Day 1: Arrival in Bucharest.

Meeting the guide in the evening at the train station one hour before the train departure. Night train for Bucovina at 9:30 PM (sleeping wagon 2 or 4 beds / cabin)

Day 2:  Arrival in Bucovina

On arrival there is a short private transfer to our hosts where we have breakfast and then we set out to discover  deep Bucovina: we take the steam train  along the River Moldovita. We will get off before the terminus of the track, the best starting point of our hike. This immersion in a peasant world will enchant you; the beautiful landscape punctuated with sheep herds and horse-carts reveals a great harmony. Night in Moldovita (~5 hours, 14 km, +500m, -550). (BLD)

Day 3: Moldoviţa and its monastery

After a short uphill hike, we arrive in the forest and from there, according to the moving of the flocks, we could reach a shepherd’s hut. We continue through the famous fir-tree forest of Bucovina until we go back to the valley to discover one of the major components of the unique Bucovina monasteries set, the Moldoviţa painted monastery. From there, depending on how we feel we go back to the guesthouse either on foot (5km) through the village, either with a local bus. Night at the same place. (~4 hours, 13 km, +/-300m) (BLD)

Day 4:  Suceviţa and local craft

Before our walk today, we will meet Hutsules people; these inhabitants (with uncertain roots and history) give us a display of egg painting. We continue our hike through woods and fields that shows an unexpected rural world which is still very alive. After a short transfer we arrive to the Suceviţa monastery across the fields, which  offer us a striking sight: the nature seems to protect the monastery like a jewel! The perfection of each detail on such a vast fresco is amazing. (~3.5 hours, 11 km, +400m, -300m, longer walk available). Night in Suceviţa. (BLD)

Day 5: Transfer to Maramureş

Transfer to the border with Maramureş (~3.30 hours of transfer) to Prislop pass (1400m). From here we enter the National park of Rodnei Mountains and start our walk by a soft ascent to the glacier lake of Stiol (1700m). We will be surrounded with different flowers such as rhododendron, gentian, depending on the period of the year as we walk along the track. From there  enter in the massif pine forest and go down to Horses’ Waterfall, the tallest waterfall in Romania. (~4 hours, 14 km, +350m, -650).

Day 6: Contemporary Maramures

First stop for the day will be in the town of Sighetu Marmatiei, after a 2h transfer by car. Here we will visit the “Communism Victims Memorial” created in the prison where the main opponents of the regime were detained, without trial. There will be free time for lunch before we go to the village of Desesti, to visit one of the most beautiful wooden churches of Maramures. From there we’ll do a relaxing walk to our host village for tonight, Breb, the village where Prince Charles is owner of a beautiful old traditional house. (~2 hours, 14 km, +350m, -650).

Day 7: Maramureş between fields and forests

Today we will discover Maramureş between fields and forests. In every season, country is animated by the field’s works. But before our walk, we pay a visit to the traditional wooden installations from Sarbi, a fulling mill, a thresher, whirlpools and a brandy distillery.  Depending on time we may have a short stop at Bârsana monastery which is a masterpiece of the wooden Maramureş architecture. Then, we’ll start our village to village walk, with destination in Botiza village. There we will have a weaving demonstration at one of the last ladies who masters this ancient craft. (6 hours, 13 km, +/-400)

Day 8: The oldest wooden church and Cluj-Napoca

On our last day we’ll hike to the nearby village of Ieud. We  start going up on a narrow path along a small stream, covered by surrounded by colorful flowers. At the end of the walk, we will visit the oldest wooden church of Maramureş, the  Ieud dating back to 14th century, part of UNESCO heritage. We end the tour with a four hour transfer to the city of Cluj Napoca, the most important university city of Romania, with a cosmopolitan culture and Hungarian heritage which waits to be discovered. Late arrival but you can extend your trip in Cluj. (~2.5 hours, 8 km, +250, -300m).

Day 9: End of journey

Breakfast. End of the trip.
We can assist you with train transfer or flight ticket to Bucharest. Also, we designed a special extra-tour for the way back to Bucharest including:
-1st day: train transfer to Sighisoara, visit of the beautiful fortified citadel and overnight Sighisoara.
-2nd day: train transfer to Brasov, visit of the medieval center and overnight Brasov.
-3rd day: train transfer to Bucharest. Check the extra-options below.

Accommodation:

• Rural pensions in double occupancy, exceptionally triple with private & shared facilities (1 for 2 rooms).
• Depending on the size of the group, the accommodation can be done in several pensions. Meals will be taken together.
• 1 night in sleeper train – 2 or 4 beds /cabin.
• 6 nights in rural guesthouses, in double occupancy, with private & shared facilities (1 for 2 rooms)
• 1 night in 3* hotel in the center of Cluj