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

Please keep in mind that any of the programs mentioned can be changed according to your desire.

Day 1: Bucharest

Arrival at Bucharest International Airport (only 25 minutes from the city). Your English speaking guide will receive you in the airport. Orientation tour of Bucharest: visit of the Palace of Parliament (the second largest building in the world, Ceausescu’s brainchild), Revolution Square , Village Museum (showing century old traditional Romanian households) and the northern part of Bucharest, with a view of Ceausescu’s former residence, (showing century old traditional Romanian households), this tour will show you the best perspective of Bucharest (also known as The Little Paris of the East). Transfer to your centrally located hotel. Check in and free time. In the evening transfer to Pescarus restaurant, for the best Romanian festive folklore dinner show with dance, all with the great view of the nearby Herastrau lake. Your first night in Romania will surely be a great experience.

Overnight accommodation in Bucharest at 3 or 4 * hotel

Day 2: Bucharest – Cozia – Sibiu

Hot and cold buffet breakfast at hotel.  Departure towards Transylvania. On the road, the highlight is the short stop to the 14th century Cozia Monastery built by Prince Mircea the Old. The drive along the Carpathian mountains offers a great view alongside the Olt River Canyon. Reach Sibiu, one of the gateways into Transylvania. Once in Sibiu, enjoy awalking tour of the 800 year old city, the most beautiful of the German fortified cities of Transylvania. The tour will show the visitors of Sibiu the landmarks of the city : the old surrounding defense walls and the remaining guild towers. One of the landmarks of Sibiu is the Bruckenthal Museum assembled by Baron Bruckenthal, governor of Transylvania at the beginning of the 19th century. The Evangelical Cathedral was completed in its actual shape in 1520, but inside, there is an exquisite fresco of the Crucifixion on the north wall of the choir dating from 1445. Visit the Passage of Stairs linking the Upper Town to the Lower town and the 1859 Liar’s Bridge. Do not miss the original Pharmacy Museum. Overnight in Sibiu, at a centrally located hotel. Dinner on own. Suggested is Crama Sibiul Vechi, best cellar – restaurants in town, serving Transylvanian fares. We are also glad to organize a home hosted lunch at one of the nearby villages. The Sibiu surroundings are famous in our country for the best dairy products in Romania. The food has a great local flavor.
Overnight accommodation in Sibiu at 3 or 4*, centrally located hotel.

Day 3: Sibiu – Biertan – Sighisoara

Hot and cold buffet breakfast at hotel. Depart into the heart of Transylvania.  On the way to Sighisoara stop at Biertan fortified church and a UNESCO World Heritage. It was the former Seat of the Lutheran Bishops between 1516 and 1867 and is also one of the best preserved medieval fortifications of our country. Afternoon arrival to Sighisoara – World Heritage Site and the only still inhabited medieval citadel in Europe. enjoy a walking tour of the upper city, including the Tower With Clock, the Scholars Stairs and the Church on the Hill. Return to the city through the amazing Saxon cemetery. The Upper Citadel offers great hotels, right in the heart of the 800 year old city. Optional dinner at the Birthplace of Vlad Dracula.

*If time allows it, one can also choose to visit the amazing ancient oak tree reservation in the area, with huge century old trees. In the middle, the shepherd Arpad and his dog Iancu will kindly let you take some photos of the animals.

Overnight accommodation in Sighisoara at one of the 3 or 4 * hotels in the Upper Town, with immediate access to the city center.

Day 4: Sighisoara- Brasov

A la carte breakfast in the hotel. In the morning depart through the picturesque southern Transylvanian plateau. Here we have the highest density of medieval fortifications in the world. Every village has it’s very own fortified gothic church. The drive will be amazing. Noon arrival in Brasov. Next is the walking tour of Brasov. Enjoy the cobblestone streets on a specially designed tour that will take you back to the time of the Arab merchants who visited Brasov. See the gate of St. Catherine (the oldest in the city). Make your way in front of the Synagogue, the narrowest street in Europe and stop at the Black Church. Visit the church, the biggest one of Eastern Europe, with its 4000 pipe organ. It also holds the largest collection of oriental rugs in the country, and the room hosting the old gravestones is impressive. Finish the tour in the Council square, with its lively atmosphere. Transfer to your hotel, free time and dinner on own. We recommend Sergiana, the best restaurant of the city, serving great traditional cuisine.

