Explore Bucharest, Brasov, castles and palaces on this charming walking and cultural holiday in Transylvania in Romania. HOLIDAY CODE RTT Discover Bran Castle and Peles Palace before exploring the medieval gem of Brasov Visit bee keepers and blacksmiths whilst staying in the Saxon village of Viscri Hike the Royal Trail, visit Zarnasti Gorge and enjoy traditional home-cooked dishes Wander through the charming heart of Bucharest and visit the Palace of the Parliament Romania, Trek & Walk, 8 Days 2 nights guesthouse, 2 nights homestay, 3 nights hotel, 7 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 7 dinners, max group size: 14, 6 days walking and sightseeing VIEW DATES, PRICES & BOOK YOUR HOLIDAY HERE
PAGE 2 Introduction With its beautiful mountains, kaleidoscope of walking trails, pristine pockets of wilderness, dramatic castles, elegant palaces, mythical legends and wonderful cultures, Romania is a fascinating destination for a walking and cultural holiday. Home to the enchanting region of Transylvania and majestic Carpathian Mountains, this lovely Romanian adventure includes a variety of charming walks including the spectacular Bucegi Plateau, the stunning national park of Piatra Craiului, the enchanting circuit of Balea Lake and wonderful Royal Trail. Alongside charming walks you ll experience the Saxon lifestyle of Viscri, explore the legendary castle of Bran, discover the elegant palace of Peles and stroll through the medieval gem of Brasov. The adventure ends in the stunning capital of Bucharest with its beautiful baroque architecture and dramatic Palace of the Parliament. you re looking for a holiday to Romania which includes lovely walks, a wonderful variety of traditional dishes and the country s highlights then this is the perfect choice. Is this holiday for you? The walking on this holiday in Romania is not difficult or sustained. There are walks on 5 days of the holiday, with the walk time varying from 2 to 5 hours. The pace will be relatively relaxed and gentle, with only moderate amounts of ascent and descent. We will be walking on a variety of trails from rough country roads to shepherd's paths in the mountains. The paths are good with no difficult sections and no degree of exposure. While there is sufficient walking on each day to satisfy regular hikers, it is intended that this should be a discovery holiday with a gentle pace that allows everyone to experience and learn more about the culture of Transylvania. Please note that some of the walks can be optional for those who wish to take it easy. Accommodation throughout will be at hotels, other than the 2 nights at homestay accommodation in Viscri. This accommodation is more akin to a simple guesthouse than "homestay." Rooms are twin-shared and some rooms are en-suite. The rooms are all traditionally and comfortably furnished and all meals are home-cooked and delicious. Whilst without hotel facilities, the welcome here will be very warm. Holiday Itinerary Day 1: Meet at Bucharest Airport, transfer to Sinaia and visit Peles Castle. The group will meet at Bucharest Airport before taking a scenic transfer (2 hrs) to the charming town of Sinaia, known as the Pearl of the Carpathians. Nestled in the beautiful Prahova Valley and at the base of the Bucegi Mountains, the alpine town of Sinaia is fondly known for its charming architecture. The town was named after the 1695 Sinaia Monastery around which it was built and once you walk away from the main street, you'll find colourful streets with houses built in traditional Transylvanian style. The town was also the summer residence of the Romanian royal family and is home to Peles Palace. This wonderful Neo-Renaissance castle, complete with fairytale turrets is set against the spectacular Bucegi Mountains and cost an estimated 16,000,000 Romanian lei in gold (approximately 3,000,000). The stunning building took from 1875 to 1914 to complete with a work force of four hundred and has 170 rooms including 30 bathrooms. Its remarkable halls and luxurious rooms are furnished in various styles including Turkish, Moorish and French and depending on time we'll either visit Peles this afternoon or in the morning. Tonight we'll enjoy our first dinner in Romania. HOTEL MEALS D Day 2: Take a cable car ride, walk on the Bucegi Plateau and head to the Saxon village of Viscri. Today we start with a short transfer to the small town of Busteni and from here we head up into the mountains and explore the magnificent Bucegi Plateau. We start with a cable car ride up to 2000m and from here we can start
