Transylvania: The Castles and Vampires of Transylvania

Itinerary

ITINERARY - TRANSYLVANIA 2010 SUMMER

Day 1 (Tuesday) Departure from the USA
Depart the United States for Budapest, Hungary on an overnight flight.

Day 2 (Wednesday) Arrival to Europe
Arrive to Budapest International Airport in Hungary between 10am and 2pm. Upon arrival you will be greeted by your Rustic Pathways Staff. From the airport you will head over to the hostel in Buda where the group will take a quick glance at the beautiful capital of a Hungary and will spend the first night of the journey.

Day 3 (Thursday) Entering Transylvania
After catching up on some sleep the group will take a short  1 hour flight to Targu Mures, Romania to arrive right on time for the first traditional lunch in the land of Dracula. After lunch it will be time to get on a bus and head to Rimetea the very first destination of the program. The group will settle into village apartments owned by local families to experience the traditional life of Rimetea for the next few days.

Day 4 (Friday) The first full day on “Szekely” land
Once you have eaten your first hearty Transylvanian breakfast it is time to gear up and take a hike to the top of the “Szekely Cliff” which provides you with a spectacular view of Szekely land from up above. After a pick up soccer game on top of the cliff and a self prepared picnic lunch it will be time to head down to the village and learn some traditional furniture painting from the master of the area.

Day 5 (Saturday) The caving trip
Today the group will take off on a 1 hour journey to discover the exciting cave system of the area and enter the famous “Cave of the Winds” on a few hour long tour. This activity is designed for all participants and does not require any special previous knowledge of caving! In the afternoon there will be time to get to know the nearby hills and the legends around them as we make our way back to Rimetea for the night.

Day 6-8 (Sunday to Tuesday) From the Saxons to the Birth Place of Dracula
After saying goodbye to the welcoming locals of Rimetea it is time to begin the journey through time. The first day it is the Saxon’s turn as the group enters the city of Sibiu or also known as the cultural capital of Europe (proclaimed by the EU in 2007). There will be plenty of time to enjoy the picturesque historic district and to sit back and relax in the outdoor gardens of local restaurants, enjoying a delicious coffee.  On the second day we will travel through medieval villages and forts to get to the mythical city of Sighisuara where the world famous son of Drakul, Vlad Tepes was born and raised to finally become the Impaler or as we know him as Dracula!!! Then finally on the third day we will head south to the largest remaining medieval city, Brasov, also home to the famous Black Church with signs of sword cuts still reminding us of the mighty knights of the long forgotten times. During these three days we will enjoy city life of Transylvania, walk the historic districts, visit torture rooms of the past and listen to countless legends that will help us to get deeper into a world that has been forgotten.

Day 9 (Wednesday) The land of Castles
After the journey through urban Transylvania it is time to enter the forests of southern Brasov and visit the world famous “Dracula” Castle which appears in Bram Stoker’s Dracula story. Soon after the short visit we will move an hour south onto the town of Sinaia to stay in a still fully functional Saxon Castle and spend a night of a fairy tail.

Day 10 (Thursday) Into the woods…
It is time to start heading north again and take a 2 hour bus ride to the legendary St Anne’s Lake. The journey itself will already explain part of the legend through its beauty and wonders all over and upon arrival there will be plenty of time to a relaxing boat tour, to take a horse riding tour, have a nice picnic lunch as a group and walk through the forests of the area to finally arrive in Tusnad for the night.

Day 11-13 (Friday to Sunday) Rural Transylvania
Then begin a three day long adventure into the heart of rural Transylvania. The group will spend the first night with families in Csikpalfalva to experience the heartwarming welcome of a truly traditional village. Then we will make our way to the hills of Gyimes to stay in a truly traditional “village center” to enjoy two full days of folklore, adventure and village life. We will learn to make local crafts from masters of the area, take dance lessons from the enriching selection of the areas of Csik and Gyimes taught by local dance groups, take a horse carriage tour to the thousand years old border of the old Empire and much more.

Day 14 (Monday) Breathtaking sceneries
After saying goodbye to the rural lands of Transylvania it is time to see some of the most beautiful natural scenes of the area. The group will take a few hours bus ride north to the breathtaking “Assasin Lake and the “Bekas” Cove which origins are part of the great legends passed on by many generations. Here we will take a bike tour through the cove and paddle around the lake and enjoy a fully natural experience as we wait to see the sunset by the giant cliffs around us.

Day 15 (Tuesday) The Rafting
After an early breakfast we will take one more glance at the lake then head over to the Mures River to begin our rafting experience. While the Mures is a great paddling river, do not expect extreme conditions but class 2-3 rapids and beautiful scenery all around. This trip will be a perfect finish to end a spectacular journey around Transylvania.

Day 16 (Wednesday) Last day in Transylvania
Today we will head into Targu Mures for lunch and there will be some time to catch up on E-mails and connect with the civil world which you have all forgotten about by now…
Then in the early afternoon we will take a short flight to Budapest and spend a relaxing final evening in the city together as a group.

