Guided walks in Transylvanian countryside, from Sibiu

2 to 5 days of guided walks in Transylvania to discover the natural beauty of the region: spot wildflowers and wild birds, discover quaint villages, meet the locals and taste local food

Tour details

TOUR description


Transylvania is known for its associations with vampires, werewolves, superstition and supernatural. Actually, this is not the fact at all. Transylvania is a land at the crossroads of civilisations, with an unique cultural heritage and a charming natural landscape. Is not gloomy at all, but full of life and joy. When someone is planning to visit this region in the central part of Romania, the first things appearing in search are the castles ( Bran Castle, Corvin Castle), the beautiful medieval cities ( Sibiu, Sighisoara, Brasov) and fortified churches. But, Transylvania is more than that.
If the visitor wants to see real Transylvania, they should walk on out of the beaten path, to explore the countryside, to walk on trails from one village to another, to venture on the low altitude meadows or high on the mountain pastures. This will reveal to the traveller an unspoiled image of Transylvania, with colourful compact villages, rolling hills covered with wildflowers and haystacks or sheep flocks. Also, if you want to get to know better the soul of a region, you have to meet its people and taste its local food. Not the one from restaurants, but the one people are eating every day. Having this in mind, we designed this multi-day trip in Transylvania countryside , trying to cover all the aspects mentioned above: nature, culture and food.

Each of this day trips can combine walking in countryside with a delicious lunch, cooked with local ingredients in the village. Also, another ingredient we will as to our tours is a short visit to an important landmark of the village, usually the church.



Tour 1 : This would be used as an introduction in the Transylvanian countryside, walking through 2 neighbouring villages, but very different: a Romanian one, Rasinari, in Marginimea Sibiului, and a Saxon one - Cisnadioara, just beyond the hill. We will have the possibility to visit one of the oldest fortified churches in Transylvania and also to have lunch at one of the guesthouses in the area. The track is around 10 kilometres long and it has 300 meters difference in altitude. The tour will start in Sibiu from where we will drive to the village of Rasinari.
Tour 2 : Trekking in the Carpathians mountains. On this tour, we will drive from Sibiu to Paltinis sky resort from where we will start a track of about 12 kilometres, with a 600 meters difference in altitude. Depending on the season, we will be able to see different wildflowers, birds, sheep flocks and admire the mountain landscape.
Tour 3 : Trekking around Biertan, the Saxon village listed on UNESCO World Heritage list. On this tour, we will drive from Sibiu to the beautiful village of Biertan where we will start a guided walk to the nearby villages of Copsa Mare. The track is around 10 kilometres long, and the difference in altitude is around 300 meters. We will be able to enjoy a beautiful view of the 2 villages, and at the end of the walk, we will be able to visit the fortified church of Biertan, a fascinating example of lay fortifications mixing with Gothic religious architecture. At the end of the day, we can enjoy a cooked meal in the nearby villages of Richis, with the possibility of organising a session of local wine tasting.
Tour 4 : Trekking around Jina , the shepherds' villages hidden deep in the Carpathians, the last village of Marginimea Sibiului. This tour will take us to Jina (50 minutes drive from Sibiu), where will have a walk in around the village (about 10 kilometres long, 300 meters difference in altitude). We will enjoy the picturesque views of the village and the pastures filled with flowers or hay, depending on the season. At the end of the walking, we will be able to visit the Shepherding Museum and enjoy a shepherd style lunch in the village

Tour 5 : Trekking around Boita a village at the foothills of the Carpathian mountains, the first one of Marginimea Sibiului. This guided walk will take us to Boita (30 minutes drive from Sibiu), where will have a walk around the village, passing through the neighbouring village of Talmacel (about 8 kilometres long, 300 meters difference in altitude). We will walk on farming roads, but also unmarked paths to be able to see the marvellous views of the Olt Valley, at the entry in the Carpathian Mountains. We will be able to have a break in the village, to observe the vibe of the community and also, we can stop for lunch at one of the guesthouses in Talmacel.

