Beyond the Forest - Transylvania - Bulgaria - Austria - Cumbria Uncovered Transylvania Uncovered - Romania Travel Service - Holidays Beyond the Forest Bulgaria Uncovered - Bulgaria Travel Service - Holidays Beyond the Forest Austria Uncovered - Austria Travel Service - Holidays Beyond the Forest Cumbria Uncovered - English Lake District Travel Service - Holidays Beyond the Forest Connecting you Beyond the Forest


Maramures - Land that Time Forgot



0845 3000 247
+44 (0)1539 531258


Our holidays in Maramures
support local communities and
crafts through local
tourism initiatives


HIGHLIGHTS



Villages of Mara & Iza valleys
Surdesti - Wooden Church
Creasta Cocosului mountain
Budesti village
Memorial Sighet
(
Prison of the Ministers)

Sighet village museum
Barsana Monastery
Merry Cemetery, Sapanta
Botiza - Weaving
Poienile Izei - frescoes
Ieud - churches
Forestry railway - Viseu
Rodnei Mountains



TRAVEL


Infrequent flights available from
Bucharest to Baia Mare

Most convenient route is the sleeper
train Bucharest Nord - Sighet;
also Bucharest - Baia Mare;
trains from Cluj and connections
from Salva to Suceava
for the Painted Monasteries
New direct flights Gatwick to Cluj

Buses from Sighet to Baia Mare,
Satu Mare & Vatra Dornei

Wide range of inexpensive transfers
& tours available on Maramures

SEE BELOW


An excellent selection of photographs
of the villages, traditions and other
aspects of Maramures can be found
on the website:
Karpaten Willi
NB: German Text
All Maramures galleries under
"Speziellle-Maramures-Bildarchiv"

Perhaps the best-kept secret in Europe today: the Maramures region provides he ultimate stress-free break:
traditional rural life, folklore and customs amidst idyllic surroundings and unspoilt nature.
Daily departures via Cluj or Bucharest - 8 day packages from £ 425.00
plus flight to Cluj from £ 50.00 return (see below)

...

Transylvania Uncovered - Romania Travel Specialists - Holidays beyond the forest ROMANIA (HOME)



Maramures - the Land that Time Forgot; accommodation, bed & breakfast, pensions, hotels - Sighet, Botiza,Budesti, Sapanta, Borsa, Viseu
< ACCOMMODATION

Photo Gallery - Maramures < GALLERY

Location Map - Maramures
< MAP


Flights to Romania with Transylvania Uncovered
< FLIGHTS

Trains, Transfers & Travel in Romania with Transylvania Uncovered < GETTING ABOUT

Car Hire in Romania < CAR HIRE


Rush Hour in the Iza Valley of Maramures
Maramures

You will be welcomed to this beautiful land with open arms by people fiercely proud of their history and traditions. In the shadows of the majestic Rodnei, Tibles and Maramures mountains you will find an enchanting landscape of rolling hills with clumps of beech and oak where villages, nestled in the valleys, retain a forgotten lifestyle, almost preserved in mediaeval isolation.

Leave your worries behind you and relax - the Maramures offers you the ultimate stress-free holiday environment
CONTACT US (Transylvania Uncovered - Romania Travel Specialists) < CONTACT US


0845 3000 247
+44 (0)1539 531258



For further information or
advance bookings
please email us at:

travel@beyondtheforest.com


"Although I had a good idea of what we were in for, we would say, that without doubt, it exceeded all our expectations. All the arrangements you made, the meet & greet at Viseu de Jos, and at Cluj, where the Hotel Fullton was so well situated in the heart of the old quarter, worked out faiultlessly, as did the trains. The family in Botiza were very kind and friendly, the accommodation spotless, and George a very helpful, knowledgeable and reliable guide to introduce us to the history and way of life in the Maramures. R.& H.H. (Wokin)

