Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
on the way up to Cabana Curmătura and then to the main ridge (for many Romanians the greatest walk in the
country) or to the secondary ridge (Piatra Mică).
Hiking
Transylvania, Moldavia, Crişana and Maramures boast breathtaking landscapes to warrant
strapping on a pair of walking boots. A sense of adventure and a decent map are all you
need to get you started in Romania as there are well-marked trails in most parts of the
Carpathian Mountains, and cabanas (huts or chalets) dotted throughout the ranges catering
to the weary trekker. If you want to really discover and understand the area, its history,
culture, traditions, wildlife and nature, then local guides are recommended; they can take
you to places no other tourists go, find tracks of wild animals, and tell you about villagers'
use of local plants in traditional cooking, medicine and even folk magic. There are some
very solid guides and tours working out of Braşov and Cluj-Napoca. Some youth hostels
(like the Retro Hostel,
Click here
,
in Cluj-Napoca) offer fun guided excursions too.
Another credible source of guides can be found at
www.alpineguide.ro
.
If you're looking for cultural, wildlife-immersive treks, again check out Discover Eco-
Romania for a list of eco-approved guides.
WHERE TO HIKE
The Carpathians (aka Transylvanian Alps) of-
fer endless opportunities for hikers, the most
popular areas being the Bucegi and Făgăraş
ranges, south and west of Braşov. The Bucegi
has a flat-top plateau that can be reached by
cable cars from Sinaia. Well known for their
karst formations and underground caves, the
Apuseni Mountains, southwest of Cluj- Napoca are at last on the adventurer's radar. Other
zones include the Retezat National Park, Romania's first national park, which lies northw-
est of Târgu Jiu and south of Deva in Transylvania; around Păltiniş, south of Sibiu; and, in
Romania's Moldavian region, the less-visited Rarău and Ceahlău mountains near the
Bicaz Gorges.
The proportion of agricultural land in Romania is
up to 60%. One third of Romania is constituted by
mountains, another third hills and plateaus, while
the remainder is plains.