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Short presentation of the villages

Rasinari is an ancient Romanian village, located very close to Sibiu (actually still connected to the city with a tram line), laid at the foothills of the Cindrel Mountains, on the way to the main ski resort of Sibiu - Paltinis. Like all the other villages in Marginimea Sibiului, Rasinari is an old shepherds village, with a few sheepfolds still existing on the hills around the village. Once you have walked to the surrounding heights, you can admire the splendid views of the village, with the colourful houses aligned on the main streets converging to the pointed church towers.
Cisnadioara is a lovely Saxon village, raised in a beautiful natural setting, at the foothills of the Magura mountain, just a few kilometres from Sibiu. Its main attraction is the Romanesque fortified church which is overlooking the village since 12 century. Even though in the orchards on the north hills started to appear new modern villas, the old part of the village maintained its charming spirit of an old Saxon village. Cisnadioara ( or Michelsberg in German) is the starting place of a few hiking trails, and it's easily reachable on foot from the neighbouring village of Rasinari, hidden on the other side of the western hills.
Jina is the village from Marginimea Sibiului located at the highest altitude (1000 m). Spread like Rome, on 7 hills, the village offers splendid views over the Cindrel Mountains or the Transylvanian plateau. Shepherding is still the main occupation here, and during a walk around the village, the chances to stumble on a flock of sheep are very high. So it is normal that in the village the tourists can Pastoral Museum, a good occasion to find out more about the traditional lifestyle of the shepherds. While here, do not miss the chance of a local cheese tasting.
Biertan is an adorable Saxon village, hidden in a valley somewhere in the Transylvanian plateau, on the way to Sighisoara from Sibiu. Listed in the UNESCO site, together with the imposing fortified church, Biertan is a colourful village, which kept unspoiled the traditional architecture. The main attraction is the fortified church, the former seat of the Lutheran bishop in Transylvania, a very fine example of religious architecture mixed with military elements. Biertan is on the path of a few biking and walking trails, so for the outdoor activities lovers, there are many possibilities of guided walks starting from the village.
Copsa Mare is one of the dozens hidden gems of Transylvania. Just a few kilometres from its better-known neighbour - Biertan, Copsa Mare charm consists in its authenticity. You will not find there touristic buses, guesthouses or souvenir shops. Copsa Mare is a fine example of the deep Romanian countryside, where life flows in its own pace, as it used to be centuries ago. A former Saxon village, surrounded by forests, Copsa Mare rejoices the eye of the visitor with the bucolic setting of the traditional houses and the natural Transylvanian landscape.
Another hidden gem of Transylvania countryside, Boita is the first village of Marginimea Sibiului, an area comprising 17 Romanian villages at the foot of the Carpathians mountains. It guards for centuries one of the main routes connecting Transylvania with Wallachia, at the entry of the Olt river valley. The views from the heights surrounding the village are gorgeous, the visitors may admire wildflowers, haystacks, snow-capped peaks or encounter during the guided walks farmers and their horse-driven carts.

Duration
We will walk around 4 to 5 hours per day, including breaks.
Availability
From May to October. Some of the traks can be done in witer as well, but we need to see exactly how the weather will be for that specific time.
Price
It depends on the distance covered during this trip, but we'll do our best to stick to your budget.
Link this tour with:
Depending on the time available and your interests, this tour may be beginning to an exciting journey in Romania, whether the starting point is in Bucharest, Sibiu, Brasov, Clluj or Sighisoara. We cand design the trips to cover a wider are of Transylvania or Romania, not only trekking but also visiting towns, castles or other turistic attractions Romania has to offer. .
Tour inclusions
Guiding and transportation. We can also help you with accomodation.
Tour exclusions
Accommodation (if needed), entrance fees and meals. Drone filming can be provided at an additional cost.
Phisical activity
Moderate. You will need to walk around 10 kilometres per day, on uneven terrain, with a difference in altitude ranging from 200 to 600 meters.
Dress code
Specific for trekking. Proper trekking shoes, confortable trousers and shirts. You will need a hat and a raincoat. Walking sticks are also needed.

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