George's insight, knowledge and sensitivity in dealing witrh his clients gave us an understanding of a wonderful country in a way we could not have suspected possible. He enabled us to see a little ofwho the people of Maramures are. That is a gift we shall treasure greatly." D.W.( Aberystwyth)

"Just writing to thankyou for our fantastic holiday in Maramures. It was absolutely brilliant and you were completely right about Maramures. Our hosts were amazing and even provided us with national costumes to go to church in. The organisation was flawless, accommodation without fault, and people we met were brilliant! I won't go on and on about how great it was because you know already. I will recommend you further ..." IB (Birmingham)

"Just a quick note to say how much we enjoyed the Romania trip and will definitely consider travelling back in the future. Our tour of Maramures was excellent - George showed us around many interesting places and I managed to get some great photographs in the process. I thought what we were charged for his services was also very reasonable. The food was excellent - there was so much of it!. Bucovina was also very enjoyable and the guide who showed us around for the day had a very good knowledge of the area." I.C. (Aberdeen)


Click here for further testimonials from our GUEST BOOK





BBC Worldwide has recently launched BBCGreen.com, a consumer lifestyle website for people interested in how they can combat climate change.

Click for a feature about
holidays in Maramures

Traditional costumes, blankets and carpets are woven by hand, waterwheels still power flour and fulling mills, and threshing machines, and shepherds tend their flocks in the high pastures. Above all, this is the realm of the woodcraftsman - everywhere there is wooden architecture of the highest quality imaginable, from inticately carved gateways bearing symbols of aspiration and continuity, eaves and verandas, to the famous churches constructed entirely of wood. Although many date from the last Tatar raids in the 18th century this is not a forgotten craft - the new monastery complex at Bârsana is and excellent example of a recent construction. Don't miss other, historic wooden churches such as Rozavlea, Ieud and Bogdan Voda in the Iza valley, or those at Plopis and Surdesti with slender spires (Surdesti being the tallest wooden structure in Europe), the traditional villages of Budesti, Sirbi and Calinesti in the Cosau valley, and Desesti, Harnicesti and Sat-Sugatag in the Mara valley, all noted for their wooden architecture. Other attractions include the famous "Merry Cemetery" at Sapinta, the fascinating "Prison of the Ministers"dedicated to victims of communism, in the regional town of Sighetu Marmatiei ("simply "Sighet" to most), the last working forestry railway with steam locomotives climbing the remote Vaser valley almost to the Ukrainian border, and the wilderness of the Rodnei mountains - a natural paradise for hiking and climbing. Most of all this is a land for strolling, there is no hurry - everybody has their own favourite place here, perhaps a viewpoint between valleys, or a spot beneath an apple tree or in a flower-filled meadow.

Wooden church, Botiza


THE VILLAGE: Experience the Romanian Village. Here, the natural and cultural wealth of the countryside has been combined with genuine hospitality to provide a unique insight into a way of life long lost in many parts of the modern world. More and more people are turning their backs on purpose-built resorts for the simple life of the village,to encounter age-old traditions and customs, and beautiful landscapes which have evolved gradually over centuries, free from the blight of modern agricultural practices. Here, the visitor can discover at first hand the colourful diversity of folk costumes and dance, traditional skills and crafts and even participate in daily activities and customs, take a jaunt in an ox-cart or a horse-drawn carriage, or stroll through meadows and orchards infused with birdsong, filled with the scent of countless wild flowers, a kaleidoscope of colour. The rural environment is unspoilt and unpolluted, a far cry from the eyesores of the modern, post-industrial age. In the Romanian village you really can escape the hustle and bustle, the constant roar of traffic, the crowds and congestion, the pressures of the workplace, and see for yourself the therapeutic quality of this peaceful, rural environment.

