Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Covasna spa resort
Feels like an untouched, communist-era resort; popular with an older
set who roam the halls in pink and sky-blue robes.
Eforie Nord's mud baths
Bathers (some nude) slop mud on themselves and bake under
the Black Sea sun.
Sovata
Between Târgu Mureş and Sighişoara in Transylvania. Famed for a curative dip in
a bear-shaped lake.
Wildlife
For the nature lover keen to get off the beaten track and see animals in their natural envir-
onment, Romania delivers on all fronts; not just because of its pristine forests but also for
its offering of experienced wildlife guides. Romania's splendid nature teems with enough
life to keep enthusiasts busy: there are 33,802 species of animals here (32 of these are en-
dangered), and the Carpathians has the highest concentration of large carnivores in
Europe.
Romania is also home to roughly 3700 species of plants (39 of which are endangered).
The Carpathian Mountains are among the least-spoilt mountains in Europe, with alpine
pastures above and thick beech, fir, spruce and oak forests below.
The country has more than 500 protected areas, including a dozen national parks, three
biosphere reserves and one World Heritage site (the Danube Delta), totalling over 12,000
sq km. Most of these areas are located in the Carpathians. Except for the Danube Delta
Biosphere Reserve (DDBR), the Retezat National Park and the Piatra Craiului National
Park, none of the reserves or national parks have organised visitor facilities.
THE BEAR AND THE TRAVELLER
Thanks to its megalomaniac dictator (under Ceauşescu no one but he was allowed to hunt bears) 60% of Europe's
brown bears are today found in Romania - a staggering 5500 bears. The chances of seeing one are high if you're
trekking with a guide or going to a bear hide. A cousin of the grizzly bear, Romanian bears are smaller but have
the same powerful hump of muscle on their back. They can also move at almost 50km/h.
Hikers have been killed by bears in recent years, usually because of accidentally surprising them, so here's a
few tips to be mindful of. Try to pitch your tent in an open spot so bears can see you, and any used sanitary mater-
ial or rubbish should be kept in a sealed bag. When walking through dense forest, talk loudly to announce your
presence - the last thing a bear wants is to engage with you.
