Itinerary
Day 1 Arrive Bucharest – Sighisoara
Arrive into Bucharest Henri Coandă International Airport before 1.00 PM and be transferred towards the medieval heart of Transylvania, Sighisoara citadel.
Stop at the Transylvanian town of Brasov with its cobbled medieval streets, awe-inspiring Gothic and Baroque architecture. Grab a winter warmer (own expense) in one of the many bohemian cafes, wander down Eastern Europe’s narrowest alleyway, see the candy-coloured houses of the main square and get up close to the Black Church and other notable sights. During the Christmas season, the main square comes to life with joyful music, wooden stalls and a giant, sparkling Christmas tree.
After a guided walking tour in the Old Town of Brasov and some free time, continue your journey to Sighisoara. The historic centre of Sighisoara is one of the most visited UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Transylvania.
Meal: Dinner
Stay: hotel, Sighisoara
Day 2 Sighisoara
Take a walk and learn about the rich and colourful history of this still inhabited medieval citadel. Founded by the Saxons during the 12th century, the historic centre of Sighisoara still stands as one of the most best-preserved medieval towns in Europe. This 16th century gem with nine towers, cobbled streets, burgher houses and ornate churches rivals the historic streets of Old Prague or Vienna for atmospheric magic.
Transfer to one of the small mountainous villages, located at the foothills of the Harghita Mountains, to Izvoare. Join a horseback riding lesson on Icelandic horses. Experienced riders can join a 2-hour guided horseback riding tour in nature. Beginner riders will continue with a guided walking tour in the 400-hectare wildlife park where they can observe red deers, roe deers and wild boars from the specific wildlife hides of the park.
Meal: Breakfast, Dinner
Stay: hotel / guesthouse, Izvoare
NOTE: for the next 2 consecutive nights stay on Hasmas Mountains, hikers are required to carry their personal essentials required for 2 overnight stays in their backpack. Ensure the capacity of your hiking backpack is enough to contain the essentials you need. Your luggage will be fast tracked to the accommodation on day 5.
Day 3 Hasmas Mountains
Explore one of the most beautiful mountains in the Eastern Carpathians, the Hasmas Mountains, over the next two days. Take a hike to the Lonely Stone Hut which can be accessed only by foot. Snowshoes will be provided and if the weather permits, even rock climbing to the top of the Lonely Stone can be tried out. Take with you only what you need for this two-day trek, as your main luggage will be transferred to your accommodation on Day 5.
After a moderate hike, arrive at our overnight hut for some rest with snacks and tea served by the local family. Continue the hike to the top of the Great Hasmas Peak, the highest point of the Bicaz Gorges-Hasmas Mountains National Park. The trail goes through the open Curmatura saddle, then a small forest trail follows through pine woods until we reach the great cliff edge where breathtaking scenery unfolds with great view of the Ciuc Basin below us and the surrounding Carpathian Mountains. Continue the trek quietly to the Great Hasmas Peak as we may spot some of the hundreds of chamois living among the rocks of mountain. Top up your energy with some hot tea at the top before descending back to the hut. Our hosts will be waiting for us with a traditional Carpathian meal, polenta with melted cheese.
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Stay: Mountain Hut
Hiking Distance: 10 KM Elevation Gain: +950 M / -300 M
Day 4 Hasmas Mountains
Enjoy breakfast and hot tea before we start our snowshoeing trip to the top of the Ecem Mountain.
Optionally, start our tour early at dawn before the sun rises (around 5 AM). If we are lucky, enjoy nature’s quick burst of beautiful red and orange colours from the peak around 8 AM. After a well-deserved rest on the rocks of the peak, continue our tour towards the villages of the beautiful Gyimes Valley on a gradually descending trail.
As soon as we observe the first houses down in the valley, traditional Carpathian horse-drawn sleighs will be waiting for us with hot tea and some mulled wine to take you down to the village. Enjoy the warmth and comfort of your sleigh and listen to the horses hoofbeats in the crisp snow as you slide through the last few kilometres of the trail.
