Highlights of this trip
A 4 day journey full of hiking, conservation, wildlife, and mountains.
For women, by women.
There are places where rewilding is no longer an idea for the future – you can see it happening around you.
In the east of Romania, vast forests of the Southern Carpathians provide refuge for bears, wolves, lynx and countless other species.
Across four days, we’ll travel through this Romanian landscape, hiking through wild mountains, tracking wildlife, meeting local women and conservationists, and discovering the people behind some of Europe’s most inspiring conservation projects.
For this journey, we head into the Făgăraș Mountains, where the emphasis lies on hiking, wilderness, wildlife tracking and mountain adventure.
Along the way, we’ll share local meals, stories around the dinner table and the occasional tired-but-happy moment after a day in the mountains. Because travelling as a small group of women creates its own kind of connection: walking together, learning together and meeting other women who are helping shape the future of these landscapes.
You can join this journey independently, or combine it with the Romania West journey for the full eight-day adventure.
Highlights of this journey
- Women in the Wild: Travel with a small group of women who share a curiosity about nature, wilderness, wildlife and the people working to protect it.
- Hike Through A Wild Landscapes: Discover the spectacular wilderness of the Făgăraș, in the Romanian Carpathians.
- Learn to Read the Forest: Follow tracks and signs left by bears, wolves, lynx, wild cats, deer and wild boar and learn how wildlife uses the landscape.
- Sleep in the Wilderness: Stay in a remote mountain camp and a simple shepherd’s hut deep in the Conservation Carpathia landscape.
- Meet the People Behind Rewilding: Go behind the scenes with Foundation Conservation Carpathia and discover what it takes to restore nature at a landscape scale.
- Horses & the Transylvanian Countryside: At Equus Silvania, spend time with horses and choose an optional riding experience or simply explore the surrounding countryside.
- Travel with Purpose: Part of your trip supports conservation and rewilding initiatives in Romania, as well as MOYO Training Foundation and its work towards more Nature Positive tourism.
Photogallery
what does this journey look like?
EASTERN ROMANIA
This journey takes us deep into the Făgăraș Mountains, one of Europe’s great wilderness landscapes.
Here, the focus lies on mountain hiking, wildlife tracking, ancient forests and the work of Conservation Carpathia.
East Day 1 – INTO THE FĂGĂRAȘ WILDERNESS
Our East adventure begins in Rucăr (Argeș), where you will meet our female host, our female local guide and the group – and we set off into the forest.
Today is a gentle introduction to the landscape. We walk for around two hours along a wide forest path, learning about the wildlife that lives here and keeping our eyes open for signs of their presence. With luck, we may even encounter a roe deer or spot a woodpecker along the way. We reach the remote Poiana Tamas Camp, situated at the eastern end of the Făgăraș Mountains ridge.
We then continue towards the Southern Făgăraș Mountains and the remote Poiana Tămaș Camp.
Here we settle into our glamping-style tents overlooking three mountain ranges.
In the evening, we meet the women involved in Foundation Conservation Carpathia and learn more about the work to protect and restore this extraordinary landscape.
As evening falls, we gather around the campfire for a traditional meal and our first night beneath the Carpathian stars.
Transfer: 6 hours if you have joined us after our Romania West adventure, 3 hours if you have transferred from Bucharest.
Hiking: approximately 1 hour
Overnight: Poiana Tămaș Wilderness Camp
Meals: Dinner
East Day 2 – INTO THE WILD
Today is our big mountain day.
We set out along the main ridge of the Făgăraș Mountains, following a spectacular trail through one of Romania’s most important wilderness landscapes.
The hike takes us towards the Pecineagu Dam, with wide mountain views along the way. Our local guide will help us read the landscape, looking for tracks, feeding signs and other clues left behind by bears, wolves, deer, wild boar and, with luck, some of the Carpathians’ more elusive wildlife.
After reaching the lake, we cross the water by electric raft before continuing on foot towards Comisu.
Our destination is a newly refurbished shepherd’s hut overlooking a meadow at the edge of the forest.
As dusk approaches, we settle in and keep watch for wildlife emerging from the forest.
Hiking: approximately 16 km, 6–7.5 hours
Overnight: Comisu Shepherd’s Hut & Wildlife Hide
Meals: Breakfast, packed lunch & dinner
East Day 3 – DOWN FROM THE MOUNTAINS & INTO TRANSYLVANIA
After breakfast, we begin our descent from Comisu through the forest towards Canton Rudărița.
The morning gives us another opportunity to experience the mountains on foot, but today’s hike is considerably shorter than yesterday’s long trail.
From Canton Rudărița, we transfer to Equus Silvania, a horse-riding and wilderness centre surrounded by the Transylvanian countryside.
The afternoon is yours to choose.
Meet the horses and join an optional riding experience suited to your level, from a gentle hand-led walk to a guided ride through the countryside.
Or stay on foot, explore the surroundings or simply enjoy some well-earned time to relax.
In the evening, we come together for our final dinner and a chance to reflect on the adventure we’ve shared. Together with the local women who live and work here, we look back on the landscapes we’ve crossed, the wildlife we’ve tracked and the people we’ve met along the way.
