How was your Explore Tour Leader?

Tudor Blaj is an excellent tour leader.  He led well and ensured everyone was kept together.  He ensured there was a back marker at all times so we were kept together as a group.  He ensured he knew everyone's name...something that I struggled to do.

What tips would you give to someone else booking this tour?

Make sure you bring some flip flops for the mountain hut. Be prepared to wash with a bottle of water outside.  Bring ear plugs for the noisy snorers.

Do you have anything else to add?

The home stay at the Pensionne was superb.  The food excellent and the local hootch wonderfull.  I can not praise this trip enough.....

How was your Explore Tour Leader?

We had two tour leaders. The first one (Ioana) was good. She was only with us for the first two days. The next one was Tudor Blaj. He was brilliant. He seemed to form a rapport with everyone and had infinite patience and energy. Was a good laugh over a few drinks in the evening.

What tips would you give to someone else booking this tour?

You do need to be reasonably fit. I would not say that age is a major factor. There were people there a good few years older than me who seemed to cope with it better than I did! They did go walking on a regular basis though. Whereas I do go up the gym' three times a week to do aerobic exercises. Also at the mountain lodges make sure you have your own toilet paper!

Do you have anything else to add?

Whilst I got my currency in the UK without too much trouble, they did go and let you get some currency on the second day. If you want to send postcards there was a kiosk selling postage stamps outside Bran Castle ("Dracula's Castle") or at another kiosk inside the airport at Bucharest. So you are a bit limited, but you can post them at the airport if the worst comes to the worst.

How was your Explore Tour Leader?

He did a very good job of taking into account the different personalities within the group, and was tuned in to people's different walking abilities, which weren't too varied in our case. Excellent knowledge of fauna and flora. Was relaxed, but showed a sense of urgency when it counted, for example when one of the group had a minor fall.

What tips would you give to someone else booking this tour?

Be prepared for quite long walking days - we averaged about 7.5 hours per day, including all rest and lunch stops (and an optional walk one day). You are packed in like sardines in the Omu hut, which isn't very conducive to a good night's sleep, and the evening meal there was basic. But it is the highest mountain hut in Romania and a small amount of hardship there doesn't in any way spoil the experience of the whole trip, which was very enjoyable.

Do you have anything else to add?

Left me wanting to see more of Romania.

How was your Explore Tour Leader?

Tudor was excellent. Knowledge level on all subjects was fantastic, whether it was birds, walks or just each and every outdoor sport. Had the required ability to click with all 18 members of the group, a tricky skill in itself!

What tips would you give to someone else booking this tour?

Be prepared for some hard graft. The trip does say moderate to strenuous, which is fairly accurate, I'd maybe lean towards the strenuous a bit more! Worth it though when you get to the top and see the views. Some of the scrambling is a bit exciting, but as long as you don't suffer from severe vertigo it's not too bad.

Do you have anything else to add?

Clearly I've had no issues with this trip, which is not to say others were the same. Make sure you read all the information available from Explore. The accomodation, especially in the first hut, is about as basic as you can get. Hot and stuffy, with food that not everyone is going to like, (they do have beer though so it's not all bad!). Still, it's better than sleeping outside in -1 deg celcius!

How was your Explore Tour Leader?

Incredibly knowledgable about the history of the country and the local wildlife.  He did well to cope with a group of very differing abilities.

What tips would you give to someone else booking this tour?

It is worth noting the trip is graded moderate to strenuous so you should expect to have to work hard on some of the treks.  Also it can get hot even in the mountains which will make things harder than they may otherwise be.  Above all go and enjoy.

Do you have anything else to add?

The little I saw of Bucharest was fascinating, if you have time it would be worth adding a few extra days to your trip in order to properly explore this city, or further afield.  A country I would definitely like to visit again in future.

How was your Explore Tour Leader?

Overall, excellent. However, he is clearly extremely fit and used to the heat, and on occasion seemed to have less sympathy with those who were finding it strenuous than might have been wished.

What tips would you give to someone else booking this tour?

The distances covered and heights ascended/descended combined with the heat, even at altitude, make this a more strenuous trip than might appear from the descriptions. Be prepared for long days (we did not arrive at our destinations any night before 6.30 to 7 pm, and one day not until 8.30pm) and carrying a lot of water. Omu hut is very basic, but worth putting up with for the access it gives to very remote walking.

Do you have anything else to add?

Wonderful countryside, a very knowledgeable guide, the slower and simpler life people still lead in this area, and a varied and interesting group of companions - what more could you want from a holiday?