Villages of Bucovina & Maramures

From $1,400 pp

  • Duration

    9 days

  • Departure Date

    Aug 17, 2024

  • Trip Style

    Small Group

  • Country

    Romania

  • Physical Rating

    Average

Overview

Hike through villages, discover monasteries, learn local crafts, and soothe your mind amid Romania’s bucolic regions of Bucovina and Maramures.

This 9-day trip offers the possibility to catch a glimpse of one of Europe’s most unique gems. Awe-inspiring views, World Heritage Sites, and peasant culture await you! 

Connect with the country’s well-preserved environment by admiring the fir-tree forests, beautiful landscapes punctuated with sheep herds, wildflowers, and more. Start the trip with a steam train along the Moldovita River and sit back and soak in the stunning panoramic views until you arrive at a small picturesque village. Later on, enjoy leisurely hikes that will lead you along a stream, across fully bloomed fields, past the glacier lake of Stiol, and to Horse’s Waterfall – Romania’s tallest waterfall.

Highlights

  • Steam train along River Moldovita
  • Hike in the famous fir-tree forests of Bucovina
  • Visit the uniquely painted monastery in Moldoviţa
  • Meet the local Hutsules people and discover their art of painting eggs
  • Walk past a glacier lake to Romania’s tallest waterfall
  • Stop at the “Communism Victim’s Memorial”
  • Visit a wooden church in Maramureş that dates back to the 14th century
  • End in Cluj Napoca, a cosmopolitan city with a rich cultural heritage
2 adult Caucasian hikers with day packs walk through the gentle, green grass, rolling hills of Bucovina Romania.
3 adult Caucasians walk through the gently rolling fields and landscapes of Bucovina, Romania under a blue sky. The hills are covered in green grass and green trees.
A group of 9 adult Caucasian hikers stand in front of two large haybales in Maramures Romania.
Traditional Romanian painted eggs in Bucovina are displayed with beautiful colors and patterns.
A green field in the foreground has orange trees and brown wooden fences, there are rolling hills dotted with houses in the background.
A traditional steam train painted dark green is on the left hand side, chugging forward with black smoke coming from the front as adults hang out the side windows looking at the scenery and taking pictures. To the right is a grassy field with a wooden fence and green trees.
The painted monastery in Bucovina, Romania sits with a paved stone walkway around it and grass in the foreground. It's a cloudy day. The circular church's exterior is covered in painted depictions.
In Maramures, Romania, a traditional weaving mill is shown with balls of yarn on it as a design is being woven.

You will also be able to admire the beautiful Bucovina monasteries, which are a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a must-visit in the area. Gain an understanding of the history behind these constructions and the stunning wooden churches of Maramures. Our visit to the “Communism Victim’s Memorial” will be a trip back in time to one of the most important landmarks of history. You will also get to admire the traditional wooden installations of Sarbi and learn about local distillery techniques.

With this guided tour through Bucovina and Maramures, delve into the heart of Romania and meet local farmers and artisans to learn about their daily lives and customs. An encounter with the Hutsules, a group of people with an idiosyncratic heritage and history, will bring you closer to their art of egg painting. A weaving demonstration will also provide you with the opportunity to mingle with the locals as well as learn about ancient art techniques. This immersion in a peasant culture will enchant you, as you will discover a rural world that is no longer present in Western countries.

Departure Dates

  • Aug 17, 2024 - Aug 25, 2024
  • Sep 14, 2024 - Sep 22, 2024

6 required for departure.

Seasonal Notes

The rich history, beautiful nature, and unique cultural heritage of the country are much enjoyed if traveling in spring (March-May) or summer (June-August). Mild temperatures allow for pleasant walks around the villages and hikes along breathtaking landscapes. Outdoor activities such as visits to famous monasteries are also preferable during these seasons.
Springtime presents mild weather, but there may still be snow in higher elevations and trails may be muddy due to snowmelt and rain. Traditional cheese tasting is available through mid-September.
Trails are generally dry and the weather is favorable for hiking during summer. Temperatures range from 15-25°C (59-77°F).

Itinerary

Day 1 Bucharest [Romania] (arrival day)

Arrival in Bucharest. Meeting the guide in the evening at the train station 1hr before the train departure.

