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Blog Post
2023 Trip to Bucovina (Adults)
Welcome to the fascinating regions of Transylvania & Bucovina, Romania!
About Via Transilvanica
Via Transilvanica is a long-distance trail for walking, cycling, and horseback riding. 1,400 kilometers long, it crosses the country from Putna to Drobeta Turnu-Severin, passing through over 600 communities. Via Transilvanica is inspired by other worldwide long-distance trails, such as the El Camino, Pacific Crest Trail and Appalachian Trail. Via Transilvanica is also the largest outdoor artistic sculpture exhibition in the world.
About the Tour
Our 5-day Via Transilvanica hiking tour will take you on an unforgettable journey through the stunning natural landscapes and unique cultural heritage of Bucovina and Transylvania. Let us guide you through the heart of this legendary regions, following the trail of the newly established Via Transilvanica hiking route, and discover the hidden gems of this incredible part of Romania.
Organizers: Our tour is organized by a team of experienced and professional guides who are passionate about Romania's natural beauty, culture, and history. They will lead you through the hiking route, making sure you experience the best of this route during your trip.
Route: The 5-day hiking tour on the Via Transilvanica from Putna to Vatra Dornei will take you through some of Romania's most beautiful and historic landscapes. You will be crossing wide terraces of rolling hills, passing through forests and meadows and traveling along river valleys. Along the way, you'll get to observe local wildlife and take in breathtaking views of the Carpathian Mountains. You'll also get to visit several historic sites, such as the Putna monastery, Valea Putnei open-air ethnographic museum and the old churches of Vatra Dornei. Come explore Romania's natural beauty and rich heritage on this memorable journey!
Route: PUTNA - VATRA DORNEI
Distance: 100 km
Duration: 8 days / 7 nights (1st day meeting point + 5 days hiking + 2 days at Tasuleasa)
Cost (estimate): $1120/person
What's included: Accommodation, meals, transportation, and guide services. Not included flights or personal expenses. **
If you need transportation, please see below cost of transportation and route, depending on your needs. The meeting point for the bus is going to be in Cluj.
Transportation: (by bus, at least 15 people for this cost)
- Cluj - Putna: $40/ person
- Vatra Dornei - Tasuleasa: $15/ person
- Tasuleasa - Cluj: $25/ person
**We strongly encourage you to make additional donations to the Via Transilvanica project and to tip your guide generously. The cost of this experience already includes a contribution to the project.
Day 1 (July 5th) - Cluj Pickup - Anyone traveling from Cluj will be picked-up by bus.
Day1 (July 5th) - Meeting point - Arriving at the meeting place in Putna to sleep for the night. The group will get the chance to socialize and meet each other. TBD
Day2 (July 6th) - After breakfast we will start our first day visiting the historic Putna Monastery. The first hike will begin from Putna going to Sucevita (17km). Arrival at Sucevita for accommodations.
Day3 (July 7th) - We will leave from Sucevita to Vatra Moldovitei (21km) for the second day hike. Lunch on the way. Arriving for accommodations in Vatra Moldovitei.
Day4 (July 8th) - The hike will start after breakfast from Vatra Moldovitei to Sadova (22km). The day will finish with accommodations in Sadova for the night.
Day5 (July 9th) - The hike for this day will start at Sadova and we will arrive at the end of the day to Pasul Mestecanis (21km) for the night accommodations.
Day6 (July 10th) - For the last day of hiking we will leave Pasul Mestecanis and finish at Vatra Dornei (20km). From Vatra Dornei we will travel by bus to Tasuleasa for accommodations.
Day7 (July 11th) - Tasuleasa social volunteers will give you a tour of the Tasuleasa Campus where you will find many interesting things to do and see. The night will end with a bonfire and saying goodbye to another awesome adventure.
Day8 (July 12th) -Departure- Leaving from Tasuleasa Social.
Updated schedule will be posted as soon as we have confirmation on accommodations and places to visit.
It will be a wonderful journey from Putna to Vatra Dornei and ending with a great experience at the Tasuleasa Social, the birth place of Via Transilvanica! We will experience the diverse culture and breathtaking landscapes of this beautiful country. Thank you for joining us and we hope you will enjoy your trip as much as we do!
