Area: Romanian Mountains: Apuseni Mts

Level rate: Moderate

Dates of departure: November – March, on demand

Nr. of team members: 2 – 12

Trip duration (days): 8

Required gear: Backpack, food, spot light (preferably front lamp), good boots, waterproof and warm changing clothes, water can, sweets.

On the way, we pass by Pitesti, Ramnicu Valcea city and by Sibiu Medieval City.

Accomodation: guest house in Rasinari 2^ND DAY SUNDAY
Visit Sibiu medieval city, transfer by coach to Vartop village, Apuseni Mountains

Rasinari Village, the one that gave to Romania 7 members of Romanian Academy conserves unalterated the winter traditions and a traditional lifestyle. Visit Sibiu, one of the nices medieval citadels in Romania and, for 2009, the European capital of culture. Sebes -> Alba Iulia -> Campeni -> Arieseni Having dinner in Vartop

Accommodation: hotel in Vartop

Leisure time at Arieseni (horse slaid)

Visit a part of Apuseni Mountains in a horse-driven slate.

9:00: have breakfast in the hotel.

9:30: transfer to Pestera Ursilor (Bears’ cave) in Chiscau Village (100 km). Visit the Cave, joined by a guide. The cave, the finest cave in Romania is suitable for guided tourists’ visit. In this cave were found traces of the bear cave (Ursus spelaeus), the biggest bear that lived in the Ice Age.

14:00: Short hike (30 minutes) to Groapa Ruginoasă (Redish Hole), the most spectacular geological reserve in Romania, containing a a small scale canyon, an early canyon that is being formed on sedimentary roks. You can see with your own eyes how a canyion is formed.

20:00: Dinner in Hotel in Vârtop

Accommodation: hotel in Vârtop

4^TH DAY TUESDAY

Caving in Carpathian Mountains

Getting in touch with the Romanian traditions and the villagers day by day style of life – traditional way of life, cooking, milking 9:00: breakfast at Vartop

9:30: optional transfer to Garda, typical mountain village, the main gate to Apuseni cave system (10 Km)(30 EURO)

10:00: horse slide visit to Poarta lui Ionele cave and Scarisoara cave glaciar – the biggest underground glacier in Romania – , local museum at Scărişoara

20:00: Dinner

Accomodation: hotel in Vartop

5^TH DAY, WEDNESDAY

Leisure time in Apuseni mountains

9:00: breakfast

9:30: optional program: – ski on Vartop slope ( 800m length, easy level); – visit local woodcrafts man in Garda ( 5 EURO); – traditional cooking in the village; – visit a local farm;

20:00: having dinner in Vartop

Accommodation: hotel in Vartop

6^TH DAY, THURSDAY

Transfer to Sighisoara Medieval Citadel Arieseni Village.

We are following Aries spectacular valley, until we reach Turda’s gorges (the most spectacular in Romania) just 1.8 Km long bur very dramatic landscape. The town of Turda is famous by it’s salt mine (“Salina”) with traces of roman exploatation. Optional: visit the salt mine (~ 5 EURO/pers)

Câmpia Turzii – the place of a dramatic moment in Romanian history: the assassination of the first Romanian leader, Mihai Viteazul (Michael the brave), that unified all the three teritories lived by the romanians for the first time, at 1600. He was the defeater of the great Turkish military leader Sinan Pasa.

Târgu Mureş city – the third important city in Transylvania, an important trade city on the Mures river banks, with a vivid history, a nice stronghold well preserved. The city is important for the commerce beetwin Transylvania and Moldavia, and has a big number of hungarians leaving toghether with the romanians. Centuries ago on the Mures River rafts and water mills could be seen.

Sighişoara medieval citadel. Spending the evening in the medieval atmosphere in Sighisoara.

Accommodation: guest house in Sighişoara

7^TH DAY, FRIDAY

Transfer by coach to Bucharest, capital city

Visit Sighişoara in the morning, the only citadel in Europe still inhabited since the middle ages. Leaving Sighişoara, heading for Brasov City.

15:00 visit Brasov, an old city, conserving the biggest gothic cathedral in Eastern Europe – the black church.

Predeal Resort, nice view over Bucegi Mountains

Evening walk in Bucharest, visit Bucharest by night.

Having dinner in Bucharest

Accommodation: *** hotel in Bucharest

8^TH DAY, SATURDAY

Transfer by coach from Bucharest to the Intl. Airport

Schedule according to the flight’s departure timing

RIVER RAFTING MOVIE Area: Bucovina, Rarau, Calimani, Suhard mountains, Painted Monasteries
Level rate: Moderate – Demanding
Dates of departure: June – September
Nr. of team members: 4 – 12
Trip duration (days): 10
Required gear: Backpack, sleeping bag, spot light, good boots, waterproof and warm changing cloths, water can, first-aid kit

1^ST DAY

Welcoming at Suceava/Iasi Airport

Transfer to Vatra Dornei – by car/train, according to your prefferences

Accommodation at Vatra Dornei

Vatra Dornei is situated in the middle of Eastern Carpathians where Dorna river flows into Bistrita. Famous both as a spa (mineral waters) and ski resort during the winter (that last here 8 months) Vatra Dornei has a lot to offer being surrounded by mountains. Hiking trails, mountain biking, river rafting, rock climbing, paragliding, horse riding. The world famous painted monasteries of Bucovina are in the near by and can be seen on a day trip.

