Geführt von Iulian Cozma wanderten 10 Mitglieder des Pfälzerwald Vereins Ortsgruppe Worms in den Südkarpaten vom 06. – 15. August 2010

Wir flogen mit Austrian Airlines von Frankfurt über Wien nach Hermanstadt (Sibiu) und zurück. Die Wanderung begann von der Poiana Neamtului und ging über die Barcaciu-Hütte, Negoi-Hütte, Balea-Lac-Hotel, Podragu-Hütte und endete in Victoria-Stadt.

Eines der Höhepunkte war die Besteigung des Moldoveanu-Gipfels (2545 m) des höchsten Berges der rumänischen Karpaten.

Außer Bergwandern standen jedoch auch Sehenswürdigkeiten in „Siebenbürgen“ im Programm. Wir besuchten Hermanstadt (Sibiu), Kronstadt (Brasov), Schäßburg (Sighisoara), Birthälm (Biertan)und Mediasch (Medias).

Iulian Cozma ist es gelungen uns eine unvergessliche Wanderung erleben zu lassen. Seine Planung war ausgezeichnet und unserer Kondition angemessen. Er hat es verstanden alle Teilnehmer im Alter von 33 – 70 Jahren gleichermaßen zu begeistern. Iulian hat unseren Wünschen entsprechend viel Flexibilität entgegengebracht. Wir waren sehr gut betreut und haben uns stets sicher gefühlt.

Diese Wanderung hat uns bleibende Eindrücke über die wunderbaren Naturlandschaften und Landsleute Rumäniens geboten. Wir werden diese Wanderreise in guter Erinnerung behalten und in der Zukunft vielleicht noch das Bucegi-Gebirge oder die Ostkarpaten mit Iulian buchen. Wir sagen Danke und wünschen Iulian weiterhin erfolgreiche Führungen.

Dr. Artur Wolff, Worms, Deutschland

All mountain, all weather We had it all. A few spells of hot temperatures and sun, fluffy white clouds and spring time temperatures higher up in Bucegi, torrential rain but also autumn like drizzles, sometimes patches of fog. We were not spoiled by the weather, but we were spoiled with a full range of mountain biking trails, treks, roads, routes, you name it – the harsh ascent up to Baiului ridge, the tricky and scary trails up in Bucegi mountains, the descents at Sinaia, Postavaru, the scenic gorges of Zarnesti, the great views on the hills of Pestera, Magura and Simon villages. “It simply hurts my eyes”, said one of the 14 bikers who came from Israel to test our mountain biking trails, about the landscape he layed his eyes on while cycling from one village to another around Bran Castle. All in all, the unusual abundance of rain in the middle of the summer added somehow to the exoticism of the tour: for the Israeli bikers it was a spectacle in itself, they said they are happy with one week of rain in winter time back in Israel, then the rest of the year is dry, dry, dry.
Thank you Michael Didi & co. for a nice week!

Mit den Wünschen: „Bergwandern, aber auch Städte und Kultur innerhalb  einer Woche ein wenig kennen lernen“, wandten wir uns an Iulian, mit dem ein Teilnehmer aus unserer Gruppe vor sechs Jahren schon gute Erfahrungen gemacht hatte. Umgehend erhielten wir Antwort mit einem von Iulian geplanten Programm. Kleine Änderungswünsche von unserer Seite wurden sofort und problemlos von ihm aufgenommen und umgesetzt. So kamen wir auf drei Tage Bergwandern unter seiner Betreuung in den Fargaras Mountains, mit Besteigung des Serbota und des Scara – drei Tage Städtetouren durch Brasov und Sighisoara mit Zwischenstopp in Sinaia auf eigene Faust. Letztendlich mussten wir uns lediglich um den Flug kümmern. Alles andere – von Unterkunft und Verpflegung während der Wanderungen über Hotelbuchungen in den Städten bis hin zum Transport vom und zum Flughafen wurde von Iulian perfekt und zu unserer vollsten Zufriedenheit arrangiert. Darüber hinaus wurden uns selbst Zugverbindungen sowie Besichtigungs- und Restauranttipps für die Städtetouren mit an die Hand gegeben.

Schon am Flughafen von Sibiu erwartete uns Iulian. Gemeinsam mit ihm verbrachten wir den Abend mit einer kleinen Stadttour durch Sibiu und Abendessen in einem Restaurant mit rumänischer Küche. Am nächsten Morgen ging es zunächst mit dem Auto in Richtung Fargaras-Gebirge.