MEALTIME: Your meals will be freshly prepared, the ingredients invariably organically grown or produced, without the use of chemical fertilisers or pesticides, often in the hosts' garden. Experience a tantalising array of specialities, perhaps including ‘sarmale’ - rolls of soured cabbage or vine leaves stuffed with rice andminced pork flavoured with herbs such as dill, lovage and savory, ‘mititei’ - charcoal-grilled meat rolls spiced with garlic and served with mustard, 'ciorba' - soured soups, or ‘tocanite’ - meat stews, usually of pork with paprika in the style of a goulash. Perhaps the best known dish is the staple of rural Romania, ‘mamaliga’ - polenta served with yoghurt, cheese or soured cream, one of many dishes suitable for vegetarians. For dessert, you can choose from doughnuts, pancakes or ‘cozonac’ - cake baked especially at Easter or Christmas, or maybe you would prefer raspberries or wild strawberries gathered fresh from the forest?

BOTIZA: We organise village homestays throughout Romania but one of our favourite and most popular is in the traditional Maramures village of Botiza. The village itself is renowned for its woven rugs and carpets; you can observe villagers making these on wooden looms and note the techniques for dying them using only natural vegetal dyes - greens, browns and greys. There are plenty of other examples of crafts such as blacksmiths, millers, shepherds - even a tiny ‘distillery’ producing horinca (double-distilled plum brandy). You will also find plenty of typical wooden architecture including the church which formerly stood in Viseu de Jos. Accommodation is in comfortable private homes with modern facilities, some of them with en suite bathrooms. A substantial breakfast and evening meal are provided, and a packed picnic lunch during the day. In most cases your hosts speak English and with our preferred hosts you will experience some of the best home cooking in all Romania!

A car and driver, minibus and guides are all on hand to transfer you to and from the station (if you are arriving on the overnght train from Bucharest) and to make excursions throughout the Maramures, to the Vaser Valley railway or trekking in the Rodnei mountains. Alternatively the fascinating villages of Poienile Izei and Ieud may be reached easily on foot or by horse and cart. These are idyllic walks through meadows with far reaching views and a myriad of wild flowers such as crested cow-wheat, green-winged and butterfly orchids, and a host of pinks, bellflowers, daisies and clovers. There are plenty of birds too including shrikes, stonechats and larks, and butterflies including swallowtails, and in the woodland glades, Camberwell beauties. The old wooden church in the first mentioned village has fantastic frescies in the nave depicting the Devil and what happens to sinners in the after life - they leave little to the imagination! You need to ask for the key from the house above the new church. You can also walk beyond Poienile Izei to the next village, a little place called Glod, which is very traditional. It is worth the extra distance for the tranquillity of the meadows and the far-reaching panoramas, across a natural amphitheatre of terraced strip fields to the Rodnei and Maramures mountains - a unique, timeless landscape. Alternatively you can hike into the remote Lapus or Tibles Mountains, which rise between the village and separate this part of Maramures with the Lapus Basin. Gere you may find shepherds making cheese in their summer pasture, and learn about 'transhumance', their summer migration to the high meadows.

SIGHET: We have recently added a second programme to our portfolio, based on the exceptional Casa Iurca de Calinesti pension in the bustling market town of Sighetu Marmatiei. Sighet, as it is known colloquially is a fascinating place located on the border of the Ukraine (the region of Ruthenia) beside the Tisa River. Sighet is famed for its winter carnival when local people wear bizarre costumes and masks. It has several museums including a very good village museum and the excellent Sighet Memorial housed in the Prison of the Ministers. The prison achieved notoriety in the 1950s when former Government Ministers, generals, bishops and academics were held here as they could easily be spirited away into the Soviet Union if the communist regime was threatened It is now a very moving museum dedicated to the victims of communism. There was once a thriving Jewish community here. The synagogue survives as does the childhood home of the holocaust survivor and Nobel Peace Prize winner, Elie Wiesel, which has become an impressive memorial. Sighet is well situated near the confluence of several valleys as a centre for visiting the Maramures. The Viseu, Iza, Mara and Cosau valleys are within easy reach,
as is the Merry Cemetery of Sapinta and the natural reservation of the Gutai Mountains.

