WHY IT'S DIFFERENT?
Delve into the wintery Transylvanian landscapes, home to charming Saxon towns, the infamous Dracula's Castle and Husky sledding.
Visit 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. It also offering some stunning views of the surrounding area.
Medieval Old Towns
This trip to Transylvania is filled with beautiful medieval towns from Brasov, the gateway to Transylvania to Sighisoara, the birthplace of Dracula and Sibiu which has a European capital of culture award.
Husky Sledding
After a short introduction you'll have the opportunity to sled yourself. Feel the wind rush past you as you're pulled by your team of huskies pull you through the snow. An exhilarating and surreal experience you'll never forget.
Bucharest
Packed with fascinating history, stunning but often contrasting architecture and a lively, vibrant night scene you’ll find plenty to keep you busy in Romania’s ever evolving capital, Bucharest.
"Our trip to Transylvania with was very well organized and our guide, Christina, was extremely friendly & welcoming. There was an interesting mix of castles and beautiful medieval towns. On our way back to the airport, we all participated in a snowball fight - a very nice touch at the end of our holiday."
Glenda - Guest
YOUR EXPERIENCE
Absorb some of Romania’s most picturesque medieval towns on a 4 night whirlwind adventure and enjoy an epic dog sledding experience in the heart of Transylvania. After one night in the vibrant capital city of Bucharest, guests are whisked away into the heart of Transylvanian countryside, via the magnificent Peles Castle. In the morning you'll be taken to the home of the huskies where your husky adventure will take place in the hilly area of Harghita Mountains. Once you get to know the ins and outs of the Husky sledding, off you go with your new team of huskies. Then you'll visit the UNESCO city of Sighisoara, the birthplace of the infamous Vlad the Impaler aka Dracula before continuing on to the stunning medieval town of Sibiu. Finally, it's back to Bucharest, but not without a visit to the eerie Bran Castle, also known as Dracula's Castle.
YOUR EXPERTS
NEED TO KNOW
| DESTINATION | Romania |
| DURATION | 4 nights |
| GROUP SIZE | 16 people |
| ASSISTANCE | Hands on |
| AIRPORT(S) | Bucharest |
| FLIGHTS | For more information on flights from the UK please refer to the Trip Details section. |
| VISA | UK, EU & US not required |
| VACCINATIONS | No |
Arrival in Bucharest followed by a transfer to your boutique accommodation in the Lipscani district where you will be greeted with a coffee or glass of wine before you head out into the old town to explore and discover the plethora of restaurants and bars.
INCLUDED
OPTIONAL EXTRAS
Morning transfer into Transylvania, stopping for a tour around the divine Peles Castle before checking in to your hotel in Brasov. Enjoy the rest of the day exploring the charming medieval Saxon town of Brasov.
INCLUDED
OPTIONAL EXTRAS
Morning drive to the home of the huskies, meet them before having the opportunity to drive a team of Huskies across the Transylvanian countryside. Then travel to Sighisoara to explore arguably Transylvania's best preserved medieval citadel. Finally travel to Sibiu for the night.
INCLUDED
OPTIONAL EXTRAS
Morning transfer to Bran Castle, aka Dracula's Castle for a tour and some lunch before travelling back to Bucharest for your final night.
INCLUDED
OPTIONAL EXTRAS
A selection of our accommodation, which is subject to availability, however alternatives are always of a similar price, grade and location.
Bucharest
Romania
With all our hotels located in or near the Old Town of Lipscani, you will be right by amongst the hustle and bustle of the heart to the city.
Typical Accommodation: The Rembrandt, Grand Boutique or similar
Brasov
Romania
All our hotels are located a stone's throw from Brasov's Old Town Square so you'll easily be able to explore Brasov's quaint, cobbled streets.
Typical Accommodation: Bella Muzica, Casa Wagner or similar
Sibiu
Romania
With all our hotels located in Sibiu's majestic old town, you'll be able to visit all the sights, cafes and restaurants on foot.
Typical Accommodation: Casa Luxemburg, The Council or similar
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
| CAPITAL | Bucharest |
| POPULATION | 19.29 million |
| CURRENCY | Romanian leu |
| TIME DIFFERENCE | UTC+02:00 |
"It's worth noting when driving a team of huskies, you are part of that team so at times you'll need to help by pushing or leaning to turn"
Marius G - Untravelled Paths
Extended Husky
For some the Husky beginner lesson isn't long enough so if you're likely to want to spend more time Husky sledging then you should upgrade to the Intermediate husky lesson.
Clothing
Thermals, a fleece, warm hat, scarf to cover your nose, gloves and thick socks will keep you nice and warm. The wind while driving the huskies really bites so be prepared.
Drink palinka
Nothing better to keep the cold at bay than a good shot of the Romanian firewater. Be careful, though, it's strong stuff. As they would toast in Romania "Noroc!"
Footwear
Sensible footwear with good grip is essential as unsurprisingly there is a lot of ice around! For the husky sledding, moon boots are not suitable. Opt for waterproof boots instead.
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.
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 dispenses 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 sky-rocket 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.
The average temperature during the winter hovers around -3 degrees although temperatures in rural areas and up in the mountains can drop well below -15 degrees so it’s best to prepare for the worst. That said, it’s not unusual to find yourself enjoying a coffee outside in a Transylvanian town’s café with the sun beating down with surprising strength onto both your face and the snow-covered streets. So wrap up warm but don’t forget sun cream!
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.
First you will have a small "get to know" with the dogs and then you’ll learn about the daily lives of these and you’ll have the opportunity to ask any questions you may have. Then you will have a theoretical lesson before driving your own husky sled with typically 4-5 dogs (this may vary depending on the conditions and the size/weight of the driver) which lasts about 15 minutes (3 km beginner's track).
If you do want to spend more time with the huskies, it is possible to book an extended session involving a longer route, subject to availability.
Of course! The dogs are being well taken care of, and this will be apparent from the enthusiastic way they interact with people. While they are eager to take you on a ride across the plateau, they are not machines and do tire. This is one of the main reasons for the timing of the experience as the sledding takes into consideration their well-being as well.
