"THE MARAMURES is a land cut off by mountains to the south and, since 1945, by the border with what was the Soviet Union to the north. Still today there is something distinctly sylvan about the Maramureseni, especially when one sees them huddled together in their wooden churches prying to God to help them eke out a living, with their mostly wooden tools, from their small patches of ground encircled by the enchoing forest.

In valleys surrounded by forests and mountains, with no towns of any size nearby, remote and poorly connected to the outside world, the Maramures remained one of the most unaltered regions of Europe" (WILLIAM BLACKER, Along the Enchanted Way)

DAY 1:

Arriving to Cluj Napoca airport, where you will be picked up and transferred by car to Maramures region. About 4 ½ hours drive to our accommodation. Dinner and accommodation with village families in Hoteni or Breb, at the foothills of Gutai Mountains.

The first day we take an easier walk from village to village, starting and ending in Hoteni. We pass lovely meadows with already made hay stacks. We go through the village of Breb (where William Blacker spend few years) and visit there a wood carver, then continue to the Cosau Valley. There is an ancient tradition in the villages along Cosau Valley that men, from a remarkable young age, wear little straw pillbox hats. We can visit an artisan who is making these small funny hats.

Walk through Budesti and Sirbi , two picturesque villages where almost every household has its own carved wooden gate. Along the riverside there are several water-powered installations, all made of wood: valtori (villages’ simple washing machines) for washing clothes and blankets, water mills operating all day long. Stop to enjoy a coffee and cake in Ocna Sugatag, before heading back to our village. Dinner and same accommodation as previous night.

DAY 3:

Today we have a harder challenge to climb the Gutai mountains. We will be driven to the starting point, then we start an easy hike, before taking the path to the peack (2 ½ hours hike). We descend from the peack to continue our hike back to village. Dinner and same accommodation, as previous night.

DAY 4:

Explore Maramures by car. To have a chance to visit a wider area in Maramures, we move to the next accommodation by car, visiting also Sapanata Merry Cemetery and Sighetul Maramtiei (the prison and the town). Lunch not included in Sighet, but you will be advised. Dinner and accommodation in Botiza in a restored wooden house. The host is an active local participate for her traditional rugs and for organic traditional food.

DAY 5:

Walk from village to village towards Poienile Izei and Glod. Return for the same accommodation in Botiza.

DAY 6: 

Our walk is from village to village to explore the real country life and its seasonal field work. Walk down the valley through the village of Botiza, then over the hills to Ieud. Ieud village has two wooden churches. The upper church (Biserica din Deal), up the hill is the oldest wooden church from Maramures (1364), said to survived the Tartar's attacks. From here the car will pick us up and drive to Viseu de Sus, to our accommodation in town. Dinner independent.

DAY 7:

8.30 Take the steam train along VaserValley. A local guide will join to lead us over the forests and mountains from our starting point in the Vaser valley. In the after noon, drive to Cluj for your last night in Transylvania. Accommodation in hotel Victoria 3*, in the center of the town. Dinner independent.

Day 8:

Early transfer to the airport for your flight to London.

Total price: 990 euro/person

The price includes:
- 6 nights accommodation in small guesthouses run by a family, 1 night 3* hotel in Cluj;
- Breakfasts snd Dinners with our hosts (except dinner on day 6, 7); lunches provided by our hosts (except day 4);
- Full time guide and interpreter, the paths are unmarked, the tour can not be made selfguided;
- Transport from and to Cluj airport, transport for a start or ending point for the walks. Driver and fuel;

The price does not include:
- the flights
- visits
- alcoholic drinks;
- photo/video permits;
- dinner on day 6 and 7; and lunch on day 4.