Casa Iurca de Calinesti is a very comfortable 4-star family pension with a traditional restaurant. There are three en suite bedrooms and an apartment comprising two rooms and a bathroom. All rooms are air-conditioned with TV, minibar, telephone and free Internet access. A wide range of activities is available including transfers and day excursions with a professional guide,including tours of the Maramures or a day on the Vaser valley forestry railway.


Wedding procession, Cosau Valley


STOP PRESS
SAVE THE VASER VALLEY FOREST RAILWAY, VISEU DE SUS

Severe flooding along the border with Ukraine on 25-26 July 2008 caused considerable damage in Maramure
Funds have been allocated to rebuilding houses washed away in Maramures and Suceava Countiess.
ne of the worst hit areas was the Vaser Valley where large sections of trackbed and bridges were lost to floodwaters.
A campaign has been established to raise funds to reopen the line which is not only unique as the last remaining true steam-hauled forestry railway,
but is an essential lifeline to the people and communities of this remote mountain valley.

Please see:
www.cffviseu.ro/MocanitaNews.htm


THE MOUNTAINS: This corner of northern Transylvania is one of the most rugged and scenic. The Rodnei, Suhard and Maramures mountains are ideal for walking whilst the dense forests are a haven for bears, wolves, red deer and chamois and the high meadows are home to rare and endemic plants. It is also the point at which three major regions come together - Maramures, Bistrita-Nasaud and Bucovina. The folk culture and dance of the region is celebrated when dance and folk troupes from all three counties converge on the Prislop Pass in mid-August for the famous Prislop Hora, or 'Round Dance'. We can organise a visit from Botiza together with trips further afield. The regions are very distinctive - the wood crafts and architecture of the Maramures to the west, the folk costumes and dance of the Somes valley of Bistrita-Nasaud to the south, and the pretty Bistrita Aurie valley flowing east into Bucovina, via the delightful village of Ciocanesti, best known for its decorated folk architecture. All provide access to the mountains, though the Rodnei are best reached from the Prislop Pass summit or from Borsa Complex, a small resort with a chair lift and a small selection of hotels. Treks up to the summit of Pietrosul (2303 m.) or a simple walk to the 'Horse Tail' waterful or high meadows start from here. A longer trek through the massif to Ineu (2279 m.) is possible during the summer when snow has melted from the ridge. Ineu and the Lala lake are also accessible from the Somes valley. Mountain refuges enable a two day trek to form part of a holiday in Botiza. We offer a wide range of accommodation hotels in Viseu de Sus and Borsa Complex.


XSAMPLE PRICES - 2008
MARAMURES UNCOVERED - 8 days / 7 nights via Bucharest - daily departures throughout 2008

A simple package comprising scheduled from the United Kingdom to Bucharest Otopeni, meet & greet services and transfers, overnight sleeper trains (1st class - 2 berths per compartment) to and from Sighetu Marmatiei or Viseu de Jos, and 5 nights full-board accommodation in Botiza (breakfast, picnic lunch and evening meal) or a combination of 3 nights in Botiza followed by 2 nights at Hotel Cerbul in Borsa Complex, allowing you the opportunity of hiking in the Rodnei Mountains.

DAY 1: Flight options:
British Airways BA886 London Heathrow 09:50 Bucharest Otopeni 15:10
NOTE: with British Airways the connection in Bucharest is relatively tight so we would recommend the Swiss or KLM services unless you intend to spend a night in Bucharest at the beginning of the tour; However, if you do opt for the British Airways flight and it arrives late our guides can take you directly to Ploiesti where teh same train calls 45 minutes after leaving Bucharest. You would be surcharged locally by about Euro 50 in this case.
Swiss: Heathrow 06:05-Zurich 08:45/ 19:50 - Bucharest Otopeni 13:00
KLM: UK regional airports (Heathrow, Bristol, Cardiff, Norwich, Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds Bradford, Humberside, Durham, Newcastle, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen)
Flights depart at about 06:00 from each airport for Amstardam. Onward flight arrives in Bucharest at 13:23

