JUNE, 2003

During the first week of June, we finally took the jeep tour we had been talking about for a long time.  We selected a six day trip to Romania with the Israeli branch of the National Geographic Society.  I want to start by saying that we enjoyed the trip very much,  the guides were great and the group we were with was fun.  The tour was conducted in Hebrew and we had with us an Israeli guide, as well as a local guide, Rado who spoke English as well as Romanian.   We started the trip at the Bucharest airport where we were assigned our Jeeps. All were almost new "Nissan Terrano 2"  jeeps with air conditioning and plenty of room for 4 people and baggage.  We were 31 people in 8 jeeps including the 2 guides. 

After leaving the airport, we drove north bypassing Ploiesti and entered the Baiuliu mountain range.  This was the only rainy day of the trip, so several jeeps got stuck several times and we spent a lot of time pushing, pulling and arguing...  After the first day we had great weather.  Here are the main places we visited -

The Phagrash Mountains,  Mount Moldevaniu (over 2000 meters), the Hasdate river valley villages, the city of Cluj Napoka, the ice cave of Scarisoara, Lake Fontanelelor near the small town of Belis, the forests aroung Aiud, Cighisoara, the birthplace of Vlad Dracul, the ski resort Poiano Brasov, and the city of Brasov.  We stayed in hotels which ranged from the 5 star (and brand new) Piatra Mara in Poiano Brasov, to the no star Fontanela in Belis, where the water in the bathroom ran red from the rust in the pipes.

We visited the most primitive villages, (no running water or electricity) drank home brewed Zuika (local plum brandy), visited at the home of a farmer and his family, toured areas where lumber workers live for 3-4 months a year in primitive huts harvesting lumber, and even fixed a few jeep problems.  I think everybody enjoyed the trip very much.

Below are some pictures from the trip - Click on the thumbnails to see the fullsize picture.

Select to see larger picture

Select to see larger picture Select to see larger picture Select to see larger picture Select to see larger picture
Select to see larger picture Select to see larger picture

Select to see larger picture

Select to see larger picture Select to see larger picture
Select to see larger picture Select to see larger picture

Select to see larger picture

Select to see larger picture

Select to see larger picture

Select to see larger picture Select to see larger picture
Select to see larger picture

Select to see larger picture

Select to see larger picture

Select to see larger picture

Select to see larger picture
Select to see larger picture Select to see larger picture

BEST HOTEL --->>

 

<<---WORST HOTEL

 Select to see larger picture Select to see larger picture

 

 Select to see larger picture

Select to see larger picture

Select to see larger picture  
 

Meet Rado, our local Romanian guide, in the picture above.

I think the picture above was the best one of the trip.

Meet Sarit, our Israeli guide. Her knowledge about Romania was very impressive and she made the trip a big success.

  

This is a page from our site "Travels with Steve & Alisa".  It describes one of the many trips we have made together.  We've built these pages not just to describe our trips, but to help other travelers if we can.  Please use the information we've provided freely, and let us know if you have any questions we might be able to answer about your own planned trip, or just let us know if we have helped you. Or perhaps you have some information we could add to the site. Visit our home page using the link to the right.                 

Enjoy your next trip!!                         ~Steve & Alisa~

Last updated:  March 8, 2005