Rewilding Adventure in Romania's Tarcu Mountains

A really enjoyable adventure. Very knowledgeable and friendly guides and staff, fantastic scenery, lovely food, great accommodation, lovely company with great discussions along the way, Highly recommended this adventure to all.

I knew this would be a good trip from the previous reviews, and the ones which said "it doesn't even matter if you see bison" were absolutely correct. There's just nothing like this, this remoteness in Europe is just so special and unusual. We didn't see any bison on our trip, though we did get close enough to hear them running away! And while I would have loved to see them - you get more and more determined to see them the harder you work for them, at the start I didn't mind at all, after 5 hours trekking through the mountains, I really wanted to! We got obsessed, we would wake up dreaming of bison. I'm now sat at home in London itching to head out and search some more :D But the landscapes and environments are just so special and beautiful that they're more than enough by themselves. Heaven must look like a mountain meadow in a Carpathian forest in June. The accommodations were all great, the huts by Armenis are new with good showers. The campsite got chilly at night, and we were higher up so it went from high 20s to really quite cold, I slept in a fleece, coat and woolly hat. So no matter how hot it is in the day, be warned you'll need warm clothes at night in the tent. The food was incredible. That venison salami is in my top three meals ever. I'll spend my life searching for as good salami as that. I don't even like salami normally. The trip is worth it just for the food. Seriously. We had a couple of veggies in the group and they were served very well too. The hiking - this was definitely a work out, but, very doable. It's not like normal hiking where it's about eating up the miles. We went very slowly, looking for signs, trying to be quiet (failing a lot of the time haha) and we had lots of rest breaks and even naps :D Great naps in the meadows and forests. 10/10 napping opportunities. At times you're walking on barely-there paths on vertiginous hillsides, or bushwhacking through thick vegetation, with very step ascents and descents. It's a great adventure and exploration, without being too arduous. I have a fatigue condition so was worried about being fit enough for it, but you go so steadily that it was very doable. Our longest day we did about 8 miles, 13km, but slowly. We saw all sorts of evidence of animals, wolf, jackal, bear and badger tracks, we came close to bison a couple of times, we would miss them by minutes! Heard a roe deer alarm call. The Merlin bird app recorded all sorts of birds, flycatchers, tree creepers, nuthatches, gold crests, chiffchaffs, we photographed a lesser spotted woodpecker. We found a slow worm that was completely unbothered by us tramping past. And on the last night, in the hide, as the light dimmed in the forest, as we had just a few minutes left until we had to end our adventure, a mother bear with a two year old cub came bounding into the clearing. They were all power and energy, so beautiful. From the hide you felt safe, but could still feel the thrill of being so close to a predator. They were very skittish and wary, especially the baby. And when they left after about 15 minutes, it took just a few steps for them to vanish into the forest and you'd never know they were there. And finally all the people were wonderful, our hosts at the Armenis house were so kind, and Matei our main guide was just great, he did a great job looking after us. And Petrov our special Chamois guide, shoutout to him. Matei carried a good camera too, and shared his photos with us. My only thing I would change? I wish I'd splashed out on thermal binoculars to scan the forest at night!

This was a truly unique and unforgettable trip. We hiked through wild landscapes, tracked and found bison in their natural habit - an awe inspiring moment. Matei, our guide was excellent - informative, passionate, and full of insight about the rewilding project and the local ecosystem. A perfect mix of adventure and learning. Would highly recommend for anyone looking to reconnect with nature.

I’d definitely recommend this adventure. Incredibly well thought out trip, a great balance of wildlife tracking, amazing local food and some very cool accommodation.

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.

The trip was so well organised and our group had so much fun. We did see Bisons and a lot of animals tracks. Unfortunately we didn't see wolf and bear. Thank you to Much Better Adventures for a fantastic trip.

An unforgettable trip! We learnt so much from the incredible guides and hosts. We saw 3 bison and their calves, and so many animal tracks along the way.

The hikes are stunning and the hospitality of each night's stay was truly amazing filled with delicious traditional food and drink, and wonderful company.

A highlight was sitting in the hides late at night hoping to see a bear. We saw a wild boar who came down to the river searching for food. Walking back through the forest at night was really magical!

