Day Trip & Bear Watching in the Land of Volcanoes
5.0
26 Ratings
Brasov
Embark on a day trip to the Land of Volcanoes, just 70 kilometers from Brasov. Explore a volcanic lake, a mysterious swamp, and the largest natural gas bath in Europe. End the day with an unforgettable bear watching experience.
Duration: 12 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • NeoTour Brasov - we meet for the start of our tour at our office in the very centre of the city or we can pick you from the hotel/guesthouse.
  • Saint Anna Lake - Saint Anna lake is the only volcanic crater lake in Romania, formed around 8.800 - 9.800 years ago. You will discover its beauty in a walk around the 220,000 m² area. You will also visit the Mohos Peat Bog (open from spring to mid autumn), where you have the chance to see hallucinogenic and carnivorous plants and a volcanic landscape.
  • Mohos Peat-Bog - After a short transfer by car, you will go on a 30 minutes hike up to the Puturosu Cave (The Smelly Cave), the biggest natural gas bath in Europe. Back at the car you can have lunch in a nearby restaurant (lunch not included) and enjoy the wonderful scenery.
  • Balvanyos - The highlight of the trip comes in the afternoon, when you will go deep in the forest with an experienced ranger and see the Carpathian brown bears in their natural habitat. Once arrived in the safe bear hide, taste a shot of palinka (traditional Hungarian spirit) and wait for the bears to come just a few meters in front of you. Because the bear hide is specially built, the bears cannot see you through the windows and you can take amazing photos of them
What's Included
  • Complimentary pick-up and drop-off at Brasov accommodations
  • Private car or air-conditioned minivan transport
  • Professional English-speaking driver/guide
What's Not Included
  • Food and drinks, unless specified
  • Gratuities
Additional Information

Embark on a day filled with excitement and discovery in the heartland of the Volcano Country, located a mere 70 kilometers away from Brasov. A car or minivan will transport you (for groups larger than 4, please reach out to us) to Romania’s only volcanic lake, lead you to an intriguing marsh inhabited by meat-eating plants, and guide you on a walk in the woods to Europe’s largest natural gas spa - the Puturosu Cave (also known as The Smelly Cave).

Conclude the day with an exciting bear sighting session, an experience you’ll want to capture on film - remember to bring your camera along!

In the evening, a transport will be arranged to bring you back to Brasov.

  • Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
  • Please wear comfortable hiking shoes and clothing
Location
NeoTour Brasov
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
5.0
(26 Ratings)
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Tanya_e
Apr 14, 2024
Unbelievable experience - The whole day was a delight with guides Irina and Andra who provided a great experience and information throughout the day. The Mohos peat bog and st ana crater lake were stunning. But the highlight was, of course, the bears. It was an incredible experience and we saw six bears! Can’t recommend enough!
Review provided by Viator
Lmacdonald21
Jul 6, 2023
Very knowledgeable guide. Great experience. - Had a fantastic day with Isti our very knowledgeable guide. Felt very safe and looked after. Seen a wild bear sunbathing at edge of forest when driving past in car and bears in evening from lookout with our guide and ranger with around twenty people, Hide easily can accommodate up to thirty with good visibility and seating also one way glass. Well organised tour and great day out packed with lots of outdoor and beautiful scenery in the mountains. Would definately do again.
Review provided by Viator
Tour145693
Oct 2, 2022
Perfect day trip for those who love the outdoors! - Amazing trip, 100 % recommended! Irina is the best. She know everything about the area and is very passionate about it. I have enjoyed every bit of it.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
102sonjaf
Jun 21, 2022
Nature and Bears - It's the perfect way to spend a day in nature. I enjoyed Lake Saint Anna, the peat-bog was very intetesting and the cave too. The highlight, of course, were the bears. I was hoping to see just one bear, but we ended up seeing about eight. We saw a red fox too. Also, Irina and Radu were both terrific guides. I would highly recommend this tour.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Traveler784110
Jun 8, 2022
Amazing! - Amazing and scenic nature and animals Great program and authentic experience Interesting and engaged guide We’ve got to use all our senses on this trip: seeing, smelling, touching and tasting! We happily recommend this exciting tour and give well deserved 5 stars!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jodi_c
May 25, 2022
Brilliant! - Absolutely brilliant, Irina was a lovely host and even though I was the only one on the tour she still accommodated me! And most importantly we got to see two beautiful young bears! Loved it!
Review provided by Viator
810orenk
Apr 23, 2022
Wonderful experience!!! - We went out for the whole day and it was definitely the best day of our trip!!! We started at Saint anna lake and Irena, our lovely guide, was very passionate and had tons of knowledge to share with us. The landscape is beautiful and very special. Then, we continued to a solfer cave that has a kind of medical affect due to the gas coming out of it. Awesome place and awesome way to get there. All along the day we were in good vibes and joy. At the end we went to the bear watching hide and saw a majestic and beautiful animal, very unique experience.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Matthewf199292
Feb 4, 2022
A must-do experience whilst in Brasov - Firstly, huge apologies that it has taken this long to write a review! We had an absolutely brilliant day with Robert exploring beautiful lakes, mysterious caves, and colourful forests. Our trip took place in October, when autumn was in full swing - I can't think of a better time to visit. A misty day combined with the vibrant reds and oranges of the changing leaves made for a super atmospheric tour. The day was a great mix of hiking, wildlife, and simply enjoying nature. Robert's enthusiasm for the area shone through, and he brought Romania's rich mix of flora and fauna to life. The icing on the cake was the dusk visit to the bear hide. We were lucky enough to spend our whole time in the hide in the company of a male bear who was happily grazing. The perfect way to end the day. My partner and I both loved this tour. We would highly recommend to anyone with a love of the outdoors. Thanks again to Robert for being a great guide!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Anna_f
Oct 15, 2021
Rainy day made incredibly amazing! - We had such a great time exploring beautiful Romania with Robert! It was a rainy day so we exceptionally started off with a visit to a Palinca distillery before heading out to the volcanic lake. The landscapes were just incredible and Robert told us a lot about the nature, flora, and fauna (in particular mushrooms!). Seeing the bog was super interesting and the smelly cave(s) are really worth a visit too! After a nice lunch to warm us up, we went to see the bears in their natural habitat and were delighted one decided to come out despite the rain. I would certainly recommend this great day trip to anyone! It was so much fun and one of the highlights of our Romania holiday. Thanks Robert :)
Review provided by Viator
5banua
Oct 11, 2021
Bear watching & nature - We had a great time during this trip! It was a nice mixture of hiking, exploring nature and of course, the highlight of the day, watching bears. Irina (our tour guide) shared a whole lot about nature, bears and Romanian culture with passion. Thanks for the great time Irina!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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1 Adult
May 2024
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