Meet & Greet Service/ Transfer to Bucharest Nord station (takes 60-90 minutes depending on traffic). You should stock up with goodies and water before your journey.
Train: A1643 Bucharest Nord 17:30; Sighetu Marmatiei 07:06 - 1st Class Sleeper Compartment (2 berths; each carriage has an attendant)

DAY 2:
You wake as the train descends through a magical landscape into Maramures and pauses at the frontier station of Valea Viseului, The last leg follows the bank of the River Tisa which separates Romania from Ukraine.
Meet & Greet Service; breakfast in a comfortable bar or restaurant in Sighet then continue through the Iza Valley to your guesthouse in the beautiful, traditional village of Botiza.
5 Nights in a comfortable, local guesthouse where you might experience some of the best cooking in Romania using natural, mostly organic ingredients.
Breakfast, substantial packed lunch and evening meal included.

DAYS 3-7
2 x Excursions are included in the package, e.g.:
1. Full day personal Maramures Tour: Cosau Valley, Sapânta incl. the Merry Cemetery and the Iza Valley.
2. Full day: Vaser Valley Forestry Railway incl. a ride on the old logging train - often a steam engine.
Excursions are flexible - for example the Vaser Railway may be substituted for a visit to the Rodnei mountains or the Mara Valley
Optional: Additional excursions or guide services are available for other days. We certainly recommend a walk over to Poienile Izei and Glod over the hills and through the meadows with fabulous long-reaching vistas over the Maramures region. Other suggestions would bea trip to the Lapus region of western Maramures, perhaps to see the famous Sambra Oilor Shepherds festival in early May. The local tourism manager, who speaks English, can advise you of ideas and organise your trips. Guesthouse proprietors speak English or French. Guides are available for Euro 10 per day (Euro 15 if over 3 people). Transport available at 0.30 Euros per km. These extra services are payable locally in Euros or Lei equivalent.

DAY 7: Transfer to Viseu de Jos - a scenic 45 minute drive over the pass at Bocicoel.
Train: A1644 Viseu de Jos 19:30 Bucharest Nord 07:19 - 1st Class Sleeper Compartment (2 berths; each carriage has an attendant)
Meet & Greet Service, transfer to Bucharest Airport for your flight home: British Airways at 15:50. Swiss at 14:30 and KLM at 14:20 or 17:35
The KLM flights connect to most UK regional airports.
Note: For later departures you can leave your baggage at the station luggage office and spend a few hours sightseeing or shopping in Bucharest. Our guide can then collect you later and drive you to the airport. Allow at least three hours for the transfer and check-in time.
Optional (extra cost): Collection from your train, transfer to a restaurant for breakfast before free time for sightseeing or shopping then an airport transfer; or even a personal sightseeing tour of Bucharest with a visit to the Palace of Parliament, National Peasant Museum or Village Museum

Prices include:
  • Scheduled return flights from UK to Bucharest
  • Airport taxes and passenger facility charges
  • Personal transfer and escort to Bucharest Nord station
  • 1st Class Sleeper berths on night trains to and from Sighet or Viseu de Jos (2 berths per compartment)
  • 5 nights accommodation (full-board as above)
  • Meet & Greet service in Sighet with breakfast then transfer to Botiza
  • 2 x full day excursions in Maramures (including the Vaser Valley train fare if taking that option)
  • Transfers from Botiza to Viseu de Jos and Bucharest Nord station to the airport
Prices exclude
  • Additional excursion and guide services in Maramures (payable locally in Euros and excellent value - see below)
  • Entrance fees or photo permits for museums or churches
  • Travel Insurance

