Wildlife Encounters: Carpathian Culture And Wildlife of Romania

Our Clients’ Reviews

Here at Exodus we thrive on feedback from our customers. It's the only way we can ensure our trips continue to be the best they can be. So, for the real tales, twists and turns of the trip you're interested in, look no further than the reviews from our previous travellers. Any feedback collected (Good or bad) from Exodus clients is posted straight onto our website - totally unedited. Read more...

Average Review Rating: from 46 reviews.

Gina Lawrence

CARPATHIAN CULTURE AND WILDLIFE

Written August 2012
This trip was all the best of Exodus in one go. A wonderfully balanced mix, every day a new aspect of Carpathian life. I went with my mum who said it was our best Exodus trip yet. It's really wonderful to be in an agricultural area where things are not about romancing the past to please the tourists.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
I really enjoyed the horse and cart ride, actually. Doesn't sound that inspirational, but I was worried it would feel a bit kitsch, something put on for us because we were visitors. How wrong I was! We were passed by no less than three working horse and carts during the first half an hour, carrying bales of hay driven by fathers and sons. And all the animals are really well looked after, healthy and happy working animals.
The Saxon village was wonderful. We ate lunch there, and the wine (homebrew of course) was so good we bought several bottles to take home. You could see the grapes growing on the trellis.
What did you think of your group leader?
Cosmin was superb. He had a great sense of humour and was very good at looking out for us all.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
The weather is changeable in the mountains so come prepared for all eventualities! Even if it's boiling hot a rain shower can come rolling in in a matter of minutes (as I learned when I left my coat behind).
Is there anything else you would like to add?
With the exception of Bran Castle, there is very little here that could be called touristy, which I loved. Very rural. Expect everyone to be friendly and happy to chat and smile with you even though you don't share a single word of each other's languages.
Patrick Lopeman

CARPATHIAN CULTURE AND WILDLIFE

Written August 2012
An interesting trip in a beautiful area of natural beauty.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Seeing wild bears in the woods at dusk. The trip to Libearty was very moving. Also enjoyed Bran Castle, even though the Dracula merchandising on sale outside was a bit tacky!
What did you think of your group leader?
Cosmin was a quiet, unassuming leader who emerged as a real asset to the trip.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
We travelled in August and it was extremely hot (apparently a heatwave), a bit too hot for some of the fairly strenuous hiking early in the trip. So maybe avoid the summer months. We saw very little 'incidental' wildlife - I had expected to see more birds of prey, for instance.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
This was our first Exodus trip and it gave us a taste for more. It was very well-organised and we really enjoyed the company of our fellow travellers. Unfortunately, during our trip about half of our group was stricken by some sort of stomach bug, which put a bit of a dampener on things.
Jonathan Fryer

CARPATHIAN CULTURE AND WILDLIFE

Written August 2012
A good introduction to Romania. The guide was welcoming and approachable and the hotel owner was informative and passionate about the welfare of bears. The walks were relaxed and allowed exploration of the local area. There was the feeling that there was a little too much travelling in the minibus, but variety was provided by the walks, visits to towns and waiting patiently for bears to emerge from the woods late at night.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
My highlight was unexpected. It was dusk when we waited patiently for the 'wild' beavers to appear and the air beccame filled with bats. It was wonderful. Also, walking nearer streams frequently led to some lovely moments when clouds of disturbed blue butterflies would lift off form the pathway. Gorgeous.
What did you think of your group leader?
The guest house owner was kind and informative. She accompanied us on some the trips and was good company. The walks guide was very approachable.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Drink plenty of water! Our visit coincided with the hottest, driest summer for a very long time and local farmers were struggling. Suncream, hat and good walking boots are essential. Binoculars are advantageous when viewing the beavers and wild bears.
Jonathan Hawkins

CARPATHIAN CULTURE AND WILDLIFE

Written July 2012
A great holiday mixing exercise, nature and culture in a well balanced package supported by a brilliant host and venue!
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
For me it was the wonderful scenery, the view from the hill just climbed just made the hard work so worthwhile!
What did you think of your group leader?
Our group leader was very knowledgeable though he did have a thing about 'red breasted shrikes' and other avian treasures, our minbus braking unexpectedly to point out this wonder or that. And we were lucky that we did see a good number of interesting things. But not only did he know his local area but also his local history which was shared with us and made it all so much more meaningful.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Grab every opportunity offered, you will enjoy it!
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Our hosts and their support team were wonderful. Everything was so relaxed and they were so helpful and friendly and enthusiastic about the area they live in. The accommodation was really good and the food was excellent, I just ate too much!
Andrew Law