Please check out the Traveler's Guide link below for more useful information on our route and recommended list of equipment:
Traveler's Guide (Putna-Vatra Dornei) - English
Ghidul Drumetului (Putna-Vatra Dornei) - Romanian
More Details
2021 Trip Donations VT Gala VT FAQ VT Donors
Stay in touch: Join our Whatsapp group.
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Blog Post
2022 Trip to Transylvania (Adults)
2021 Trip Donations VT Gala VT FAQ VT Donors
Get ready to embark on your trip to Transylvania. On this page, you will learn everything you need to know about the Via Transilvanica trip, taking place July 2nd-12th, 2020.
Via Transilvanica is a 1,000 km hiking trail that will reposition Romania on the world tourism map. Together we will discover the backcountry of Transylvania.
Stay in touch: Join our Whatsapp group.
Learn more about previous year trips:
- https://www.facebook.com/mihai.lehene/posts/10159398228968159
- https://www.facebook.com/mihai.lehene/posts/10159407213778159
- https://www.facebook.com/mihai.lehene/posts/10159404528088159
- https://www.facebook.com/mihai.lehene/posts/10159412329433159
- https://www.facebook.com/mihai.lehene/posts/10159403604518159
- https://www.facebook.com/mihai.lehene/posts/10159402999938159
- https://www.facebook.com/mihai.lehene/posts/10159399299888159
- https://www.facebook.com/mihai.lehene/posts/10159399046483159
Trip Organizers:
This trip is organized by Mihai Lehene in collaboration with Alin Useriu of Tasuleasa Social, the nonprofit behind Via Transilvanica.
Trip Cost:
The actual lodging and food during the trip are very cheap. You only pay for your own expenses, so this may be variable, but our estimate is about $1,000 per person, including travel, room & board (excluding international air fare). This does not include any donations or fees/funds for either Romanian United Fund or Tasuleasa Social. Donations are always welcome and highly encouraged.
Trip Route:
Arrival: Cluj, July 1st
Jul 1 Cluj (Meet & Sleep in Cluj) Jul 2 Sarmisegetuza Regia Jul 3 Fundatura Ponorului (tents) Jul 4 Hobita (Retezat/Sureanu) Jul 5 Salasul de Sus Jul 6 Salasul de Sus Jul 7 Travel to Tasuleasa Social Jul 8 Tasuleasa Social Jul 9 Travel to Cluj/Straja Hiking Route:
Jul 3: Hike from Sarmisegetuza Regia to Fundatura Ponorului
Jul 4: Hike from Fundatura Ponorului to Hobita (Retezat)
Jul 5: Hike from Hobita to Salasul de Sus
Jul 6: Hike from Salasul de Sus to Salasul de Sus (circle)
Join the Group:
A small group will meet in Cluj on or around July 1st in the evening.
The next morning, groups from Cluj, Zalau, Baia Mare, Alba Iulia will start towards Sarmisegetuza Regia.
The main group meets on July 2nd, at Cetatea Malaiesti, near Sarmisegetuza Regia. On that day, we will join the Via Transilvanica section launch at 12 PM. A second meetup point is the Sarmisegetuza Regia Parking lot, at 4 PM. We start hiking on July 3rd in the morning.
Some people may desire to join the second leg of the trip, July 7 - July 9, at Tasuleasa Social.
Stay in touch: Join our Whatsapp group.
Confirmed participants:
Updated as of: January 1st, 2022
TOTAL 42 9 12 # of people signup date Tasuleasa Camp Little kids camp Annie & Jimmy Faklis 2 08/05/2021 Nicky Moigradan Eliza Luput Claudia & Mihai Lehene 2 08/05/2021 Alexandra Lehene Maya Daraban Gabriela & Alex Turik 2 08/05/2021 Stefan Lehene Noah Daraban Keith Kirkland 1 08/05/2021 David Bora Robert Apostoaia Monica Ferchi & guest 2 08/06/2021 Gruia Radu David Apostoaia Ioana Salajanu 1 08/06/2021 Ana Guset Denisa Zaharia Ioana & Sebastian Micle 2 11/02/2021 Justin Luput Lucas Guset Monica & Calin Moigradan 2 11/02/2021 Alexa Zaharia Sofia Bodi Monica & Mihai Bora 2 11/02/2021 Timea Nagy Sara Bodi Mona & Claudiu Radu 2 11/02/2021 Sebastian Antal Ioana & Ionut Guset 2 11/02/2021 Alexandru Antal Anca & Cristian Pop 2 11/02/2021 Andrei Antal Simona & Cristian Luput 2 11/02/2021 Liviu & Anamaria Olos 2 11/02/2021 Cristina & Gabi Zaharia 2 11/02/2021 Chichita & Chisu 2 11/02/2021 Ligia & Radu Apostoaia 2 11/02/2021 Alex & Daniela 2 11/02/2021 Marina & Aurel Busu 2 12/15/2021 Diana Muresan & guest 2 12/15/2021 Lavinia & Viorel 2 12/24/2021 Monica Ferchi's 2 guests 2 12/31/2021 View our trekking and day by day person count spreadsheet.