Thank you for the amazing work you're doing, for sharing your knowledge and reigniting a love for the wild outdoors!

This trip is amazing. We were lucky to see both a Bison and a bear, but I would have recommended the trip anyway. The hiking is worth it alone, trails are interesting, views are incredible, and the pace and number of breaks make it accessible for most.

The food was great, and they accommodated the vegan and vegetarian in my group really well. The wine was a real highlight, and craft beer appeared as soon as we arrived.

The accommodations are surprisingly comfortable. The kit list is good, but note they supply plastic free soap, shower gel and toothpaste (but bring your own toothpaste, they need to work on that one!).

I travelled alone, and my party was a group of 4 friends and me, but no issues, a great group and we all got on really well. The hosts are lovely and really friendly. Matei is very knowledgeable, and you get a good education on tracking as you go around.

This trip was an amazing experience. The moment we arrived we felt very welcome and at home. Matei and the team are very kind, and made sure we didn’t lack for anything. The local food was absolutely amazing, I’m going to miss it a lot. The views are incredible aswell, and the nature feels unspoiled in a way we could never get near to in the Netherlands.

We got lucky enough to see a bison and a bear, but even if we hadn’t I would not have minded. The whole trip was a blast, and I wouldn’t hesitate to do it again or to recommend it to other people. Some hiking experience is definitely required, but the kitlist is accurate and the rest is all provided for you.

We’re grateful to Matei and his team for the experience, and we’ll definitely be back!

A fab trip! We were really lucky to see the wildlife, but even without that the trekking was great. Loved all the accommodations, the food and the group. Our guide was amazing!

This is an absolutely fantastic trip for anyone who loves animals, the outdoors & a little bit of adventure. Our guide Mattei was absolutely brilliant, teaching us how to spot the signs of bison & bears & track their movements. It took us nearly two days to find bison in the extraordinary woodlands covering the mountains but it was all worth it when we finally found them. They swished their tails and chewed a bit before catching wind of us and setting off at a gallop - but past us, rather than away! It was like something out of the Wild West or primordial Europe! A moment of a lifetime. Going to one of the hides with Mattei and discovering a young male bear waiting for us was another incredible experience. The locals who catered for us were lovely and the whole enterprise is incredibly innovative in linking rewilding with the local community. The trekking is not for the faint hearted so bring plenty of water & good shoes but it is all worth it. Five star trip & again a special shout out for Mattei, our hero.

Wow! What a fabulous experience. Romania will remain at the top of my list for some time as being my favourite country visited (and I've travelled around the globe!) What am adventure into the real wilderness, where the countryside is owned my the wildlife and totally respected my the locals. I never expected it to be as wild as it was. Not a soul in sight and the Romanians are so friendly, welcoming and enjoy a good laugh. We were giving up hope on day two of tracking the Bison when we came across a herd of around 15 to 20 on the forest at around 4pm! We had to sneak up so quietly being careful not to tread on sticks and leaves so not to scare them away. It was remarkable to see them in the wild, unfortunately the spotted us and the whole herd ran away, but wow!! The following day we went tracking for other wildlife hut weren't so successful, this was the night to sit in the bear hide for a couple of hours. We walked quietly to the hide, at this point the group was split into two groups of four. We couldn't believe when we arrived that there was a huge brown bear feasting on some corn that was there for the boars. What an experience as we sat and watched him feast for around an hour and he didn't bat an eyelid at us. We snuck off quietly when he left as we lost sight of him. We were also lucky to spot some Lynx tracks in the mud. We had a swim in a lake and it was so relaxing and beautiful with no one else around. I would recommend to future trackers to wear long trousers as you will track the animals off the beaten path and into the undergrowth, it's also quite uneven and very hilly so ankle support and poles could be useful and we walked for around 9 miles on days one and 2. Definitely book this trip if you are after seeing wildlife in a really remote habitat.

