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View of the medieval fortified church of Biertan in Transylvania

Transylvania & Carpathian Mountains

Hiking like 100 years ago

8 Days / 7 Nights
Walking
View of the medieval fortified church of Biertan in Transylvania

The essentials at a glance

Self-guided walking tour through Transylvania exploring picturesque villages, UNESCO World Heritage sites, and the Carpathian Mountains. Hike across meadows and high pastures with easy to moderate trails (1.5-6.5 hours daily). Highlights include Sibiel village, traditional mountain pastures with shepherd's cheese production, Sibiu's historic squares, fortified churches in Biertan, and medieval Sighișoara with Dracula's birthplace. Accommodation in 3-4 star hotels and restored farmhouses with breakfast and 4 dinners included.

Do you have questions about this tour?

Your walking holiday of the Carpathians begins with a visit to the traditional Romanian shepherd villages of Sibiel and Rasinari. You’ll hike through deciduous and coniferous forests, across alpine meadows, and along mountain ridges. On the alpine pastures, you’ll meet shepherds with their flocks of sheep. The second part of your tour takes you to Transylvania. Impressive fortified churches, forgotten villages where time seems to have stood still, and encounters with Transylvanian Saxons all make this walking tour a truly memorable experience. Further highlights include Sibiu and Sighișoara.

Transylvania is a historical region in the southern part of the Carpathian Mountains. You start your eight-day hiking tour in Sibiel, which is considered one of the most beautiful villages in the country. After a relaxed sightseeing tour of the town, the first day will take you on a circular hike to a high mountain pasture where you can taste the typical shepherd's cheese from the region. The following day, the route takes you across the Wolf's Meadow and past the peaks of Tomnaticu, Girhan and Plaiul to Rasinari. On the next day's stages you will hike to Sibiu and Biertan. On the sixth day you will go to Malmkrog and finally to Sighisoara, where you can visit the historical centre, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

  • Sightseeing in Sighișoara: On the last day of your hiking tour, you will reach the final stage destination of Sighișoara. The historic centre was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999 and offers its visitors numerous cultural sights such as the 64-metre-high clock tower or the church on the hill – Biserica din Deal.
  • Romanian specialities: Enjoy the culinary delights during your hiking holiday in Romania and be sure to try one of the regional specialities such as the stuffed cabbage rolls with meat or vegetables, the typical Bulz dumplings made of cornmeal, eggs, sheep's cheese and meat, or the deep-fried or boiled sweet pastry Papanași.
  • On the trail of Count Dracula: According to stories, Dracula, also known as Vlad Dracul, was born in Sighisoara around 1430 and lived there until 1436. The former house of the demonised Dracula is now a restaurant, the Casa Vlad Dracul. On the last day of your walking tour, you have the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of the most famous vampire in literary history in Sighisoara.

Our hiking tour in Transylvania and the Carpathians is assigned to our level of hiking ‘Walking’. The daily stages are planned at 1.5 to 6.5 hours and are wonderfully manageable with a good basic condition. The route guides you along beautiful hiking paths, across meadows and through picturesque gorges. Look forward to eight wonderful days of active time-out in Romania.

Book now
To the online version
View of the medieval fortified church of Biertan in Transylvania

Transylvania & Carpathian Mountains

Hiking like 100 years ago

8 Days / 7 Nights
Walking
View of the medieval fortified church of Biertan in Transylvania

The essentials at a glance

Self-guided walking tour through Transylvania exploring picturesque villages, UNESCO World Heritage sites, and the Carpathian Mountains. Hike across meadows and high pastures with easy to moderate trails (1.5-6.5 hours daily). Highlights include Sibiel village, traditional mountain pastures with shepherd's cheese production, Sibiu's historic squares, fortified churches in Biertan, and medieval Sighișoara with Dracula's birthplace. Accommodation in 3-4 star hotels and restored farmhouses with breakfast and 4 dinners included.

Do you have questions about this tour?

Your hiking tour Carpathians leads first to the old Romanian shepherd villages Sibiel and Rasinari. You will hike through deciduous and coniferous forests, across alpine meadows and mountain ridges. On the mountain pastures you will meet shepherds with their flocks of sheep. The second part of your journey takes you to Transylvania: impressive fortified churches, forgotten villages where time has stood still, but also encounters with Transylvanian Saxons make this hiking trip an unforgettable experience. Sighisoara and Sibiu are also some of the highlights.

