Active Slovenia: Alps, Lakes & Rivers

Traveler Reviews

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  Zoe5.0•November 2013
  This was a brilliant trip, the scenery was beautiful, the group leader was full of good stories, the accommodation...
  This was a brilliant trip, the scenery was beautiful, the group leader was full of good stories, the accommodation was gorgeous, the food was delicious and the hosts were extremely welcoming. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Having arrived in the dark, waking up on the first morning and stepping out on to our lovely balcony to admire the sun rising over the stunning mountains covered in a thick layer of fresh snow! Breathtaking!Also seeing bears in the wild - it was amazing to be that close to them - although slightly un-nerving too! What did you think of your group leader? Udo our group leader was great fun.  Full of stories and information of the history, flora, fauna, the people and the place. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Don't go expecting to see wildlife, accept that wildlife is elusive and that any sightings are a bonus.  The trip notes do give the impression that seeing wolves and beavers is possibly more likely than it is.  We were lucky seeing 5 bears at the hide and the splash of a beaver going into the water, but I think expectations were raised a little high.  The scenery, people and more easily spotted flora and fauna made this trip excellent. Is there anything else you would like to add? This is a great trip and I would really recommend it.  An excellent mix of walking in stunning scenery, fantastic culture, fabulous people and amazing wildlife.Show more
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  Anna4.0•October 2013
  Great holiday in a beautiful part of the World. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Walking up...
  Great holiday in a beautiful part of the World. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Walking up through the gorge.  What did you think of your group leader? Knowlegable fun charactor. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Don't worry about what Money to take as Katherina (hostess at house) will take Euros, Pounds or Lei at the house to pay for optional activities ( and drinks, more economical to buy a wine by the bottle than by the glass!) and you don't need any Lei until you get to Bran and then can get some from a cash machine. Is there anything else you would like to add? Walking stick / pole very useful, in my case it was a must.  Also lunch box is essential.Show more
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  Susan3.0•September 2013
  Our prime reason for this holiday was to see wildlife and the main opportunity was at the bear hide and at the...
  Our prime reason for this holiday was to see wildlife and the main opportunity was at the bear hide and at the wetlands which were both optional extras. This holiday would appear to be in the wrong brochure. The batteries on the beaver collars were dead so sightings are difficult. Also as this was our first walking type holiday would have appreciated more info on the walking involved. Great company and excellent food. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Seeing bears and a wolf at the bear hide. What did you think of your group leader? Udo was very good, friendly and informative. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Go for the walking not the wildlife.Show more
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  Nigel3.0•September 2013
  Yes, a good trip although it is interesting that it is billed as a 'wildlife' trip and yet the most important...
  Yes, a good trip although it is interesting that it is billed as a 'wildlife' trip and yet the most important excursion (to see wild bears at a feeding station) is an optional extra. I would also be interested to know where the money from this trip goes (15 people at 40 euros each = 600 euros).Trip to beavers is disappointing. Radio transmitters have not been working for some time and those we were taken to are frequently disturbed by a local village and industrial town. Note to Exodus: I suggest that this is replaced by the (currently optional) bird trip. What did you think of your group leader? Udi - good sense of humour. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Accommodation is fine. Food is excellent. Be warned that the 'dinner' on the first night whilst travelling from the airport to the hotel is a poor quality sandwich and bottle of water.Show more
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  Jennifer5.0•September 2013
  An amazingly beautiful part of the world. Waking up to the view of rolling hills dotted with colourful houses and the...
  An amazingly beautiful part of the world. Waking up to the view of rolling hills dotted with colourful houses and the more distant mountains covered with pine and beech forest was heart-lifting. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Waking up to the stunning view and walking through the beautiful countryside.Seeing the bears from the hide.I became a very happy birder when I saw a group of black storks.The amazing food in the hotel.  What did you think of your group leader? Greg was very informative and worked hard at making sure everyone had a good time. Full of lots of good stories about Romanian life! Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Make sure you're fit as lots of walking. Invest in a good camera that can give clear shots in low light. Try Herman's plum schnapps! Be prepared for the bumpy road up to the village  Is there anything else you would like to add? It was a long hot ride to the village of Viscri which took up most of the day. Although it was a very interesting place maybe it would have been better to go somewhere  bit closer?The walk up through the Canyon to the shepherds' pastures was beautiful. (The film Cold Mountain used this location). Show more
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  Lisa5.0•July 2013
  A really memorable trip into a special part of the world. Wonderful experience shared with a fantastic group of...