SAMPLE MARAMURES UNCOVERED PRICES FOR 2008
>ACCOMMODATION PACKAGE
FLIGHT
ADULT PRICE
EXTRA NIGHT
Twin/Double
Single Supplement
Twin/Double
Single
>Maramures Uncovered 8 days/ 7 nights
British Airways
from Heathrow
589.00-655.00
26.00
27.00
5.00
>Maramures Uncovered 8 days/ 7 nights
Swiss
from Heathrow
566.00-639.00
26.00
27.00
5.00
>Maramures Uncovered 8 days/ 7 nights
KLM
from Region Airports
634.00-697.00
26.00
27.00
5.00

Adult Prices are per person in £ Sterling (GBP) and are based on 2 people travelling together
All prices are valid until further notice and subject to availability

ALL PRICES ARE £ STERLING AND ARE BASED ON EURO EXCHANGE RATES.
THEY MAY BE UPDATED PERIODICALLY DUE TO CURRENCY FLUCTUATIONS


These are examples only; a wide range of alternative accommodation and airlines are also available
Example: you could divide your stay between Botiza and a comfortable Hotel in either Sighet or the Rodnei Mountains, or add extra days in Maramures or Bucharest

ADDITIONAL SERVICES payable locally in Botiza (similar prices apply for Sighet)

Transfers and excursions with a professional english-speaking guide:
Euro 0.30 per km - by car
Euro 0.40 per km - by VW minibus

For example:
Full day walking in the Rodnei Mountains from Prislop Pass or Borsa Complex: Euro 55.00 per car; Euro 75.00 per minibus - plus guide charges
Guide Services (professional, licenced english-speaking guide): Euro 20.00 per day (car); Euro 25.00 per day (minibus)
For guests staying in Borsa, a taxi can be arranged by Hotel Cerbul to take them back to Viseu de Jos station (approx. Euro 40-50)

MARAMURES WITH CLUJ - 8 days / 7 nights via Cluj - Fridays or Mondays from April 2008
This holiday uses new flights operating direct to the former
Imperial capital of Transylvania where you spend a night and a day

DAY 1:
WIZZ Luton 08:10 - Cluj Napoca 13:00 (note: service is not daily)
Meet & Greet Service/ Transfer to central Cluj (25-30 minutes)
Train: Cluj Napoca 15:48 - Viseu de Jos 20:18 - 1st Class - a long but very scenic journey by local stopping train
In case of late departure the car will take you toDej to meet the same train
Meet & Greet Service; transfer to Botiza (45 minutes)

6 Nights in a comfortable, local guesthouse where you might experience some of the best cooking in Romania using natural, mostly organic ingredients.
Breakfast, substantial packed lunch and evening meal included.

DAYS 3-7
2 x Excursions are included in the package, e.g.:
1. Full day personal Maramures Tour: Cosau Valley, Sapânta incl. the Merry Cemetery and the Iza Valley.
2. Full day: Vaser Valley Forestry Railway incl. a ride on the old logging train - often a steam engine.
Excursions are flexible - for example the Vaser Railway may be substituted for a visit to the Rodnei mountains or the Mara Valley
Optional: Additional excursions or guide services as for Maramures Uncovered tour

DAY 7: Transfer to Viseu de Jos for local trains back to Cluj at 11:00; arrives Cluj 14:44
Change of trains in Salva; note: alternatively we can take you direct to Salva by car, enjoy lunch at the craft and weaving workshop of Gina Linul, then take the train to Cluj for your final evening.
Hotel Fullton 3*, Cluj Napoca - bed & breakfast for one night. Pleasant business type hotel in an excellent, central location.

DAY 8:
Transfer to Cluj airport for your flight: WIZZ Cluj Napoca 06:20 - Luton 07:35

Prices include:

  • Personal transfers between Cluj Airport and city hotel
  • Personal transfers from Viseu de Jos to Botiza and Botiza to Baia Mare
  • 1st Class rail reservations between Cluj and Viseu de Jos and Baia Mare and Cluj
  • 6 nights accommodation in Botiza (full-board as above)
  • 1 night accommodation in a 3-star hotel in Cluj (bed & breakfast)
  • 2 x full day excursions in Maramures (including the Vaser Valley train fare if taking that option)
Prices exclude
  • FLIGHTS - should be booked direct with WIZZ Flight prices from ONLY £ 50.00 return
  • Additional excursion and guide services in Maramures (payable locally in Euros and excellent value - see below)
  • Entrance fees or photo permits for museums or churches
  • Travel Insurance

