Romania
While Romania is definitely European, especially now it has entered the EU, it has a twist of the fairytale; a land of legends, castles, wolves and bears. Much of the country is mountainous with the dramatic Carpathians carving through the land like a giant horseshoe, encircling the rolling plateau of Transylvania.
Rural traditions are still very much part of the way of life, which keeps the Romanian countryside so unique. The landscape is dotted with shepherd's huts and haystacks, horse and cart is still the vehicle of choice for many, and local produce and cuisine that would have Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall drooling.
Romania's history is abundant, it's past complex and violent. It was the only country of the Eastern Bloc to end communism by executing their leader; and perhaps one of the most violent rulers of all, Vlad the Impaler (on whom Dracula is loosely based), ruled these parts. In fact, there are endless stories of marauding invaders, the Dacians, Romans, Saxons, Turks, Slavs, Gypsies and Hungarians are just a few. The medieval cities of Brasov and Sighisoara, as well as the painted monasteries of Bucovina, are spectacular.
Perhaps the best experience of Romanian history and culture is a stay with the widow and daughter of artist Nicolae Popa. Their home is part museum, part workshop which houses a beautiful collection of art, traditional costume, sculptures and artefacts dating from the Neolithic to Mr Popa's time spent in a communist jail.
Romania is a place, close to home, where one can truly escape to another world.
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What to do in Romania
Explore Saxon Villages:
Transylvania
Explore the villages of Agapia and Varatec, home to two renowned monasteries that house over 2000 Orthodox nuns. Passing on through the hills you can then take in the Moldovian architecture of Valea Arini and Valea Seaca en route to the dramatic limestone vistas of the Bicaz Gorge.
Trek through the Iza Valley:
Transylvania
Walk through the beautiful landscapes of the Iza Valley, en route visiting the village of Barsana, where you can visit the workshop of Mr Barsan, one of the last sculptors in the Maramures who still specialises in traditional wood carving. From here you can head on to the wooden church at Poienile Izei, whose stunningly preserved frescoes has seen it achieve UNESCO World heritage status. Dating back to the latter years of the 18th century, the paintings follow post-Byzantine traditions and depict a variety of themes, from the Last Judgement and the Old Testament, to the life of Christ.
Visit the land of Gypsys
Transylvania
Deep into the rural landscapes of northern Transylvania, towards the foothills of the Gutai Mountains, lies the picturesque village of Breb. When William Blacker, author of the wonderful, Along the Enchanted Way, first drove into this landscape in 1989 it was covered in a blanket of snow and he described entering '...a country frozen in time'. One of the most authentic villages in the Maramures, Breb is still steeped in the customs and lore of this region, a place that harks back to a time of childhood fairy stories and travelling bands of gypsies.
Visit the Painted Monasteries
The Carpathians
Among the most picturesque treasures of Romania are the Painted Monasteries of Bucovina (in northeastern Romania). Their painted exterior walls are decorated with elaborate 15th and 16th century frescoes featuring portraits of saints and prophets, scenes from the life of Jesus, images of angels and demons, and heaven and hell. Deemed masterpieces of Byzantine art, these churches are one-of-a-kind architectural sites in Europe. Far from being merely wall decorations, the murals represent complete cycles of religious murals. The purpose of the frescoes was to make the story of the Bible and the lives of the most important Orthodox saints known to villagers by the use of images. Their outstanding composition, elegant outline and harmonious colors blend perfectly with the surrounding landscape.
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Where to stay in Romania
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Suggested Itineraries
How to book a trip
Romania Travel Guide
Brasov
Brasov (pronounced Bra-SHOV) is one of the largest cities in Romania. It is located in the center of the country and surrounded by the Carpathian Mountains. The city provides a mix of wonderful mountain scenery in the nearby Poiana Braov and medieval history with Germanic influences in the old town. Brasov boasts everything from dynamic modern city life to old world charm and fascinating scenery. As some people say, "Why bother coming to Romania if you're not going to see Brasov?"
