Average rating Lynx & Wolf Watching Holiday

This eight-day lynx and wolf watching trip is an extensive tour of the Carpathian Mountains in Transylvania. With an itinerary tailor-made for nature lovers, this is a great chance to see and track some of the rarest wildlife in Europe.

Brasov county, located in central Romania, is an often over-looked nature hotspot harboring some of the most beautiful scenery in Europe. The Carpathian Mountains bordering the East of the region are home to the largest population of wild lynx in Europe (conservatively estimated at around 1,500) as well as rare birdlife, bears, wolves and chamois.

This lynx and wolf watching tour is an intense hiking holiday across rugged alpine and forest terrain. The scenery is as breathtaking as it is varied, and you’ll get plenty of opportunity to see it all over the eight day period. Over this period of time, you have about a 60% chance of seeing a lynx in its natural habitat – they are incredibly well camouflaged and mainly nocturnal, so seeing these magnificent carnivores in the wild is something which few people can claim.

The chances of seeing wolves from a safe distance is also high, and if your luck’s in you will also get to see eagles, bear and chamois. You will also be taken to a spot to look for beavers during your tour of the Carpathian forests. Your small group will be led by a local researcher who knows the best spots for seeing all of the above, so you won’t be just wandering around the mountains cluless.

The tour offers a fantastic opportunity to see some of the most amazing animals in Europe, and certainly isn’t an experience you’ll forget in a hurry. However, the package is not for everyone.

Although the schedule is entirely customisable to each individual’s needs, if you want to make the most of the trip you’ll need to be prepared for a serious lack of sleep (wolves and lynx are both nocturnal) and some heavy hiking, so a good level of fitness and a passion for nature is essential. You’ll also need to bring along suitable clothing to deal with the biting winter cold.

Getting there

You’ll be responsible for arranging a flight to Bucharest, where the tour operator will transfer you to Zarnesti

Price includes

Seven days half-board accommodation in a double room, local transportation for the included activities and from/to airport, five days wildlife watching and tracking with a wildlife researcher (including photo fee.)

Price details

1400 Euro per person staying in a 1* guesthouse.

1480 Euro per person staying in a 2* guesthouse.

1550 Euro per person staying in a 3* guesthouse.

When is best

This trip is not available in January

Available

Nov—Apr

Typical Duration

8 days

Comfort level

Reasonably comfortable (Inns, B&Bs, luxury camping etc.)

Experience required

Not relevant