The experience was made all the better by Cosmin, our guide, who was very enthusiastic and compassionate about animal conservation. Just wish he wouldn't keep stopping for every bloody bird he met Katrina, was our accomodating host at the guest house. She equally shared Cosmin's passion for wildlife and always around if we had any questions. Katrina gave us a guided tour around the bear conservation sanctuary. This was my first group holiday with Exodus and I was travelling on my own, so hoping for a nice group of fellow travellers, plenty to do, good food and accommodation and well planned and executed travel arrangements.
PETA have a good article on how to tell if a place is a real animal sanctuary. This is a great resource to bookmark and check as part of your research if you ever consider visiting an animal sanctuary. But while I was there, I also found out that the sanctuary had been named as one of the best ethical wildlife attractions in the world by National Geographic Traveller. On our tour we visit the ancient landscapes of Transylvania, through scenic villages full of traditional houses, set against the spectacular Carpathian Mountains. After a stop for lunch, we visit the medieval town of Sibiu, which was designated the European Capital of Culture back in 2007, before continuing to Rimetea.



Being 3 miles from our campsite regular buses pass the campsite to the town centre, alternatively there is a direct cycle & walking path. This morning we are treated to a brunch breakfast in the campsites own coffee bar – a perfect start to a relaxing day. Afterwards you may decide to experience some Bulgarian rural life with a wander in the nearby village of Dragizhevo. Harbouring the coast’s best 19th century wooden architecture, a number of unique medieval churches and cobbled streets Nesebar is just perfect for a few hours of leisurely meandering. Early this morning we leave for the Macin Mountain National Park where we spend time at a nesting colony of Bee-eater and Roller. This rather dry and rocky habitat supports a lot of scarce birds and the hides most probably will be visited by several species.
These bears were being kept in awful conditions with no shelter from the heat of summer or protection from the long, bitter winter months. Cristina vowed from that day that she would help the captive bears of Romania and began the long fight to set up a sanctuary. There is also cover for a range of activities, with three Activity Categories to choose from, so be it a Cruise, beach holiday or an adventure filled trip, there will be a policy to suit. Every summer, the sanctuary accepts 3-4 volunteers who help preparing food for the bears and giving a hand in the dog shelter that is part of the sanctuary too. The sanctuary now runs an Adopt-a-Bear program, which has a minimum contribution of 5 Euros/month.

All being well this evening we’ll stay in the house of an old friend, Liviu Ilea. I had a slightly restless nights with the constant barking of dogs outside, presumably repelling the advances of all manner of bears and wolves. It was strange looking out into the pitch black of the mountains and wondering what was out there.
Today you will be free to delve into the hidden treasures of Brasov’s charming Old Town, at your own pace. Discover Strada Sforii one of the narrowest streets in the city and allegedly one of the narrowest in Europe, located near Șchei Gate. Includes 2 nights on a half board basis, 5 nights on a bed and breakfast Romania bear tours basis. All our tours are priced on a land-only basis, giving you maximum flexibility when deciding how to get to and from your tour. Anyone in a reasonable state of health, with an open mind and a sense of adventure should be perfectly able to cope with this tour, as many of the activities are optional.

Bears may be active at any time of the day, but generally they forage in the morning and evening and rest in dense woodland cover by day. We try to spot these bears from a hide at dusk when they come out to feed. From here we drive to the Transylvanian village of Moieciu, where we stay in a local guesthouse for the next three nights.
A late dinner is included this evening at our guesthouse where we enjoy a traditional home cooked meal. On Kudu trips, you will only need money for postcards, presents to take home, the odd G & T or an irresistible ice cream. Today’s adventure takes us on a journey that spans centuries of cultural development in this region, as we make our way through the beautiful landscapes of the Iza Valley. Our first stop will be at a remarkable hydro-mechanical workshop in Sarbi village as well as a home-made distillery, before reaching the village of Barsana. Here we can see the locals going to church in their Sunday best before heading on to the wooden church at Poienile Izei, whose stunningly preserved frescoes have earned it UNESCO World heritage status.
If you have a sweet tooth like me then take some travel sweets for an energy boost on your longer walks. Waterproof jacket and shoes are essential as the weather was very changeable when I went! We had 3 guides, the leader Greg was very entertaining with lots of tall tales. Traion the local leader gave a good insight into local life and made the visit to Brasov very interesting. Katharina took us to Libearty and her passion for the place was infectious. It was a long hot ride to the village of Viscri which took up most of the day.

The trip notes are extremely accurate and you do need a certain level of fitness to access the walking. Thomas was extremely knowledgeable about Romania and anxious to help us understand the Carpathian history. He was also aware of the needs of the group and allowed us some flexibility where he could regarding walking speed as there were differences in the group. He had many local contacts which enhanced my enjoyment as I love meeting local people. My only slight criticism is the amount of time that he spent on his phone. Romania is certainly off the beaten track for most Brits but it's certainly worth a look.
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Receive 10% discount on travel vaccinations and health products when you book with us as AITO partners. When they are strong and healthy, they are released into the ‘training area’ for around 3 months. I should clarify that this is not an area where the bears get trained, but where they become used to being free. Cristina explained the process that bears go through when they first arrive. They are treated for any wounds and medical conditions, they are sterilised and their teeth repaired.
Vegetarians and Vegans will not have difficulty in Romania as in the Christian Orthodox religion there are many fasting periods when no animal products are eaten. So we would arrange this for you, or you ask for ‘mancare de post’; ie. As might be expected, for vegan and vegetarian diets, there may be less variety of dishes available. Holiday insurance is essential for all Yellow Wood Adventures. Unfortunately anyone without insurance is not able to take part in the holiday, so please make sure you arrange cover. We recommend sorting your insurance when you book so that if you have problems during the run up to your holiday, and need to cancel, you are covered.