Transylvania is a historical region in the southern part of the Carpathian Mountains. You start your eight-day hiking tour in Sibiel, which is considered one of the most beautiful villages in the country. After a relaxed sightseeing tour of the town, the first day will take you on a circular hike to a high mountain pasture where you can taste the typical shepherd's cheese from the region. The following day, the route takes you across the Wolf's Meadow and past the peaks of Tomnaticu, Girhan and Plaiul to Rasinari. On the next day's stages you will hike to Sibiu and Biertan. On the sixth day you will go to Malmkrog and finally to Sighisoara, where you can visit the historical centre, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

  • Sightseeing in Sighișoara: On the last day of your hiking tour, you will reach the final stage destination of Sighișoara. The historic centre was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999 and offers its visitors numerous cultural sights such as the 64-metre-high clock tower or the church on the hill – Biserica din Deal.
  • Romanian specialities: Enjoy the culinary delights during your hiking holiday in Romania and be sure to try one of the regional specialities such as the stuffed cabbage rolls with meat or vegetables, the typical Bulz dumplings made of cornmeal, eggs, sheep's cheese and meat, or the deep-fried or boiled sweet pastry Papanași.
  • On the trail of Count Dracula: According to stories, Dracula, also known as Vlad Dracul, was born in Sighisoara around 1430 and lived there until 1436. The former house of the demonised Dracula is now a restaurant, the Casa Vlad Dracul. On the last day of your walking tour, you have the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of the most famous vampire in literary history in Sighisoara.

Our hiking tour in Transylvania and the Carpathians is assigned to our level of hiking ‘Walking’. The daily stages are planned at 1.5 to 6.5 hours and are wonderfully manageable with a good basic condition. The route guides you along beautiful hiking paths, across meadows and through picturesque gorges. Look forward to eight wonderful days of active time-out in Romania.

Itinerary at a glance

Quiet villages and picturesque mountain pastures characterise your stages. Much worth seeing awaits you in Sighișoara, including the Clock Tower and the birthplace of Vlad Dracul. Romanian cuisine is known for being very hearty – ideal after a day’s walking!

Transfer from Sibiu to Sibiel. Idyllically situated at the foot of the Cindrel Mountains, Sibiel is one of the most beautiful villages in Romania. Horse-drawn carts loaded with hay and cows returning from pasture characterise the village scene. Highlights include the Orthodox church, the painted wayside crosses, and the village museum with its old glass icons (reverse-painted glass).

First, you’ll walk to a hermitage, then continue uphill to a traditional mountain pasture, where delicious smoked shepherd’s cheese is still made today. Enjoy the magnificent views before walking back to Sibiel. On your way back, it’s worth taking a detour to the ancient shepherds’ village of Fantanele.

In the morning, by transfer to the ‘Hohe Rinne’, known in Romanian as Paltinis, the former spa resort of the Transylvanian Carpathian Association. After a short ascent across the ‘Wolfswiese’ meadow, you will reach ‘La Icoana’. The trail leads across meadows and high pastures, past the peaks of Tomnaticu, Grihan, and Plaiul, down to the unspoiled shepherds’ village of Rasinari. Along the way, you’ll enjoy magnificent views over the Cindrel and towards the Făgăraș Mountains.

Following a transfer to the Astra Open-Air Museum, your walk will then take you to Sibiu. The three large squares, lined by buildings dating back to the Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque Era are truly impressive. There is also plenty to discover in the Lower Town, with its winding alleys and stairways, as well as the farmers’ market on Zibin.

Transfer through the wild-romantic Harbach Valley to the former wine-growing village of Reichesdorf. Your walk takes you via Hetzelsdorf to the former bishop’s seat of Biertan. The impressive fortified church (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) features many striking details, including a late-Gothic iconostasis. From the vineyards, you can enjoy a magnificent view of Biertan with its majestic fortified church.

Today’s walk takes you to Malmkrog, where you’ll find some picturesque farmhouses. The village was once owned by the Hungarian noble family, the Apafis, and lay outside the royal domain. You’ll spend the night in beautiful, old guesthouses, which were formerly farmhouses.

The final stage of the tour begins with a short transfer to Bethlen Castle in Kreisch, the finest example of Transylvanian Renaissance architecture. The route continues via Peschendorf to Sighișoara. The medieval town castle, with its Clock Tower, Dracula’s birthplace and the Mountain Church – the pearl of Transylvania – is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and provides a spectacular setting to conclude your walking holiday.

Day
08

Departure or extension

Itinerary at a glance

Quiet villages and picturesque mountain pastures characterise your stages. Much worth seeing awaits you in Sighisoara, including the Stundturm and the birthplace of Vlad Dracul. Romanian cuisine is considered very hearty - ideal after the hiking stages!

Transfer from Sibiu to Sibiel. Idyllically situated at the foot of Cindrel, Sibiel is one of the most beautiful villages in Romania. Horse-drawn carts loaded with hay and cows coming from the pasture dominate the village scene. Worth seeing are especially the Orthodox church, the painted wayside crosses and the village museum with its old glass icons (reverse glass painting).