Night train for Bucovina at 9:30 PM (sleeping wagon 2 or 4 beds/cabin, upon availabilities, we can know it only 3 weeks before the departure. Train timetable may change).

Day 2 Moldovita (~5 hours | 14 km | ~9 miles | +500m gain | -550m descent)

In the morning, short private transfer to our hosts.

After breakfast, we’ll take the steam train to discover the deep Bucovina. The steam train track leads along the River Moldovita. We will get off before the terminus of the track, at the best starting point of our hike. This immersion in a peasant world will enchant you; the beautiful landscape punctuated with sheep herds and horse carts reveals a great harmony.

Night in Moldovita
Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Day 3 Moldovita Painted Monastery (~4 hours | 13 km | 8 miles | +300m | -300m)

After a first short climb we arrive in the forest and from there, according to the moving of the flocks, we could reach a shepherd’s hut.

We continue through the famous fir-tree forest of Bucovina until we go back to the valley to discover one of the major components of the unique Bucovina monasteries set, the Moldoviţa painted monastery.

Depending on how we feel we go back to the guesthouse either on foot (5km) through the village, either with a local bus.

Night in Moldovita
Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Day 4 Suceviţa (~3.5 hours | 11 km | ~7 miles | +400m | 300m)

Before our walk today, we will meet Hutsules people; these inhabitants (with uncertain roots and history) will make us discover their art: eggs painting. We will continue our hike through woods and fields and will lead you to an unexpected rural world that is still very alive. A longer walk today is available if you like.

After a short transfer, we will arrive at the Suceviţa monastery from the field, which will offer us a striking sight: nature seems to protect the monastery like a jewel! The perfection of each detail on such a vast fresco is amazing.

Night in Moldovita
Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Day 5 Rodnei Mountains National Park (~4 hours | 14 km | ~9 miles | +350m | -650m )

Transfer to the border with Maramureş (~3.30 hours of transfer) to Prislop pass (1400m). From here we will enter the National Park of Rodnei Mountains and start our walk by a soft ascent to the glacier lake of Stiol (1700m).

Our track will be studded with different flowers such as rhododendron, gentian, depending on the period of the year. From there will enter in the massif pine forest and go down to Horses’ Waterfall, the tallest waterfall in Romania.

Day 6 Contemporary Maramures (~2 hours | 8 km | ~5 miles | +350m | -650m)

First stop for the day will be in the town of Sighetu Marmatiei, after a 2h transfer by car. Here we will visit the "Communism Victims Memorial" created in the prison where the main opponents of the regime were detained, without judging.

You’ll have some free time for lunch before we go to the village of Desesti, to visit one of the most beautiful wooden churches of Maramures

From there we’ll do a relaxing walk to our host village for tonight, Breb, the village where Prince Charles is owner of a beautiful old traditional house.

Day 7 Maramures Fields & Forests (6 hours | 13 km | 8 miles | + 400m | -400m)

Today we will discover Maramureş between fields and forests. In every season, country is animated by the field’s works. But before our walk, we’ll pay a visit to the traditional wooden installations from Sarbi, a fulling mill, a thresher, whirlpools and a brandy distillery.

According to the time, short stop at Bârsana monastery which is a masterpiece of the wooden Maramureş architecture.

Then, we’ll start our village-to-village walk, with destination in Botiza village. There we will have a weaving demonstration at one of the last ladies who masters this ancient craft.

Day 8 Ieud & Cluj Napoca (~2.5 hours | 8 km | ~5 miles | +250m | -300m)

On our last day we’ll hike to the nearby village of Ieud. We will start going up on a narrow path along a small stream, covered by surrounded by colorful flowers. At the end of the walk, we will visit the oldest wooden church of Maramureş, the one from Ieud dating back to 14th century, part of UNESCO heritage.

We’ll end the tour with a 4h transfer to the city of Cluj Napoca, the most important university city of Romania, with a cosmopolitan culture and Hungarian heritage which waits to be discovered. Late arrival but you can extend your trip in Cluj.

Day 9 End of trip, transfer to Bucharest (departure day)

End of the trip. We can assist you with a train transfer or flight ticket to Bucharest.

