Keep luggage to 15kgs. It is not good for fellow passengers or locals when 30 kg bags are bought along
Romania was a very interesting country to visit with a very dark past. The trip offers the opportunity to stay in guest house accomodation in the countryside which is wonderful. Bucharest is a very interesting city to finish the tour off in. Travelling in June is hot and humid so be prepared.
We were happy with our group. There was a nice mix of ages and personalities. The very young may have been disappointed but in the long run they found company to share the night life with.
Wear sturdy shoes, pack light and have an open mind.
This trip was a surprise, I was expecting a dark journey through the ex-soviet block but found beauty in the gorgeous cities and towns such as Bucharest, Plovdiv and Sofia. The incredible welcomes and food in the home stays was delightful.
Intrepid is ideal if like small group travel but with opportunity to have free time There is a lovely social side with small groups and often a common interest
Excellent tour, Great tour leaders. Itinerary was very well planned and had a wide variety. Will use Intrepid again.
Elderly travelers should consider bringing a walking staff for stability when traversing uneven cobble stone streets or ascending/descending stairs.
This trip will give you a great insight into the real Hungary and Romania. Viscri and Sighisoara in particular were stunning. Be prepared to eat very little veg for the duration. Recommend
This is a great trip to explore Eastern Europe, stay locally and centrally within the tour cities. I believe our guide was essential to a more enjoyable trip, and Intrepid sources out local experiences for its travelers
Intrepid advantages include small/intimate group sizes, great value for money, and a perfect balance of “taking the rough edges off” by organizing domestic transport, accommodation, and some organized activities – while still allowing plenty of “free time” to explore on one’s own and to cater to personal interests. I don’t know how it’s even possible, but each of the five trips I’ve taken with Intrepid has been better than the previous!
Physical rating of tour should be a 2.5, amount of walking and hills definitely requires more than passing fitness. Intrepid over stated need for 10 Kg limit on luggage and need for backpacks. Most in our group had wheeled luggage.
The Eastern European Explorer trip is fantastic value for money. Romania has amazing monasteries, a happy cemetery, old towns and cities. Bulgaria was stunning with its ancient Roman ruins and beautiful Turkish style buildings, a mountain fortress, snow capped mountains and painted monastry. Beautiful people with whom we stayed.
This itinerary was a few days longer than some others that I read, but I felt that the extra time and cost were worth it to see more than just the highlights of these countries. After taking the trip, I feel that my decision to choose Intrepid resulted in a more complete look at this area.
Loved the trip, learning about the history, exploring the old cities, places less travelled. Travel light as carrying bags up and down steps, into trains and stations. Pack sense of humour and adventure.
Before my Intrepid Tour, I was a solo traveller, now Im already researching my next trip! If youre on the fence – DO IT! The Tour Leader does a great job of making everyone feel included and welcome.
Romania and Bulgaria have so much history along with natural beauty. The balance of country home stays, with tasty home cooked meals, and the historical buildings in the old towns was just right. Pack light and wear very good walking shoes and you will have a marvellous time especially if you have Claudia as the guide.
This is a very well organised trip that shows you the highlights of the countries you travel in. I highly recommend it.
Well guided tour that featured local interaction unique to Intrepid. Don’t be deterred by possible transport connection issues or the slow Romanian restaurant service, participate willingly & you’ll enjoy yourself. Good accommodation, great food at homestays a highlight.
This is a fantastic trip showcasing the best of Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria. There is a great mix of destinations and pace, which keeps the trip interesting. I particularly loved the home stays and the opportunities to interact with the local people.
Hungary, Romania, & Bulgaria are interesting and relatively undiscovered European destinations that are very much worthy of your attention. While these destinations have neither the obvious charms of France, Italy, or Spain nor the exotic appeal of the Far East or Morocco, there is much to be said for the yet to be “discovered” villages and sites these countries have to offer. They will change as they are added to travelers’ check lists. You would be well served to get there before that happens.
I book trips with Intrepid with reservations. My trip to Mt. Kilimanjaro was excellent as was this one. However, I had one experience that was so completely negative that I vowed never to travel with the company again. I booked again with Intrepid for the climb up Mt. Kilimanjaro because it supported the womens movement in Africa. It was excellent and helped change my views somewhat. This trip with Dries was also quite a positive experience. Sadly, I will never get over one past horrible experience with a very racist and misogynistic, undisciplined and irresponsible crew on a basic trip in Africa. That said, I will book with Intrepid again should an itinerary come up that sounds exciting.
THIS TRIP IS A GOOD INTRODUCTION TO HUNGARY AND ROMANIA
Very enjoyable. A lot of walking. Travel light.
This trip is ideal for someone who is looking for something different that the usual European destinations with a small group of like minded individuals. Most of the groups were solo travellers and the ages ranged from young to old. We all got along because we all enjoyed travel and this is an easy way to do it.
These countries are more interesting than I would have thought. Be prepared to be delighted by the food, the scenery, the companionship, and the very professional leadership. You’ll come away knowing a whole lot more about the Eastern Balkans.
As mentioned before, physical fitness is required to transport your personal luggage to public transport and accommodation (distance and stairs). It is recommended to limit luggage to one piece (10 kg) and maybe a small backpack.
This was our first trip with Intrepid. I was so pleased – I felt that the company has the same values that I have – being socially responsible and environmentally aware. I loved the small groups. They took any concerns I had with getting around and finding lodging and made the trip very easy and enjoyable.
On our tour of 8, six of us ranged in age from 59 to 71 with a reasonable degree of fitness able to cope adequately with our tour demands, including stairs in bell towers/castles/churches etc.