This small group tour takes you straight to the heart of rural life in Romania. See some local houses, visit the Bat Cave, take a trek through the local mountain forests, and learn about a way of life that’s slowly disappearing. Also, we can visit Bran Castle a.k.a Dracula's Castle, in the morning.
Experience the traditional Transylvanian way of life on a small group tour from Brașov to the rural villages of Pestera and Magura. We may visit Bran Castle a.k.a Dracula's Castle, in the morning. We do a walking tour in the area visiting the Bat Cave enjoying the landscapes and village life, interacting with the locals (3 - 4 hours, easy to medium, up to 12 km). Now, the Bat Cave is a national natural monument, part of the National Park “Piatra Craiului”. Cave entrance is through a narrow corridor, followed by a grotto and a gallery. You can admire the Jurassic limestone formations, formed over centuries, including so-called "tears of the earth". The cave is not electrified, in order not to change the natural habitat of the bats. Visit the oldest guesthouse in the National Park, taste several varieties of handcrafted cheese, than we have a farm-fresh cuisine. With a flexible pace and the personalized attention of your guide, it’s a unique and authentic way to experience the Romanian countryside.
Highlights
- Small group day trip to the authentic Romanian mountain villages of Pestera and Magura from Brașov
- Discover the culture of the villages, nestled in Transylvania’s Piatra Craiului National Park mountain
- Take a trek into the forests and meadows to see wild flowers and go inside of Bat cave
- Savor lunch made from fresh, simple ingredients at one of the guesthouses in the area
- Enjoy a flexible itinerary and the undivided attention of a guide on this small group tour
- In these 2 villages the people never died because of cancer or heart attack - they live an healthy life: working the land, taking care of animals (sheep and cows), preparing and eating home made food from their small farm (meat, eggs, milk), drinking fresh water from the spring and home made alcoholic drink called "tuica" made from different fruits: apples, plumps, pears!
What You Can Expect
Sample traditional Romanian cheese on a small group day trip to Magura and Pestera.
Nestled in the Piatra Craiului National Park Mountains in the Southern Carpathians, the villages of Pestera an Magura offer an authentic glimpse into rural Romanian life. Your immersive, full-day tour begins in central Brașov, where you’ll meet your local guide and board a private vehicle for the 45-minute drive to the village. Along the way, let your guide know if you have any specific interests so he or she can customize the day’s itinerary.
Learn about the history of the villages, where the traditional industries of sheep farming and cheese making are still practiced by many of the village’s. Visit the Bat Cave about 10 minutes. Next, set off into the surrounding hills and meadows of Magura village for a moderate guided hike for 2 to 3 hours. Let your guide know if you prefer to hike for longer or shorter, and go at a pace that’s comfortable to you.
Make a stop to the oldest guesthouse in the National Park. Meet some of the farmers, and sample two-three different kinds of cheese.
After working up an appetite, we have a hearty lunch. Savor simple Romanian cuisine homemade from local farm-fresh ingredients including eggs, vegetables or pork. Purchase beer or wine to top off your meal. From the guesthouse we have a walk in Pestera Village back to the car, about 1 hour. We can visit also the local church.
Relax on the scenic return drive to Brașov.