Breakfast

Special extra tour for the way back to Bucharest

For an additional cost, we can prepare an extra tour on the way back to Bucharest. We can customize the below example if you wish.

  • 1st day: train transfer to Sighisoara, visit of the beautiful fortified citadel, and overnight in Sighisoara.
  • 2nd day: train transfer to Brasov, visit of the medieval center, and overnight in Brasov.
  • 3rd day: train transfer to Bucharest.

Inclusions & Exclusions

  • English-speaking guide throughout the trip

  • All accommodations

  • 8 breakfasts, 6 picnics, 6 dinners (3 course menus)

  • Transfers

  • Baggage transfer

  • Steam train ticket (tbc)

  • Transport to the meeting point and from the point of dispersion

  • Travel insurance

  • Meals other than as indicated

  • Site visits

  • Personal expenses

Pricing

Prices exclude flights to/from the destination.

Prices are for double room occupancy unless indicated otherwise.

As this trip requires a minimum of 6 travelers, there are supplemental costs for departures with smaller groups:

  • Groups of 5: +$110 per person
  • Groups of 4: +$275 pp
  • Groups of 3: +$545 pp
  • Groups of 2: +$820 pp

  • Deposit per person

    30% of the trip price

  • Shared Room - sleeps 2 - price per person

    $1,400 pp

  • Single Supplement

    $165 pp

Optional Add-ons

Private Transfers (One way, for up to 3 people. Inquire for vans for 4-6 people.):

  • Bucharest OTP Airport to train station/city center: $40
  • Cluj train station/city center to Cluj CLJ Airport: $40

Extra night in Cluj-Napoca in a 3* hotel:

  • Shared room: $75 per person per night
  • Private room: $60 pp per night

Extra night in Bucharest, in a 3* hotel, shared room OR private room:
$95 per person per night

Sustainability

We are a certified partner of the Association of Ecotourism in Romania. Our philosophy has always been to encourage traveling as much as possible by non-motorized means and mostly off the beaten path, to try and avoid the mainstream and bring out the authenticity.

Environmental Initiatives
This walking tour is a low-carbon impact activity that connects you with our nature. You will take trains from Bucharest to arrive at the starting point for the walk. We constantly highlight the need for recycling, the use of biodegradable or reusable objects (food boxes, water bottles, etc.), and local food supply in particular.

Economic Initiatives
All our partners are Romanians who work independently for the development of their country, the type of circuit that we carry gives work on average to about fifteen local providers in the region. We help you travel on less-popular roads where your presence will support local communities more.

Sociocultural Initiatives
We are committed to promoting and explaining the cultural and artisanal productions of the regions we visit. Furthermore, we only work with independent artisans & craftsmen whose respect for traditional know-how is wildly recognized.
You'll be staying primarily in guesthouses run by local families we've worked with for years, and eating homemade dishes. Tourism truly helps their families and communities to thrive. You'll also spend 1 night at a cozy 3-star hotel.

Health & Safety

Be sure you have traveler's insurance.

FAQs

What does the Physical Rating of "Average" mean?

An easy to medium level of fitness is required, with the longest walking day lasting up to 6 hours. Walks may be altered based on the group's abilities or weather conditions and may be interrupted by small transfers.

What do I need to bring?

Please bring the following for your bike trip:

  • Sunglasses and sunscreen
  • Gloves
  • Refillable water bottle
  • Headlamp (some rooms are not equipped with lamps close to the bed)
  • Snacks & energy bars for the day
  • Credit card & a small amount of cash

What about my luggage?

Luggage will be transferred from one guest house to the other.

What are the accommodations like?

Accommodations include 6 nights in guest houses run by local families in traditional mountain villages, 1 night in a 3-star hotel, and 1 night in a sleeping train wagon. Bathrooms are private unless there's an exceptional case needed for two rooms to share one bathroom based on group size and guest house availability

What happens if our group is less than 6 people?

There is a 'small group supplement' for parties less than 6. Contact us for pricing.

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Departure Dates

  • Aug 17, 2024 - Aug 25, 2024
  • Sep 14, 2024 - Sep 22, 2024

Group Size: Min. 6, Max. 14

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