Hiking: approximately 6.5 km, 2–3 hours
Overnight: Equus Silvania Guesthouse
Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
East Day 4 – GOODBYE, FOR NOW
After a final breakfast together, we say goodbye to the mountains and take our group transfer towards Bucharest Airport, where you will be dropped off in the early afternoon.
The adventure may be ending, but the stories – and hopefully some new friendships – travel home with us.
Transfer: Equus Silvania – Bucharest Airport, approximately 3.5 hours
Meals: Breakfast
BOOK ONE OR BOTH.. we look forward to joining you becoming a wild woman in Romania!
CONSERVATION AND GIVING BACK
At MOYO Nature Travel, we believe that travelling to wild places should also help protect them.
On the Romania East Women Only journey, part of the proceeds supports Foundation Conservation Carpathia and its work to protect and restore the forests and wilderness of the Făgăraș Mountains.
Both journeys also contribute to MOYO Training Foundation, supporting our work to help guides and tourism professionals develop more Nature Positive ways of working.
Because this isn’t simply a journey through Romania’s wild landscapes. It’s an opportunity to meet the people protecting them, support the work they are doing and experience what becomes possible when women, communities and nature come together.
Practical information
Dates & Availability
16–19 September 2027: 4 days / 3 nights
Wilderness • Hiking • Local women • Wildlife • Conservation • Făgăraș Mountains • Horseriding (optional)
Combine both
12–19 September 2027
8 days / 7 nights
The two journeys connect directly on 16 September 2027, creating one continuous Women Only adventure across Romania.
The West offers a gentler pace and balance of hiking, bison tracking, rewilding and community experiences. The East takes things deeper into the mountains, with a more demanding hiking day, wilderness accommodation, wildlife tracking and learning more about Conservation Carpathia.
Together, they offer a richer picture of Romania – from European bison returning to the Tarcu Mountains to bears moving through the forests of the Făgăraș.
Costs (Included & Excluded)
Romania East: €1290 pp (based on 2 people sharing a room)
10% discount if you join the Full Journey: €2390 per person (based on 2 people sharing a room)
Included:
- 3 nights accomodation
- All meals during the trip, starting with Dinner on Day 1 and ending with breakfast on Day 4
- A female English and Dutch speaking host with you for the duration of the trip
- All internal transfers between locations
- Guided excursions and activities as per itinerary
- Drop off at Bucharest airport at the end. If you join only for East, you can book a separate transfer for pickup
- Donation to Conservation Carpathia as part of our commitment to conservation & communities
- Donation to MOYO Training foundation to help fun training for nature guides & entrepeneurs
Excluded:
- International return flights or train to Bucharest
- If you only join this East portion of the trip, you have to book a separate transfer from Bucharest airport to our starting point on Rucăr (Argeș) on Day 5 / your Day 1 (approximately €50-80 one way)
- Optional horseriding at Equus Silvania on Day 3 (approximately €30 per hour)
- Travel insurance
- Alcoholic beverages
- Personal expenses (souvenirs, tips, drinks)
Logistics / Transport
Carpool, train or fly to Bucharest International Airport, where you will be dropped off again on Sunday afternoon 19 September 2027.
If you only join the Romania East Women Only Adventure, we will help you book a separate transfer from Bucharest airport to our starting point on Rucăr (Argeș) on Day 5 / your Day 1 (extra fee approx. €50-80 pp).
Ask us for more information on logistics.
Accommodation
Accommodation in comfortable twin rooms or glamping tents that you share with one other person. One night in a wildlife hide with shared accomodation (bunk beds).
Solo travellers are very welcome.
Food
All meals are included , starting with Dinner on Day 1 and ending with breakfast on Day 4.
All meals feature fresh, locally sourced ingredients.
Dietary preferences can be accommodated with advance notice.
Health & Safety
Experienced local guides accompany you on all hikes and experiences.
Small-group experience (max 8-12 people).
Local team & guides
Aukje van Gerven
This journey is hosted throughout by Aukje van Gerven, founder of MOYO Nature Travel. Aukje brings together more than twenty years of experience in sustainable tourism, nature travel and creating meaningful experiences in the wild. She has also worked directly in the European rewilding movement, including five years as Wildlife Tourism Manager at Rewilding Europe, where she was involved in developing nature and wildlife experiences and training guides across different rewilding landscapes.
She will be with you throughout the journey - welcoming you when you arrive, travelling with the group between landscapes and accommodations, connecting you with the local female guides and conservationists, and making sure the journey runs smoothly from beginning to end.
But her role is about more than logistics. As a woman travelling alongside the group, Aukje creates space for the conversations, spontaneous moments and connections that make a small-group journey special. She brings the different stories together - from the women building new livelihoods in rural Romania to the conservationists protecting forests and the local guides who know these mountains intimately. And that is at the heart of these Women Only journeys.
Diana Alexe
Returning from studies abroad, Diana rediscovered her home country and fell in love with sharing the wilderness of the Southern Carpathians with curious souls. Within Travel Carpathia she now works towards establishing a model of sustainable ecotourism for local communities, while creating unique experiences for guests interested in discovering one of the last truly wild places of Europe. She is passionate about reconnecting people with nature and their inner world amidst the fast moving rhythm of day to day life.
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