To Dracula's castle

Group gathering at Chernivtsi railway station. Having met, we immediately board a minibus that will take us to Romania. We are going to the ancient resort town of Sinaia, which is located at the foot of Mount Bucegi at an altitude of 900 m above sea level.

If our group quickly passes the border and passport control, then we will have time to stop by the capital of Romania, Bucharest, and take a sightseeing tour of this beautiful ancient city.

Today we need to recuperate a little after moving, so we will go to get acquainted with the city of Sinaia. And let’s see that it was not just that it was once a favorite vacation spot of the Romanian kings. That is why two castles worthy of our attention have been preserved here - the majestic Peles and the more modest Pelisor. We will get acquainted with the castles, and then with the local monastery of Sinaia, from which the name of the settlement comes.

After walking around the city, we begin to gain altitude and move away from Sinai. Our destination is the Bucegi mountain range. We will park in a picturesque valley with views of the surrounding mountains.

Today will be a long and busy day. Bucegi is one of the highest mountains in the country, rising more than 2000 m above the surrounding area. What beautiful views await us! With every step, ever larger panoramas will open up to our eyes - the valleys lying below with their tiny houses. In the evening we will reach a mountain shelter, where we will spend the night, and will enjoy the billions of stars that have now become even closer to us...

In the morning we set off again along the beautiful ridge of the Southern Carpathians. Today the climb will be easier and gentler. First, we will admire the Bucegi Sphinx - this is a natural rock formation, with its unusual shape reminiscent of the sculpture of the ancient Egyptian sphinx (it owes this to the effects of wind erosion of the sandstone and limestone that make up the rock, but there are also mystical versions about the appearance of a “face” on the rock). The Bucegi Sphinx, together with the nearby Babele Rocks, is included in the list of the Seven Natural Wonders of Romania.

Then the mountain path will take us higher and higher and soon, around the bend, the highest peak of this ridge will appear to us - Omu, it is only 39 m lower than the city of Moldoveanu, the highest point of Romania. It offers stunning views of the Southern Carpathians, their steep rocky cliffs alternating with gentle valleys. Having walked a little further from the top, we will spend the night surrounded by mountains.

In the morning we will descend along a forest path. In a couple of hours it will lead us to the village of Bran, which is rich in a variety of ancient sculptures, churches, chapels, authentic houses, and a cozy park. Here we will spend the night at a campsite or hotel if desired. We leave our things and walk around the village: here we will visit the hallmark of tourist Romania - Bran Castle, where, according to legend, the legendary prince of Wallachia Vlad the Impaler, who became the prototype of Count Dracula, lived and ruled. By the way, the film “Dracula” by American director Francis Coppola was filmed in this castle. We will examine this mysterious, legendary building from the inside, wander through the tangle of its labyrinths and secret passages, look into the ancient chapel and the gunpowder tower, from the top of which a beautiful view of the surrounding area opens. In the evening we also enjoy the charm of the narrow medieval streets of Bran.

Today, having gained strength, we move further through the picturesque villages and Gaura Valley to the village of Magura. And we continue to admire the beauty, because we have to conquer and explore the oldest national park in Romania - the Piatra Craiului mountain range (translated as “Royal Rock”). Its natural landscape is a unique mix of mountain gorges, glacial lakes and picturesque valleys. For lovers of beauty: the special pride of the reserve is 41 species of wild orchids growing on the tops of the mountain range and playing with different colors under the bright sun. First, we will cross the impressive Zarnestilor canyon, on the steep walls of which climbers from all over the world conduct their training, and admire its numerous grottoes. Then we will find ourselves in a picturesque tract called La Tabla. We will set up camp in a valley overlooking the monumental ridge.

We continue our walk along the bizarre rock ridges of the Piatra Craiului ridge. Let's go up... and there we will see in all its glory the stunning Fagaras mountain range with the highest peaks of the country, in the southeast the Bucegi mountain range will proudly rise, in the north there will be emerald green valleys and pastures in the Barza River valley - and we will once again be convinced that it is not for nothing that Piatra Craiului is considered one of the most beautiful places in all the Carpathians! Then we will go down the picturesque path and go to the town of Rasnov. It is notable for the fact that it was previously inhabited by the Teutonic Order, which left behind an ancient fortress of the Teutonic Knights, which adorns the hill above Rasnov. From its highest point there is an observation deck from which a stunning view opens - here we will take stunning panoramic photos of the Transylvanian plateau. If we have the strength and desire, this evening we will go to the city of Brasov, which is located very close to Rasnov, and devote the evening to a walk through one of the most beautiful ancient towns in Europe.

Our journey has come to an end and today we say goodbye to the beautiful nature of Romania. Early in the morning we leave Brasov and move to Chernivtsi, contemplating the landscapes passing by and remembering the beauty of these mysterious lands.

The instructor has the right to make changes to the route in depending on the weather, condition of the participants and other factors.