June 9th - 18th, 2012

ROMANIA: The Transylvanian Area

Price: £ 1495 inc. flights; £ 1245 excl. flights ®

Leaders: Bob Gibbons

The Transylvanian area of Romania is beautifully unspoilt and peaceful, lying just to the north of the southern Carpathians. Our 10-day, 3-centre tour takes in the wonderful variety of the region, from high limestone peaks to the vast flowery meadows surrounding the ancient Saxon villages.

Ancient flowery limestone grassland in Transilvania, near Baraolt. Dominated by Great Milkwort, ox-eye daisy, dropwort etc. Romania.

We leave Heathrow mid-morning for the 3-hour flight to Bucharest, from where we transfer to our first base high in the limestone mountains of the Craiulu National Park. This is a beautiful area, and we are within easy reach of a spectacular flowery gorge (where wall-creepers and Alpine Swifts breed) as well as intensely flowery traditional hay meadows and extensive montane beechwoods. After 3 nights here, we move northwards to the lovely medieval town of of Sighisoara, within the Transylvanian Saxon village area. The more remote Saxon villages are still medieval in character, closely interdependent with the huge areas of ancient flowery pastures, hay meadows and hornbeam woods that surround them. Not surprisingly, the flora is magnificent, and many birds, mammals and insects that are rare elsewhere in Europe are still common here. Butterflies are particularly abundant.

Yellow-bellied toads (Bombina variegata) - group of adults in shallow muddy breeding pond, Romania.

For our final 3 days, we move eastwards to the Baraolt area, where we stay in a lovely hotel owned and run by a local count. There are storks’ nests in our village, and flowery fields all around. From here, we can easily reach the nearby limestone hills and the Varghis River gorge, as well as some beautiful flowery meadows nearby. On our final day, we transfer back to Bucharest for a mid-afternoon flight home. The flora of this region is very rich, with a lovely mixture of familiar and exotic flowers. In the mountain meadows, there are globe flowers, lilies, orchids, bellflowers, gentians, yellow scabious, Astrantia major, the striking Telekia speciosa, and many others. In the gorges, there are endemics such as Campanula transilvanica, Alpine bells Cortusa matthiola, Dianthus spiculifolius, saxifrages and other attractive flowers. The vast saxon village pastures and meadows have a wonderfully varied flora, with species such as burning bush Dictamnus albus, yellow pheasant’s eye Adonis vernalis, great milkwort Polygala major, the rare red viper’s bugloss, several species of Salvia, Iris aphylla, dwarf cherry, honeywort, military orchids and many others, including endemics and Red Data book species.

White storks (Ciconia ciconia) nesting on the roof in the Transylvania area , Romania.

The bird life is rich and varied, too: white storks are common, nesting in many of the villages, while lesser spotted eagles are the most frequent bird of prey. Three species of shrike breed in the area, and golden orioles sing from the poplars. Butterflies are abundant, including special species such as common and hungarian gliders, as are other insects such as stag beetles and longhorns. Both wolves and brown bears occur in the area, and we may have the chance to go and see these in the wild if desired. A visit to this area is like taking a leap back into medieval times. But it’s a fragile area, with many changes going on as Romania hurtles into the 21st century, and we are priveleged to see it before it changes.

The tour price includes all transport during the week, full board and lodging, and services of leaders throughout, including pre-tour information and post-tour lists. ∆ tour grade, though most days easy.

Tour code: NHT/12/06 .  indicates places limited.

Price: £ 1495 incl. flights, £ 1245 ex. flights

Single room supplement: £160

Deposit: £300 plus insurance

Bookings to Sunvil

® Alternative travel: It is possible to travel to Bucharest or Brasov by train, via Brussels, Cologne and Vienna, though it takes a while. For more information, see the website: www.seat61.com/Romania.htm