Bran Castle (Dracula’s Castle), Romania by Florin73m

Transylvania is a wild corner of Europe where untamed forest meets the mountains, forming jagged ridges in the sky. There are a number of impressive mountain ranges in Transylvania including the Făgăraș, Bucegi and the Carpathians. Ensure that you spend at least 8 full days exploring each of these stunning regions. Start off your magnificent European tour with a visit to the medieval town of Brasov.

Brasov is a gorgeous village in central Romania, enveloped by the Carpathian Mountains. There are a range of summer and winter activities for tourists to enjoy including skiing and snowboarding in the resorts during winter as well as swimming at the Aquatic Paradise, roller skating and climbing in the summer. But for those with a wild appreciation for natural beauty, Brasov’s surrounding Prahova Valley is definitely worth the visit. The Valley separates the Eastern Carpathians from the Southern Carpathians and was historically, a passage that led from the principality of Wallachia to Transylvania. You may take a day hike up the Carpathian Mountains and visit the spectacular Seven Stairs Canyon.

Turda Gorges, Romania by Cristian Bortes

Dracula’s Castle

Your exploration of Romania is not complete without a visit to Bran, home of Castle Dracula. The majestic Bran Castle is one of the nation’s most popular landmarks, it was built during the medieval period and is now a museum displaying artefacts collected by Queen Marie. It is speculated that the real Castle Dracula is now in ruins, but Vlad Tepes (The Impaler) used Bran Castle as the headquarters for most of his invasions in Transylvania.

Moldoveanu Peak

Hike to the very top of Romania – look down at the magnificent escarpment below atop Moldoveanu Peak. At 2544m, it is the highest point on the Făgăraș mountain range. You may climb the mountain at any time of the year, but be on the lookout for avalanche warnings during the winter. It can take up to four days to hike the Făgăraș Mountains, with no restrictions on camping but make sure you take with you plenty of food, water and sunscreen as there is very little shade on the mountain. The journey begins at the beautiful glacial Bâlea Lake and you can get there by car. Start your hike early in the morning to ensure you make the most of the daylight.

Pietrosu Mare, Romania by Gavrila Stetco

Accommodation

Book yourself a European tour package with accommodation included. Many deals offer cheap and comfortable accommodation options such as cosy guesthouses or lodges. Some packages even include most meals – but make sure you pack a few sandwiches, some snacks and plenty of water if you’re planning to camp out on the mountains, as there are no dining facilities once you leave the townships.

The countryside of Romania is a gorgeous, often forgotten part of Eastern Europe that is easily one of the most naturally beautiful locations in the world. For those who can’t resist a long hike up majestic mountains and a good social gathering at the pub afterwards, Romania is the perfect holiday escape.

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France – Offers the best value for money in Europe. France offers large accommodation resorts, that are situated almost always right on the slope.

Courchevel Ski Resort in Parc national de la Vanoise is one of the best ski resorts in France. It is located in the eastern part of the country, in the region of Rhône-Alpes, in Les Trois Vallées, at an altitude of 1300 – 2740m. Courchevel Ski resort is also the oldest and most luxurious ski resort in Les Trois Vallées. It offers a total of 180 km of slopes of several types. Transport is providing by 25 lifts and 40 ski-tows with a total carrying capacity of 68 350 persons per hour. Ski resort Courchevel is divided into four villages. The lowest one is Courchevel 1300 m, where you can see admire the local architecture. There are houses from the 13th century. Upper one is Courchevel 1550, which offers a nice entry to the slopes. Courchevel 1650 is another historic part with the typical wooden houses of Savoy. The highest part of Courchevel 1850 offers the best access to the lifts. After skiing you can enjoy a swimming pool, sauna, jacuzzi and bowling.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Leo-setä

Italy – Offers high quality ski slopes and higher quality of Italian accommodation standards. Another positive thing is that there are beautiful mountain sceneries. The disadvantage is that Italians are not consistent, and thus you can often find something that is out of order or goes wrong. You also should start to learn Italian before your trip.

Cortina d’Ampezzo – Olympic slopes with an international atmosphere. In 1956 there were Olympic Winter Games in the resort and became famous also far beyond the borders of Italy. Cortina d’Ampezzo is the village in the Dolomites, surrounded by peaks Tofana (3244 m), Monte Cristallo (3221 m) and Sorapis (3205 m). It is located in the Veneto region, at an altitude of 1224 m.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Peter Stevens

Austria – Offers technically the best equipped ski resorts and also the reliability is very high. However the prices are higher, so skiing in Austria can be really expensive.

St. Anton belongs to the exclusive association of the best Alpine area – Best of the Alps. It offers comfortable St Anton hotels, but even more accommodation options in private. Despite the fact that it is becoming a bit busier resort, it has kept the pleasant and welcoming Tyrol atmosphere. The minor disadvantage of St. Anton are parking fees. Although St. Anton offers over 30 modern lifts, there are often queues in the early morning hours.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by vuorikari

Switzerland – here you can be sure to have snow during your skiing vacations. Switzerland offers comfortable accommodation, skiing in the middle and beautiful contrast between the modern and technologically obsolete lifts. Among the most popular ski resorts in Switzerland are Veysonnaz. It’s one of the most prestigious ski areas, situated near the highest point of Mont Fort (3300 m). Another beautiful alpine ski resort is Saas-Fee, which is located at 1 560-3 600 m. The world-famous Jungfrau ski area offers approximately 190 km of slopes and e.g. Crans Montana have beautiful scenery and excellent skiing.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by TRAILSOURCE.COM

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