WHY IT'S DIFFERENT?
Experience Transylvania from the comfort of one of the region's most impressive stately homes and build an itinerary to suit you.
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Transylvania Countryside
Romania's famed for its beautiful countryside, nature and authentic rural villages. The locals continue to live a slow and simple life like their ancestors did before them. There are plenty of local traditional activities available.
Medieval Saxon Towns
Transylvania is filled with beautiful medieval towns such as Sibiu, which has won the European capital of culture, Brasov and Sighisoara, the birthplace of Dracula nearby which has a European capital of culture award.
Brown Bears
Travel into the forests of the Carpathians to a bear hide and wait as the wildlife starts to appear, from wild boar to foxes and of course, the majestic brown bear and all in their natural habitat. You can also see them at the Bear Sanctuary.
Dracula's Castle
Perched up tall and ominous, with narrow corridors and hidden staircases, Bran Castle certainly fits as home to the legend of Dracula. Steeped in history and legend, there is much to take in. Well worth a visit when in Transylvania.
Natural Salt Spa
For those wanting to focus on wellness, health and relaxation then you can have all three at Ocna Sibiului, the region's best natural salt & mud spa. Its stunning baths and fresh mineral water are but only a short drive.
Pools & Beach Club
Brukenthal is equipped with a hotel pool for those wanting peace and quiet but for those wanting to enjoy the sun in a more lively environment, there is a beach club. Complete with two pools, sand, a private ship and a restaurant bar.
Balea Lake & Transfagarasan
Jeremy Clarkson famously referred to the Transfăgărășan as the "best round in the world" due to endless turns as it winds its way up to the picturesque Balea Lake. The truly incredible engineering feat took 4 years to build.
Astra Museum
Just outside of Sibiu, the Open Air Astra Museum is one of the biggest in Europe. Workshops and over 300 buildings replicating traditional Romanian folk culture, situated in a forest with two beautiful lakes make it well worth a visit.
"We really enjoyed the place. It looks glamorous and tasteful. A lot of greenery around. Everything was very elegant and vibrant. Staff are friendly and helpful. A perfect place to travel with children. They have several big gardens and some historical buildings on the territory. Rooms are spacious and cosy with beautifully arranged interior"
Alisa C - Hotel Guest
YOUR EXPERIENCE
Stay at one of Transylvania’s most prestigious hotels and do as little or as much as you like! Enjoy the tranquil setting of the Palace, wander around the beautiful grounds, relax by the pool (or fire in winter) or select from the array of interesting activities as well as exciting day and overnight excursions on offer to create the perfect itinerary for you. Visit Transylvania’s colourful, quaint medieval old towns, enjoy the nature and wildlife of the countryside or learn about the fascinating history of Bran Castle and how it came to be known as Dracula’s Castle - there is a little something for everyone. For those wanting to enjoy the great outdoors, you can travel up the famous Transfagarasan highway and hike around the breathtaking landscape surrounding the picturesque Balea Lake. In the winter months, you’ll have the opportunity to stay in an Ice Hotel and you could enjoy the thrill of driving your own pack of huskies across the white rolling hills of Transylvania in winter. But the best part is, it’s completely up to you!
YOUR EXPERTS
James
The Brains Behind the Operation - Meet James
Marius
The Team Player - Meet Marius
NEED TO KNOW
| DESTINATION | Romania |
| DURATION | 3 nights |
| GROUP SIZE | 8 people |
| ASSISTANCE | Hands on |
| AIRPORT(S) | Bucharest |
| FLIGHTS | For details of flights from the UK please see the Trip Details section. |
| VISA | visa requirements |
| VACCINATIONS | None |
Arrive at the airport and be transferred to Brukenthal Palace. From here you will have the rest of the day at your leisure or select one for the additional activities available such:
OPTIONAL EXTRAS
Rest of the day at your leisure or select one for the additional activities available such as:
OPTIONAL EXTRAS
Rest of the day at your leisure or select one of the additional activities available such:
OPTIONAL EXTRAS
Rest of the day at your leisure or select one of the additional activities available such:
OPTIONAL EXTRAS
A selection of our accommodation, which is subject to availability, however alternatives are always of a similar price, grade and location.
Brukenthal Palace
Avrig, Romania
Once the summer residence for the governor of Transylvania, the Palace has delightful, majestic grounds, spacious rooms, a big pool and a beach club making for the ideal setting for a relaxing break.
Balea Lake Chalet
Balea Lake, Romania
Should you wish to spend more time in the mountains then simply let us know and we can easily switch round nights giving your time to appreciate the stunning Transylvanian landscape.
