Things to do in Transylvania

Jagged limestone ridges cast shadows over gorges, farmsteads and valleys below with precarious paths along narrow spines allowing access to some of the most stunning settings in the whole of the southern Carpathians. Piatra Craiului National Park is just one of several fantastic sites for trekking in Transylvania with fairly steep terrain to be found throughout Zarnesti gorge.

If you prefer pleasant pastures to steep ascents there are several sign-posted trails and quiet rural lanes linking villages where you'll find gentle gradients past farmers' fields as well as paths through beech, oak and hazel forests. The route from Brasov to Rasnov and then onwards to Bran provides walkers with a quintessential glimpse at rural Transylvania with the ever-imposing shadows of the Carpathians coming into closer perspective as you descend deeper into the valleys below.

If you'd like to take this experience further there are some really worthwhile volunteering projects at Libearty. These offer hands-on opportunities for volunteers looking to pitch in with the day-to-day running of the sanctuary within the peaceful confines of protected beech, oak and hazel forests.

Following a wildlife researcher into the central Carpathians is an incredibly enlightening experience with the chance to spot wolf, lynx, boar and bear tracks or scat, just a precursor for what may or may not lie ahead. Groups of no more than six ensure you're given every opportunity to approach with care and caution with minimal impact on the natural habitat one of the prime objectives for this type of wildlife watching tour. Although you can never guarantee you'll see animals in Transylvania you can push the odds in your favour by using well positioned hides and tracking during the snow covered winter months and known mating seasons.

Aside from the larger mammals, Transylvania boasts numerous smaller critters with roe deer, hedgehogs and badgers known to inhabit the area alongside bats, woodpeckers, Ural owls and nearly 200 species of bird. Listening out for telltale howls or screeches late at night before preparing to depart your cosy, family run guesthouse at dawn is pure heaven for animal lovers looking for an authentic alternative to hunting vampires.