Reviews

Your Words – We tell it like it is! Holiday Reviews by previous Exodus travellers

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108 Reviews

4.6 out of 5

Cynthia Konkin

Reviewed November 2017

Carpathian Walking and Bears

This was a great trip with lots of gentle hiking in incredible scenery. The guesthouse is amazing with great food, beautiful views and a wonderful passionate owner who also accompanied us on some excursions. Magura is a beautiful, remote, rural and peaceful village. It is like going back in time. Go now before things change!

Most Inspirational Moment

All the mountain scenery and of course, viewing the brown bears from a cache in the woods.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Thomas was knowledgeable and efficient but sometimes seemed not very enthused or maybe distracted and quiet. Katharina who owns the guesthouse was absolutely passionate and spent a lot of time telling us about the area, the wildlife, the history and life in Magura. She also went to the bear sanctuary with us and took us bird watching.

Advice for Potential Travellers

The elevation gains on the hikes were generally very gradual. We worried about some of them but really didn't need to. It is an extremely peaceful place but, there are dogs that do bark at night sometimes so you might want earplugs if that is going to bother you. Go soon. This is a magical place that is bound to change eventually.

Guy Dixon

Reviewed October 2017

Carpathian capers

Great accommodation, good food and excellent group leader. Unique combination of outstanding scenery, history, flora and fauna. Interesting insight into a charming and often overlooked part of Eastern Europe. Definitely worth doing if you’re looking for something a bit different.

Most Inspirational Moment

Walking up on the bucegi, the long local walk on day three, Brasov, everything on the final day, Thomas, and hanging out drinking beer at the lovely guest house.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Outstanding.

Advice for Potential Travellers

I'd skip the optional trip to the bear hide - too far, too bumpy for an evening trip.

Angela HORTON

Reviewed September 2017

Carpathian Walking & Bears

A wonderful holiday based in the beautiful, remote, rural village of Magura. The village is accessed via a long, winding unmade road so get used to a bumpy ride. If you get out of the van immediately after you leave the tarmac it will take approximately 45 – 50 minutes to walk up hill to Villa Hermani through the woods – follow the bright pink paint splodges on rocks or trees. Transylvania is like stepping back in time, where local people still travel via horse and cart and cut hay with scythes, although they will be on their mobiles as mobile signals, 3 & 4G and WiFi are readily available. Romania is home to many European brown bears and seeing them from a hide in the forest was one of the highlights of our trip. In addition to the walking there is a visit to Bran Castle which was given to Queen Maria of Romania in 1918, and to the delightful city of Brasov.

Most Inspirational Moment

There were many inspirational moments so I will list them in no particular order: Viewing the bears in their natural environment from the bear hide Watching the bats in the bat cave The 12 mile walk along the gorge and through meadows Visiting Libearty, the bear sanctuary Seeing red squirrels in the woodlands The stunning scenery

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our guide, Traian was very relaxed and friendly and was keen that all our needs were met. He briefed us on the following day's activities after our evening meals. Traian was extremely knowledgeable about his country's geography, history and politics and he was keen to share his knowledge with us. Before dinner one evening he gave an informal lecture which was really interesting due to the content and Traian's delivery. Traian's passion about his county's future is apparent and we felt we came home much more aware of issues that the people of Romania are experiencing. Traian also leads 'Highlights of Romania' and I believe we gained from the information that is given on that trip. Whilst he had a rather casual approach to walking he didn't get us lost and he let us lengthen walks whilst others continued in the vehicle which we appreciated.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Don't change your money at the airport as the exchange rate is very poor 4.1 Lei to the £ compared to 4.95 to the £ in Brasov. The restaurants in towns accept credit cards and Villa Hermani accepts local currency, sterling, US dollars & Australian dollars but not credit cards. Your bill for the bear hide trip , beer, wine, tea and coffee is settled on the Friday evening before you leave. If you are used to walking regularly the walking is extremely leisurely, however if you are unfit, over weight or don't like hills then you will find the walking more challenging. We were somewhat disappointed with the amount of walking but enjoyed the long walk and every other aspect of the holiday. Villa Hermani provides a hairdryer which is perfectly adequate but not as powerful as at home. Walking poles are available to borrow from Villa Hermani If you are travelling with Tarom Airlines they do provide you with a complimentary hot meal and a glass of wine or beer, tea or coffee on the flight. We were also given a tasty sandwich on the transfer bus as we did not arrive at Villa Hermani until shortly after midnight.

Neil Thomas

Reviewed August 2017

Bears Essential

I had not realised before arriving in Magura just how remote, rural and remarkably beautiful Romania could be. The village where we were based is accessibly only via a long, winding unmade road… so get used to leaving modern life behind. In this part of the world people still travel via horse and cart and cut hay with scythes. It was like stepping back into Tudor times. Fortunately, this also means that Europe’s largest group of wild brown bears are still able to thrive and going to see them from a hide in the forest was one of the highlights of our trip. There is also plenty of opportunity for hiking, with walks of varying severity on all but one day of the holiday. The views are spectacular – in some parts resembling Switzerland or Austria, in others California and the Rockies. We also took in trips to Bran Castle – to which the Dracula legend has been eagerly attached – and to the delightful city of Brasov.

Most Inspirational Moment

Seeing four bears from our hide in the woods.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Thomas was very energetic, very knowledgeable with - for a German - a great sense of humour.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Read the Trip Notes carefully. There is no opportunity to change money for the first few days, so either take some Lei with you or spend some time in Bucharest first - as we did. I would also recommend taking walking poles.