WHERE YOU'RE GOING
Ask most people what comes to mind when they think of Romania and you’re likely to hear something along the lines of Dracula, vampires and gypsies. Yes, the spooky castles pitched on rocky hilltops are certainly vampire-worthy but the only real fangs you’re likely to be exposed to here are those belonging to the wild bears, wolves and lynx that roam the Carpathian Mountains. Once you place the stereotypes aside for a moment, you’ll soon understand how misunderstood, overlooked and vastly underestimated this country is.
FAST FACTS
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"Situated in the heart of Transylvania, Brukenthal Palace is the ideal base to explore from. Whether that's visiting a rural village, a medieval old town, Dracula's Castle or taking an overnight stay at the incredible Hotel of Ice which is nearby"
James - Untravelled Paths
Excursions & Activities
It's recommended that you book our activities and excursions in advance, especially if you are considering overnight excursions such as the Hotel of Ice, Husky & Brown Bears.
Transport
For assistance getting to Brukenthal Palace, there are shuttle services available from the nearest main towns. If you would like further information please contact us.
All breakfasts
All activities are available at an extra cost
As a tour operator we are not able to offer inclusive flights as part of our experiences however we are more than happy to help you find the most appropriate incoming and outgoing flights for you. All the listed airports fly directly in and out of Bucharest with multiple different airlines to choose from. We highly recommend using Skyscanner to find the cheapest flights.
LONDON TO BUCHAREST
BIRMINGHAM TO BUCHAREST
BRISTOL TO BUCHAREST
DONCASTER TO BUCHAREST
GLASGOW TO BUCHAREST
LIVERPOOL TO BUCHAREST
INSURANCE
In order to be fully covered on your trip should anything happen, we suggest getting an insurance before you travel. We recommend True Traveller, designed especially for adventure travel, who will be able to tailor an insurance package based on your needs. You can find out more here.
SOLO TRAVELLERS
Our prices are based on people sharing, for solo travellers who would prefer a private room the price per person will include a solo occupancy fee.
EXTRA NIGHTS
If you wish we can also organise extra nights at either end of your trip for you.
Book your trip in a few easy steps.
Although Romania is a member of the European Union, it does not use the euro (€) but has its own currency - the RON / Leu. The official currency is most commonly referred to as the plural ‘lei’ although some banks and exchange offices list it as the RON. One leu divides into 100 bani with banknotes coming in various denominations normally 1 leu, 5 lei, 10 lei, 50 lei and 100 lei and less commonly, 200 and 500 lei notes. Coins come in 50 bani and 10 bani pieces, which can be useful for small tips or donations.
The easiest option is to head to a cash machine once you’ve checked into your hotel in Bucharest to withdraw funds. There are plenty of ATMs around so it’s quick and convenient to get hold of your holiday cash. If you want to come prepared beforehand, the Bureau de Change in M&S is, strangely, one of the only places that dispense the local currency. You can also purchase currency online and collect it from your local post office or even have it delivered straight to your door. Ordering currency online with the Post Office is commission-free and available for next-day delivery. Obviously the more you buy the better rate you’ll receive. However you choose to get hold of your spending money, just make sure you either spend or convert your RON before you leave.
Most major credit and debit cards (Visa and Mastercard) are accepted throughout Romania’s main towns and cities. You’ll have no problem using your card to pay for drinks or dinner in Bucharest or Brasov using your card however you may like to carry some cash on you for smaller purchases and any activities taking place away. Ensure you have plenty of cash on you for the night at the Ice Hotel for activities and other expenses. It is always advisable to inform your bank that you’re travelling abroad in order to avoid the frustration of having your card blocked.
As a general rule, you’ll be able to have a good lunch for around £10 a head and will pay around £15 a head for a nice evening meal. Naturally, the type of establishment you choose to eat in and what you order will dictate the cost of your meals. Be aware that ordering imported wines can cause your bill to skyrocket so drinking local wines is advisable. We reckon around £70 for lunch, dinner and drinks for two people is plenty per day. Please note that these are rough estimates and you can always choose to spend more or less depending on your budget and preferences.
Tipping is not obligatory in Romania although rounding up taxi fares and adding 10% in restaurants is polite and common practice. If the service has been poor please don’t feel obligated to leave a tip.
You can always contact the UTP team on +44 207 101 4061 or info@untravelledpaths.com. Before you travel, you will also receive a personalised itinerary with the contact details of the local manager in Romania should there be any problems. Your guide will be on hand throughout the trip as well, so you're in safe hands.
Our digital booklet, which you will receive before travel, contains all the information you need about optional activities. Simply drop us an email letting us know what you'd like to do during your trip, and we'll take care of the rest. Please note that the payment for the optional activities will be taken locally in cash.
