Day trip from Brasov: Bison reserve & traditional lunch

A 92-year-old blacksmith still works in the workshop you'll visit.

This 8-hour day trip from Brasov takes you to the Bison Reserve in Vama Buzaului to see Europe's largest land mammals, then to Urlatoarea Waterfalls in the Ciucas Mountains, followed by homemade lunch at a local household and a visit to a traditional blacksmith's workshop. Hotel pickup and drop-off, transport by air-conditioned vehicle, entrance fees, and a live English-speaking guide are included. Children from age 7 are welcome, and sturdy shoes are recommended.

Step-by-step itinerary

Bison reserve, waterfall, and traditional lunch

• Visit Bison Reserve in Vama Buzăului
• See Urlătoarea Waterfall
• Enjoy homemade lunch with local family
• Visit traditional blacksmith's workshop

The experience

The bison reserve sits in the Carpathian foothills, and the tour starts with time to watch the herd, Europe's largest land mammals, alongside friendly deer that roam the same grounds. From there you move to Urlatoarea Waterfalls, where water erupts from the Ciucas Mountains and drops into a valley below. The route covers roughly 8 hours door-to-door, with hotel pickup and drop-off handled by your driver.

Lunch happens at a local household, where you eat food cooked in the family kitchen and sit at their table. After the meal, you walk to the blacksmith's workshop attached to or near the house. A 92-year-old craftsman may demonstrate his work (the operator notes this as a possibility, not a guarantee), and you can watch traditional metalworking techniques that have stayed the same for decades. The visit gives you a close look at a craft most travelers never encounter outside a museum.

Your guide speaks English throughout the day and travels with the group in the air-conditioned vehicle. A minimum of two people per booking is required. If you're traveling alone, you pay the fee for two. The tour suits all fitness levels, though the waterfall site and walking around the reserve involve some uneven ground, so sturdy shoes matter.

What’s included

• Transport by air-conditioned car or minivan.
• hotel pickup and drop-off in Brasov.
• entrance fee to the Bison Reserve.
• homemade lunch at a local household.
• entrance fee to the blacksmith's workshop.
• a live English-speaking guide for the full day.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Youth (14 to 17 years) · Child (7 to 13 years) · Under 7: can't be booked

GroupUp to 6

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 50 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48 h

Prices and times updated 7 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effort

Operated by Outdoor Holidays (NeoTour Brasov)

Is this one for you?The guide speaks English throughout, so you follow the commentary and explanations without translation or a separate audio device. This works well if you want context and stories as you move through each stop, rather than exploring on your own.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (14 to 17 years); Child (7 to 13 years). Children under 7 can't be included in the booking.

What exactly is the Bison Reserve in Vama Buzaului?

The Bison Reserve is a protected area in the Carpathians where European bison, the continent's largest land mammals, live alongside deer. You'll have time to observe the herd during the tour and get close enough to photograph them.

How long does the tour take from start to finish?

The full day trip runs 8 hours including hotel pickup and drop-off, with time split between the reserve, the waterfall, lunch at the local household, and the blacksmith's workshop.

Is the blacksmith demonstration guaranteed, or might it not happen?

The 92-year-old craftsman may demonstrate his skills, but it is not guaranteed. You will visit the workshop either way and see the space where traditional blacksmithing takes place.

What happens at lunch, and who prepares it?

Lunch is homemade and cooked by the local family whose household you visit. You eat at their table and get a sense of how people in the region prepare and share meals.

Do I need to arrange my own transport to the meeting point?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off in Brasov are included, so your driver collects you from your accommodation and returns you at the end of the day.