Small-Group Mountain Villages Walk & Local Lunch from Brasov
Description
This small group tour takes you straight to the heart of rural life in Romania. See some local houses, visit the Bat Cave, take a trek through the local mountain forests, and learn about a way of life that’s slowly disappearing.
Tour Options
Itinerary
One of the most beautiful mountains of Romania.
Nestled in the Piatra Craiului National Park Mountains in the Southern Carpathians, the villages of Pestera an Magura offer an authentic glimpse into rural Romanian life. Your immersive, full-day tour begins in central Brașov, where you’ll meet your local guide and board a private vehicle for the 45-minute drive to the village. Along the way, let your guide know if you have any specific interests so he or she can customize the day’s itinerary. Learn about the history of the villages, where the traditional industries of sheep farming and cheese making are still practice by many of the village’s. Visit the Bat Cave about 10 minutes. Next, set off into the surrounding hills and meadows og Magura village for a moderate guided hike for 3 to 4 hours. Let your guide know if you prefer to hike for longer or shorter, and go at a pace that’s comfortable to you.
Make a stop to the oldest guest house in the National Park. After working up an appetite, we have a hearty lunch. Savour simple Romanian cuisine home-made from local farm-fresh ingredients including eggs, vegetables and pork. Purchase beer or wine to top off your meal. From the guest house we have a walk in Pestera Village back to the car, about 1 hour. We can visit also the local church.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Meeting point: In front of Biblioteca Județeană "George Barițiu", Bulevardul Eroilor 33-35. Please be aware that we provide pick-up and drop-off services exclusively within the city of Brașov, as well as for guests staying outside the old town. The pick-up time will vary based on the location requested. Additionally, we are happy to drop off guests at a different location than the pick-up point for an additional fee.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Dress warmly: Sturdy and waterproof hiking shoes and warm clothes recommended
- Route may be changed without notice due to weather conditions
- Important note about Pestera and Magura Village - in those 2 villages the people never died because of cancer or heart attack - they leave an healthy life: working the land, taking care of animals (sheep and cows), preparing and eating home made food from their small farm (meat, eggs, milk), drinking fresh water from the spring and home made alcoholic drink called "tuica" made from different fruits as apples, plums, pears!
- The cheese tasting and lunch are taking place at one of the gueshouses in the area.
- Minimum 2 people. If you are single you pay as for 2.
- Please bring your own mask; we provide hand sanitizer. We are cleaning vehicles after every tour.
- When you book the rate as 1 person, in case we have other clients, we refund the difference you paid as solo traveler, after the tour.
- Meeting point: In front of Biblioteca Județeană "George Barițiu", Bulevardul Eroilor 33-35. Please be aware that we provide pick-up and drop-off services exclusively within the city of Brașov, as well as for guests staying outside the old town. The pick-up time will vary based on the location requested. Additionally, we are happy to drop off guests at a different location than the pick-up point for an additional fee.
Reviews(87)
I'm so glad I booked this experience! Bogdan was a great guide. I let him know I was interested both in the mountains and the traditional villages, so he planned a perfect hike through some gorges before we did a loop hike to the villages. He set a moderate pace and we hiked 11.5 miles! It was more than I expected but he knew I could do it - I appreciated his confidence in me and felt like I got so much out of the day. Bogdan and I talked a lot about outdoor recreation in Romania, its ecology, landscape, history, and current affairs. He even showed me some agility games and gave me tips on navigating steep terrain and controlled breathing. The lunch was delicious, Bogdan was great company, and I highly recommend this to anyone who wants to explore the mountains and countryside from Brasov!
Thank you so much for this fantastic review, Camryn! We’re really happy that Bogdan could shape the day around your interests and give you such a rewarding mountain-and-village experience. 11.5 miles is a great achievement, and it sounds like you truly embraced the Carpathians. We’re glad you enjoyed the lunch, the conversations, and Bogdan’s guidance along the way!
Terrific day. Our guide was very patient, knowledgeable, funny & passionate about country & environment Recommend to anyone Thanks
Thank you so much for your kind words, Kathleen! We’re delighted you had a terrific day exploring the authentic mountain villages around Brașov. It’s wonderful to hear that your guide’s patience, knowledge, humor, and passion for Romania and the environment made the experience special. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you again someday!
Probably the highlight of our visit to Transylvania. The bat cave was amazing. We saw a,number of bats. Be prepared to get down low to work your way through the cave but it's worth it. We followed that adventure up with a gentle walk through the Transylvanian countryside. Breathtaking scenery and rural encounters with horses,sheep and cows Lunch was a delicious platter if local cheeses and cured meats followed by traditional polenta dish. Really glad we did this trip.
Thank you so much for this wonderful review, Ann! We’re thrilled to hear that your walk through the authentic mountain villages became a highlight of your time in Transylvania. The bat cave is always a memorable little adventure, and it’s great that you enjoyed both the wild side of the experience and the peaceful countryside that followed. The horses, sheep, cows, open landscapes, and traditional food are exactly the kind of simple, genuine moments that make rural Transylvania so special. We’re very happy you joined us for this trip and that it left you with such warm memories!
I really liked everything this is a very beautiful place. It was my first trip like this and I was very happy. Mihai was wonderful, a very nice person. He told us about the place and adapted to our needs. Everything was really cool.
Thank you so much for your kind words! We’re very happy to hear that you enjoyed your first trip of this kind and that the mountain villages left such a beautiful impression on you. Mihai will be delighted to know that you appreciated his guidance, flexibility, and care throughout the tour. We’re glad everything felt comfortable, enjoyable, and adapted to your needs. We hope to welcome you again in Romania for another beautiful experience!