Day 17 (Thursday) Depart to the USA
After a delicious last Hungarian breakfast the group will head out to Budapest Airport. Then once we say our tearful goodbye it will be time for everyone to head back to the USA between 8am and 12pm.

 

 

Castles & Vampires - Packing List                                  

Below you will find a general packing list for the Castles & Vampires program in Transylvania. This packing list provides a general guideline to make your packing easier, though please make sure to bring all essential items!  If you have any questions about this list please contact us at transylvania@rusticpathways.com

It is not necessary to pack a lot of clothes for this program, but it is essential to pack correctly PLEASE DO NOT OVER PACK OR FORGET TO BRING ITEMS THAT WE HAVE DEEMED TO BE ESSENTIAL!  ALL STUDENTS MUST BE ABLE TO CARRY WHAT THEY BRING!  PLEASE REMEMBER THAT MANY THINGS CAN BE BOUGHT WHILE OVERSEAS.
Carry-On Luggage: A small backpack is the best carry-on bag
Essential Items:

• Passport and Wallet *Travel Wallet or safety wallet is a good idea.  

*Make sure that your passport is valid for 6 months after your planned date of departure for Transylvania!

• Photo Copy of Passport
• Medications
• Immunization records (If you have had immunizations)
• Emergency Contact numbers for Rustic Pathways

Recommended Items:

• Sunglasses
• One change of clothes
• 35mm camera, digital camera, and/or disposable camera * Please don’t bring an extremely expensive camera which can easily get broken, lost, or stolen.
• Journal and Pens  
• Good Book (trade with buddies)
• Toiletries
Make sure everything you pack in your carry-on complies with the new carry on regulations of the TSA: http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/prohibited/permitted-prohibited-items.shtm
Checked Luggage: A medium sized duffel bag or large back pack work best - wheeled bags are OK as long as they are medium sized and can easily be carried over rough terrain.

Essential Items:

• 2 Photo Copies of Passport
• Contact lenses and accompanying paraphernalia. Pack in PLASTIC BAG
• A warm breathable jacket (Shell) Gore-tex or eVent like materials are highly recommended
• Flashlight/Headlamp w/ Extra Batteries
• Sunscreen (enough for your entire stay) Pack in PLASTIC BAG

Recommended Items:

• Underwear (5 to 7)
• Socks (4 to 6)
• Non-cotton hiking socks (3)
• Long Pants (1 or 2, suggested to have 1 lightweight and 1 jeans)
• Short Sleeve Shirts (~4) * having some non-cotton shirts is again strongly advised
• Long Sleeve Shirts (~3) 
• One nice casual outfit for going out or meeting with community members
• A soft-shell jacket or winder stopper fleece for nights and cool weather.  The soft shell jackets are windproof and water resistant and are wonderfully versatile
• Shorts (2 )
• Swim Suit (2)
• Hiking Shoes *Shoes that are waterproof, dry quickly and are suitable for long hikes work best. 
• Sandals and/or Flip-Flops *it is highly recommended to have a pair of strap on sandals that will not fall off in water (Teva or Chaco brand sandals work great)
• Baseball Cap
• Small travel towel
• Feminine care products
• Toiletries:
• Shampoo and/or Soap
• Deodorant,
• Toothpaste and Toothbrush PLASTIC BAG

• Personal First Aid Kit (suggested)
• Band aids
• Triple Antibiotic Ointment
• Medical Tape
• Moleskin or preferred blister care
• Preferred Mild Pain Reliever
• Antihistamine (Benedryl or preferred type)
• 2 Non-adherent, sterile dressing
• 2 Gauze dressing

*Note: See the following link for ideas on small, personal first aid kits:
http://www.adventuremedicalkits.com/kit_detail.asp?
series=300&seriesNav=Dom&kit=302&kitNO=0125-0292

• Insect Repellant (1 small bottle) pack in PLASTIC BAG
• Lip Balm (Dermatone works well!)
• Hat for sun
• Hand Sanitizer (1 bottle per week) pack in PLASTIC BAG
• Watch or Clock with an Alarm
• 32 oz. Water Bottle *Nalgene© bottle works well
• Heavy Duty Garbage Bags (2)
• Large (one gallon) Ziplock© Freezer Bags (2) to keep camera, ipod or other items dry

 Other Optional (but helpful) Items:

• Travel Pillow *a pillowcase can be a great dirty laundry bag or a comfortable pillow if you stuff it with a sweatshirt and easy to pack.
• Deck of Cards
• Picture of mom, dad, boyfriend/girlfriend, dog, to share with local students
• Frisbee, Aerobee, or Hackysack,
• Musical Instrument (Guitars and Harmonicas - smaller is better)
• MP3 player or i-pod

Note on Debit Cards:
Debit Cards are wonderful to travel with though there are a few things to remember. 

• Please ensure that your international block is lifted and that there are no restrictions in using it in any of the countries you will be traveling
• Make sure to look at your daily limit and decide whether this should be raised or lowered

Both Visa and Master Card are fairly widely accepted

1 - How long is the flight to this country?
1A – Direct flight from the East Coast of the USA to Budapest, Hungary takes approximately 10 hours.

