Brown Bears Watching and Medieval Transylvania

The thrills of discovering wildlife & medieval atmosphere

Bears! Bears! Bears! And Castles Visit!  Vampires and bears on the same tour!

Except for bears, we will explore:
The city of Brasov - the most beautiful mountain - medieval city of Transylvania! 
Prejmer Fortified Church - one of Europe's best-preserved fortified church, UNESCO listed
Sinaia Monastery and the Black Church from Brasov
Peles Castle - a masterpiece and the first castle in the world to have central heating and electricity!
Bran Castle - well known as Dracula's Castle, built in 1377.
The Liberty Bear Sanctuary, in Zarnesti town
Some wild bears in the Transylvanian forests!

 

Day 1: Bucharest – Sinaia - Brasov

Today you will meet your guide and depart to Transylvania. On the way, we will visit the most beautiful castle in Romania, kings’ summer residence, Peles Castle. Close to it, we will have a short stop to Sinaia Monastery.  
In the afternoon we will arrive in Brasov, the most beautiful mountain city in Transylvania. We will be accommodated in the city center and then we will have a walking tour of the town discovering his baroque area and the medieval sights. 

 

Day 2: Brasov – bear watching

Today highlights:  Bears!!  We will drive closely to a specially designed bear hides in a restricted area of the forest. After a safety briefing, set off with the experienced ranger, following a wooded path to the secure and camouflaged hide, in the middle of the wildness, we will have the possibility to see bears in their natural habitat. This may take one hour or more, but we will wait until the bears will appear. Stay quiet and enjoy ample time to look for these magnificent animals.

The Carpathian Mountains of Transylvania are home to impressive numbers of wolves, bears, lynx and other wildlife. Even more impressive, this is in close coexistence with traditional farming activities-something that didn’t really happen in any other parts of Europe. 
Seeing wild animals in their natural environment is always a challenge; finding tracks or other signs of them is the very first step to understand the world they live in and their life.

In the afternoon, we will have the possibility to visit Prejmer Fortress, one of Eastern Europe’s best preserved fortified (and UNESCO listed) churches lies 16km northeast of Brasov. Surrounding a cross-shaped church (originally built by the Teutonic knights) are walls 12m high and 4m thick that protected the church and Prejmer’s inhabitants during times of war, when each family would retreat into its own room. Wheat and smoked hams - stored in the towers - were sufficient to support the whole village during long sieges.   

Accommodation in Brasov, to a central located hotel, breakfast included. 

Day 3: Brasov – Bran Castle – Zarnesti – Bucharest

After breakfast, we will take our way to Bran village and we will try to be close to Dracula. 

We will visit one of the most talking castles in the world, Dracula’s Castle, or the well-known Bran Castle.  Perched on a rock, strategically overlooking one of the most important medieval trading routes in this part of Europe, Bran is certainly impressive - even scary - from afar.  
The castle was built in 1377 to guard the mountain pass and to levy a tax on all merchants passing through. The castle was for a long time the property of the city of Brasov, but in 1921 it was offered as a summer residence to Romania’s Queen Marie. She loved the place, and planted the apple trees in the field below the castle, as well as a flower garden. Inside the castle you can today wander through the intriguing maze of corridors, staircases and explore many of the fascinating rooms.   

After this wonderful visit, we will drive to the Transylvanian town of Zarnesti, to the Liberty Bear Sanctuary!  The sanctuary sits in 160 acres of oak forest in the foothills of the Carpathian Mountains in central Transylvania. The land, donated by the nearby town of Zarnesti, provides space for more than 60 rescued bears which now live in this idyllic sanctuary. 
Here, they can feel the earth and grass beneath their paws, climb trees and swim in pools while feeding on a rich natural diet for the first time since they were captured from the forests as cubs.

Taking this tour, you will see bears in at least two ways of living: free in the wildness, deep in the wood, or half free, but very well-groomed, bears rescued from the bad living situations.  

In the evening we will arrive in Bucharest and this tour will end with such nice memories! 

Description

Bears! Bears! Bears! And Castles Visit!  Vampires and bears on the same tour!

Except for bears, we will explore:
The city of Brasov - the most beautiful mountain - medieval city of Transylvania! 
Prejmer Fortified Church - one of Europe's best-preserved fortified church, UNESCO listed
Sinaia Monastery and the Black Church from Brasov
Peles Castle - a masterpiece and the first castle in the world to have central heating and electricity!
Bran Castle - well known as Dracula's Castle, built in 1377.
The Liberty Bear Sanctuary, in Zarnesti town
Some wild bears in the Transylvanian forests!