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Stay: guesthouse
Hiking Distance: 11 KM Elevation Gain: +200 M / -700 M
Day 5 Gyimes Valley
Savour a wholesome breakfast with organic ingredients produced locally by the farm located nearby the pension with home-made butter, cheese, jams, honey, sausages, bacon, all kind of vegetable spreads and traditional bread.
Our winter fun continues with a thrilling 4×4 safari in the Eastern Carpathians. Ride 5-seated 4WD vehicles which can go through the rugged, snowy gravel roads linking the isolated mountainous villages with the Bicaz Gorges and with the Gyimes Valley. From the comfort of the vehicle, experience some thrilling routes, great belvedere points and exquisite winter scenery of the Eastern Carpathians.
Stop for lunch in the small village of Haromkut. This settlement, located at 1,000 M altitude, has only 200 inhabitants living from animal breeding and forestry. Here, time seem to have stopped as electricity was introduced only in the last 30 years. Visit a local family who will serve us freshly baked trout with the traditional polenta. The trouts are bred by the family in the clear water of the local springs. While we wait for the trouts to be ready, visit the Warm springs located close to the property. This spring is called Warm by the locals because it has a constant temperature of 8-9 Celsius degree along the whole year and during winter, when temperatures go below zero degree, it looks like it is boiling.
From Haromkut, continue our 4×4 adventure ride to the impressive Bicaz Gorges, one of the most picturesque karst scenery in all of the Eastern Carpathians. The tall rocky walls reach 350 M – 400 M high, narrowing up to 7 M in its most spectacular part, the Hell’s Gate. Admire the raw beauty of the gorges as we walk along it.
On the way back to the Gyimes Valley, enjoy new sights and new winter trails to ride on. Your guide will introduce you to the bloody battles that took place in the mountains surrounding the Gyimes Valley during World War I and World War II when many Russian, German, Romanian, Hungarian and Italian troops fought here. As you ride in the hills and mountains surrounding the villages below, the Guide will show you the remains of the trenches and machine gun mounts, revive the course of the battles and fights with the help of detailed maps and photos.
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Stay: guesthouse, Gyimes Valley
Day 6 Gyimes Valley – Covasna County
Bid farewell to the Gyimes Valley as we head towards the so-called Land of Volcanoes where the Transylvanian winter adventure tour continues. Here, discover the volcanic landscape of the Ciomad Mountain and enjoy splendid scenery from the rims of the crater during a half day walking and snowshoeing guided trip. Descend towards the shore of the volcanic Saint Anne Lake and taste freshly baked local delicacy, called kürtőskalács. The lake is surrounded by legends, mysteries and miracles. Even the shape of it is unusual as it looks like a large teardrop. The area of the lake was not only believed to be a hiding place for pagan gods, but also has been and still is one of the most respected sacred places for the Christian Szeklers.
After a day of exploration and hiking in nature, relax and indulge yourself with one of the best spa treatments available in Transylvania. In Grand Santerra Spa, the natural resources of this land and the local tradition are truly treasured and inspired the spa rituals offered, making this is the best way to end our fairy tale Transylvanian escape.
Meal: Breakfast
Stay: hotel
Hiking Distance: 11 KM Elevation Gain: +200 M / -700 M
Day 7 Ice Hotel
The winter fun continues for a night in the Ice Hotel in the Fagaras Mountains. Here, brace yourself for dinner ‘on ice’ with a four-course meal at the Ice Restaurant complete with ice plates, frozen tables and frosty, fur lined chairs before enjoying an evening at the Sub Zero Ice Bar then tucking yourself into cosy sleeping bags before braving the night in your ice-suite! Nice.
Meal: Breakfast, Dinner
Stay: Ice Hotel
Day 8 Depart Bucharest
Enjoy breakfast at the Ice Restaurant, breathe in the fresh air and the great views at 2,000 M altitude. Then take the cable car ride back to the vehicle ready to transfer to the airport for departure.
Depending on the flight schedule, an optional stop for a guided walking tour in Sibiu Old Town can be included.
Meal: Breakfast