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| THROUGH THE CARPATHIAN MOUNTAINS: FROM BUCOVINA TO MARAMURES | price from 949 € | | Romania - Guided walking - 15 days |
| The villages of the North of Romania knew how to keep the charm of another age. It is in Bucovina and in Maramures where we will discover their traditions, by hiking in preserved places, visiting monasteries and meeting very friendly people. We will take the most beautiful hiking trails of Bucovina, renowned for its magnificent monasteries with frescoes; before directing us more on the West to Maramures with its round hills and its wooden houses. More than a journey, this trip will be a human experience. A return to basics! |
Day 1 Reception in Bucharest.
Arrival at Bucharest. Transfer to the train station. Visit of Bucharest is possible according to the arrival time. Night train for Bucovina at 9:00 pm (first-class sleeping wagon, 2 beds/cabin). |
Day 2 Local craft
We will end the route to our hosts (where a breakfast waits for us) with a small local train. After the breakfast we will stroll in a typical village. After the walk, we will meet Houtsoules; these inhabitants (with uncertain roots and history) will make you discover their art: painting on eggs. Small hike in the “country of beeches". Visit of the Moldovita monastery. (Approximately 4 hours of walking). |  |
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Day 3 typical hamlet perched
Hike through the Bucovina's pastures, to a charming typical hamlet perched on a hill. Then, we will cross the Ciumarna pass during our transfer in the Sucevita valley, where we will visit the monastery with the same name. Night in Sucevita. (Approximately 4 hours of walking). |
Day 4 Putna monastery
Hike in the forests: we will through hill to arrive at Manastirea Humorului. This Today we leave Sucevita hiking in the Carpathian Mountains. We will walk in a magnificent environment to join the village of Putna: the paths which we will follow cross hills with about 1000m of height. The monastery of Putna got a particular place in the heart of Romanians because of its historical importance (the Stefan cel Mare sepulcher is here) and its craft importance (approximately 60 monks live in Putna which is an important center of icons painting). Return by minibus until Sucevita. immersion in a peasant world will enchant everybody; the green landscape punctuated with herds of sheep and carts tastes of harmony. Night at Manastirea Humorului (4 hours, 12 km, +400m, -350). |  |
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Day 5 The bucovinian forest
We go to discover the bucovinian forest. Fir trees and beeches will accompany us until a typical Polish village. Then, we will spend a pleasant moment by making a stroll in cart to join the Manastirea Humorului village. Night in Manastirea Humorului. (Approximately 4 hours of walking). |
Day 6 Salt mine of Cacica
Our hike brings us in an unusual place today: we shall visit the salt mine of Cacica (the name comes from Polish "kaczika" which means "duck" because the region counts a multitude). The exploitation of this salt mine dates from the 18th century and required the coming of numerous technicians of the Habsbourg Empire. We will visit this incredible mine which shelters a chapel where the ground, the walls and the ceiling are in salt. According to available time we will return at our guesthouse or shall go to visit the Voronet monastery also called “east Sixtine chapel". (Approximately 4 hours of walking). |
Day 7 The monastery of Voronet
If we did not make it the day before, we shall visit the monastery of Voronet, one of the most beautiful monuments of orthodox rite in the world. Otherwise, we shall make a ballad in the surroundings. Private transfer to Campulung Moldovenesc, town created in the 14th century around the wood exploitation and which will become at the end of the 18th a small mining center. We also will visit the surprising “museum of the sculpture on wood”. |  |
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Day 8 « Stones of the princess »
We change of landscape today: we leave the sweet hills to climb the mountains of Rarau until the incredible “Pietrele Doamnei” (« Stones of the princess »): gigantic stones which gives to the landscape an unrealistic look. (Approximately 5 hours of walking). |
Day 9 Giumalau
Our route will make us hike on the heights of Giumalau where from we will have an impregnable panorama on neighborhood. Then we will come down in the valley of Bistrita, through traditional villages where houses are decorated with traditional floral motives. (Approximately 4 hours of walking). |  |
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Day 10 Valley of Bistrita
We will spend our last day in Moldavia in the beautiful valley of Bistrita. Let us observe a last time the particular atmosphere of these villages and landscapes before discovering Maramures which got indisputably a very different cultural identity. (Approximately 5 hours of walking). |
Day 11 Welcome in Maramures
Private transfer to the Prislop pass (1416m), main passage between Maramures and Moldavia. According to weather two opportunities are offer: either we go from there for a beautiful hike (approximately 5 hours of walking) in Rodnei Mountains (this massif offers an extremely rich biodiversity, protected by a reservation of about 6000 hectares); or we continue the transfer until Maramures and shall make there a more peaceful hike (approximately 3 hours of walking). through the pastures from Ieud to Botiza. Visit of the Ieud church, the most ancient in Maramures. Night in Botiza. |  |
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Day 12 Wooden monastery
Hike from Botiza to the village of Bârsana where is the last wooden monastery built according to the traditional methods. Visit of this masterpiece of the local crafts. During our hike, country will be animated by the field’s works. Local transfer and night in the valley of Mara. (From 4 hours and a half to 6 hours of walking according to the group level). |
Day 13 Spectacular crests
While you will discover the most typical villages and the wooden churches the most significant of the region, the nature will also be very generous: spectacular crests, mountain lakes and carnivorous plants will be at the program. Possibility of making a longer itinerary. (Approximately 5 hours of walking). |  |
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Day 14 The "Happy Cemetery" and the "Memorial of the victims of the communism"
Private transfer towards Sapânta to discover the famous “Happy Cemetery", a real ethnographical museum. On the wooden steles are painted poems and everyday life scenes dedicated to the deceased. Visit in Sighetu Marmatiei of the “Memorial of the victims of the communism” created in the prison where were detained the main opponents of the regime. Departure at 5:40 pm. Night train for Bucharest (first-class sleeping wagon, 2 beds/cabin). |
Day 15 End of journey
Arrival at Bucharest. Breakfast in town centre, free time and transfer to the airport. Arrival at Paris in the afternoon. |
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| Details | Starting point
Bucharest airport or Bucharest train station.
End
Bucharest airport or Bucharest train station.
Accommodation
Accommodation in rural pensions in double occupancy, exceptionally triple with shared facilities (1 for 2 or three rooms).
Depending on the size of the group, the accommodation can be done in several pensions. Meals will be taken together.
Number of people
Minimum of 6 people.
Level of difficulty
Medium level of walking with a maximum day at 6 hours. Easy level for some walks. Some walks could change depending on the group level or the weather conditions or be interrupted by small transfers.
Carrying
Luggage will be transferred by car or cart during the treks.
Options
- Single supplement : 99€
Included
Nights, meals, transfers,transfer of luggage.
Not included
Transfer to the meeting point and to the drop off point, the insurances, the drinks, entry fees into monuments, the personal expenses.
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