aring Mountains - Buila Vinturarita
Paring Mountains - Buila Vinturarita rises like a mighty fortress (alt. max. Vf. Paringu Great 2519m) over Petrosani depression and Jiu Gorge. Central slopes surrounding two huge buckets that are nesting glacial lakes (Cilcescu Lake and Red lake). An additional element of attraction and value of the park is the existence in this area or in close proximity of many cultural and historical objectives: Arnota, Bistriţa, Horezu, Frăsinei monasteries, Pătrunsa, Pahomie, Iezer, Bradu, Jgheaburi hermitages, ancient churches like 44 Izvoare, Păpuşa, Peri, church cave like Peştera Liliecilor, wonderful caves like: Muierii and Polovragi, churches from the surrounding localities and traditions, customs and traditional architecture of the villages at the foot of the mountain.

Trip informations :
Main category: Mountain
Difficulty: Hard
Nr. of days: 9
Nr. of persons: minim 2; maxim 20;
Price : 80 Euro / day / Group (the price represents only trip guide price);
Season: Summer, Autumn (May - October)
Scope/Activities: Landscapes, Natural Monuments of nature, History, Trekking
Equipment: Mountain tent, sleeping bag, waterproof boots, isolier, rucksack, food for 9 days, aluminium flask, rain cloak, thick clothes, very good physical condition

FIRST DAY :Start point Sibiu town - Petrosani town - Chalet ANEFS (we'll stay overnight in tent or chalet depending on weather conditions). Travel time: around 8 hours. Level difference : around 1500 m. Altitude 1800 m. Trip distance10 km .
SECOND DAY : Chalet ANEFS - Paringul Mic - Paringul Mare - Lake Calcescu (we'll stay overnight in tent) .Travel time :around 9 hours. Level difference: around 700 m. Altitudes :1800m Chalet ANEFS - 2519m Paringul Mare-1925 m Lake Calcescu.Travel distance: around 30 km
THIRD DAY : Lake Calcescu - Chalet Rinca (we'll stay overnight in tent or chalet depending on weather conditions). Travel time :around 7 hours. Level difference: around 400 meters Altitudes : 1925 m Lake Calcescu - Rinca 1600 m. Travel distance : around 25 km.
FOURTH DAY :Rinca - Muierii Cave - Polovragi Cave - Polovragi Monastery - Horezu. The trip is done by bus. Overnight in Horezu.
FIFTH DAY : Horezu - One wood Monastery - Surpatele Monastery - Horezu. Travel time around: 6 hours. The trip is done by bus. Travel distance :around 30 km. Overnight in the same place.
SIXTH DAY: Horezu - Pietreni - Patrunsa Monastery - Pahomie Hermitage - Cheia chalet. Overnight in Cheia chalet. Level difference : around 1000 m . Travel time :around 10 hours . Altitudes : Horezu 500m, Patrunsa 1400 m, Pahomie 650m, Chalet Cheia 910 m. Travel distance: around 35 km.
SEVENTH DAY : Cheia chalet - Cheii gorges (overnight in chalet Cheia or in tent).Level difference : 300 m. Travel time :around 4 hours. Travel distance : around 10 km
EIGTH DAY : day of relax, campfire, party.
NINTH DAY : descending on Cheii valley - Olanesti - Rimnicu Vilcea - Sibiu

Day 1: Pick-up from the Otopeni Airport or from Bucharest and transfer to Sinaia

Day 2: Visit Peles Castle and optional climb to 2000 m by cable car  to the geological monuments:Babele (Old Women) and The Sfinx(Sphinx)

Day 3: Transfer to Bran Castel:According to  legend, the castle used to be the place where Dracula, the character of Bram Stoker's book, lived; then transfer and short visit the medieval city: Sibiu(known by it's German name, Hermannstadt, the city has managed to keep the atmosphere of a long history, reflected in a rich architectural patrimony); optional lunch; transfer through Transfagarasan Road .

Day 4 : Transfer to Hunedoara through Transfapina Road, visit the greatest Gothic-style castle in Romania, Corvinesti.

Day 5: Transfer to The Apuseni Nature Park  - known as the cavers’ paradise, protects one of the most interesting cave fauna in the country; visit of Bear's Cave

Day 6: Fortresses of Ponor

Day 7: Visit Scarisoara Glacier, then depending on the time we have, we will visit other caves or beautiful places in the area

Day 8: Transfer at Turda : Saline & Gorges

Day 9:Visit Sighisoara and Praid Saline

Day 10: Transfer to Spring Mountain Lake through Bicaz Gorges and Red Lake

Day 11: Walking through the village to see the beauty of the area and some of human activities, visit the sheepfold

Day 12: Choose between: climbing the Ceahlau Mountain or be a peasant for a day(be a big help to the people from there)

Day 13: Choose between: Relaxing and do what ever you want: swimming, walking, sunbathing, fishing , boat trip on the lake, or Visit some of the Painted Monasteries of Bucovina. At the and of the day: campfire

Day 14: Transfer to Piatra Neamt, called as "Pearl of Moldavia"

Day 15: Transfer to Bucharest

Included in price: 14 accomodation in a double room+breakfast, car transport about 3000 km, driver, guide, lunch(days 10-13), dinner(days10-13)

Excluded: plane tickets to/from Bucharest, all objectives fees,cable car,other meals, optional excursions, other expenses

On request this tour may be simplified or modified, depends on how many days you have available to visit Romania, physical condition of each and what you really want to do in this country!

Day 1: Welcome to Sibiu, an ever young city as proudly suggested by tourist brochures: “Young since 1191”. You cannot miss the famous Bridge of Lies with its intriguing legends or the Passage of the Stairs – one of the most picturesque areas of Sibiu, reminding of old medieval castles. As a first lengthy stop we suggest the Brukental Palace, the oldest museum in Romania that houses an exquisite art collection. Next we’ll visit the Lutheran Cathedral built in Gothic style, which has preseved its appearance since 1520. The Council Tower provides a beautiful view over the city. The pulsating heart of Sibiu, regardless of season, is the Grand Square.

Day 2: For a genuine medieval experience we’ll reach Sighisoara fortress, one of the best preserved fortifications in Europe included among the UNESCO heritage sites. Close by is the fortified church of Biertan which will open its 19 secular locks in order to welcome us into its mysterious atmosphere.

Day 3: On your last day, save some time to visit the ASTRA National Museum Complex. ASTRA museum hosts four ethnography and civilization museums, recreating an entire universe of Romanian folk tradition.