SAMPLE MARAMURES WITH CLUJ PRICES FOR 2008
>ACCOMMODATION PACKAGE
FLIGHT
ADULT PRICE
EXTRA NIGHT (Botiza)
Twin/Double
Single Supplement
Twin/Double
Single
>Maramures & Cluj 8 days/ 7 nights
WIZZ from £ 50.00
(see above)
from 425.00
49.00
27.00
5.00

Adult Prices are per person in £ Sterling (GBP) and are based on 2 people travelling together
All prices are valid until further notice and subject to availability


ALL PRICES ARE £ STERLING AND ARE BASED ON EURO EXCHANGE RATES.
THEY MAY BE UPDATED PERIODICALLY DUE TO CURRENCY FLUCTUATIONS



EXTENDED TOURS

We can construct a wide range of itineraries which combine Maramures with other regions - please contact for prices and ideas. A few suggestions:


NEW:
THE PERFECT PARTNER TO A WEEK IN TRANSYLVANIA: SECRET TRANSYLVANIA - all inclusive quality holidays in the Sibiu regiom.
Add a second week to your holiday with a simple rail connection from Maramures via Cluj to Sibiu


MARAMURES & THE PAINTED MONASTERIES (Recommend 10 days minimum)

DAY 1: Flight to Bucharest; overmight train to Maramures
DAY 2 -7: 6 nights based in Botiza with two full day tours included; optional activities available for local payment.
DAY 8: Scenic rail journey over the Setref pass from Viseu de Jos to Salva. Visit to Virginia Linul's excellent craft centre where she is recreating a wide range of traditional folk costumes, embroidery and woven garments. Lunch included. Local express train to Gura Humorului - another scenic journey cutting through the Borgo and Suhard Mountains and over the Mestecanic Pass.
2 nights in Bucovina (e.g. Casa Elena at Voronet, with a full day tour of the Painted Monasteries with an excellent, professional guideDAY 10: Early morning train to Bucharest to connect with late flight to UK

The number of days in Bucovina can be extended and it is also possible to fly to Bucharest or take an overnight train. Another option would be a day tour through the beautiful eastern Carpathians incorporating Neamt Monastery, Lake Bicaz and the Ceahlau Massif before taking a train to Brasov for a night or two, before flying home. The holiday can be further extended with a stay of 4-7 nights at Count Kalnoky's Guesthouses near to Brasov - see our 'Touch of Class' pages

MARAMURES & SAXON TRANSYLVANIA

DAY 1: Flight to Bucharest; overmight train to Maramures; or flight to Cluj then train to Maramures
DAY 2 -7: 6 nights based in Botiza with two full day tours included; optional activities available for local payment.
DAY 8: Scenic rail journey over the Setref pass from Viseu de Jos to Salva. Visit to Virginia Linul's excellent craft centre where she is recreating a wide range of traditional folk costumes, embroidery and woven garments. Lunch included. Road transfer via Bistrita and Targu Mures to Sighisoara for overnight in an historic hotel in the Romantic citadel.DAY 9: Train to Cluj for overnight before flying home the next day;

OR

Transfer to Cisnadioara near Sibiu for 5 nights at the lovely Casa Verde with daily activities to explore Sibiu, the southern Carpathians and Saxon Transylvania
DAY 14 Transfer to Cluj or Bucharest by road or rail for your flight home



VASER VALLEY FORESTRY RAILWAY
Featured on BBC TV - Michael Palin's New Europe - 30.09.& 06.10.2007
The narrow gauge Vaser Valley Railway is one of the last remaining
forestry railways in Romania, and the only one still hauling timber down
from the forests. However, it's also the subject of a preservation project
so a trip up the line is not to be missed.
The journey begins in a woodyard at
Viseu de Sus very early. There is
steam-hauled, are likely to leave one afte
the other for the lumberjack camps deep
in the forest. The track follows ledges
high above the cascading river and
runs through tunnels. It is spectacular
but can take all day as this is a working train
dropping off trucks as it ascends for up to
40km into the Maramures mountains, picking
up timber on the return. It is also useful for
hikers. We can organise accommodation
in Viseu, a day trip on the train with our
Botiza holidays, and even special trains.

