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Private Brown Bear Watching Experience near Odorheiu Secuiesc
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4 to 5 hrs (approximately)
Pickup offered
Offered in:
English
Offered languages
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- English
Experience the Carpathian wilderness, and see wild brown bears in their natural habitat from the security of one of the many wildlife hides operating in the area. Your guide, an experienced local ranger, will take you with his 4wd car deep into the forests of the Eastern Carpathians, which has one of the largest population concentrations of brown bears in the Carpathian Mountains. Follows an easy to moderate 500m walk from the car to a specially-designed observation hide where you will wait quietly for wildlife. The private experience will last 3-4 hours.
What's Included
Photo fee for non-commercial purposes
Round-trip transport by a 4wd car
Local wilderness guide during the whole itinerary
Hotel pickup and drop-off in Sighisoara, Praid and Odorheiu Secuiesc can be offered on request
Gratuities
Food and drinks
Meeting and pickup
Pickup points
You can choose a pickup location at checkout
(multiple pickup locations are available).
Pickup details:
Pick-up from your accommodation in Odorheiu Secuiesc, Corund, Praid or Cristuru Secuiesc (20 km from Sighisoara) are included in the price of the tour free of charge.
OR
Meeting point
Parking lot in front of the Tamasi Aron Memorial Park and the catholic church of Lupeni (Farkaslaka in Hungarian) village.
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.
What to expect
Your Carpathian brown bear experience starts in the small Szekler town of Cristuru Secuiesc (22km from Sighisoara) where your guide awaits you to set off in his 4wd car into the forests at the foothills of the Harghita Mountains. In recent years, it has become a popular destination for wildlife watching as the population is most dense in Harghita, Covasna, Vrancea, and Brasov counties. After a 20- to 45-minute drive (depending on which spot has the greatest chances for watching on that day) you will be safely escorted down a roughly 500m long trail.
Occupy your place in the hide, stay quiet, listen to the forest wildlife sounds, and enjoy the excitement of waiting for the bears to come. There is usually success in seeing bears, but as there are wild animals involved, nothing is guaranteed. If you are lucky, you may observe bears feeding, playing together, courting, and mating. You may even see other species like wild boars, roe deer and red deer, foxes, badgers, and some game birds. In the past a few sightings of lynxes and wolves were had as well, but these animals, although in great numbers in the Carpathians, are very secretive and rarely seen.
After approximately 3 hours of watching, head back to the car accompanied by your guide and ride back to Cristuru Secuiesc. The entire trip takes 4 to 5 hours and watching from the hide can be complemented with following the animals footprints in the forest upon request. Be prepared by wearing hiking boots and weatherproof clothing, and bring binoculars, a camera, an extra battery, and a memory card to record this unique experience.
Wildlife watching tours in the Carpathians allow wildlife to be viewed in close proximity without being disruptive, and generates revenue for local rewilding efforts.
Please note:
• Your forest ranger guide accompanying you may carry a handgun for your protection in extreme situations.
• The tour usually ends around 9:30-10:00pm, so please plan your dinner time accordingly.There are high chances (statistically more than 75%) to spot the Carpathian brown bear, sometimes a female with cubs, sometimes a larger male bear. As a bonus, your guide can share some of the stories about the Communist dictator Ceausescu's hunting in the area.
Occupy your place in the hide, stay quiet, listen to the forest wildlife sounds, and enjoy the excitement of waiting for the bears to come. There is usually success in seeing bears, but as there are wild animals involved, nothing is guaranteed. If you are lucky, you may observe bears feeding, playing together, courting, and mating. You may even see other species like wild boars, roe deer and red deer, foxes, badgers, and some game birds. In the past a few sightings of lynxes and wolves were had as well, but these animals, although in great numbers in the Carpathians, are very secretive and rarely seen.
After approximately 3 hours of watching, head back to the car accompanied by your guide and ride back to Cristuru Secuiesc. The entire trip takes 4 to 5 hours and watching from the hide can be complemented with following the animals footprints in the forest upon request. Be prepared by wearing hiking boots and weatherproof clothing, and bring binoculars, a camera, an extra battery, and a memory card to record this unique experience.
Wildlife watching tours in the Carpathians allow wildlife to be viewed in close proximity without being disruptive, and generates revenue for local rewilding efforts.
Please note:
• Your forest ranger guide accompanying you may carry a handgun for your protection in extreme situations.
• The tour usually ends around 9:30-10:00pm, so please plan your dinner time accordingly.There are high chances (statistically more than 75%) to spot the Carpathian brown bear, sometimes a female with cubs, sometimes a larger male bear. As a bonus, your guide can share some of the stories about the Communist dictator Ceausescu's hunting in the area.
Additional info
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Generally, children should be around 8 years old to participate and understand the importance of the environment we operate in
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- Dress warmly: sturdy, waterproof footwear and warm clothing recommended
- A maximum of 9 people per booking
Supplied by
Carpathian Escapes Ltd
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Additional info
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- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Generally, children should be around 8 years old to participate and understand the importance of the environment we operate in
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- Dress warmly: sturdy, waterproof footwear and warm clothing recommended
- A maximum of 9 people per booking
- There are no bathroom facilities in the hide
- Subject to favorable weather conditions. If canceled due to poor weather and less chances to spot bears, you will be given the option of an alternative date or full refund
- Be prepared by wearing hiking boots and weatherproof clothing.
- Please avoid wearing perfume, it may scare away the wild animals from the hide.
- Departure between 4.30-6.00pm depending on sunset time. The exact departure time will be confirmed after booking.
Tags
Nature and Wildlife Tours
Half-day Tours
Private Sightseeing Tours
4WD Tours
Safaris
Walking Tours
Nature Walks
Involves Animals
DSA non-compliant
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
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Cancellation Policy
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Free cancellation
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
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Free cancellation
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
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per person
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