Inspiration for your own tailor-made trip
Romania – Armenis – Transylvania
100% customisable for you
Pack your bags and set your alarms, because you have an early start this morning for your flight to Romania. Head to the airport, speed through security and tuck into some breakfast in the lounge before boarding. Flights to Timisoara take just under three hours – plenty of time to make a start on your holiday read.
After landing in Timisoara at around lunchtime, you’ll be met by your driver for the two-hour transfer to the outskirts of the village of Armenis. Once you’ve checked into your guesthouse, your guide will meet you for a short presentation on the rewilding project and what you’ll be doing for the next few days, before you sit down to a delicious dinner.
After a tasty breakfast, head to the WeWilder Campus to meet your guide and begin learning about the reintroduction of bison into the area. Armed with your newfound knowledge, it's time to venture into the wild with your guide, on the hunt for bison tracks.
Tipping the scales at 1,400lbs and standing at a mighty six feet tall, bison are Europe’s largest land mammals. Understandably, this might make you think they’d be easy to spot, but their ability to melt into the forest and disappear into their leafy world makes finding them more challenging. Luckily, your expert guides will teach you how to track them, so you should be able to observe some for yourselves after lunch.
After a busy day, head back to camp for supper – a welcome chance to refuel and talk about the excitement of (hopefully) spotting your first bison.
Over the next two days, there’s even more bison tracking opportunities on the agenda.
After breakfast in camp, pull on your hiking boots and prepare to head out into the wilderness. The Southern Carpathians are home to some of Europe's most dramatic landscapes, and you'll have the chance to roam rugged mountains, forests and winding rivers. The region is home to more than just bison, too, so keep an eye out for wolves, brown bears, wild boar, red deer and more.
When you (hopefully) encounter a herd of bison grazing, observe their tails metronomically swishing flies away, tassels of shaggy fur, powerful shoulders and gentle black eyes as they rove the meadows in search of food. Take some time to appreciate these incredible animals in their rightful home, a moment that makes the importance of their reintroduction even more significant.
In between hiking and bison tracking, tuck into lunches and suppers back at the camp, cooked up by local chefs using seasonal produce. There may also be the opportunity for an e-bike or horse-riding tour around the area on your final day here.
Today, swap wilderness for city as your Romania trip takes a turn towards Transylvania. You'll be collected after breakfast and driven three hours to the city of Sibiu, where you’ll check into your hotel for the night.
Known for its Germanic architecture, Sibiu is a legacy of Romania's 12th-century Saxon settlers. Today, explore the city with a local guide, visiting the medieval fortifications and wandering the ancient streets. Stroll under the Footway Ramp, built in the 14th century to connect the upper and lower parts of the city, cross the Bridge of Lies – the oldest cast-iron bridge in Romania – and visit the Evangelical and Orthodox Cathedrals for a glimpse into the city’s different architectural styles.
If you’re an art lover, you could also visit the Brukenthal museum, a 200-year-old institution boasting old and contemporary Romanian art, among other exhibits. Finish the day with a climb up the clock tower for a panoramic view of the city before heading to your hotel for the evening.
This morning, travel back in time as you head to Sighisoara, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the few medieval citadels that is still inhabited. After an hour-and-a-half drive, check into your hotel and spend the morning visiting the incredible ancient fortified church, complete with a Clock Tower, covered stairs and guild towers.
This afternoon, learn how communities here live in harmony with the land with a visit to a local family, who grow dry and medicinal plants to sell as teas and infusions. Sit, chat and enjoy lunch with them, finding out about their wealth of plant knowledge and the benefits of living in sync with nature.
Then, head back to your hotel for a relaxed afternoon, followed by a delicious supper either at your hotel or in a local restaurant.
Today is yours to spend as you wish. There are plenty of activities we can suggest, which you can enjoy with a private guide, or you can explore the area at your own pace.
One option is a hike to Biertan, the oldest UNESCO site in Transylvania, which is famous for its 15th-century wooden altar and Prison Tower. Or, you could explore other Saxon villages in the area, such as Nou Sasesc or Malancrav. For a more active adventure, we could arrange for you to go riding in Apos.
However you spend your day, make the most of your last evening in Sighisoara – our Concierge is on hand for some stellar restaurant recommendations – as it’s onto your next stop tomorrow.
This morning, a private transfer will whisk you away to Crit, about 30 minutes away. You'll be heading to the home of a passionate local beekeeper, who just so happens to provide honey to the British Royal Household (yes, really). Spend some time with him as he shows you the ropes of traditional beekeeping, from the wonderful creatures themselves to the delicious honey they produce.
After your visit, move on to Viscri, a 20-minute drive away. The most visited village in Transylvania, it’s populated by Saxons, Romanians and Romany travellers and is brimming with ancient sites and historic moments. Take some time to explore the streets and peer into its UNESCO-listed fortified church.
If you’d prefer a more physical activity this afternoon, you could go hiking through the meadows and forests that surround the village. Alternatively, opt to visit the local blacksmith, tile maker or furniture painter to learn about their trade, or have lunch with a local Saxon woman for a taste of authentic Transylvanian food before heading to your guesthouse for the night.
Make sure you have a hearty breakfast this morning, because today you'll be hiking in the gorgeous gorges of the Piatra Craiului National Park, part of the Carpathian mountain range and home to bears, lynx and wolves. After breakfast, you’ll be picked up and driven south to Magura, where you can drop your bags at your next guesthouse before beginning your hike.
The guided hike will last most of the day, including plenty of stops to admire the views and lunch in a lodge en route. Your guide can adapt the route’s difficulty to make it more or less challenging, and come the afternoon, you’ll have the opportunity to put your feet up in a well camouflaged hide in the hope of seeing some of the region's brown bears.
This evening, settle into your guesthouse for a well-earned supper, toasting to the end of a fantastic trip.
Sadly, today marks the end of your Transylvanian adventure. After one final breakfast, meet your private driver and hop into the car to drive back towards Sibiu for your evening flight home.
An hour into your drive, you'll pass the lovely Transylvanian village of Ciscor – the perfect place to stop off for a gourmet lunch in a beautiful guesthouse. While you’re here, be sure to have a glass of Romanian wine or turmeric lemonade in the flower garden of the guesthouse.
For one last dose of culture, stop off to visit an organisation in Cincu, where you’ll meet a network of artisans and creatives dedicated to safeguarding, cultivating, developing and integrating Romanian heritage crafts and skills into daily life.
After another hour in the car, you’ll reach Sibiu, in time for your evening flight to London. You’ll be in the air for about three hours – just enough time to look through some of your amazing holiday snaps before landing late this evening.
Each of our trips is entirely tailor-made with originality, quality and cultural immersion in mind. Our team of destination specialists will craft itineraries based on your tastes, using their first-hand knowledge and the help of our in-country team of Concierges and guides. All trips are accompanied by a wide range of additional services, including a 24-hour helpline, the Original Travel app, fast-track airport services and much more.
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Our team of destination experts will get to know you and your unique requirements for your holiday
We work with you to build an ultra-personalised holiday itinerary with your choice of accommodation, experiences and activities
All of our holidays include little extras designed to make a big difference to your trip, from checking you in for your flights to our network of local Concierges