Die Bergwanderungen waren sehr gut aufgebaut, das Tempo an unser Können angepasst. Während wir die Ruhe und die wunderschöne Natur genossen, zeigte sich Iulian durchgehend als sehr kompetenter, erfahrener, umsichtiger und flexibler Bergführer, der uns ein hohes Maß an Sicherheit und Wohlbefinden vermittelte. Zudem erfuhren wir von ihm viel über Land und Leute und erhielten beim Wasserbüffelmelken und der Besichtigung einer Maismühle einen einmaligen Einblick in das rumänische Landleben.

Tausend Dank für den perfekten und unvergesslichen Urlaub Iulian!

Wir kommen auf jeden Fall wieder!

Karin, Martin, Sandra und Tobi aus Hamburg – Juli 2010

With the briefing to “go hiking and experience cities and romanian culture and country life within a week time”, we approached Iulian to design a tour for us. One of our group´s members already did a tour six years ago and had a very good experience with him. We immediately received an individual tour recommendation. Slight changes and wishes from our side were implemented right away, Iulian had a very good sense and understanding for what we envisioned. The tour finally consisted of a three day hike in Fagaras Mountains (including climbing Serbota and Scara peak) plus a city tour through Brasov and Sigishoara with a short stop at Sinaia on our own. All we needed to arrange was the flight to Sibiu, everything else – from accomodation on the huts to “catering”, hotel bookings in the cities and transfers – were perfectly organized by Iulian. On top of that, Iulian did not stop with delivering the tour: his services also included individual restaurant recommendations for the cities, checking train connections etc.

Iulian picked us up at the airport and started the first day with a city tour through Sibiu and a nice dinner in a Romanian restaurant. The next Morning, the transfer to the mountains started to the Fagaras mountains. The hikes were perfectly planned, very well suited to our idea of the tour and adapted to our speed and physical condition. While we enjoyed the scenery, Iulian proved to be a competent, experienced and also flexible mountain guide, who always gave us a very secure and comfortable feeling.

Moreover, we learned from him a great deal about people and the country. Milking a water buffalo (!) and visiting a mill in a small village were a very individual and unique insight into parts of Romanian country life.

Thanks very much for the perfect and unforgettable holiday! We will definitely return for the next tour…
Karin, Martin, Sandra and Tobi from Hamburg, Germany – July 2010

It’s quite possible that a vacation in Romania might pose some challenges for the average American tourist, especially when planning to visit castles, monasteries, and historical towns, as well as complete a 4-night hut-to-hut hiking traverse of the Fagaras Mountains. Challenging, that is, unless your trip is in the capable hands of Iulian Cozma. From our pickup at the Bucharest airport to our 4:30 a.m. departure back to the airport 10 days later, every step of our trip was handled by Iulian with the utmost efficiency and care for our comfort and enjoyment. His skills go far beyond his competence as a mountain guide or his organizational abilities in handling every detail of lodging and traditional Romania menus. It’s a rate individual who can teach his guests how to clear hundreds of sheep from a hiking trail (just whistle!), then several days later escort them to an elegant and extraordinary restaurant in Bucharest. He is one hard working individual, and it is amply demonstrated in the results achieved. We had the good fortune to enjoy many wonderful and memorable experiences thanks to Iulian and would highly recommend his services to anyone who wants an unforgettable and stress-free vacation in Romania.
Jim and Peggy Hilton – Seattle, WA USA – July 2010 – Fagaras ridge traverse

Greetings!
I did this walk a lot of times, with a lot of guests from all over the world, and I enjoy it all the times! Is one of the most beautiful areas from South East of Transylvania, where you can discover the real rural life of Romania, meting local people and why not enjoying  nature!
Enjoy some photos from my last tour there!

Kind regards,
Iulian Cozma

Testimonial
Chris and I would like to thank you so much for the walk you put together for us all. It was well prepared and planned, The meadows so full of wild flowers were breathtaking,and we were very impressed with your knowledge of where to walk, especially where there were no known paths. We felt you carried out the walk with true professionalism. You were extremely helpful at all times and very informative on all aspects of the walk,the area and customs of Romania.

The Pensions were really nice to stay in and the people we met were so lovely and friendly. It was a pleasure to visit your country and especially Transylvania, which you obviously love and care about. Once again thank you so much.

