Day Trip to Traditional Mountain Villages: Magura & Pestera

Just outside of Brasov there is a magical place where traditional mountain villages spread across picturesque valleys are protected by towering mountains! Unspoilt by civilisation and modern lifestyle, locals here still live as they used to 50 years ago. Let's go on a beautiful hike to explore the villages of Magura and Pestera, meet locals in the area and have a traditional & delicious lunch!

What you need to know Moments to expect Guide Cancellation & refund policy Location details

What you need to know about the trip to traditional mountain villages:

A private or small group day trip starting from Brasov in the morning. Total duration 8-9h
Included: guidance from a licensed mountain guide, transport by car, visit to the Bat Cave in Piatra Craiului National Park, traditional lunch with eco products. Not included: other drinks and meals
We'll do a light hiking tour to explore traditional villages: 3-4h in total, easy-to-medium difficulty, up to 12 km. Route to be agreed on the spot
The villages of Magura and Pestera at 1,000m altitude will give you an unforgettable and authentic glimpse into Romanian countryside life!
You will sample a unique type of cheese made only in this area kept and matured in fir tree bark! Finally, a traditional lunch with simple, fresh and organic products!

Additional information

Dress warmly: sturdy and waterproof hiking shoes and warm clothes or wind/rainproof jacket recommended. Route may be changed due to weather conditions.

Complimentary pick-up can be offered for this tour/activity (as specified on the tour). If you require this service please mention in the booking request

Moments to expect in the mountain villages tour:

Life in the Romanian countryside

We start our tour by driving from Brasov into Piatra Craiului Natural Park, unmistakable with its rugged peaks scratching the sky. We visit the fascinating Bat Cave and then start our walk towards the village of Magura. On our way you will stop many, many times to admire the beautiful scenery and quiet, peaceful life here. Wave to villagers while seeing them at work or leisure, happy and contempt with living off the land!

The most picturesque area in Romania

This valley between Piatra Craiului Mts and Bucegi Mts with village houses dotting the hills is probably the most picturesque area to go hiking in Romania. Absolutely stunning!

Traditional Romanian cheese & lunch

After our hike we stop at a local guesthouse for a well-deserved lunch! First, we do a tasting of Romanian cheeses typical for the region, including the rare branza de burduf: a smoked cheese specialty kept in fir wood and matured - uniquely delicious! Our lunch will be a traditional mountain dish prepared with fresh, tasty and locally-sourced produce from the area.

One last moment of peace & quiet

After lunch we make our way back to the car with a 1h walk crossing mellow hills and the village of Pestera. The simple and quiet life, beautiful natural scenery, friendly locals (& animals!) and delicious food will make your time in the Romanian countryside unforgettable! This tour is a great way to spend your day in Brasov and experience authentic Romanian culture!

How to book?

Choose how many people and when
Request a booking and fill in your details
Flexible payment and cancelation
Guide answers in 24h
Children prices

2 x 100 Euro

How to book this tour?

Choose how many people and when
Request a booking and fill in your details
Flexible payment and cancelation
Guide answers in 24h
Children prices

Guide

Marian

80 REVIEWS

Hello, I'm from Brasov and I know this area very well! Come hiking with me and my colleagues Mihai, Tiberiu, Charlie and Bogdan to discover the beauty of Romania's Carpathian Mountains, we're the most passionate mountain guides in the country!

I like: hiking, biking, snow sports, outdoors and generally having a good time!

I speak: english, romanian

Cancelation & refund policy

Easy

Sends us or the guide an email 24h before the tour informing us you can't make it and you'll get a full refund of your payment, no questions asked.

Location details

Starting point: Brasov
Nearest airport: Bucharest International Henri Coanda Airport
Nearest train station: Brasov
Landscape: Hills, mountains, wide paths

See on the map

Reviews from travellers

Ruth N. on 12.09.2024

Your platform is fantastic! Quick response and totally reliable. Guide and your top marks, including delicious lunch. I highly recommend it.

Elizabeth S. on 31.08.2024

Isti did a nice job leading us through the valleys, and up and down the mountains. The hike was moderate, with slightly challenging uphill areas at times, but he was great about slowing down when we needed it. The scenery was absolutely beautiful and lunch was great. Bring snacks because we hiked for almost 4 hours before getting to our lunch stop!

Adam H. on 11.07.2024

Very enjoyable tour. Lots of information about Romanian food, culture and history. The walking was made challenging due to the extreme July heat - so be well prepared! Very good day overall.

Pablo S. on 20.04.2024

Great idea to spend a day around Brasov. The guide had a good knowledge of the local history, traditions and idiosyncrasy, as well as kind and willing to help. 100% recommend

Caprice O. on 07.08.2023

Our guide, Charlie provided an outstanding day full. His knack to manage diversity in groups is becoming impeccable and he is a bundle of joy, passion and laughter!

Alison O. on 30.07.2023

The day trip to the mountain villages was great. The canyon was beautiful, then we hiked up to Magura. It was a difficult, but rewarding uphill walk. Zsolt was very patient with us and encouraging when we moved slowly. The food was wonderful and the hosts were very friendly. It was a wonderful day with a great guide.

Sue W. on 15.07.2023

Our tour was very good and our guide Charlie was very knowledgeable. We interacted with some of the villagers via our guide! We really enjoyed our day!

Peter W. on 26.06.2023

We had a wonderful day with our guide Zsolt who took us to the villages of Magura and Pestera as well as the Bran Castle. He was incredibly knowledgeable about the history of the region, and made the day really enjoyable and educational.

Mihaela B. on 29.05.2023

It was only over a week ago that our small group of four people completed a tour through Magura and Pestera, and we are still in awe of the beauty surrounding that area. Everything was green, with amazing views of the mountains on the background and you get to witness the rural life and culture of people living there. Our guide, Mihai did his best to answer all our questions, had a good amount of patience to wait after us to finish taking photos as everything was so picturesque. We are grateful for Marius's , Marian and Mihai's assistance, this was a trip we won't forget!

Orit K. on 13.07.2021

I booked this hike recommended by Marius of Romanian Friend and it appeared to be an excellent choice. Personally tailored, with a lot of love and passion to Romanian beauty. Marian is a wonderful guide full of knowledge and interesting facts and stories. I definitely will come back to travel with Marian and highly recommend to others!

Bartosz G. on 29.10.2019

The tour was great - exactly what we were looking for. The tour guide was unbelievable - great knowledge and a good sense of humor. Highly recommended!