Halloween in Transylvania with Weldmar Hospicecare

The trek is accompanied by professional English-speaking local guides who have an excellent knowledge of hiking in the region. The guides are first aid trained and will support you throughout your journey. You will also be supported by assistant guides and a Different Travel Company UK tour manager.

The terrain is mountainous so there will be lots of uphill and downhill areas. There are some steep sections, some flat areas, and there is a very long descent so trekking poles are recommended, particularly for those with knee issues. Underfoot you will find rocky or grassy trails, uneven and muddy forests, scree slopes and possibly some stream crossings. You may walk over some snow or ice covered ground depending on the weather conditions at the time. Each day you will trek for approximately 7-8 hours (variable depending on group pace) and you will cover approximately 10-19km. It is critical that your training includes hill walking and trekking up and down gradients while carrying a heavy backpack.

As you will be trekking in mountainous regions you need to be prepared for changeable weather. In general, the climate in October/November can be chilly (lows of 4°C, highs of 18°C) with a chance of rain each day and occasional high winds. Snowfall is unusual although there may be some patches of early snow on the slopes.

It’s important to be prepared for all weather conditions and temperatures by packing non-cotton trek layers and waterproofs. It’s better to have waterproofs and not need them, than to not have any when you need them!

Although the temperatures and conditions above are historically accurate, climate change can impact the seasons so you may experience uncharacteristic conditions during the trip which are out of our control. Should this happen the guide will assess the situation and make decisions to ensure the best enjoyment and ultimately safety of the group as a whole.

Romanian food is meat dominant however vegetarians and vegans can be catered for if you request this in advance. Meat-filled cabbage rolls, sausages, soups (called ciorba) and stews (like tocanita) are popular main dishes. Side dishes include potatoes, picked vegetables, cabbage and salad. Lunches will be packed and you will carry this yourself. Typical lunches will be meats, cheese, fresh and dried fruit, nuts, chocolate bars etc.

Evening meals will be taken in communal dining rooms or at local restaurants.

Please inform us in advance if you have any dietary requirements or preferences.

You will stay in guesthouses for 4 nights; in Sinaia, Moeciu, Sirnae-Ciocanu and Bran, on a twin-share basis. You will also spend one night in mixed gender dormitories with shared bathroom facilities.
The accommodation, although comfortable, is very basic.

The minimum age is 18 (or 16-17 if accompanied by a parent/guardian). There is no upper age limit.

The ideal candidate would be fit, healthy and determined, open to adventure and adaptable to unexpected changes. Adequate preparation, planning and training is important because the fitter you are the more you will enjoy this experience. An ideal candidate would be a hill walker, an open-minded person with a sense of adventure. Remote areas are sometimes unpredictable (be it because of group pace, weather conditions etc.) and itineraries may be altered to allow for this. You must also be willing to train hard for this challenge!

The guesthouses have en-suite facilities with flushing sit-down toilets and hot showers. If a bin is provided, toilet paper should be placed in the bin, not flushed.

There are no shower facilities at the mountain hut so please bring a small pack of baby wipes and a bottle of hand sanitizer for personal hygiene. Toilets at the mountain huts are usually squat toilets and are located outside of the main hut building.

If you need to use the toilet during the trek day you must find a private area off the trail. You must never leave used toilet paper on the ground; this must be packed up into a nappy bag or sanitary disposal bag, pop it in your daypack and dispose of it properly at camp (please bring your own nappy sacks with you). You should bring one or two rolls of toilet paper for your own use.

If you do not already regularly exercise or participate in a sport it is advised that you start training as soon as you book to ensure your best chance of success and enjoyment on the challenge.

Hill walking while carrying a heavy backpack should form a major part of your training as this will most closely replicate the actual trek, and be the best way to prepare your body for the numerous ascents and descents involved.

Increasing your cardiovascular endurance and core and leg strength will benefit you greatly too so hill walking can be complemented with swimming, running, cycling, gym workouts, team sports, boot camps etc. You can download a number of free apps which will help you train and track your progress. E.g. MapMyWalk, C25K (couch to 5k run), MyFitnessPal etc.

If you attempt to complete the challenge without training it will make the trek unnecessarily difficult and may hinder your experience, and the experience of your team mates.

This trek does not take place in an area of high altitude.

Kit list