2^ND DAY

Hiking in Calimani Mountains

9:00: breakfast

10:00: 5-6 hours moderate hike on Calimani Mts.

15:00 picnic lunch

19:00: dinner on your own at Vatra Dornei

Accommodation in Vatra Dornei

3^RD DAY

Rock climbing day

9:00 breakfast

10:00 transfer to Rarau Mts. (30 km).

Rarau Mts. offer a breath taking overview over the surrounding area (Giumalau, Calimani Mts). Famous by its bizarre shaped rocks called Pietrele Doamnei, rocks that can be climbed by those that like rock climbing.

Rock climbing, assisted by a professional instructor – all level categories

15:00 pic-nic lunch

18:00 return to Vatra Dornei

19:00 dinner at Vatra Dornei, on your own

Acoommodation at Vatra Dornei

4^TH DAY

River rafting on Bistrita River

9:00 breakfast

10:00 transfer to Bistrita River

River rafting from 3 up to 25 Km on Bistrita River

Bistrita is the largest river in Romanian Carpathians, having the longest mountain course in Romania . By the first half of 20 th century logs where transported as rafts all the way the Galati at Danube . The best sector for rafting is in the narrow path called Zugreni at 35 Km south of Vatra Dornei. Here large rocks make the river struggle against the Rarau Mts

15:00 picnic lunch

18:00 return to Vatra Dornei

19:00 dinner on your own at Vatra Dornei

Accommodation at Vatra Dornei

5^TH DAY WEDNESDAY

Horse Riding

9:00 breakfast

9:30 transfer to Calimani National Park

Calimani National Park is the protected area in Calimani Mts., famous in Romania for its well kept volcanic traces. Volcanic bizarre shapes, traces of old craters, the largest volcanic caldera in Carpathians are the main geological attractions are part of what we call the Europe’s Best Kept Secrets . Numerous species of flowers, as well as the rich wild life (over 180 species of birds) make a trip to Calimani Mts. a beautiful memory.

At the beginning of the day, getting to know the horses.

Horse riding to Pietrele Rosii, in company of a horse-riding guide.

15:00 picnic lunch at 12 Apostoli

Horse riding to Tamau

18:30 camping at Maieris

19:00 camp dinner

6^TH DAY THURSDAY

Horse riding

9:00 breakfast

10:25 Horse riding to Gruiu

14:00 picnic lunch

18:00 transfer to Vatra Dornei

20:00 dinner on your own

Accommodation at Vatra Dornei

7^TH DAY FRIDAY

Visit the painted monasteries of Bucovina (300 Km drive)

9:00 breakfast

10:00 departure

The painted monasteries of Bucovina are famous worldwide for them remarkable external paintings that where to communicate to common people the divine message. A real history of the religion is concentrated on the walls of the late middle age churches.

Moldoviţa is a fortified monastery built in 16-th century, the dominant color being red

The masters who painted its interior and exterior walls have decorated them with scenes from 16th century Moldavian daily life. But the most interesting painting is the Siege of Constantinople on the south facade, relating to the Romanians’ fights against foreign invasions, especially Turks. The painting combines scenes of the siege of Constantinople from 1453 with others referring to a previous such attempt made by the Persians, in 626.

Suceviţa Monastery, built in 16-th century, has the dominant color blue. The monastery in fortified with thick walls guarded by towers.

Paintings at Sucevita were best preserved both on the outside and on the inside.
Frescoes are painted in purple red and blue against an emerald green background. There is plenty of gold too, taken from the art of miniature.

Situated in a valley 50 km north of Gura Humorului, Humor church was built in 1530 by Petru Rares and his high chancellor Teodor Bubuiog, on the site of a monastic complex built before 1415. The church, consecrated to the Assumption of the Virgin, is smaller than other churches of the painted monasteries and does not have any cupolas. Humor Monastery was among the first churches to be painted. Its frescoes are due to Toma of Suceava and were performed in 1535, the dominant color is yellow.

A convence consecrated to St.George, Voroneţ Monasterylies at walking distance from the Gura Humorului town. An old Romanian chronicle written by Ion Neculce records that Stephen the Great founded Voroneţ Monastery in 1488 to fulfill a pledge to the hermit Daniil who had encouraged the ruling prince of Moldavia to chase the Turks from Wallachia. After having won the battle against the Turks, Stephen erected Voroneţ in three months and 21 days, on the very spot Daniil had his small wooden hermitage.
Its interior and exterior paintings were made later on, between 1534-1535, during prince Petru Rares’ rule. The dominant color is the world famous Voronet blue .

20:00 dinner on your own at Vatra Dornei

Accommodation at Vatra Dornei

8^TH DAY

Mountain Biking

9:00 breakfast

10:00 mountain biking

15:00 picnic lunch

19:00 dinner on your own at Vatra Dornei

Accommodation at Vatra Dornei 9^TH DAY

Transfer to Suceava/ Iasi , depending to your plane departure airport.

9:00 breakfast

leaving Vatra Dornei according to the train schedule.

18:00 arrive at Suceava/ Iasi

20:00 dinner on your own

Accommodation at 3 * hotel Day 10

Transfer to the airport according to the flight schedule.