 

Day 1: Bucharest – Sinaia - Brasov

Today you will meet your guide and depart to Transylvania. On the way, we will visit the most beautiful castle in Romania, kings’ summer residence, Peles Castle. Close to it, we will have a short stop to Sinaia Monastery.  
In the afternoon we will arrive in Brasov, the most beautiful mountain city in Transylvania. We will be accommodated in the city center and then we will have a walking tour of the town discovering his baroque area and the medieval sights. 

 

Day 2: Brasov – bear watching

Today highlights:  Bears!!  We will drive closely to a specially designed bear hides in a restricted area of the forest. After a safety briefing, set off with the experienced ranger, following a wooded path to the secure and camouflaged hide, in the middle of the wildness, we will have the possibility to see bears in their natural habitat. This may take one hour or more, but we will wait until the bears will appear. Stay quiet and enjoy ample time to look for these magnificent animals.

The Carpathian Mountains of Transylvania are home to impressive numbers of wolves, bears, lynx and other wildlife. Even more impressive, this is in close coexistence with traditional farming activities-something that didn’t really happen in any other parts of Europe. 
Seeing wild animals in their natural environment is always a challenge; finding tracks or other signs of them is the very first step to understand the world they live in and their life.

In the afternoon, we will have the possibility to visit Prejmer Fortress, one of Eastern Europe’s best preserved fortified (and UNESCO listed) churches lies 16km northeast of Brasov. Surrounding a cross-shaped church (originally built by the Teutonic knights) are walls 12m high and 4m thick that protected the church and Prejmer’s inhabitants during times of war, when each family would retreat into its own room. Wheat and smoked hams - stored in the towers - were sufficient to support the whole village during long sieges.   

Accommodation in Brasov, to a central located hotel, breakfast included. 

Day 3: Brasov – Bran Castle – Zarnesti – Bucharest

After breakfast, we will take our way to Bran village and we will try to be close to Dracula. 

We will visit one of the most talking castles in the world, Dracula’s Castle, or the well-known Bran Castle.  Perched on a rock, strategically overlooking one of the most important medieval trading routes in this part of Europe, Bran is certainly impressive - even scary - from afar.  
The castle was built in 1377 to guard the mountain pass and to levy a tax on all merchants passing through. The castle was for a long time the property of the city of Brasov, but in 1921 it was offered as a summer residence to Romania’s Queen Marie. She loved the place, and planted the apple trees in the field below the castle, as well as a flower garden. Inside the castle you can today wander through the intriguing maze of corridors, staircases and explore many of the fascinating rooms.   

After this wonderful visit, we will drive to the Transylvanian town of Zarnesti, to the Liberty Bear Sanctuary!  The sanctuary sits in 160 acres of oak forest in the foothills of the Carpathian Mountains in central Transylvania. The land, donated by the nearby town of Zarnesti, provides space for more than 60 rescued bears which now live in this idyllic sanctuary. 
Here, they can feel the earth and grass beneath their paws, climb trees and swim in pools while feeding on a rich natural diet for the first time since they were captured from the forests as cubs.

Taking this tour, you will see bears in at least two ways of living: free in the wildness, deep in the wood, or half free, but very well-groomed, bears rescued from the bad living situations.  

In the evening we will arrive in Bucharest and this tour will end with such nice memories! 

Price

Price:

515 €/person (group of 2 persons)

395 / person (group of 4 persons)

330 / person (group of 6 persons)

299 / person (group of 8 persons)

 

Included:

  • 2 nights’ accommodation in Brasov, centrally located.
  • Round-trip transport by air-conditioned car or minivan.    
  • Professional and friendly English speaking driver-guide for the entire tour – escorted tour.
  • Watch for bears and cubs in the woodlands from a secure hide with a specialist on day 2.
  • Possibility to see also: deer, lynx, wild boar and game birds.
  • Entrance fee to Liberty Bear Sanctuary to see the brown bears.

 

Not included:

  • entrance fee to Peles and Bran castles.
  • other services that are not included.  

 

Private and fully refundable tour.

The tour is fully refundable in case of cancelling up to 30 days before the scheduled trip

Group of maximum 8 travelers.

'Bear season' starts from mid/late March to mid/late October, depending on weather. Bookings will be confirmed depending on this.

Map
Recommendation

Dress warmly: sturdy, waterproof footwear and warm clothing recommended 
Do NOT dress in bright colors 
Do NOT use any perfume 
Do NOT bring any food with you 
Minimum booking numbers apply (2 pax). If you would like to join as 1 person please note that the price for 2 is be applicable 
Minimum age allowed: 12 years old. 
Not wheelchair accessible 
Near public transportation 
Most travelers can participate 
This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund 
Group of maximum 8 travelers.

 

Tour costs
From 299
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