PAGE 3 to enjoy our day of walking as we take in the famous rock formations whilst been rewarded with superb views along the way. The incredible rock sculptures are what Bucegi is most famous for and as part of the Southern Carpathians; we'll be able to dramatic mountains sloping steeply down into the Prahova Valley. Up here the wind and rain has turned the rocks into figures with magical names such as The Sphinx and the Old Woman. If the weather is on our side we may walk to the Hero's Cross from where there are panoramic mountain views. After some excellent walking we take the table car back down to Busteni and drive (max 2 hours) to the remote Saxon village of Viscri. It is her that we characterful and traditional Saxon homestays which enables us to both enjoy the peace of the village, and experience Saxon life. Dinner tonight will be home-cooked specialities using locally sourced ingredients. Although the accommodation is not luxurious, we'll have the highlight of stepping back in time and enjoying some wonderful hospitality and tranquillity. HOMESTAY DESCENT 250M ASCENT 250M TIME 4 HRS WALKING HOURS DISTANCE 10KM MEALS BLD Day 3: Explore the wonderful Viscri village, a UNESCO fortified church and hike the Royal Walk. During the Middle Ages large numbers of German-speaking Saxons settled in Transylvania, which was then part of the Hungarian empire. They were invited to settle in the Tarnave plateau between Brasov, Sighisoara and Sibiu by the Hungarian King, Andras II, who wanted to push the borders of the lands of the Hungarian crown further east. The result of hundreds of years of Saxon settlement is a unique cultural and architectural heritage which includes many towns and fortified churches built between the 13th and 15th centuries. The rolling hills are filled with fortified Saxon churches, leaving one feeling lost in time past. Viscri is one of these villages, and with no real motorable access road for many years retains an isolated charm. The town boasts a UNESCO world heritage site fortified church dating back to 1185, with attached tower. Today we have a full day to explore the village on foot, paying visits to the blacksmiths, the brick makers, the charcoal makers and the bee keepers. We will follow the route of the Royal Walk enjoyed by Prince Charles, who is a frequent visitor to Transylvania and owns several properties in the area and was recently involved in a documentary called Wild Carpathia (shown regularly at www.travelchannel.co.uk). Our visit will also include the church, the local museum and the church tower so we can enjoy the views of the surrounding countryside. For those so inclined, if the weather is not too hot, we may walk on to the next village for further exploration of this lovely area. Walk time today will depend on the group's interests, but could be from 3-5 hours. Overnight in our lovely local homestay accommodation. HOMESTAY DESCENT 300M ASCENT 300M TIME 5 HRS WALKING HOURS DISTANCE 13KM MEALS BLD Day 4: Take the Transfagarasan Highway and walk the Balea Lake Circuit. The Fagaras are the highest and most dramatic mountains of the Romanian Carpathians and form the ancient border between Transylvania and Wallachia. The massif comprises of a ridge some 75kms long and it rises sharply from the plains. Departing Viscri we take the Transfagarasan Highway constructed between 1970 and 1974 during the reign of Nicolae Ceaucescu as a response to the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia. We drive up to a pass at 2035m from where we walk the Balea Lake circuit. The trail leads up to a ridge from where there are panoramic views of the entire Fagaras mountain range, and we have the option to detour to the nearby summit of Vanatorarea Lui Buteaunu Peak (2509m). After enjoying the views we descend to our vehicle and transfer to the small and attractive town of Zarnesti, where we spend the night in a local pension.
