Transylvania and the Carpathian Mountains are a little like time travel, or stepping into a fairytale. Medieval villages nestle in the valleys of Southern Transylvania, where animals wander the streets, while the vast, ancient forests of the mountains are home to the largest numbers of brown bears in Europe, as well as wolves, bison, wild boars, beavers and birds galore. Families will enjoy hiking through forests with an expert wildlife guide, and driving up to the Transfăgărășan and Transalpina roads, which offer breathtaking views over endless, rolling forests. The old Saxon villages, meanwhile, provide a glimpse of how Europe used to be – a sustainable way of life where people and nature happily coexist.