| 5% discount for the 08/05 departure, so hurry up! |
| Departures | | from | to | | | 03/08/10 | 11/08/10 |  | 699€ | | 21/08/10 | 29/08/10 | | 699€ | | 04/09/10 | 12/09/10 |  | 699€ |
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| VILLAGES OF BUCOVINA AND MARAMURES | price from 679 € | | Romania - Guided walking - 9 days |
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Immersed in the Romanian counties you will discover a rural world which disappeared long ago in western countries. You will be permanently in contact with the rich peasant culture and the protected nature. You will visit two regions, Bucovina and Maramures. In these two regions, so close but so different, the inhabitants will help you to discover the village life and their crafts and to understand the mysteries of the painted monasteries and wooden churches which are now part of the UNESCO Heritage. All this, and many other discoveries, awaits for you during this journey.
Bucovina will seduce you with its famous painted monasteries, with its rich culture (hailing from almost all the ethnic groups of Central Europe), with the crafts, with the field works in its hilly landscape and other wonders.
In Maramures, the wood work, result of a secular tradition, will fascinate you. This know-how transmitted from father to son is now perfectly mastered by the craftsmen.
A soft and peaceful landscape will surround you during this unforgettable journey. |
Day 1 Reception in Bucharest.
Arrival in Bucharest. Transfer to the train station. Visit of Bucharest, 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 begin the day taking a small local train that will take us to our hosts. After the breakfast we will stroll in a typical village. After a few hours of walk, we will meet Hutsules people; these inhabitants (with uncertain roots and history) will make you discover their art: eggs painting. We will also discover today one of the major components of the unique Bucovina monasteries set, the Moldovita painted monastery. These monasteries are famous due to the exterior frescoes. Moldovita constitutes a perfect introduction to feel the charm of the Moldavian monasteries. Here, frescoes where yellow and orange dominate amaze the visitor. (~4 hours, 13 km, +350m, -300m). Night in Moldovita. |  |
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Day 3 Sucevita and its monastery
A hike through woods and fields will lead you to an unexpected rural world which is still very alive. We will arrive to the Sucevita monastery from the fields, which will offer us a striking sight: the nature seems to protect the monastery like a jewel! The perfection of each detail on such a vast fresco is amazing. The representation of the scale of St Jean de Sinait is simply magnificent. (4-5 hours, 15 km, +400m, -300m). Night in Sucevita. |
Day 4 Bucolic hike
Hike in the forests: we will walk through hills to arrive to Manastirea Humorului. This immersion in a peasant world will enchant you; the beautiful landscape punctuated with sheep herds and horse-carts reveals a great harmony. Night at Manastirea Humorului (~4 hours, 12 km, +400m, -350). |  |
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Day 5 Transfer to Maramures
According to the weather, we would discover the Voronet monastery and the brilliant blue of its frescoes. Transfer to Maramures (~4h30 of transfer). We will visit the oldest wooden church of Maramures, and then we will hike to our host, in the nearby village. Immersion in the Maramures atmosphere with its deep forests, its long-shaped villages with sculptured portals and with its wooden churches (~3 hours, 10 km, +300m, -250). |
Day 6 Traditional way of life
Today we will discover Maramures between fields and forests. In every season, country is animated by the field’s works. Hike from a village to another. According to the weather, visit of the Bârsana monastery which is a masterpiece of the wooden Maramures architecture. (4-5 hours, 15 km, +300m, -350). Possible longer walk depending of the group level. |  |
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Day 7 Hike in mountains
Today we go to a remote region of Maramures, and we hike between high mountain pastures, mountain lakes, and forests. We will make a last visit in one of the most impressive wooden churches. This church has one of the richest interior frescoes. (~5 hours, 16 km, +100m, -550). Possible longer walk depending of the group level. |
Day 8 Happy Cemetery
Private transfer to Săpânţa to discover the incredible “Happy Cemetery”. It is time to visit the citz of Sighetu Marmatiei and its "Communism Victims Memorial" created in the prison where were detained (without having been judged) the main opponents of the regime. Departure at 5:40 pm, night in the train to Bucharest (first-class sleeping wagon, 2 beds / cabin). |  |
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Day 9 End of journey
Early arrival in Bucharest (7:20AM). Free time in the city centre and transfer to the airport. |
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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 private & shared facilities (1 for 2 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
Level of hike: easy to medium (accessible to every person who walks regularly in the year), on paths and forest roads.
Carrying
9 days / 6 days of walking. Easy level of walking with a maximum day at 5 hours. Medium level for some walks. Some walks could change depending on the group level or the weather conditions or be interrupted by small transfers
Options
- Single supplement : 89€
Included
-> Nights,
-> All meals: 8 breakfasts (7 at our guesthouses and 1 at the train station in Bucharest-D9), 7 picnics, 8 dinners (6 at our guesthouses, 1 at the restaurant-D1 and 1 in the train as picnic-D8) Dinner: 3 course menu – entrée/soup, main dish and a dessert (occasionally dinner is a 2 course meal).
-> Transfers, luggage transfer.
Not included
The entrance fees into museums, monasteries… The insurance. Drinks and personal spending, snacks.
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