Maramures 2-day tour: Wooden churches & steam train

Two days crossing the Carpathians to meet the craftspeople and traditions of Maramures

A 2-day tour from Cluj-Napoca into rural Maramures, traveling by minivan and steam train to wooden churches, the Merry Cemetery, and a working pottery studio. The guide speaks English, hotel pickup is included, and you stay overnight in a 3-star guest house. Breakfast and local taxes are covered. Vegetarian meals available on request.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Carpathian drive and cultural visits

• Drive over Carpathian Mountains
• Visit tallest wooden church in Surdești
• Meet local artist
• Visit Merry Cemetery in Săpânța
• Visit wooden monastery in Barsana
• Enjoy traditional lunch

Day 2: Steam train and local crafts

• Ride steam train through Vaser Valley
• Visit wooden church of Bogdan Vodă
• Visit traditional pottery maker in Sacel
• Enjoy barbecue lunch
• Drive back to Cluj-Napoca

The experience

The tour starts with a drive over the Carpathian Mountains to Maramures, where you visit the tallest wooden church in Surdești and meet a local artist. In the afternoon, the Merry Cemetery in Săpânța shows over 300 hand-painted tombstones depicting scenes from the lives of the deceased. You'll also see the wooden monastery complex in Barsana, built in the 1990s but decorated with traditional naive interior paintings. Overnight accommodation is in a 3-star guest house.

Day two centers on a steam train journey through the secluded Vaser Valley, a route that winds through landscape few visitors reach by road. After the train ride, you visit the wooden church of Bogdan Vodă before the drive back to Cluj-Napoca. In Sacel, a stop at a traditional pottery maker's studio lets you watch the craft and hear how the trade has passed through generations of one family.

The minivan seats your group comfortably, and the guide handles all navigation and commentary in English. Breakfast is provided each morning. Lunch and dinner are on your own, though the guide can recommend local restaurants. Children from age 12 are welcome, and solo travelers receive lower prices on select dates.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in Cluj-Napoca.
• English-speaking guide and driver.
• transport by air-conditioned minivan.
• overnight accommodation in a 3-star guest house.
• breakfast both mornings.
• steam train ticket through Vaser Valley.
• local taxes.

Options for this experience

2 options

Private TourGuide in English · Available from 25 Oct 2027English-speaking guide, with pickup included

Two days in rural Romania: MaramuresGuide in English · 08:30Pickup is included

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:30

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Child (12 to 17 years) · Under 12: can't be booked

GroupUp to 15

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

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

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effort

Operated by George Turism

Is this one for you?Book this two-day tour if you need a guide who speaks your language and a minivan to reach remote wooden churches across the region. A single day won't give you time to visit multiple sites and meet the craftspeople.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (12 to 17 years). Children under 12 can't be included in the booking.

What is the Merry Cemetery in Săpânța?

The Merry Cemetery comprises over 300 tombstones, each painted with colorful scenes depicting moments from the lives of the deceased: a tradition unique to the region that turns a burial ground into an open-air gallery of folk art and local history.

Do I need to arrange my own transport from Cluj-Napoca?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off in Cluj-Napoca are included, and you travel by air-conditioned minivan throughout the tour with a driver and guide.

What happens on the steam train ride?

On day two, you board a steam train that travels through the secluded, meandering Vaser Valley: a remote stretch of landscape accessible mainly by this historic rail route, offering views you cannot reach by road.

Are meals included in the price?

Breakfast is included each morning. Lunch and dinner are not included, but your guide can recommend local restaurants. Vegetarian options are available if you notify the operator when booking.

What is the pottery studio visit like?

In Sacel, you visit a working pottery maker's studio where you can watch the craft and learn how the tradition has been passed down through generations of the same family.