  A really memorable trip into a special part of the world. Wonderful experience shared with a fantastic group of adventurous, like minded people. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? It is hard to pick out any one particular moment because there were many great experiences.   The walks through the Carpathian mountains were awe inspiring; walking through meadows of wildflowers and witnessing rural life in action.  Of course, seeing wild bears at the bear hide was a special experience.  I actually also really enjoyed the short night walk through the forest at the end of visiting the bear hide.  What did you think of your group leader? Cosmin was excellent.  He led the group with a calm confidence.  I was really grateful for the fact that, without any fuss, he was able to assess the appropriate pace for the walks.  He walked at a steady pace and took breaks at appropriate times.  He had a great knowledge of the environment, the history of the area and the wildlife.   I felt that we were in good hands with Cosmin.  Do you have any advice for potential travellers? It would be a good idea to prepare in advance for the walks.  On the day when you walk up to the Shepherd's camp, they give you the option (which I nearly took) of returning early to the hotel by backing tracking through the gorge.   If you are pondering doing so, I strongly recommend that you continue on the walk, as the views are awesome and the shepherd's camp was very interesting (even if a bit confronting - you will see why when you visit).   Make sure you take good walking shoes.  I took old boots and the sole fell off on the first day!  Fortunately, the amazing Katarina at the hotel came to my rescue with a pair of shoes for me to wear.  The village where you stay in Magura has no facilities at all (no shops etc) but you really don't need anything because Katarina at the hotel looks after everyone so well that you want for nothing.  Is there anything else you would like to add? I chose to go on this trip for two main reasons.  The first was because of the bears, specifically the chance to see wild bears in Europe.  The second was because I felt that Romania was probably a country in transition, still holding on to traditional methods of farming and with untouched wilderness areas - but that I worried it may not stay this way for long.  It was certainly a great experience to see the bears - at the sanctuary and at the bear hide.  I particularly enjoyed seeing the large mother bear who visited the hide towards the end of our visit, and sat down and made herself at home, staying so long that we had to sneak out the back of the hide to return to the vehicles!  As far as the lifestyle and environment are concerned, it really was a glimpse of a different way of living.  The village of Magura is idyllic and a very special place to stay.  On our walk through the village, we came across a wedding - the people were dancing and the hosts actually came out onto the road to offer us food and drink.  That was a true welcome!  I really feel that we had a genuine experience of Romania. It was great to witness the people using horses and carts for transport and farming, making hay in the fields and the shepherds with their flocks.    Show more
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  Hayley5.0•June 2013
  An amazing week. The Carpathian Mountains are an unspoiled wonderland. What was the most inspirational moment of...
  An amazing week. The Carpathian Mountains are an unspoiled wonderland. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Visiting the bear sanctuary and seeing how much it means to both Katharina and Hermann was wonderful. What did you think of your group leader? Udo was fantastic. His passion for Romania and the wildlife was inspiring. His sense of humour was a highlight of the week. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Book this trip before its too late - logging has already begun in the Carpathian Mountains so get there before its too late.Show more
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  Deborah4.0•June 2013
  Transylvania was a really beautiful part of the world, it felt as if we had stepped back in time. To a Europe of 40...
  Transylvania was a really beautiful part of the world, it felt as if we had stepped back in time. To a Europe of 40 years ago. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? The stunning views from my balcony at Villa Hermioni every morning, and the visit to Libearty the bear sanctuary. There was a party of children visiting behind us, who listened with such interest that you hope that in the future there would be no need to rescue bears from captivity. What did you think of your group leader? We had 3 guides, the leader Greg was very entertaining with lots of tall tales. Traion the local leader gave a good insight into local life and made the visit to Brasov very interesting. Katharina took us to Libearty and her passion for the place was infectious. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? It is steep walking, walking poles are useful, also ignore the weather forecast, and prepare for anything, we regularly had 4 seasons in one day.Change a small amount of money at the airport, it is a few days before you can get money.Food was excellent, you definitely won't go hungry. Is there anything else you would like to add? Possibly to Exodus to add a few "leisurely/moderate" trips during the year which walk more on the village roads, as there were a couple of people on our trip who struggled with the very steep hills, and it would be good if everyone could enjoy the stunning scenery.Show more
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  Jana5.0•June 2013
  Beautiful scenery, great company, delicious food and we saw bears!! What was the most inspirational moment of your...
  Beautiful scenery, great company, delicious food and we saw bears!! What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Seeing my first ever wild bear creeping out of the woods, whilst sitting in a bear hideWatching the sunset over the snowcapped peaks of the Carpathian MountainsLooking at the night stars through the bedroom skylight   What did you think of your group leader? Greg & Trojan not only knew lots about Romanian culture and wildlife but he also had a great sense of fun and managed to make everyone smile and feel very looked after. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? A lunchbox and water bottle is very handy for your walks. If you have a sweet tooth like me then take some travel sweets  for an energy boost on your longer walks.  Waterproof jacket and shoes are essential as the weather was very changeable when I went! Binoculars are also worth bringing.   Is there anything else you would like to add? I was a little nervous before this trip as it was the first time I had travelled with Exodus and on my own for a few years. I am SO glad I did it, our group was made up of a wide range of ages.  Everyone there was there for the same reason (to have a good time) and all had a great sense of adventure and fun! Katherina made us all feel very welcome and is an excellent chef, the food and menus were delicious which is fantastic after an active day of walking.   Show more
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  Jonathan4.0•January 2013
  A good introduction to Romania. The guide was welcoming and approachable and the hotel owner was informative and...
  A good introduction to Romania. The guide was welcoming and approachable and the hotel owner was informative and passionate about the welfare of bears. The walks were relaxed and allowed exploration of the local area. There was the feeling that there was a little too much travelling in the minibus, but variety was provided by the walks, visits to towns and waiting patiently for bears to emerge from the woods late at night. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? My highlight was unexpected.  It was dusk when we waited patiently for the 'wild' beavers to appear and the air beccame filled with bats.  It was wonderful.  Also, walking nearer streams frequently led to some lovely moments when clouds of disturbed blue butterflies would lift off form the pathway.  Gorgeous. What did you think of your group leader? The guest house owner was kind and informative.  She accompanied us on some the trips and was good company. The walks guide was very approachable. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Drink plenty of water!  Our visit coincided with the hottest, driest summer for a very long time and local farmers were struggling.  Suncream, hat and good walking boots are essential.  Binoculars are advantageous when viewing the beavers and wild bears.Show more