- Clear sustainable travel policy
- Social / Environmental Impact
- Tourism Dispersal
- Behavioral Awareness Education
- Small Group Travel
- Listen to Community Feedback
Hike, 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
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.
This trip has multiple set dates:
- May 13-21
- June 10-18
- July 22-30
- August 26 – September 3
Related Trips:
[8 days] Carpathian Mountains & Castles – Self-Guided
[8 days] Carpathian Mountains, Villages, & Castles – Small-Group
Seasonal Notes:
The rich history, beautiful nature, and unique cultural heritage of the country are much enjoyed if traveling in spring or summer. 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.
Features
📋 Itinerary
This itinerary is customizable. Contact Yugen Earthside for more information.
Day 1: Bucharest [Romania] (arrival day)
Day 2: Moldovita (~5 hours | 14 km | ~9 miles | +500 meter elevation gain | -550 meter elevation descent)
Day 3: Moldovita Painted Monastery (~4 hours, 13 km | 8 miles |+300m | -300m)
Day 4: Suceviţa (~3.5 hours | 11 km | ~ 7 miles | +400m | 300m | longer walk available)
Day 5: Rodnei Mountains National Park (~4 hours | 14 km | ~9 miles | +350m | -650m )
Day 6: Contemporary Maramures (~2 hours | 8 km | ~5 miles | +350m | -650m )
Day 7: Maramures Fields & Forests (6 hours | 13 km | 8 miles | + 400m | -400m)
Day 8: Ieud & Cluj Napoca (~2.5 hours | 8 km | ~5 miles |+250m | -300m)
Day 9: End of trip, transfer to Bucharest (departure day)
🌱 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.
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.
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.
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.
Accommodations: 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.
- Conserve Ecosystems/Preserve Biodiversity
- Use Environmentally Friendly Products
- Green Transportation
- Local/Organic Restaurants
- Focused on Minimizing Waste
- Responsible Waste Management
- Solar Thermal Panels
- Use Water Flow Reducers
- Provide Local Employment
- Supports Local Businesses
- Tours Benefit Local Community
📌 Location
Use the Google map to orient yourself about where in the world this trip is. The location indicates the starting point for this trip.
A specific route map is included in the downloadable detailed itinerary.
🏷️ Pricing
Prices exclude flights to/from the destination.
See the full list of price inclusions and exclusions in the downloadable detailed itinerary.
Optional Add-ons:
- Single supplement: 130€
- Private transfer Bucharest OTP Airport - Bucharest North Train Station (for 1-3 people, one way): 30€
- Private transfer Cluj city center or Cluj Train Station - Cluj CLJ Airport (for 1-3 people, one way): 30€
- Train ticket for overnight service Cluj – Bucharest North, 1st class, 2 beds/cabin. Per person. : 70€
- Train ticket for overnight service Cluj – Bucharest North, 6 beds/cabin. Per person: 38€
- Extra-night In Cluj-Napoca, Hotel 3-star in the center of the town, price / DBL BB. : 70€
- Small group supplement: departure in case of a 5-person group, supplement to be paid / per person: 100€
- Small group supplement: departure in case of a 4-person group, supplement to be paid / per person: 250€
- Small group supplement: departure in case of a 3-person group, supplement to be paid / per person: 500€
- Small group supplement: departure in case of a 2-person group, supplement to be paid / per person. : 750€
- Supplement for night train cabin used as SGL for the Bucharest - Bukovina train on Day 1: 60€
ℹ️ Other Info
If you're ready to book this trip, or if you still have some questions, contact us to let us know!
To reserve your spot on a tour, a non-refundable deposit equal to 30% of the trip price will be required if the reservation takes place more than 60 days before the departure. The balance must be paid two months before the beginning of the holiday.
If the reservation takes place less than 60 days before departure, we require the total amount of the holiday.
In case of cancellation on your part, the cancellation fee will be kept as followed:
- More than 30 days before the departure: $100 per person for set-up fees.
- Between 29 and 16 days before the departure: 50% of the full price of your holiday.
- Between 15 and 2 days before the departure: 90% of the full price of your holiday.
- Less than 2 days before the departure: 100% of the full price of your holiday.
This trip has a variable start date, so you can plan a departure date that suits you.
Be sure you have traveler's insurance.
Please be fully vaccinated and boosted before traveling. You may also need proof of a negative Covid test before arrival to the country. Keep a mask and hand sanitizer with you at all times.
Special precautions:
Clients have their separate rooms with bathrooms and eat at a safe distance. Usually, the guesthouses we work with are small and there aren’t many people there at the same time. Of course, there’s hand sanitizer available and masks must be worn at all times while inside.
Q: What does the Physical Rating of "Average" mean?
A: 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.
Q: What do I need to bring?
A: 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
Q: What about my luggage?
A: Luggage will be transferred from one guest house to the other.
Q: What is a guided tour?
A: Read more about Small Group, guided trips.
Q: What are the accommodations like?
A: 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.
Q: What happens if our group is less than 6 people?
A: There is a 'small group supplement' for parties less than 6. Contact us for pricing.