4-Day Transylvania Golden Circle Tour with Bears, Bran and Sighisoara

• Start the tour at 9:00 am with pickup from your accommodation in Cluj-Napoca.

• The first stop on the Transylvania Golden Circle route is Turda Salt Mine, where you will go 120 m deep underground to discover a science fiction-themed park. Listen to the story of the salt mine from your guide while admiring the salt stalactites in Rudolf Mine.

• At the base of the mine, you will take a canoe boat tour on an underground lake and navigate to the heart of Transylvania.

• Continue to Turda Gorges, where you will make a 9 km hike through and over the gorge and enjoy spectacular views of the Transylvanian landscape. During the hike, you will identify plants and animals specific to the area.

• The third stop will be in a Transylvanian village, where you will have time to visit and enjoy a traditional lunch.

• End the day by visiting Coltesti Fortress, then head to your accommodation in Alba Iulia.

• Begin the second day with a tour of Alba Carolina Citadel and discover the complex history of this Vauban-style fortress. This day combines culture with nature in a unique way.

• Travel to Balea Waterfall via the Transfagarasan Road.

• Reach Balea Lake, considered the most beautiful glacial lake in Romania, by cable car. From there, start a hike up to 2311 m. The hiking trail is of medium difficulty, with an elevation gain of 300 m.

• Enjoy the nature and beauty of the Carpathian Mountains, have a picnic, and then begin the journey to Brasov, where you will stay for the night.

• Visit the main attractions of the medieval city and enjoy dinner.

Day 3 is about myth and legend.

• After a generous breakfast, go to Libearty Bear Sanctuary, where you will meet the 100 bears protected in this sanctuary.

• Take a tour of the reserve with a local guide, who will teach you about brown bears and the efforts made to protect this species.

• The next stop is the famous castle of Dracula, where you will follow in the footsteps of Count Vlad the Impaler and learn about the Romanian Royal Family.

• In the afternoon, head to Rasnov and visit Valea Cetatii Cave. Sunset will catch you on the way to Crit village, where you will have accommodation.

The last day of travel is planned to be a more relaxing one.

• Visit 4 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, 3 Saxon villages, and the medieval city of Sighisoara.

• Have lunch in the citadel of Sighisoara. After these days of travelling through Transylvania, you will gain an understanding of the culture here, its history, and its landscapes, and you will come to understand Transylvania through both good and evil.

Sunset will catch you on the way back to Cluj-Napoca.