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Blog Post
2021 Trip to Transylvania (Adults)
Donations VT Gala VT FAQ VT Donors
Get ready to embark on your trip to Transylvania. On this page, you will learn everything you need to know about the Via Transilvanica trip, taking place July 2nd-12th, 2020.
Via Transilvanica is a 1,000 km hiking trail that will reposition Romania on the world tourism map. Together we will discover the backcountry of Transylvania.
Stay in touch: Join our Whatsapp group.
Trip Organizers:
This trip is organized by Mihai Lehene in collaboration with Alin Useriu of Tasuleasa Social, the nonprofit behind Via Transilvanica.
Trip Cost:
The trip is expected to cost roughly $3,000 per person (assuming an airfare cost of about $1,000).
Trip Route:
Cluj, Gura Humorului, Vatra Dornei, Tasuleasa, Cluj.
Hiking Route:
The Vatra Dornei to Tasuleasa component is a 3-day hiking route, that will take you through the heart of Transylvania, and end at the Tasuleasa Social camping ground, where you will learn more about the wonderful organization that made everything possible.
Other points of interest in the area: Sibiu, Biertan, Sighisoara, Cund, Lacul Rosu, Cheile Bistritei, Valea Bistritei Aurii.
Join the Group:
We meet in Cluj on July 2nd, at 10 am, then we travel to Gura Humorului.
Alternatively, you can join the group from Vatra Dornei, on July 4th!, at 10 am.
Stay in touch: Join our Whatsapp group.
Confirmed participants:
Locations: Cluj, Gura Humorului, Vatra Dornei, Tasuleasa, Cluj
- July 2nd: Meeting in Cluj
- July 2nd: Travel to Gura Humorului
- July 2rd: Gura Humorului Overnight Accommodation
- July 3rd: Visits to Monasteries
- July 3rd: Gura Humorului Overnight Accommodation
- July 4th: Drive from Gura Humorului to Vatra Dornei
- July 4th: Meetup in Vatra Dornei
- July 4th: Start hiking (hike day #1)
- July 4th: Poiana Negri Overnight Accommodation
- July 5th: Start hiking (hike day #2)
- July 5th: Lunca Ilvei Overnight Accommodation
- July 6th: Start hiking (hike day #3)
- July 6th: Arrive at Tasuleasa Social
- July 6th: Tasuleasa Overnight Accommodation
- July 7th: Tasuleasa Program
- July 7th: Tasuleasa Overnight Accommodation
- July 8th: Travel from Tasuleasa to Cluj (morning)
- July 8th: Arrive in Cluj (noon)
Count 13 13 15 15 15 18 18 19 23 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 #1 #2 #3 #4 #5 #6 #7 #8 #9 #10 #11 #12 #13 #14 #15 #16 #17 #18 Claudia & Mihai Lehene x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x Monica & Claude Radu x x x x x x x x x x x x x Ioana & Ionut Guset x x x x x x x x x x Monica & Calin Moigradan x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x Mihai Bora x x x x x x x x x x x x x Anca & Cristian Pop x x x x x x x x x Keith Kirkland x x x x x x x x x x x Ligia & Radu Apostoaia x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x Ioana & Sebastian Savos x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x Laura & Chisu x x x x x x x x x x Andreea & Norbert Nagy x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x Liviu and Anamaria Olos x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x Iulian Portasa x x x x x x x x x Videos and Photos
Beautiful markers sculpted by over 200 artists from all over the country mark each kilometer of Via Transilvanica.
