Duke of Edinburgh
Gold Residential, August 2025
We are an approved DofE Gold provider! In August 2025, join us and head to the awe-inspiring Carpathian Mountains for your Gold DofE Residential. This project gives you an immersive, hands-on insight into wildlife monitoring, forest conservation and restoration, and wilderness survival. With plenty of time for hiking, tracking and foraging, this approved residential experience is the perfect balance of education, adventure, and pure nature immersion.
An overseas Gold DofE residential to remember! Embark on an epic 6-day adventure to explore one of Europe’s largest mountain ranges. Build confidence, enhance your leadership skills, get out of your comfort zone and flourish in this incredible wildlife and tracking adventure. Become the best version of yourself through unique team-building exercises and get stuck into challenging projects. Plus, you’ll further your knowledge of the Sustainable Development Goals that align with this project, as well as gain a deeper understanding of your own social and environmental impact.
Immerse yourself in stunning landscapes on this awesome 6-day DofE Gold residential adventure, learning about biodiversity restoration, wildlife tracking and reintroduction.
Camping under the open sky in the Făgăraș Mountains, exploring ancient beech forests, and encountering wild mountain goats provide unforgettable moments of awe and inspiration.
Experience sustainable living at our wilderness camp, where you'll learn practical skills such as eco-friendly practices, fire-building, and wilderness survival. Contribute to conservation efforts through hands-on activities and environmental education sessions
This DofE experience creates opportunities to work on personal development as you challenge yourself to tackle a unique environment. Unlock your inner explorer as you discover stunning landscapes and adaptive communities that utilise the world around them.
COST: £1050pp EXCLUDING FLIGHTS - Please see our ‘What’s included?’ section below for details.
ITINERARY OVERVIEW:
Day 1: Arrive, hike to camp
Day 2: Hiking and foraging
Day 3: Camera trapping
Day 4: Invasive species management
Day 5: Wildlife tracking, eDNA collection, survival skills
Day 6: Depart
About your DofE Gold adventure
Exploring the geographical features of Romania will introduce you to some of the most beautiful landscapes in Europe. Gain insight into cutting-edge conservation efforts, including the bison reintroduction program and invasive species removal initiatives.
Take part in wildlife monitoring techniques such as camera trapping, drone photography, eDNA and bioacoustic monitoring, and gain invaluable scientific knowledge and practical experience to enhance your academic and personal growth. Spend your evenings around the campfire under the stars, breathing some of the freshest air in the world.
Delve into the local traditions and heritage of the Carpathian communities. Enjoy traditional cuisine and participate in cultural exchanges that highlight the unique lifestyle of the region's inhabitants.
Join us for an unforgettable journey for your Gold D of E residential that combines the thrill of adventure with the fulfilment of contributing to vital conservation efforts. Discover the beauty of the Carpathian Mountains, embrace sustainable travel, and make a lasting impact on both the environment and your personal growth.
Our DofE Gold residential is designed to help you develop a wide range of essential life skills and a deeper understanding of how you can help us work towards achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all. Learn more ⟶
DofE Gold Residential Wildlife and Conservation Itinerary
Day 1
Arrival in Bucharest and hike to camp
After arriving at Bucharest airport, transfer to the educational centre for introductions to your fellow DofE participants and orientation, before preparing for your first hike. Take a wide mountain path through the beautiful landscape to the wilderness camp, and settle in for your first dinner and campsite under the stars.
Meals: L, D (depending on arrival time)
Day 2
Hiking and foraging
Head out on your first hike today and explore the incredible scenery on your doorstep. Hike around the valleys and peaks and get yourself used to the mountain air. Forage for mushrooms, berries and medicinal plants with the guidance and advice of your knowledgeable guides.
Spend each night around a campfire and camping under the stars - an incredible sight in this area of limited light pollution.
Meals: B, L, D
Day 3
Data collection and camera trapping
These mountains are home to numerous large carnivores including brown bears (Ursus arctos), Carpathian lynx (Lynx lynx carpathicus), wolves (Canis lupus), European wildcat (Felis silvestris) as well as countless more species of birds, insects, reptiles and small mammals. Learn all about setting up camera traps to try and capture these species, and deploy them in the wild.
Meals: B, L, D
Day 4
Invasive species removal
Head to the Richita centre and take part in a conservation workshop. Learn all about the importance of active conservation initiatives and the issues brought about by climate change and invasive species. Get involved in invasive species removal along the riverbed before hiking back to camp.
Meals: B, L, D
Day 5
Tracking, eDNA and camera trapping
Head out into the wild and check the camera traps you put up a few days before. Learn all about wildlife tracking and how vital it is for monitoring the presence and behaviour of elusive species. Compare tracks with captured images from the camera traps, and collect more eDNA samples to further confirm species presence. In the afternoon, learn how to survive in the wilderness before heading back to camp.
Meals: B, L, D
Day 6
Depart
Your Gold DofE is complete! Head back to the airport equipped with a wealth of new knowledge and transferable skills. The resilience and confidence you have developed during this adventure will be as invaluable as the memories you’ve made, alongside practical and theoretical conservation skills that will inspire and guide you in your future endeavours.
Meals: B,
What’s included?
NOTE:
The itinerary may change from day to day due to numbers and weather but we’ll do our best to ensure that everyone gets to take part in all the activities that they want to. Personal expenditure and any other services not listed above are not included.
Important notes
Once you’ve secured your deposit (£150), make sure to check out the kit list and field notes below to make sure you have everything you need for your trip. You will also receive further information about the adventure itself and the daily activities as well as further detail around what you can expect to learn. This includes your pre-departure conservation and sustainability workshops, as well as your impact surveys and reports. If you have any questions about the trip please get in touch. If you have any questions about Flooglebinder’s educational adventures please take a look at our FAQs page.
VACCINATIONS
For this particular trip, please see details below.
Please check with your local GP to find out which vaccinations you require for any adventure that you decide to book. These are a guide; a full consultation is necessary to establish individual risk and suitability of vaccines. There may be instances where more than one appointment is required to assess whether a vaccine can be offered.
Recommended vaccinations:
• None but please check with your GP
Vaccinations to be considered:
• Tetanus, Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B
INSURANCE
Please check if your school/college provides insurance and if not we will require your policy number and details 8 weeks before departure. Flooglebinder has public liability cover of £5million but participants must arrange their own travel insurance for all other levels of cover (e.g. cancellation, curtailment, loss of personal belongings etc.). Please feel free to contact us for any advice or recommendations.
Your safety is our number one priority on all of our educational adventures. All of your finances are protected through Financial Failure Insurance and each programme adheres to British Standards (BS8848). If you have any questions about our safety and security measures, please do get in touch.
See what life is like on tour