Overnight accommodation and hotel Ambient, 3 or 4 *

Day 5 – Brasov – Bran- Sinaia

Buffet breakfast at hotel. Depart Brasov in the morning, making your way to the best ski resort of our country, Poiana Brasov. On the way stop in front of the White Tower for the best panoramic picture of Brasov. Arrive at the 14th century Bran Castle, known as Dracula’s Castle, one of the best preserved medieval castles of Transylvania, originally built by the Teutonic Knights. The castle was built in 1377 as a border point on the trading route between Transylvania and Wallachia. Although enlarged and renovated many times, it still shows the original lookout post from the gothic days. Inside, your guide will offer you’re the full insight into the legend of Vlad Dracula. Time for shopping and lunch. Continue to Sinaia, the jewel of the Romanian mountain resorts. Visit one of the most important tourist attractions of Romania: Peles Castle in Sinaia. Known as the Versailles of Romania, the royal residence of King Charles I of Romania is considered the most beautiful summer royal residence in Europe. This castle alone is worth your entire trip to Romania. Transfer to hotel. Free time and dinner on own.

Overnight accommodation in Sinaia at 3 or 4 star hotel

Day 6: Sinaia – Otopeni Airport

Breakfast at the hotel. Depart Sinaia and head south. Once out of the mountains, you have left Transylvania. Sinaia is only 1 hour 30 minutes away from Otopeni Airport, where your guide will drop you off.

*If time allows it, you can opt for a visit of Snagov monastery. It is the legendary burial place of Vlad the Impaler, although his grave is empty to this day. The monastery is on a island of a lake, in the middle of one of the biggest forests around Bucharest. The walk there will show you great wildlife and flora. It was first built by Vlad during his rule. Today it still shows the original paintings and fortification tower.
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BUCHAREST: A CITY OF CONTRASTS. WALKING TOUR. DURATION: 4-6 HOURS
The best way to see and understand Bucharest & its (hi)story is to explore it on foot.
Let’s discover Old Bucharest — from the official foundation in 1459 by Prince Vlad the Impaler to the 18th century under the Turkish domination.
Let’s enjoy “Little Paris”, the City in the 1930′s.
And two more sensitive topics: Communist Bucharest and Orthodox Churches of the City.

HIGHLIGHTS:

MEET at your Bucharest location OR in any other pre-agreed location, preferably downtown.
Usually, the Walking Tour starts from the Old Center/the Union Square. From here we’ll visit:
• The Old Princely Court and Church, Manuc’s Inn;
• the Romanian Patriarchate (free visit inside),
• the House of the Parliament (optional visit, for a fee, by appointment only. PLEASE BRING A VALID ID) and the communist buildings of the 1980’s;
• the Museum of National History (optional visit of the Romanian Thesaurus, for a fee)
• Stavropoleos Convent & Church
• Lipscani area, the oldest commercial area of the City (Lipscani derives from the German town of Leipzig, from where merchants were bringing the merchandise)
• OPTIONAL LUNCH / COFFEE BREAK  :))
• The Victory Road, the avenue with some of the most beautiful aristocratic houses in the city, dating back to the mid 19th century.
• The University Square: the University of Bucharest, the National Theatre, the first Romanian Hospital
• The 1989 Revolution Square:
— the Romanian Atheneum (optional visit inside, usually for a fee, in order to admire the beautiful concert hall and the fresco);
– the Central University Library “King Carol I Foundation”;
– the Museum of Arts, formerly the Royal Palace;
– the former building of the Communist Party Committee from where dictator Ceausescu fled Bucharest in a helicopter on December 22, 1989;
– the former building of the Securitate (the Secret Police), half-destroyed during the Revolution, rebuilt in an original design;
 

OPTIONAL SIGHTS:
– Green Bucharest: Kiseleff Park and Herastrau Park.
– The open-air Village Museum (optional visit, for a fee).
 

BACK TO YOUR BUCHAREST LOCATION