Richard Vass

Reviewed August 2017

Carpathian Walking and Bears

A most excellent holiday led by Thomas, who was an knowledgeable guide, and who adjusted the walks according to the group ability and the temperature which was in the mid 30s Centigrade. Walking in such temperatures and at such altitudes can be challenging. Thank goodness for fresh water springs on the hillsides!
The guesthouse was well appointed and the food was excellent. An honesty bar came in for much use when we returned from our travels!
The major criticism arose when we came to settle our bills at the end of the week as the guesthouse did not take credit cards. This MUST be added to the travellers advice as there is no access to cash machines without a long drive. We only just managed to cobble together enough money by adding £ sterling, Lei and a few dollars which we had fortunately carried.

Most Inspirational Moment

Seeing bears in the wild

Thoughts on Group Leader

Knowledgeable and efficient

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take plenty of cash - no cash machines anywhere near the guesthouse.

Marie Maciver

Reviewed July 2017

Carpathian Walking and Bears

A thoroughly enjoyable trip with good company and excellent guides – Tomas from Exodus, Janina and Catarina from Villa Hermani. Most days were walking – at variable heights and distances but one day was given over to history/culture of the area. A good balance.

Most Inspirational Moment

Seeing the bears! There were 2 opportunities - an evening in the hide and a visit to the Sanctuary to see the 'rescued' animals. No- one could fail to be moved by the stories of these bears.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Tomas was a very good guide. His knowledge of the area history and wildlife had obviously been well researched.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Don't bother taking much lei ( local currency) - Euros are acceptable in most places. Added to which, there isn't too much to actually buy. The extras at Villa Hermani are extremely reasonable. Make sure you take extra footwear - we got very wet one day and although there is a 'warm room' , boots will not necessarily dry overnight.

Peter Sumpter

Reviewed May 2017

A largely positive, interesting and varied trip, despite four seasons is a week

The walking was good, but maybe it was the varied other experiences and activities that made the trip more special. The visits to Bran Castle, the fortified church, the local “bar”, Brasov. And of course the wildlife – the bears and the fire salamanders. Most exceeded expectations.
The dip in the weather meant what were probably going to be the best hikes were not possible. I feel that some re-arranging of the itinerary might have benefitted us. Lovely and varied scenery, though.
The guesthouse as a base was great, and we were well looked after. Hikes straight from the door are always a plus. As is unpacking and packing just once.

Most Inspirational Moment

It was the overall variety for me, therefore hard to pull out one inspirational moment. And so I won't.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Overall he was good and I thank him for one particular action (enough said!). Probably could have added a little more to what I got out of the trip, especially in terms of understanding the history of the country and its people.

Advice for Potential Travellers

While graded an activity level of 2, remember that this is in mountains with 20km covered one day. Inevitably the group travels at the speed of the slowest. You'll be pretty unlucky not to see bears - wild they are, but also fed so the viewing from the hide is very likely to happen, and to be quite enthralling. The binocs are a real plus here.

Suzanne Anderson

Reviewed November 2016

Carpathian Bears review

A superb trip with a great hotel, lovely staff and a fabulous tour guide.

Most Inspirational Moment

My favourite part really was seeing the bears it was truly magical, cute and cuddly. The heart did pound a little as we walked to the bear hide but knowing they are more scared of you than you are of them helped a lot. We saw many bears over 10 in fact including a mum with her two cubs, truly amazing.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Udi our group leader was fabulous, he was very knowledgeable and insightful with all that he shared. I particularly loved that he knew so much about all the flowers and birds it really added something to the trip for me.

Advice for Potential Travellers

If you get travel sick at all then take travel calm tablets with you. There's not much travel involved but if you suffer its really helpful to take them, once I did I didn't suffer at all. I travelled with KLM via Amsterdam from Leeds and they lost the luggage on the way out so make sure you have flights that allow at least 2 hours transfer otherwise they will struggle to transfer your bags for you.

Gemma Reid

Reviewed September 2016

Carpathian walking and bears

One of the best holidays we’ve been on, beautiful scenery, lovely walks, good food and company.

Most Inspirational Moment

It was a privilege to see the bears, and we loved Brasov, but really just the valley we were in and the walks we went on were the best bits. And the horse and cart ride!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Udo was an informative and entertaining guide. What this man doesn't know about flora and fauna isn't worth knowing!

Advice for Potential Travellers

We found walking poles very useful, but there were plenty to borrow if you don't have your own. The walking is rated correctly in my opinion, the most challenging day had an option of a shorter walk anyway. Be prepared for the fact that dogs live outside in this area and it's pretty noisy at night, ear plugs might be useful!

Bridget Osmond

Reviewed September 2016

Carpathian Walking and Bears

A lovely relaxing holiday with varied activities; walking, bear watching and sight seeing. Hotel Magura was excellent; spacious rooms with stunning views, great food and an honesty bar.

Most Inspirational Moment

Seeing the bears from the bear hide but also being impressed with Romania; the history, villages, scenery etc etc

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our guide Thomas was very knowledgeable having been brought up in a nearby village. His knowledge of the history and culture was outstanding and he looked after us with great enthusiasm and good humour.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Book it now and enjoy the scenery and hospitality of Romania. Don't take too much money as it is only at the end of the week that you need it.

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