quiet rural lanes linking villages where you'll find gentle gradients past farmers' fields as well as paths through beech, oak and hazel forests. The route from Brasov to Rasnov and then onwards to Bran provides walkers with a quintessential glimpse at rural Transylvania with the ever-imposing shadows of the Carpathians coming into closer perspective as you descend deeper into the valleys below.

Thousands of brown bears roam the Romanian countryside, but they’re naturally wary of humans. Your best chance to see some is on one of our Transylvania holidays in the company of an expert naturalist guide, taking you into the mountainous wilderness of Piatra Craiului National Park. Our tours into the Carpathian foothills depart from Brasov, with Zarnesti Gorge a popular spot for sightings. However, you’re more likely to see evidence of bears through their droppings and paw prints than bears themselves.

For guaranteed sightings, you can head to the brilliant Libearty Bear Sanctuary in Zarnesti, home to dozens of bears, many rescued from exploitative tourism attractions. We also have some rewarding volunteer opportunities among our Transylvania tours, which assist in the rehabilitation of rescued bears. You can get involved with hands-on day to day tasks, working alongside locals amid the sanctuary’s peaceful confines of protected beech, oak and hazel forests. Whether you’re donating money, or time, you’ll be helping animals that have endured cruel treatment to enjoy a much happier retirement.

Following a knowledgeable local guide into the central Carpathians is an incredibly enlightening experience with the chance to spot wolf, lynx, boar and bear tracks or scat, just a precursor for what may or may not lie ahead. Keeping group sizes small means you're given every opportunity to approach with care and caution with minimal impact on the natural habitat one of the prime objectives for this type of wildlife watching tour. Although you can never guarantee you'll see animals in Transylvania you can push the odds in your favour by using well positioned hides and tracking during known mating seasons.

Aside from the larger mammals, Transylvania boasts numerous smaller critters with roe deer, hedgehogs and badgers known to inhabit the area alongside bats, woodpeckers, Ural owls and nearly 200 species of bird. Listening out for telltale howls or screeches late at night before preparing to depart your cosy, family run guest house at dawn is pure heaven for animal lovers looking for an authentic alternative to the silly pursuit of hunting vampires.

From helping to stack hay and learning how to milk cows to following bear tracks in the forest, families after a taste of authentic local culture will love Transylvania. Winter trips for families are among our most popular Transylvania holidays, with snowshoeing, tobogganing and horse-drawn sled rides among the unforgettable activities available, and the promise of a cosy fire waiting back at your locally run guest house every afternoon.

While every season has its charms in rural Transylvania, it is winter, when snow drapes the landscapes and wood smoke drifts out of the chimneys in every village, that may appeal most of all. Blue skies are common and temperatures, though certainly cold in January and February, are not unappealingly so. Wrap up well under cosy blankets to travel frozen forest trails on a horsedrawn sled or, if you fancy a bit more exertion, consider one of our winter walking and snowshoeing jaunts. These pristine landscapes are utterly beautiful, and compared to many other parts of Europe, still quite off the radar.