PAGE 4 GUESTHOUSE ASCENT 450M DISTANCE 4KM MEALS BLD DESCENT 450M TIME 2-3 HRS WALKING HOURS Day 5: Walk through Zarnesti Gorge and explore the Piatra Craiului National Park. Today we explore the Piatra Craiulu (King s Rock) National Park on foot. The park formed the backdrop to the Oscar-winning film Cold Mountain starring Nicole Kidman, Renee Zellweger and Jude Law and boasts grandiose and unspoiled scenery. Our walk takes us through Zarnesti Gorge, a deep and narrow limestone canyon, where the final scenes of Cold Mountain were filmed, and ancient pine forests. The area is rich in plant and birdlife: we may see Alpine Swifts, Crag Martins, Grey Wagtails, Dippers, Buzzards and possibly Wallcreepers. We ll stop for lunch (warm soup and tea) at the Curmatura Hut (1470m). Depending on the group and the weather, there is the possibility to continue to Piatra Mica peak We will return to Zarnesti to enjoy a traditional Barbecue dinner. A traditional horse and cart ride takes us to a pleasant meadow situated beneath the classic knife-edge ridge of Piatra Craiului. Here our hosts will prepare a traditional barbecue for us and keep us entertained. This is an idyllic location to spend the evening. Overnight in our pension accommodation in Zarnesti. GUESTHOUSE DESCENT 600M ASCENT 600M TIME 4 HRS WALKING HOURS DISTANCE 11KM MEALS BLD Day 6: Traditional horse and cart ride to spectacular castle of Bran before heading to Brasov. Hiking from Zarnesti to Bran Castle, we admire the views en route before a horse and cart ride along the main village road makes us feel like locals using traditional methods of transportation, perfect for a dramatic entrance! We'll spend time visiting the castle before discovering local handmade artefacts, produce and cheese for sale. Bran Castle, reputed to be the home of Transylvania s most famous resident, Count Dracula, is a must-see for any visitor to the area. This spectacular castle is perched on top of a 60m rocky outcrop and looms menacingly over the village of Bran below. The castle was built by local Saxons in 1382 to defend the Bran pass against invading Turks. It maintained its strategic position for hundreds of years before eventually becoming one of the summer residences of the Romanian Royal family. It became a museum during the Communist era, although ownership has now reverted to relatives of the last Romanian king. The Dracula legend is very important to Transylvanians, with the real Dracula being Vlad the Impaler who was born in nearby Sighisoara in 1431. He was bloodthirsty, but not a vampire, however vampires are an important part of Romanian folklore, with seventh-born children apparently being susceptible to this affliction! Bran Castle is often referred to as Dracula s castle as Vlad the Impaler did stay here. Later we will transfer to the medieval gem of Brasov. HOTEL DESCENT 450M ASCENT 450M TIME 5-6 HRS WALKING HOURS DISTANCE 12KM MEALS BLD Day 7: Explore Brasov before a city tour and visit to the Palace of the Parliament in Bucharest. Brasov is a must-see town for anyone visiting Transylvania. Surrounded by the peaks of the Southern Carpathian mountains, the town is resplendent with baroque and gothic architecture. Established in the 13th century by Teutonic Knights, the town was settled by the Saxons. The city has a distinct medieval feel and has been used as a backdrop for many films. We ll enjoy a sightseeing walk around the city before leaving for Bucharest. On arrival in
PAGE 5 Bucharest we ll have a short city tour that will include a visit to the Palace of the Parliament, former home of former dictator, Nicolae Ceacescu, and the world s second largest building (after the US Pentagon). Controversy surrounded the construction of this building, which cost an estimate 3.3 billion while much of the population of Romania at the time were living in abject poverty. We ll take the last tour of the day at 1545 to have a look inside, and marvel at the marble. Our final night s dinner will be taken in a Bucharest restaurant, giving us the opportunity to reflect on the experiences of the last week in this most welcoming of countries. HOTEL MEALS BLD Day 8: Departure Day. A single timed transfer to Bucharest Otopeni Henri Coanda Airport is included. Today after breakfast we will transfer to the airport late morning for flights departing early afternoon. KE Land Only package services end with the single timed group transfer to Bucharest Otopeni (Henri Coanda) Airport. Taxi transfers are easy to organise with the group hotel or KE leader and cost approximately 20 Euro. Bucharest is a fascinating city, with plenty to see and do and with interesting museums, pleasant shopping streets, bars and cafes. We can arrange for additional nights at the group hotel should you wish to extend your stay. MEALS B Holiday Information What's Included An experienced English-speaking Romanian Mountain Guide Single timed Bucharest Airport group transfers on