Rewilding Adventure in Romania's Tarcu Mountains

Just back from my adventure in the Tarcu mountains. Was a brilliant trip, very well organised and so good to see the work they are doing out there. If you like wandering about in nature keeping your eyes and ears open for wildlife then this is the trip for you. Spotting those Bison eventually after 2 days of hiking in the rain was so worth it and building a camp fire so we could have lunch in the forest in the rain was something I will always remember. Waiting in the Hide was amazing too just being in the forest with the sound of the rutting deer and the birds foraging and then when we saw glimpses of them walking through the forest and hearing their hooves crunch the twigs it was beautiful. The food and accommodation was also amazing. I won't spoil any surprises. There's quite a lot of trekking on uneven ground so if you have walking poles they might be useful , especially for the down parts. If not there are plenty of sticks on the ground in the forest. Matei was a great guide and all the other hosts in the accommodation made it a great experience . Thank you.

We had a fantastic time with the WWF Romania team. Matei is a brilliant guide and tracker - very knowledgeable and great company. Even though the weather was less than ideal, he still tracked down a bison herd and we were able to view them from about 10m away. The forests and lakes of the Tarcu mountains are beautiful, the accommodation was lovely and the food was utterly delicious. I’d recommend this trip to anyone who loves mountain landscapes, nature and good food.

If you are looking at this review as a guide as to whether you should go on the trip, it's a definite YES you should from us.

Matei is a superbly knowledgeable guide (he's a WWF bison ranger - we loved his t-shirts :) ) who went above and beyond to help us find the bison. Day 1, we disturbed one in the forest, but didn't see it, the last day we were all accepting that maybe we wouldn't see them, but Matei threw in an extra hike (we didn't swim in the lake) and WOW we came found a herd of about 20 with 5 young, and then a lone male in the meadow. So absolutely amazing.

Finding the bison was a bonus. The trip itself takes you quietly walking through beautiful landscapes featuring old orchards and meadows as you go up into the hills. The walking was not that challenging, although there were a few ups and downs which were a little steep, so it was useful to have walking poles with us.

Going on this type of trip means that you and your companions have an instant connection in that you all like hiking and nature. The camaraderie between the 4 couples on our trip was brilliant.

And, as many other reviews have said the Romanian food was truly excellent, as was the accommodation.

We arrived in Romania by train from Budapest and spent a couple of nights in Timisoara - which we would highly recommend. Matei then arranged for the transfer to pick us up from the hotel rather than the. airport

Thank you MBA, Matei and the families who cooked and the hosts in the accommodations where we stayed for such a fantastic holiday.

This was, without a doubt, one of the best trips we've ever experienced. It offered more than just a typical hiking adventure; it provided a deep connection with both nature and the local communities.

The landscape of the Southern Carpathians is breathtakingly beautiful and peaceful. The entire experience was exceptionally well-organised, with the rewilding team going above and beyond to ensure everyone had the best possible experience. They were incredibly friendly and attentive, adapting to the needs of each group member with care and dedication.

The hikes were truly outstanding. Our guides stressed the importance of fully immersing ourselves in the ecosystem, encouraging us to engage all our senses to detect signs of wildlife. The hikes were well-paced and manageable, with a strong emphasis on staying together as a group to ensure no one was left behind. We took regular breaks to rest, hydrate, and our delicious picnic lunches while enjoying breathtaking views.

The different accommodations were cozy and comfortable, offering a perfect retreat after a day of exploration. The meals were a highlight—prepared by locals, with a wide variety of vegetarian and vegan options that were both delicious and abundant.

I can't recommend this adventure enough!

Andrea & Alvise

Perfect mixture of walking, swimming/paddling in a lake, seeing wildlife and learning about rewilding in a beautiful and remote part of Romania.

The hosts were absolutely wonderful, nothing was too much effort and the food was amazing - there were always dishes for veggies like us, even if more side dishes, but still delicious. 10/10 would recommend.

Stunning landscapes and wildlife, delicious food, wonderful people. Fantastic few days. Thank you.

Loved our time in Romania.

Our guide, Matei, was very knowledgeable and taught us a lot about the area, wildlife tracking, and the rewilding project. The hosts at the Campus (first location) were very welcoming (especially King the dog). The guide for the last day, Petru, was very skilled at spotting signs of Chamois and bears. One of the highlights of the trip was when Petru pointed out a black viper with a salamander in its mouth. At first, we thought both creatures were dead, the salamander having poisoned the snake, until the snake suddenly moved and dragged its prey into a crevice and carried on trying to swallow it (see video!).

We saw Bison, a wildcat, a boar, buzzards, including a honey buzzard, a bee eater, an eagle, an owl, lots of storks and red backed shrikes, and even more butterflies. We didn't see chamois, wolves or bears, but saw plenty of fresh tracks for them. Matei interpreted the tracks for us and helped us understand what the animals would have been doing at the time. For example, he showed us the direction from which a bear had approached a muddy area, which of its paws had made the tracks, and how the bear had jumped over a puddle and continued through the undergrowth.

The walks were challenging because of the terrain, and because when we visited there was a heatwave, but manageable for anyone with a basic level of fitness. There was a lot of shelter from the heat in the forest, we walked slowly and took frequent breaks. I would recommend wearing walking trousers rather than shorts as the long grass and thorns can irritate the skin, and there is a tick risk. I would also recommend carrying at least 2L of water every day.

The natural landscape was impeccable and, over the three days of walking, we didn't come across any other people in the forest.

The eco lodge, safari tent and lakeside house were clean and comfortable, with little packets of handmade soap and shampoo provided.

The food was delicious. Dosia was the chef at the Campus and ensured we never went hungry - serving us dishes made from locally sourced ingredients - such as cheese, cured meats, walnuts and salads. We particularly liked the elderflower tonic and the Wilder beer. We also tried schnapps at two of the locations (a homemade plum brandy which the group affectionately called the "magic bottle" as the hosts kept refilling it!).

The itinerary was well-planned, with plenty of time to chill in the evenings. We were a group of 6 - one couple and one group of 4 friends - and we all came together nicely and got on well.

For anyone on the fence about booking, go for it! You won't regret it.

This trip exceeded our expectations; the landscape was beautiful and is a genuinely pristine environment for the wildlife. Matei did a great job of helping us track bison (which we saw) and bears (just saw the tracks this time!). We also spotted a wildcat. The forests were beautiful to walk in and good exercise on some of the steeper slopes! The accommodation, and food and drinks were a wonderfully positive surprise and the hosts could not have been more friendly! Highly recommend.

We had an amazing time in Romania. We saw several bison from quite a far distance, but the overall trip was incredible. All the facilities are outstanding, and the food was delicious. I would definitely recommend.