Please refer to our Forestry Railway Pages
for further details





Resita steam locomotive
shunts at Stavioara

Wooden church at Poienile Izei (1604) / Haystack near Botiza / Setref Pass

Rodnei Mountains / Maramures Violinist / Nightmarish frescoes, Poienile Izei

Botiza / Croci in Rodnei Mountains / Wooden church at Ieud

Austria Uncovered - Holidays off the beaten track - Austria 2008 Bulgaria Uncovered - Holidays in Bulgaria 2008


Transylvania uncovered

is a Division of BCD Meetings & Incentives



1 Atkinson Court, Fell Foot, Newby Bridge, Cumbria, United Kingdom LA12 8NW
Tel. +44 (0)1539 531258 or UK local rate: 0845 3000 247; Email. travel@beyondtheforest.com

ATOL 3319 - IATA 91267691


The air holidays and flights shown are ATOL protected by the Civil Aviation Authority. Our ATOL nrmber is ATOL 3319.
ATOL protection extends primarily to customers who book and pay in the United Kingdom.
Click on the ATOL logo if you want to know more.




Copyright © 2008 Transylvania Uncovered - the Romania Travel Specialists
Transylvania Uncovered Romania Travel Service - Maramures Holidays 2006 Botiza Ieud Sapanta Budesti Sirbi Surdesti Sighet Viseu Borsa Walking Hiking Folklore Weaving Nature Landscapes Wooden Architecture Churches Responsible Tourism Flights Transfers Trains Hotels Pensions Excursions Guides Rodnei Mountains Iza Valley Romania Travel Service
Transylvania Uncovered Romania Travel Service - Maramures Holidays 2006 Botiza Ieud Sapanta Budesti Sirbi Surdesti Sighet Viseu Borsa Walking Hiking Folklore Weaving Nature Landscapes Wooden Architecture Churches Responsible Tourism Flights Transfers Trains Hotels Pensions Excursions Guides Rodnei Mountains Iza Valley Romania Travel Service
Transylvania Uncovered Romania Travel Service - Maramures Holidays 2006 Botiza Ieud Sapanta Budesti Sirbi Surdesti Sighet Viseu Borsa Walking Hiking Folklore Weaving Nature Landscapes Wooden Architecture Churches Responsible Tourism Flights Transfers Trains Hotels Pensions Excursions Guides Rodnei Mountains Iza Valley Romania Travel Service
Transylvania Uncovered Romania Travel Service - Maramures Holidays 2006 Botiza Ieud Sapanta Budesti Sirbi Surdesti Sighet Viseu Borsa Walking Hiking Folklore Weaving Nature Landscapes Wooden Architecture Churches Responsible Tourism Flights Transfers Trains Hotels Pensions Excursions Guides Rodnei Mountains Iza Valley Romania Travel Service
Transylvania Uncovered Romania Travel Service - Maramures Holidays 2006 Botiza Ieud Sapanta Budesti Sirbi Surdesti Sighet Viseu Borsa Walking Hiking Folklore Weaving Nature Landscapes Wooden Architecture Churches Responsible Tourism Flights Transfers Trains Hotels Pensions Excursions Guides Rodnei Mountains Iza Valley Romania Travel Service
Transylvania Uncovered Romania Travel Service - Maramures Holidays 2006 Botiza Ieud Sapanta Budesti Sirbi Surdesti Sighet Viseu Borsa Walking Hiking Folklore Weaving Nature