day 1 and day 8 of the trip itinerary All other road transport within the trip itinerary Accommodation as described in the dossier All meals What's Not Included Travel insurance Airport transfers (other than the single timed group transfers) Tips for local staff Bran Castle entrance fees Miscellaneous expenses - drinks and souvenirs etc. Joining Arrangements & Transfers Within the Land Only cost of this trip, we will provide a single group transfer from Bucharest Otopeni (Henri Coanda) Airport to the group hotel in Sinaia on day 1 of the trip itinerary. This transfer usually departs from the airport in the late morning, after the arrival of the Ryanair flight from London Stansted and the Wizz Air from London Luton. On day 8 we provide a single-timed transfer from the group hotel in Bucharest to Bucharest Otopeni (Henri Coanda) Airport which departs in the morning and is timed to arrive for for the Ryanair Stansted and Wizz Air Luton flights. Alternatively the low-cost airline Blue Air has regular flights from Liverpool, Glasgow, Birmingham and Luton to Bucharest Otopeni Airport. Although classed as low-cost we can book these flights as part of a flight-inclusive package so please contact the KE office for further details and an up to date quote. Full information on transfers, hotel contact details and an emergency number will be provided with your booking
PAGE 6 confirmation. Baneasa Airport arrivals and departures Please note that the majority of scheduled International flights arrive/depart Bucharest Otopeni (Henri Coanda) Airport, however some flights still arrive/depart from Bucharest Baneasa Airport. If your flight arrives at Bucharest Baneasa Airport you will need to take a taxi to Bucharest Otopeni (Henri Coanda) Airport if you are intending to take advantage of the single timed group airport transfers. A taxi from Baneasa to Otopeni usually takes around 20 minutes. Joining in Sinaia If you are unable to take advantage of the single timed group transfer on arrival it is straightforward to reach the group hotel in Sinaia by train from Bucharest Gara de Nord Railway station. You should allow at least 45 minutes to reach Gara de Nord by taxi from Otopeni or Baneasa Airports. A taxi should cost around 15 for this journey. There is a regular (almost hourly) train service from Bucharest Gara de Nord that takes around 90 minutes from Bucharest to reach Sinaia. The cost is approximately 10 for a one way journey. You can check train times on the Romanian State Railway at www.cfr.ro. Although this site has the facility to translate into English, you will need to enter 'Bucuresti Nord' as your place of departure, with 'Sinaia' as your place of arrival. Usually the train times are the same for every day of the week including Sundays. There is no need to book your train ticket in advance, but you should obtain your ticket at Bucharest Gara de Nord ticket office before boarding the train to Sinaia. Meal Plan All meals are included from dinner on day 1 to breakfast on day 8 of the holiday. Lunches will be either taken at a local cafe or will be a packed lunch provided by our hotel or the guide. Food & Water All meals for this holiday are included in the land only price. Breakfasts will usually consist of fresh baked bread, butter, jam and/or honey, tomatoes, cheese, yogurt, preserved meat, fruit juice, eggs and tea or coffee. This is most often set out as a buffet. On walking days we will enjoy a packed lunch. Main courses range from simple grilled meats and potatoes to more elaborately prepared Romanian casseroles. Romanian favourites include Mamaliga, which is similar to polenta, and Ciorbas (soup) is also very popular. The Romanians love Ciorba de Burta (tripe soup with garlic!). Wine and beer is inexpensive and of excellent quality. Why not try Polinka, a twice fermented and exceptionally powerful plum brandy! Accommodation During this holiday the group will spend 5 nights in comfortable local hotels and pensions in Sinaia, Zarnesti (2 nights), Brasov and Bucharest and 2 nights in traditional homestay accommodation in Viscri. All accommodation is on a twin sharing en-suite basis and if you are travelling by yourself you will be paired up with another single client of the same sex. At the Viscri homestay, accommodation will be twin-sharing with shared bathroom facilities. The accommodation at Viscri is in traditional homes with a great deal of old-world charm and rooms furnished in Saxon style. Our hosts are welcoming and despite rooms being simple, staying here is part of the overall holiday experience and more than makes up for a lack of hotel facilites! For the 5 hotel nights, single rooms are available for a supplementary cost. Additional hotel nights in Sinaia and Bucharest are also available. For extra night hotel prices and single supplement costs please refer to the dates and prices page of the trip on our website. Hotels are subject to availability and prices may vary.