We wish you and your family best wishes for the future,
Chris and Yvonne Hartley - Leicestershire, England – June 2010

We walked in Bran County for four days with Iulian. He anticipated our every need: ensuring there were cold beers available at our pension each night; guiding us back in time to watch England live to see another day in the World Cup; fending off dogs before we’d even seen them… he fully justified his nickname ‘Mr Efficiency’. We walked through some beautiful countryside on unmarked routes and we saw a lifestyle quite different from anything we knew. To top it all, the day after we arrived back in Brasov he presented us each with a disc of all the photos he had taken on our walk. Thank you so much!
Elizabeth and ColinThornton – Leicestershire, England – June 2010

O che bello! – mountain biking in Romania

One year after spending a ski-touring week in the Bucegi and Făgăraş, Mario kept his promise of returning to the Romanian mountains. Together with five friends from Switzerland and Italy, this time he came for six days of pedaling on the dirt roads and trails of the mountains near the city of Braşov.

Combining my long experience in organizing tours for mountaineers from all over the world with Horia’s comprehensive knowledge of the mountain biking routes around Braşov, we put together a complex and fulfilling program for our guests. They cycled across the Baiului ridge, along the Bucegi and Piatra Craiului massifs, on the hills, pastures, and villages near the famous Bran Castle, through the magnificent gorges of Zărneşti and Dâmbovicioara, in the majestic forests covering the Postăvaru mountain on the outskirts of Braşov, totaling more than 6000 meters uphill and more than 200 kilometers distance. The weather was generally good, we only had to change the route on one day – switching from going up to the 2000 meters of the Bucegi plateau, to a simpler but playful route in the forests surrounding Predeal.

There was also time for visiting the famous Bran Castle – people keep going there to find Dracula and end up fascinated by the charm of the old summer residence of Queen Mary of Romania. The group also visited the old sparkling wine factory in Azuga and, not in the least, enjoyed delightfully quiet evenings and gargantuan home made dinners and breakfasts at Madam Jebac’s pension at the footsteps of Bucegi mountains. The last two evenings in the lively and cheerful city center of Braşov were like a return from a trip into a different world, one where you forget about all your daily issues.

Oh che bello, oh che bello! Grazie mille Barbara, Claudio, Sergio, Kalina, Mario!

Enjoy the photos Horia took during this trip.

Best regards from Brasov,
Iulian

Greetings!

I was hiking for the first time on Dragus north ridge with my father, back on summer on summer of 1988… and I still have good memories! We start our hike from Breaza village, on the old border between Austro-Hungarian empire and Romania, climbing up to Traznita cliffs on Cataveiu ridge, and descending from Cheia Bandei peak to Valea Sambetei hut.

I remember that was a strong rainy day, and we slept on the corridor of Sambata valley, on some wet mattresses…. Was not a easy hike, and was not a easy night for a teenager of 14 years old, but I survived:)

On the next days we climb the steep path who lead us to Racorele valley on Dragus ridge, and I was amazed by the colors of the flowers, the same rhododendrons witch was on bloom period more then 20 years ago!

Since then, each time when I want to show to others how beautiful can be this mountain flowers, I’m returning there! And I think was worth, because as you see, I’m returning there with pleasure!

On 2009, on June, I was up the with Michele Blanc from Salon de Provence, France, and her friends! And we had a very nice hiking tour, on the same beautiful landscape, surrounded by the beautiful rhododendrons!

This year I had the chance to be there with Beth, Marc and Mike, mountain lowers, who work and live in Bucharest. And out tour was fulfilled with really good weather, and with the flowers on bloom as is rare to find anywhere else in Fagaras mountains!

Bottom of the line, Fagaras mountains offer incredible hikes and views, during year around, but if you can hike on the rhododendrons blooming period you’ll be very nice surprised!

Enjoy the photos,
Iulian

Testimonial:

After a very nice experience with Iulian in May where we discovered Omu Peak in the Bucegi mountains we decided this time to go hiking in the Fagaras Mountains on 19th&20th of June.

It is the best period because all Rhododendrons are blossoming and the top of the hills turn red. We slept on Friday in Brancoveanu Monastery and on Saturday morning we moved up from 800m to 2100m on the North Dragus ridge. The climb was tough but the scenery on the top with all the trees blossoming was worth all the efforts.We had a great lunch next to a stream before to start our descend to the Salvamont Hut on Valea Sambatei. At the end we had been covering a distance of 15km, walking up 1300m and walking down 800m.We had a great dinner with the Salvamont team before to rest under our blankets while the rain was pouring outside. In the morning the weather had improve enough and we walked down the Sambata Valley along the river to go back to the monastery.