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Blog Post
Rediscover Romania: Summer Camps for 10-18 yr-olds
Registration is now: CLOSED
Click here to signup, and we will update you when we start our next camp.
While we are in the midst of this pandemic, we hope to be able to fulfill our promise and send 30 kids to camp this summer. We are making progress on formalizing this program. We have 25+ requests (with deposits) for what we think will be a 30 kids camp. You can sign up using the link above.
We are also close to finalizing sponsorship to send one child to camp (in Romania) for free (YeeeeY!). Details to follow.
Location: Ighiu, Alba Iulia, Romania
Dates:
- July 1st - July 13th* (two weeks)
- July 1st - July 6th (one week)
- July 7th - July 13th (one week)
Learn more: Camp Hapy Faces on "Tabara Mea", or visit
Cost of the camp: $260/week (does not include transportation)
Most kids have already been in this camp in the prior years and they absolutely LOOOVED it. Every one of the kids who've been there before requested a double session, so all the kids who signed up already are going July 1st - July 13th.
Imagine your kids visiting Romania, in an organized camp, organized by parents with the support of a community organization (RUF). Your thoughts and feedback are welcome. Please visit us on Facebook and let's chat.
* This option is most widely preferred currently
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Blog Post
Via Transilvanica Campaign $106,000+
VT Gala VT FAQ Travel to Transylvania
Buy a Milestone Find your Milestone
Materials from the gala
We invite you to take a few moments to watch our video to learn more about our event.
We are thankful for the support of Via Transilvanica Ambassadors, Andreea Esca, who helped us raise awareness in our community.
What is VIA Transilvanica?
Inspired by hike trails around the world, Tășuleasa Social planned to create one in Romania, to go from Bucovina, through Transylvania, to finally reach Drobeta Turnu Severin in the Banat region.
In 2017, the organisation laid the first brick at Putna Monastery - the resting place of Ștefan cel Mare. Up until the end of 2019, Via Transilvanica has expanded to encompass a finished hiking trail 398km long. Tășuleasa Social hopes that by the end of 2022, they will finish building it, expanding it to reach its projected length of 950km.
Initially the hiking trail was meant to be a grassroots project, funded by the people and for the people. Throughout its evolution, the organisation had to work with local and regional governments, in order to ensure the maintenance of the path and its relationship to the communities it passes through. Additionally, along the way, multinational corporations such as Raiffeisen Bank, E-On, Coca Colba HBC, E EGGER and many others have joined the collective effort and donate funds to facilitate the construction of more than 600km combined.
2020 Progress
Starting from July until August, Via Transilvanica was frequented by more than 1.500 people, either by foot, by horse or by bicycle. The old roads are now constantly visited by hikers who raise awareness about them. The newly-inaugarated 685 kilometres are permanently being trespassed by tourists.
This year, Tășuleasa Social, started a new strategy of taking care of the existent marked roads: parts of the path were being offered to adoption to a variety of individuals, organisations, etc. The part of the road in Bistrița-Năsăud enjoys adoptive parents almost in its entirety, and we were also managed to find some for the other counties: Mureș, Brașov, Harghita.
What is left for 2020?
- The development of 287km and opening up to the public the already-marked paths throughout the year.
- Creating a traveller's guide for the existent paths and translating it in English and German.
- Organising some sculpture camps, so that the milestones on the path can incorporate a cultural part.
- Refurbishing the milestones where those were deteriorated or destroyed.
- Maintaining and improving the website of Via Transilvanica and adding the web-pages in English; as well as sharing with the public the mobile app Via Transilvanica.
- Creating promotional activities.
Romanians from Chicago coming to help
Motivated by the values that stand behind Via Transilvanica - access to nature, aid to local communities - Romanian United Fund organised in 2019 a gala at Chicago aimed at raising funds for the project. 300 donors, came together, to raise over 100.000$ which were used to help build between 50 - 100km of the hiking trail.
In an interview, Mihai Lehene, said in an interview that every dollar donated to Via Transilvanica will generate back to the local communities and to its inhabitants, somewhere between 20 - 50 dollars. Thus, the $100,000 contribution coming from RUF could bring to the communities well over $2,000,000.