PAGE 7 Group Leader & Support Staff The group will be led by a professionally qualified English speaking Romanian Mountain Guide. There will also be a support vehicle and driver for vehicle transfers and transporting our main baggage to our hotels. Altitude This holiday involves going to moderately high altitude. During the course of your trip you will reach altitudes in excess of 2500 metres. Most people will have no difficulty with this level of altitude but before coming on the holiday, we recommend you read the advice on trekking at high altitude. You can also talk to one of our trekking experts if you have any concerns about altitude. Spending Money We estimate that 120 to 150 should be sufficient to cover your incidental expenditure including tips for local staff, drinks and souvenirs. If you expect to buy considerable quantities of soft drinks, wine or beer, or if you intend to buy expensive souvenirs, you should make an allowance for this. Credit cards can be useful in this respect. Cash can be drawn from ATMs using credit or debit cards at Bucharest Airport (arrivals hall) and in Sinaia, Brasov, Zarnesti and Bucharest. We would recommend you advise your credit/debit card services department in advance that you are travelling to Romania. Guidance On Tipping Tipping is the accepted way of saying thank you to your guide and the local team. Tipping is entirely voluntary and should be dependent on good service. We advise you to tip as a group. Free KE Gift We would like to give you a free gift as a way to say thank you when you book your holiday. Choose from exclusive KE branded t-shirts, caps, neckwarmers, trek bags* and more. Alternatively you can choose to make a 10 donation to the Juniper Trust Charity. You can make your selection in your MyKE account after booking. You will need to select your free gift at least 6 weeks before you depart and all items will be posted out at 5 weeks prior to departure. For all late bookings, we will endeavour to send your FREE gift to you before you travel, however this cannot always be guaranteed. Please visit our Free KE Gifts page for more details of all our KE Branded goodies on offer. * A trek bag is not required for this holiday. You can however purchase a KE trek bag for 24.95. Delivery outside of the UK will be charged. Baggage Allowance There is no baggage limit other than that imposed by the international carrier (normally 20kg) but we do ask you to restrict your baggage to one piece of main luggage and one small daypack. Group Size & Holiday Status For each holiday there is a minimum number of participants required to enable it to go ahead. Once the minimum number is reached, the trip status will change from 'Available' to 'Guaranteed to run'. You can check the trip status for each departure in Dates and Prices table. Other than in exceptional circumstances, we will not cancel a trip once it has achieved this guaranteed to run status and so you are free to proceed with your international flight booking and other travel arrangements.
PAGE 8 Recommended Outdoor Retailers Many of the Equipment items listed above are available from Cotswold Outdoor - our 'Official Recommended Outdoor Retailer'. When you book a holiday with KE you will receive 15% discount voucher from Cotswold Outdoor and other retailers. >> Find out more General Information Passport & Visas A passport with 6 months remaining validity at the end of your stay is generally required for visits to countries outside the EU. The information that we provide is for UK passport holders. Please check the relevant embassy or consulate for other nationalities. It is your responsibility to ensure that you have the correct travel documents and visas for your holiday. Visa requirements and charges are subject to change without notice. If you are travelling outside the EU you should have at least 2 blank pages in your passport for each country that you visit. Visa Europe UK and USA passport holders do not require a visa. Health & Vaccinations You should contact your doctor or travel clinic to check whether you require any specific vaccinations. UK residents should obtain a free European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). This entitles you to state provided medical treatment, but is not a substitute for medical travel insurance which is still vital when travelling overseas. Currency The unit of currency in Romania is the Romanian New Leu. Electricity Supply & Plug We recommend you check if you require an adaptor for your electrical items at: http://www.worldstandards.eu/electricity/plugs-and-sockets/ Preparing For Your Holiday It makes a lot of sense to spend some time before coming on a walking holiday getting some additional exercise. The fitter you are, after all, the more enjoyable you will find the experience. We would suggest that you adopt a weekly exercise regime leading up to your trip. Running, cycling and swimming are good for developing better stamina. Before departure, we suggest that you try to fit in a number of long walks in hilly country. Travel Aware As a reputable tour operator, KE supports the British Foreign & Commonwealth Offices' Travel Aware campaign to enable British citizens to prepare for their journeys overseas. The 'Travel Aware' website provides a single, authoritative source of advice for all kinds of travellers and we recommend that prior to travel, all KE clients visit the official UK Government website at travelaware.campaign.gov.uk and read the FCO Travel Advice for their