All in all a great experience witch I recommend to anyone who wants to discover this unique scenery of the Fagaras mountains covered by red Rhododendron flowers.

Beth and Marc Desenfans, June 2010

I was contacted by Dr. Roehl three years ago, for a hiking tour in Romania. Of course in Fagaras mountains:) And on each year he was pretty busy, or he didn’t find any other persons interested for a tour in Romania.

Why Romania? What you can do there? Is just a country in East Europe from where are coming those persons who stole our cars from West Europe… And of course I’m agree with this type of thinking! But on the same time I think that Romania have a lot of things to offer to persons from all over the world, not only from West Europe. And of course, a big variaty to spent your holidays, especially in the active holiday segement! But for sure you have to be pretty open minded to visit Romania, after you see on Tv’s or read in the news papers about a lot of not so nice things about Romania…. But I think that the reality is 100% different!

So finally, this year Sussane was convinced by Dr. Roelh to join him on his trip to … Romania, to Transylvanian Alps. And I think they will not regret the trip witch we did in Fagaras and Bucegi mountains!

First of all the weather was perfect! And not the last, our backpacks were heavy! I mean heavy! I think each of us carry around 15 kg, sleeping bag, mattress, food, and the usual equipment for a tour like this!

We enjoyed three days in Fagaras mountains, sleeping on bivouac huts from Zarna and Vistea Mare on main ridge, seeing a bear (again!) in Curmatura Zarnei saddle, and not the last we climbed Moldoveanu peak on a beautiful morning on June 8th!

As usually, almost nobody on the ridge of Fagaras on this period, and we were happy with this! In Curmatura Zarnei we met Laura and Nick, who hiked from Iezer papusa mountain range, but they descent thrum Sambata valley.

At the end of Fagaras hike we climbed ~3700 meters, and we loos ~3900 meters, and this in just three days!

After Fagaras mountains we move our hikes in Bucegi mountains, traversing this mountains from West to East. Of course we were the guests of Madam Jebac, from Poarta village, who treat as very well (I can say at usual), and our tour to Bucegi mountains start on a very good manner!

Some photos from this tour below!

Best wishes,
Iulian

Greetings!

At the end of May I did a hiking and a walking tour on one of my favorite regions to take pictures, on the hills of Bran county! I’ve been hiking and walking with Jo and Dave, witch were in Romania visiting some friends, and also to discover some more from Romania!And I think we had a nice tour, despite the strong rain in one of the days, who didn’t allow us to traverse Bucegi mountains. But we’re “happy” to see a bear female with her cubs, and I think the adventure was completed!

Not the last, my special thanks for Mrs. Jebac from Poarta village, witch prepare for me and my guests the most delicious dinners in Romania, every time when we are her guests, starting with 2003! The photo from above, with blue sky and nice clouds, is taken from the yard of Mrs. Jebac pension from Poarta village, so the food is very good, and the view to Bucegi mountains is extraordinary!
One day I will present her on my web page

Below you may find some photos from this tour,
Iulian

Testimonial:
A massive thank you for arranging, and then personally guiding us through our amazing Romanian experience.

The itinerary you put together perfectly matched our requirements – it covered mountain, country, forest and city landscapes -all in 5 days. In addition seeing a wild bear with her cubs, having a cup of fruit tea in a weather station on on top of Omu and watching the hay making process, were all unexpected bonuses.

Our biggest thank you goes to you personally for your attention to detail – from the fantastic Romanian food you ensured we had, sharing your knowledge and insight with us as we covered the many kilometers during our daily hikes.

We would recommend you to anyone (and have passed on your details already) – and happy that you share this note, our photos and contact details with others who may be considering a Romanian adventure.

Until next time,
Dave and Jo – Southsea, Hampshire UK – June 2010

On end of May 2010, 25-31, I did a 5 days walk on South  East part of Transylvania with a group from Ireland, who ‘been here for a charity  walk! We walk on Predeal area, at the bottom of Bucegi mountains to Diham chalet and Poiana Izvoarelor chalet, tours who offered tremendous view to East part of Bucegi mountains, and on the hills of Bran castle! Not the last we enjoyed a short walk on snow, on Balea Lac glacier valley!

I hope the tour help them to rise new founds for their fighting blindness!

Best wishes,
Iulian Cozma