June 13, 2012
Romanian Adventure Includes Overnight in Prince Charles' Estate
Mark Thompson READ TIME: 2 MIN.
Vancouver, B.C. - BikeHike Adventures offers travellers the rare opportunity to spend a night in Prince Charles' traditional Saxon house while on a multi-sport tour in Romania.
In 2006, the Prince of Wales bought and renovated properties in rural Romania in an effort to promote sustainable tourism and cultural preservation. From connections with local guides, the Prince has opened the doors to BikeHike Adventures travellers looking for authentic cultural experiences.
While hiking between mountain villages in the heart of Transylvania, travellers will stop in the small town of Viscri, a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here stands the 18th Century Saxon house Prince Charles bought and restored. It is a modest house decorated with Transylvanian antiques, capturing the true essence of the surrounding Saxon architecture. There are modern facilities providing humble comforts for visitors. Travellers will dine in the village with locals and spend the night in the Prince's house.
The Prince of Wales has long been interested in Romania since his first visit in 1998. The extraordinary fortified Saxon villages of Transylvania immediately captured his heart, remarking he was "totally overwhelmed by its unique beauty and its extraordinarily rich heritage." The Prince's goal is to ensure a sustainable future for the Saxon villages of Transylvania enabling locals to maintain their traditional way of life.
This royal experience takes place during departures of Transylvania Traverse, an active adventure itinerary by BikeHike Adventures. In addition to the time spend in Viscri, travellers visit many remote villages throughout the Carpathian mountains and rural Romania, travelling by bike, horse and foot. Trips depart in June, August, and September 2012. Trip costs start at $3,299 USD (land only).
BikeHike Adventures is a Vancouver based global adventure travel company that offers guided tours to 30 destinations worldwide. BikeHike caters to outdoor enthusiasts with a passion to go a little deeper during their travels. Highly experienced and personable adventure guides facilitate the wonder and pride of exploration. Both big and small groups are accommodated with varying degrees of difficulty.
If exploration is your lifestyle, BikeHike Adventures is your mentor. Challenge is the first step towards happiness, and BikeHike Adventures challenges each and every participant. The results are memorable journeys, new friends, culinary treasures, a satisfying sense of accomplishment and a new worldview.
A long-term New Yorker and a member of New York Travel Writers Association, Mark Thompson has also lived in San Francisco, Boston, Provincetown, D.C., Miami Beach and the south of France. The author of the novels WOLFCHILD and MY HAWAIIAN PENTHOUSE, he has a PhD in American Studies and is the recipient of fellowships at MacDowell, Yaddo, and Blue Mountain Center. His work has appeared in numerous publications.