PAGE 9 chosen destination. North Americans can also check out the U.S. Department of State website: www.travel.state.gov for essential travel advice and tips. KE treat the safety and security of all clients as the most important aspect of any trip we organise. We would not run any trip that we did not consider reasonably safe. Should the FCO advise against travel for any reason, we will contact everyone booked to travel to discuss the situation. We receive regular updates direct from the FCO and are in constant touch with our contacts on the ground. If you have any questions about government travel advice, please call our office. Books The Rough Guide to Romania Lonely Planet - Romania The Mountains of Romania - Cicerone Guide. Dracula - Bram Stoker Transylvania and Beyond - Dervla Murphy Maps Transylvania - Freytag-Berndt And Artaria KG Transylvania at 1:400,000 on a large road map from Freytag & Berndt, with a separate booklet providing extensive index, including historical place names, plus street plans of city centres in the region s five main towns, Arad, Brasov, Cluj-Napoca, Oradea, Sibiu and Timisoara. Flight Information Flight Inclusive Or Land Only? On our website we display a UK Flight inclusive package price and Land only package price for the majority of our holidays. Land Only Notes We sell this holiday on a Land Only basis and recommend that you book your flights to Bucharest Otopeni Airport. Please refer to the 'Joining arrangements and transfers' for further details. Flights SHOULD NOT be booked until you have received your booking confirmation and the departure is showing 'Guaranteed to Run' or 'Limited'. If flying from the UK, Ryanair, EasyJet, Blue Air & Wizzair offer direct flights to Bucharest from London airports. Blue Air also operates a service from Birmingham, Liverpool & Glasgow & Wizzair offer a flight from Glasgow. Other airports & carriers may be available. If you would prefer to book a 'flight inclusive package' using scheduled airlines from the UK please contact our flights department for a quote. Whilst flight prices are likely to be more expensive you will benefit from full financial protection.
PAGE 10 Why Choose KE Adventure Travel? Why Choose KE Adventure Travel? Operating since 1984, KE Adventure Travel has some of the most experienced staff in the business, with the proven ability to set up and operate a worldwide programme of adventures. Everyone has adventure travel at heart and joins at least one trip a year. It is this depth of experience that makes KE stand out from other adventure travel operators. When you contact KE, by phone or e-mail, or visit our office, you will find the help and advice you need, from someone who has actually done the trip and can give you the benefit of their first-hand experience. KE can guarantee the very best in trip support, excellent food, a good standard of hotel and other accommodation, plus the back up of one of the most respected companies in the business. Client satisfaction is at the top of our agenda and almost 50% of our bookings each year come from repeat business. If you are looking for adventure then look no further than KE. We hope that this trip notes has answered most of your questions. Please feel free to contact us and speak to one of our experts.
PAGE 11 Equipment List The following checklist should help you with your packing. As a general rule, you should always try to keep the weight of your equipment to a minimum. You Must Bring The Following Items: Hiking boots Trainers Socks Underwear Trekking trousers Waterproof jacket Waterproof overtrousers Shorts T-shirts and/or casual shirts Fleece jacket or warm jumper Thermal gloves Sunhat or cap Sunglasses Warm Hat Earplugs (especially if you are not the one snoring) Daypack 30 litres Headtorch and spare batteries Sun protection (including for lips) Water bottles 1 Litre Washbag, toiletries Antibacterial hand wash Basic First Aid Kit including: Antiseptic cream, throat lozenges, diarrhoea treatment (Imodium) painkillers, plasters and blister treatment, Insect repellent (DEET), and re-hydration salts (Dioralite). Glucose tablets and multi-vitamin tablets are a good idea.?the Following Items Are Optional: Trekking poles Camera Pen-knife (remember to put all sharp objects in hold baggage)
PAGE 12 Travel clothes Small padlock (to lock the trek bag) Please note: This document was downloaded on 22 Oct 2018, and the trip is subject to change.