CARPATHIAN CULTURE AND WILDLIFE

Written July 2012
Pleasant weather, a comfortable guest house with good food. The holiday gives good opportunity to see wildlife unobtainable in western Europe, together with a very different culture plus some good trekking. The holiday "did what it said on the tin".
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Without a doubt the visit to Libearty, the bear sanctuary, as this is restricted access and not generally available to tourists. We were given an exclusive guided tour for most of the morning and were able to see many bears. Note, the sanctuary is not a zoo and is no way a "commercial touristy" venue, itis a working wildlife concern.
Must mention Bran Castle in passing, as I'm fond of the book and films regarding Transylvanias most famous son...
What did you think of your group leader?
Cosmin was very helpful and spoke excellent English. He was also mindful to accommodate all of the group's capabilities particularly when one or two were feeling the weather during the walks. He used to be a Ranger in the park, and has a good knowledge of wildlike and history.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
The weather was hot at this time of year, mid 30s degrees C a good capacity water bottle is a must. We were able to re-fill at one or two points in the mountains from natural springs, Casmin will advise.
The weather can turn quickly though, always take a raincoat; when it does rain it won't hold back, but lasts about 30 minutes or so. The thunderstorms were great if you enjoy such things.
If you do the optional bear hide in the evening (which I recommend), this will be at dusk so sort out your camera before setting off; the red light emissions can scare off the beasts. The hide is well built and protected, you will be safe. Sit still and don't figit though!
If you can, take binoculars (these are good whilst in the hide even though the bears are only 30 metres or so away) and we saw chamois and eagles etc in the mountains.
Sun screen essential. Insect repellant needed on the beaver watch evening as it is by the river and again at dusk. The mountains seemed fairly clear of biting insects.
I may confirm there is no need to pre-load on garlic for these evening excursions.,
Is there anything else you would like to add?
The hotel is comfortable and was kept clean daily to a high standard. You will need Lei for the Brasov day, but (at the time of my holiday) could pay the hotel honesty bar in Euro as well as Lei. You can pay for duty frees at the airport in Euro as well. You will need to pay Euro for the bear hide though.
Most Romanians I met in cafes etc spoke very good English, I shouldn't panic about a phrase book.
A couple of packets of jelly babies or whatever helps to maintain energy levels in the trekking days. You will make a picnic type lunch from the continental style breakfast, so a plastic lunch box would be useful.
Susan Gale

CARPATHIAN CULTURE AND WILDLIFE

Written June 2012
This was my first group holiday with Exodus and I was travelling on my own, so hoping for a nice group of fellow travellers, plenty to do, good food and accommodation and well planned and executed travel arrangements. This trip pretty much met all these expectations and exceeded some. The actual walking part of the holiday was tough at times but manageable and certainly enjoyable (rain didn't help - but I can't blame Exodus for that). Accommodation was simple but comfortable and everything worked. Food was good. The company (fellow travellers) were great and we really got on well. The guide was great and overall it was a very good holiday.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Seeing the bears in the sanctuary was incredible, the stories of their rescue and how they are now thriving was very moving. However seeing wild bears was also amazing.
In addition the beautiful Carpathian landscape especially when high up in the sheep pastures and pine forests was lovely.
What did you think of your group leader?
Cosmin Dan was excellent, very knowledgeable, very patient and looked after us very well.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
You don't need much extra spending money on this trip, the bear hide and the visit to Bran and Brasov allow some opportunity and you can spend money at the guesthouse on excellent local beers and wines, but generally everything is provided. Good waterproofs (essential for the week we were there) and perhaps boot cleaning kit is a good idea.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
I really liked this trip, and Romania. I would certainly consider returning, even repeating the same holiday again some time.
Jefferson Thomas

CARPATHIAN CULTURE AND WILDLIFE

Written October 2011
This was a great first visit to Romainia. The carpathian mountains were beautiful, the food was great, and the people were friendly. We had awsome hikes, and good accomodations.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
For me the most inspirational moment was the first mornig. We had arrived in Magura(our host village) in the middle of the night in total darkness. In the light of morning I could see the beauty of the surrounding mountains, and the quaint little farms on the slopes all around us.
What did you think of your group leader?
Cosmin was very good. He had a true love of his culture and enjoyed shareing it with us. He spoke very good english. Cosmine was also confident enough to be patient with the slower walkers in the group, yet willing to let the stronger ones forge ahead. Cosmine was also well organized.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
You should go with a reasonable level of fitness. The hikes are not hard, yet you are in mountainous terrain. Also, if you have favorite trail snacks you should bring them because some of the selections for the lunches are a little limited and repetative. Like it says in the trip notes, don't change money at the airport. The exchange rates are poor, and we didn't need any cash for the first couple of days in the trip anyway.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
This was a great oportunity to see a "slower" way of life to that which many of us in the west live, where many people still use a horse and cart for daily life, and dont have to run to the store for their milk and eggs. Romainia seems to be in the discovery stage of tourists, so you wont be bumping into throngs of other visitors like you do in many other places. In short, this was a very good way to spend a week.