CAS Trips Romania

Romania brings to life the medieval times. From breath-taking castles to quaint towns dating back centuries, history will come alive for your students. And not just history, Romania is endowed with a natural beauty unparalleled in Central Europe. The Carpathian mountains are a great trekking destination. There is no shortage of experiences for students to indulge in, and they can also play a part in preserving this history, or in conserving bears (Romania has the greatest number of bears in Europe, but they are hunted).

Activities

Trip Highlights

Conserve bears at a rescue center, tour grand Bucharest, explore Dracula’s Castle and its history, visit Saxon villages, see the painted monasteries in Bucovina, and encounter wildlife, including bears and wolves, in stunning national parks.

Volunteer Opportunities

Assist at a bear conservation center, restore an ancient orchard, and renovate a school in a Saxon village.

Experiential Learning Opportunities

Take a Saxon cooking class, learn Romanian dance, participate in cheese and yogurt making lessons, try bread making, and take embroidery lessons.

Cultural Immersion Opportunities

Explore with Romanian tour guides, delve into Dracula’s history and castle, visit UNESCO World Heritage monuments, see fortified churches, interact with shepherds, and enjoy

Sample Itinerary In Romania

Day 1 Arrive in Romania

Upon arrival into Romania, you are greeted at the airport and transfered by coach to Zarnesti (3 hours) via Sinaia and Peles Castle. You have a welcome dinner and settle in to your surroundings.

Day 2 Cultural immersion, village visits, bear watching, Gypsy party

Today we hop on traditional ox carts and visit villages that have stepped back in time, and explore an enchanting National Park, with the opportunity to spot bears and other animals in the wild. You get to observe traditional farming as well, and interact with the farmers and other villagers.

We finish with a campfire and a barbecue, lots of traditional Gypsy music and dance. During the breaks there are presentations about different aspects of the Gypsy life (everyday life, traditions, history).

Day 3-5 Bear conservation

For the next three days we get immersed in bears, learning an enormous amount about them as you assist in their conservation. Your students will help with preparing the meals for the bears, feeding them, creating the play activities for the bears and maintaining their enclosures.

This promises to be the highlight of your trip, and your students will bond together as they make a difference.

We have cooking classes each evening.

Day 6 Dracula’s castle and Saxon village

After breakfast we head to one of Romania’s most famous sights: Dracula’s castle in Bran. After a tour of this fascinating castle we head further north, to the UNESCO World Heritage Saxon village of Viscri, where we visit a beautiful fortified church, meet the village blacksmith and brick maker, interact with local shepherds, and learn traditional bread making.

After dinner we step outside and watch the amazing spectacle of the cows coming home – they know which home to go into!

Day 7 Brasov and departure

After breakfast, depart to Brasov, visit the Black Church and the main square before transferring back to Bucharest for your flight out.

Essential elements:

Volunteering: Bear conservation

Experiential Learning: Cooking classes, bread making

Cultural Immersion: Local guides, village visits, Dracula’s castle, fortified Saxon churches, brickmaker, black smith, shepherds, gypsy party

Curriculum: Geography, Biology, Literature