Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Roving România
( 0744-212 065;
www.roving-romania.co.uk
)
Tailored tours far from the madding
crowd in the comfort of a Land Rover, and an expert on all things Romanian. Colin works
with photographers, birdwatchers and history buffs, and has great contacts with local
people giving you an authentic taste of rural life. Trips last a minimum of two days.
GUIDED TOUR
GUIDED TOUR
Dan Marin
( 0744-319 708;
www.transylvanian.ro
)
Run by an award-winning local Romanian,
this tour company specialises in wildlife, and historical and cultural treks. Dan knows the
forests well and is an expert tracker. For a group of four, a one-day hike costs €70.
DiscoveRomania
( 0268-472 718;
www.discoveromania.ro
; Str Paul Richter 1; 10am-3pm Mon-Fri)
Encounters with Roma communities, visits with local craftsmen, birdwatching trips in the
Danube Delta, wolf-tracking adventures in the Carpathians - all trips run by this environ-
mentally sensitive company are designed to immerse you in Romanian culture.
GUIDED TOUR
Swimming Pool
(Str Aleaa Tiberiu 5; adult/child 12/5 lei; 10am-8.30pm)
A decent 25m pool for lane
swimming, with a sun deck outside for the summer months.
SWIMMING POOL
TEDDY BEARS' PICNIC
Thanks to its megalomaniac dictator (under Ceauşescu none but he was allowed to hunt), 60% of Europe's brown
bears are today found in Romania (an estimated 6000).
The chances of you seeing one of these sizeable Yogis are high if you're trekking or going to a bear hide (where
you're more or less guaranteed a sighting; try Carpathian Nature Tours). A cousin of the grizzly, Romanian bears
are smaller but have the same powerful hump of muscle on their back, and they can also move at 30 mph.
Hikers have been mauled and even killed by bears in recent years, usually as a result of surprising them, so
here's a few tips. Try to pitch your tent in an open spot so they can see you, keeping your food at least 4m high in
the branches of a tree. Also, any used sanitary material or trash should be kept in a ziplock bag. Should you find
yourself in the presence of a mother and cub, stand still to signify you're not afraid, and make yourself bigger by
waving your arms. Similarly, when walking through dense forest, talk loudly to announce your presence; the last
thing a bear wants is to engage with you.
