8 day trekking journey

This journey has as destination the old orthodox monasteries which are situated in wild regions and which are not known by tourists.

Day 1. home – Bucharest Otopeni – Predeal
After arrival at the Bucharest-Otopeni airport, meeting with the romanian guide and then we'll drive up to the north. D/O/B Orizont Hotel 3* Predeal

Day 2. Predeal – Piatra Neamt
In the morning we'll drive through the South Carpathians to Transylvania. Eventually we could make a short stop in Brasov and become acquainted with the history of the Transylvanian saxons. We'll drive on to the north through the Szeklerland with its strong hungarian minority. In the afternoon we'll cross the Eastern Carpathians along the Red Lake and then through the Bicaz gorge. In the late afternoon we'll visit the Pingarati monastery built in the 15th century where monks live there again since 1991. D/O/B Ceahlau Hotel 2* Piatra Neamt

Day 3. Bistrita – Almas
In the morning we'll drive with the jeep in the wilderness of the Carpathians. First of all we'll visit the Bistrita monk monastery, established by prince Petru Musat (1374). Afterwards we'll drive to Gircina monastery. A part of the road has to be made by foot through the forest, because of the bad route. In the late afternoon we'll arrive at the Almas monastery, established 1715. There are living about 15 monks. D/O/B in the monastery or in camp.

Day 4. Almas – Horcioara – Horaita
In the morning we'll drive with the jeep to Horaicioara monastery, built in the 18th century by transylvanian peasants. At a distance of about 1 km we'll reach the Horaita monastery, with 24 monks. At the beginning it was built of wood. In 1725 the monastery was rebuilt after it was destroyed by thieves. D/O/B in the monastery or in the camp.

Day 5. Horaita – Sihla – Sihastria – Secu
In the morning we'll leave behind the Horaita monastery and drive to Sihla monastery, which is being lived again since 1991 by monks. It was established in the 16th century and is dedicated to the birth of John the Baptizer (24 June). We could visit in the neighbourhood the cave of saint Theodora from the Carpathians, who lived there in the 17th century. She lived there over 60 years and she is now buried in the Pecerska monastery in Kiev. The Sihastria monastery is at a distance of 3 km from Sihla monastery. There are here about 120 monks and it is an important monastery in close connection with the orthodox faith. There is a big number of cultivated monks who are involved with the orthodox theology. In the late afternoon we reach the Secu monastery, which has about 50 monks. It was built in 1602 by prince Nestor Ureche and is one of the few monasteries from Moldavia which still has circular walls and a fortress. D/O/B in the Secu monastery or in the the camp

Day 6. Secu-Nifon-Pocrov-Vovidenia-Neamt-tirgu Neamt
In the morning we'll visit the Niron monastery, 3 km away from the Secu monastery. It was established in 1664 by Eremit Nifon and was destroyed in 1821 by turks. It is being lived again since 1991. Then we'll visit the Procov monastery, which has 6 monks. It was built in 1714 by bishop Pahomius and has inside many religious objects. Then we'll have a walk through the forest with its reservation, and then arrive in one hour at the Vovidenis monastery. Here are 8 monks living. We can see rare icons drawn on material. We have about 2 km until Neamt monastery, which was built in 1376 and become acquainted with an important part of the life of the orthodox monks. We'll spend the night at the Arcasul Hotel 2* D/O/B

Day 7. Targu Neamt – Buzau
The minibus for the rest of the trip expects us at the hotel. In the morning we'll visit the biggest nun monasteries from Europe. The Varatec and Agapia monasteries numbers over 1000 nuns and sisters each. They are organized as little villages. In the evening we'll arrive in Buzau. D/O/B in Pietroasa hotel 2*

Day 8. Buzau – Bucharest – home
In the morning we'll drive to the capital. After a city tour in Bucharest we'll drive to the airport for the home flight.

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