The Carpathians
The Carpathian Mountains are the eastern wing of the great Central Mountain System of Europe, curving 1500 km along the borders of Romania, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Ukraine, Austria, Serbia, and northern Hungary. It covers an area of 190,000 km² and, after the Alps, is the most extensive mountain system in Europe. Although commonly referred to as a mountain chain, the Carpathians do not actually form an uninterrupted chain of mountains. Rather, they consist of several orographically and geologically distinctive groups, presenting as great a structural variety as the Alps.
The Carpathians, which in only a few places attain an altitude of over 2,500 m, lack the bold peaks, extensive snow-fields, large glaciers, high waterfalls, and numerous large lakes that are common in the Alps. No area of the Carpathian range is covered in snow year-round and there are no glaciers. The Carpathians at their highest altitude are only as high as the Middle Region of the Alps, with which they share a common appearance, climate, and flora.
Transylvania
Even though some people may only associate the name with tales of bloodthirsty vampires, Transylvania is actually known as one of the most beautiful natural regions in Europe dotted with picturesque, medieval fortress towns and monasteries and lively cities with stunning baroque architecture which offer modern tourism services at a price far below that of, say, Germany or France.
Transylvania has all the history and multi-ethnic culture you want. Although part of Romania, the history of Transylvania has more to do with German Saxons and the former Austro-Hungarian Empire, as far as administration is concerned. However the population has been and remains overwhelmingly Romanian.
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Romania Travel Information
Visa Information
UK Passport holders do not require a visa to visit Romania, although your passport must be valid for at least six months after the end of your trip.
Please note it is your responsibility to ensure you have the correct visa documentation when starting your trip. Country entry regulations can alter daily and it is always best to check with the relevant embassies for any changes.
If you are travelling on a non-UK passport, please contact your nearest consulate/embassy for up to date visa information.
Insurance:
Insurance that provides cover for emergency repatriation in case of a medical emergency is compulsory for all tours.
You should be aware that many standard insurance policies may not cover you adequately for all aspects of a Wild Frontiers trip and so we strongly recommend that you purchase a suitably designed insurance policy.
One such policy is the "Wild Frontiers" policy underwritten by Ace European Group Limited (ACE " firm reference 202803), which is available to EU residents (which excludes Norway & Switzerland) through our website or via the insurance company direct on 0845 345 3456. Under this policy there are two different levels of cover available.
Standard policy: a comprehensive travel insurance policy that provides cover for all Wild Frontiers activities, including trekking up to 6,000m. This policy does not provide cover for travel to areas where the FCO is advising against all or all but essential travel.
Elite policy: provides the same comprehensive level of cover as the standard policy. In addition the Elite policy also provides cover for travel to areas where the FCO is advising against all or all but essential travel. The policy will not provide cover for any claims arising from or relating to the reasons why the FCO is advising against travel.
If purchasing the Elite policy you also have the option to extend the cover provided by the policy to include cover for claims arising from a terrorist act in an area where the FCO is advising against travel. You can add this cover to your policy when purchasing online or over the telephone.
These policies are only available to those travelling on a Wild Frontiers holiday.
For more information and to purchase your policy online please visit the Insurance section of our website.
The cover is underwritten by Ace European Group Limited (ACE), and is arranged by Travel & General Insurance Service Limited. Both companies are authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA). Wild Frontiers Limited is an Introducer Appointed Representative of Travel & General Insurance Company plc, details of which can be found at the FSA's website www.fsa.gov.uk.
To contact them please visit their website at www.travel-general.com or call 0845 408 0583.
Health and Vaccinations:
There are no mandatory immunisations for travellers to Romania, although you should be up-to-date with Typhoid, Tetanus, Polio and Hepatitis A. We recommend you seek advice from your local GP or travel centre as to the correct immunisations and preventative treatments.
We also recommend:
• A dental check-up prior to travelling.
• You inform us of any pre-existing medical conditions or medication.
To be on the safe side you can also check on www.fitfortravel.scot.nhs.uk