First, hike to a hermitage, then continue up to a traditional high mountain pasture where delicious smoked shepherd's cheese is still made today. Enjoy the magnificent view before you hike back to Sibiel. On your way back, it is worth making a detour to the ancient shepherd village of Fantanele.

In the morning transfer up to the ‚Hohe Rinne’, in Romanian ‚Paltinis’, the former spa resort of the Transylvanian Carpathian society. After a short ascent via the ‚Wolfswiese’-meadow you reach ‚La Icoana’. Then onwards via meadows and high-altitude pastures, past the peaks of Tomnaticu, Grihan and Plaiul, you descend to the quaint shepherds village Rasinari. En route you enjoy stunning views over the Cindrel and the Fogarascher Mountains.

Transfer to the Astra-openair-museum folllowed by a hiking tour to Hermannstadt. The three large squares lined by buildings dating back to the Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque Era are very impressive. There is also a lot to discover in the lower town with its winding alleyways and stairs and the farmers market at the ‚Zibin’.

Transfer through the wild-romantic valley ‚Harbachtal’ into the former wine-growing village Reichesdorf. The route leads you via Hetzelsdorf to the old bishop’s see Biertan. The impressive church-castle (UNESCO World Heritage Site) is - next to numerous imposing details - home to a late Gothic pictorial shrine. From the vineyards you enjoy a fabulous view onto the church-castle.

Hike to Malmkrog, where magnificent farms await you. The village used to be owned by the Hungarian noble Apafi family living in nearby Malmkrog and was located outside the king's land. Overnight stay in beautiful old guesthouses, the former farmhouses.

Short transfer to Bethlen Castle in Kreisch, the most beautiful monument of Transylvanian Renaissance architecture. The tour continues via Peschendorf to Sighisoara. The medieval city castle with the Stundturm, Dracula's birthplace and the mountain church, the pearl of Transylvania, is part of the UNESCO cultural heritage.

Day
08

Departure or extension

Difficulty Level

Walking

Easy to moderately difficult hikes with a walking time of up to 6.5 hours. You’ll hike across meadows and high pastures, past cows, and through beautiful gorges. A good level of basic fitness is recommended for this tour.

Difficulty Level

Walking

Easy to moderate hikes from 1.5 to 6.5 hours. You hike across meadows and high pastures, past cows and through beautiful gorges. Manageable without much effort if you have a basic level of fitness.

Prices & Dates

Prices per person in EUR

Services & Information

Further details about this tour

Included

  • Accommodation in 3***- and 4****-hotels and guesthouses
  • Breakfast
  • 3 dinners (Sibiel, Rasinari and Malmkrog)
  • Luggage transfer
  • Transfers according to program
  • 1 transfer from Sibiu airport/train station to Sibiel
  • Travel documents package incl. GPS-data and route book, 1x per room
  • Service hotline

Optional

  • Return transfer from Sighișoara to Sibiu/Sibiel, costs per ride EUR 120 (up to 3 persons), reservation is necessary at the hotel in Sighișoara, to be paid for on site

Arrival / Parking / Departure

  • Arrival by train to Sibiu (www.bahn.de, www.oebb.at)
  • Sibiu airport
  • Organized transfer from Sibiu airport/train station to Sibiel, included in the price
  • Parking: Parking spaces at the accommodation in Sibiel, costs approx. EUR 20 per week
  • Departure by train from Sighișoara to Sibiu, duration approx. 2.5 hours (www.bahn.de, www.oebb.at), or by bus, duration approx. 2.5 hours (www.autogari.ro/Transport/Sighisoara-Sibiu)

Things to note

  • Tourist tax, if due, is not included in the price
  • Further important information according to the package travel law can be found here!
  • This tour is a partner tour.

Services & Information

Further details about this tour

Included

  • Accomodation in good 3***- and 4****-hotels, 1x restored farmhouse or rectory
  • Breakfast
  • 4x dinners (2x Sibiel, Rasinari and Malmkrog)
  • Luggage transfer
  • Transfers according to the program
  • Transfer from Sibiu airport/train station to Sibiel
  • Travel documents package incl. GPS-data and route book, 1x per room
  • Service hotline

Optional

  • Return transfer to Sibiu/Sibiel (max. 3 persons), EUR 110 per ride, reservation required at the hotel in Sighisoara, payable in advance on site

Arrival / Parking / Departure

  • Sibiu airport (Hermannstadt) or train journey via Vienna, Budapest and Medias to Sibiu.
  • Organised transfer to the arrival hotel, included in the tour price
  • Parking: Hotel parking spaces in Sibiel, approx. EUR 20 per week
  • Return journey by train or bus to Sibiu, or by train from Sighisoara to Vienna

Things to note

  • Tourist tax, if due, is not included in the price
  • Further important information according to the package travel law can be found here!
  • This tour is a partner tour.
Bianca Hirnböck

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Bianca Hirnboeck
Travel Specialist
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