2 - Will there be a flight leader to this country?
2A – Students are responsible for arranging their own airfare, therefore there is not one specific escorted flight that brings participants to Budapest, Hungary. Everybody will be met by a Rustic Pathways guide at the Budapest Airport within the given time frame (see our travel desk at http://www.rusticpathways.com/extra/arrangements/transylvania.html for more information).

3 - Do we need to get visas for this program?
3A – Students from the United States will be automatically granted a tourist visa upon entry into the European Union (Hungary and Romania).

4 – What province(s) does this program pass through?
4A- During the program, students will briefly pass through the department of Budapest while in Hungary then once in Romania the entire trip will be spent travelling around the department of Transylvania. 

5 - What immunizations do we need to get for this trip?
5A – Rustic Pathways does not make recommendations regarding immunizations.  We strongly suggest that you consult with a travel doctor or your family physician for medical recommendations based on the area where the student will be traveling (as listed above).  You can also check the Center for Disease Control website at www.cdc.gov for more information. 

6 - How does this program connect to other programs?
6A – There is a possibility to connect to programs in Africa or in Asia, however all questions regarding connections must be sent to transylvania@rusticpathways.com.

7 – How much travelling is involved in this program?
7A— This is mainly a touring program and the group will be constantly travelling on the road whether it will be by bus, train, bike or on foot. Students can expect up to 3 hours of travelling at any given day; however there will be parts of the trip spent at one single location for several days.

8 – What is the climate in the region where this program takes place?
8A— Romania has a climate which ranges from temperate to continental. This means that the summer is mainly dry and hot during the day, and warm at night, temperatures can go up to 90 Fahrenheit or more. Rainstorms and thunders can be randomly expected.
 
9 – How physically strenuous is this program?
9A- The program, is based on discovering Transylvania which includes; hiking, biking, caving, horseback riding and other physical activities. It is important that students are prepared for physical activity on a moderate level; however none of these adventures are strenuous or extreme in any shape or form. Further on, participation does not require special skills or outstanding physical conditions.

10 - What kind of food will we be eating? Where?
10A—   The main ingredients used by Romanian chefs are meats such as pork, beef and lamb, fish, vegetables, dairy products and fruit. A traditional Romanian meal may include: cereal, toast, fruit, eggs and coffee for breakfast then a mainly vegetable based soup and a main course of rice, potatoes, salad with pork, meat or chicken and rarely fish for lunch and finally a light pastry, fruit and vegetable based dinner. Most of the meals will be served in restaurants and at family stays but there will be times when the group prepares food together.
 
11 - Can we cater to specific diets?
11A-Rustic Pathways can cater to most dietary needs on this program. There will be ample access to fruits, vegetables, rice, beans, and grains for those who are vegetarian.  Vegan diets can be accommodated, but with a little more foresight and planning as this is not a diet commonly encountered in Transylvania.  Please know that while we are happy to accommodate alternative diets, many of the special diets common in the United States are not common in other parts of the world and travelers must be patient and understanding in having these needs be met.  Please contact transylvania@rusticpathways.com with any questions regarding special diets or allergies.

12 - Will the students be drinking bottled water?
12A—Tap water in Transylvania is potable most of the times, and students should feel comfortable drinking the water unless otherwise advised. Bottled water is available for purchase at local supermarkets and grocery stores.

13 - What will the accommodations on this trip be like?
13A— Students will be staying in hotels, hostels, traditional farm-apartments and family home-stays. All accommodations provide students with comfortable beds, showers and toilets. Generally there will be 3 to 4 students per room. Boys and girls will sleep in different rooms. The accommodations are simple but clean and comfortable.  

14.  What are the bathroom facilities?
14A- There are bathrooms available in each accommodation, mostly one bathroom per room and at times a common bathroom for girls and a separate one for boys. They have running water and American style toilets and showers. Hot water for the showers is not reliable.

15 - How many girls and boys are usually on this trip?
15A – We expect a mix between boys and girls however the exact numbers vary from week to week.

16- What is the ratio of guides to students?
16A- Rustic Pathways generally strives to maintain a ratio of approximately 1 guide for every 5 students.  Our guides go through a rigorous selection process including interviews with our program managers and a full background check.
17-Is your staff qualified in First Aid?
17A- Because safety is our number one priority, all of our programs have guides that are certified with First Aid and CPR training. Many of our guides are also qualified Wilderness First Responders, EMTs, Wilderness EMTs, or Life Guards.

18 - How often (if at all) will students be able to do laundry on this program and what will it cost?
18A—Students should pack enough clothes and personal items to last through at least a week. There will be one opportunity to do laundry during the two weeks at a cost of $10 - $15 per load.      

19 - How often will they have access to phone and internet?
19A- Students will have limited access to internet during the program. They will be able to purchase international phone cards in Transylvania from the guides, which can be used to call home from the public phones and students will be able to have access to internet occasionally when the group is in a bigger towns.