A truly wonderful day and experience. Our guide Tiberiu adjusted the itinerary due to weather and our preparedness (bring hiking boots!) and we spent the morning hiking in a canyon before having a wonderful lunch, then hiking through mountains and fields. It was all beautiful and Tiberiu was an excellent guide.
Thank you so much for your wonderful review, Jane! We’re very happy to hear you had such a beautiful day exploring the canyon, mountains, and authentic village landscapes with Tiberiu. Weather can sometimes change the plan, so we’re glad the adjusted itinerary turned into such a memorable experience. And yes — hiking boots are always a great idea! We hope to welcome you again for another adventure in Romania.
We had a wonderful day with our guide Tibeau (TB). We drove to the village of Pestana where we began our hike to the village of Magura. It’s a beautiful farming valley with spectacular views. We also enjoyed a lovely lunch at one of the guest houses in Magura. I think the total hiking time was about 6 hours including lunch. I would highly recommend this tour to anyone who enjoys a nice fairly easy hike in the beautiful outdoors.
Thank you for such a vivid and thoughtful review—it truly captures the spirit of this experience. We’re delighted you enjoyed the journey between Peștera and Măgura—it’s one of those rare corners where time slows down, and every step opens up another postcard view. The rolling meadows, traditional farms, and the constant presence of the mountains make this route special in every season. Tiberiu (TB) will be especially happy to hear your kind words. He has a natural way of blending storytelling, local insight, and a relaxed pace that turns a simple hike into a memorable day. And yes—there’s something about that homemade lunch in Măgura that always becomes a highlight 😊 We’re really glad the balance of walking, scenery, and authentic village life resonated with you. Hopefully, this won’t be your last adventure with us—there are many more beautiful trails waiting in the Carpathians.
I am still giving a 5 stars review despite the light rain during the trip which requires hiking at the village / county side. This i because weather is not someone's else control. What most important is my tour guide Tiberiu is excellent with what he is doing, he is 62 and more fits than most people on their 30's because he is doing this hike very often. He is very knowledgeable about nature and in general. Very easy to communicate with and very comfortable to be around. My friend and I was so lucky despite the bad weather, Tiberiu able to pick us up at our hotel in old town and no other tourists probably because of the rain, so as if we have a private tour! We able to discuss the modification of the trips that fits the situation on that day, very flexible trip. We had a wonderful and relaxing hike in the village overlooking the beautiful mountains. Because of the clouds and the post winter seasons, I need to come back on summer or autumn to see the vibrant colors of the nature and of course the better weather. After the hike we had a delicious lunch at one of the guest house (this is included in booking). We are so full with 2 course of meals then plus the tea/coffee with desert so 3 courses! Then we I requested another short hike to eat the digestion. I also requested for drop off at the train station and but changed my mind to the shopping mall. Tiberiu able to help me with the drop off and I also able to bring my carry on at the bag of the car during the trip. So if I could give a 10 stars I would, he deserves it! Thank you Tiberiu!
Thank you so much for your wonderful and thoughtful review, Paula! We truly appreciate your understanding regarding the weather—you're absolutely right, that’s one thing we can’t control, but we always do our best to ensure the experience remains enjoyable regardless of the conditions. It’s fantastic to hear that Tiberiu made such a strong impression. His passion for guiding, deep knowledge of nature, and incredible fitness really do make him stand out, and we’re delighted that you felt comfortable and well cared for throughout the day. We’ll be sure to pass along your kind words to him—he will be thrilled! We’re also glad the tour's flexibility helped you make the most of the day, especially with the quieter, almost-private experience and the opportunity to adapt the itinerary. It sounds like you enjoyed a perfect mix of scenic hiking, relaxing moments in the countryside, and delicious local food—exactly what we aim to offer. You are absolutely right—the landscapes transform beautifully with the seasons, and we would love to welcome you back in summer or autumn to experience the vibrant colors and even more stunning views. Thank you again for choosing to explore with us, and for your kind recommendation. We hope to see you again on another adventure in Romania!
the tour was amazing!!! Charlie was a wonderful guide. He gave me recommendations and was very funny and friendly. He was so nice, I am really grateful for that. And the views was so so beautiful. Thank you and a big thanks to Charlie for everything!🙏🏻
Thank you so much for your wonderful review, Daniel! 🙏 We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed the Small-Group Day Trip in Romanian Authentic Mountain Villages from Brașov. It means a lot to us that the experience was memorable for you. Charlie will be very happy to know that his recommendations, humor, and friendly attitude made the day even more special. He truly enjoys sharing the beauty of Romania and connecting with our guests. And yes — the views in those mountain villages are something truly special! 🌄 Thank you again for joining us and for your kind words. We hope to welcome you back to Romania for another adventure in the future!
Beautiful route through the Romanian mountain landscape, and the rural wooden older mountain homes of Transsalvania, with the snowy peaks.
Thank you for your lovely review, Loe! We’re very happy to hear that you enjoyed the scenic route through the Romanian mountain landscape and the authentic wooden mountain houses of Transylvania. The views of the traditional villages with the snow-covered peaks in the background are truly special, especially in winter. It was a pleasure having you with us, and we hope to welcome you back to explore more beautiful corners of the Carpathians in the future!
We had the most amazing day with Marian! I highly recommend booking this. We did this in January and it was the most beautiful scene.
Thank you so much for your lovely review, Sydney! We’re truly happy to hear that you had such an amazing day with Marian. Winter can be a magical time in the Romanian mountain villages, and we’re glad you got to experience their beauty in January. Your recommendation means a lot to us, and we hope to welcome you back to Romania for another adventure in the future!