An incredible experience. Learning about wildlife tracking and being shown the signs, which later evolved into spotting some ourselves, was an incredible immersive experience. Silent, slow hiking to not disturb the animals would not instantly appeal to me as I love a chat, but the atmosphere created in the wilderness was amazing. Also helped with some quite long, steep uphill segments! It really is remote, we saw no one else on any hikes. The group was great, similar wildlife and mountain forest enthusiasts but also just lovely people. We were lucky enough to see bison and a wolf, as an epic bison enthusiast it was a magical and emotional moment. Being in their forest and smelling them had however until that point honestly felt special enough. The logistics were smooth, the kit list perfect (do bring bug spray, a large water bottle and binoculars) food & accommodation, including the lovely hosts at each, were way above expectations. As I’m sure you can tell, I would recommend this in an instant and was so sad to leave the beautiful, special place.

I felt very happy on this trip. For four days, I escaped my ordinary life to turn explorer of an area of unparalleled beauty. On the first evening Matei explained us about the local rewilding project and then we embarked on bison tracking, which I found fascinating. The guides examine with almost forensic precision the bison tracks, and the route follows in the path of the animals. We went through breathtaking forests, meadows with grass reaching up to the hips, we went through mud, crossed a river and had water from the mountain springs. The unspoilt wilderness has its challenges. Although I am not an experienced trekker and this was my first adventure trip, I felt completely safe and very well looked after thanks to Matei,Otilia, Calin and the team. I was also very well fed; all the food was homemade, in an abundance of choices and incredibly tasty with deserts to die for. The accommodations were more comfortable than one would expect in wilderness. My highlight was the day in Poiana Rusca and the evening hide in the forest where we went to spot the Chamois and the brown bears. We sat there still for over two hours, in complete silence, immersing ourselves into the greatness of the forest until the night fell, shapes became shadows and the sounds of the trees and the river became far more intense than in the daylight. It was pure magic. For some reason the bisons, bears and chamonix refused to turn up despite the best efforts of our guides,which made me think maybe I should go again ? The weather was warm and humid, I had my sleeping bag with me but didn't need it. The trip was very well organised and it involved a whole team of local people who put passion and love into the rewilding project. Plans changed as we went along, because in wilderness one must consider the heavy rain , the wind and all the tantrums of the nature. I went solo on this trip and I met very interesting people who I would love to meet again. I wish the holiday was longer because the adventure ended when I was feeling most comfortable ! In summary, I would highly recommend this trip.

We had a fantastic time tracking and learning wildlife. We didn’t see any bison or bear but the view and the trails are amazing. Our ranger Matei is super friendly and knowledgeable. All the hosts are very friendly as well. All the home made food are delicious. We enjoyed the experience and would recommend to everyone else.

Stunning wild nature, awe-inspiring wild animals, exhilarating trekking, passionate, skilled, expert guides. We loved our first European Safari (and hope someday to visit all 9 of the Rewilding areas). On the first two days, we did not see any bison, but were happy to know that they were there in the forest with us somewhere, and we were, in a small way, supporting the rewilding project aiming to establish a viable population here. And the landscape itself was stunning: easily the most extensive and dense forest we have visited anywhere in the world, breathtaking in its scale. On the third day, we were rewarded with a prolonged encounter with a herd of 12-15 bison, including calves, which was a truly magical experience. On the final morning, 3 of us got up early and went for a 7am before breakfast walk, and had another 2 sightings of 2 bison close to our lodge accommodation. I would advise people to be prepared for some treks over challenging terrain (steep, muddy/slippery 'paths'; fighting through forest undergrowth or walking along quite narrow paths with steep drops) and bring a walking stick, or find a suitable one in the forest! Our guide was very good at building in enough rest stops and downtime though, and we ate VERY well, and the accommodation was lovely. The campsite was in an amazing location with wonderful views from an outside, covered dining platform on the edge of the hillside. Also, bring your own warm sleeping bag and thermals for the safari camp stay - it was VERY cold when we stayed (in late September), and there weren't quite enough spares at the campsite to go round everyone.

A great trip with wonderful guides! Tony, Matei and the rest of the team were fantastic and made the trip so much better. We managed to spot some bison up close as well as a couple of chamois and lizards. Not to mention the local cats and dogs! The area is very beautiful and the trip is well organised. The food provided is great and the accomodation is fine (better than sleeping in a tent). We had access to a hot shower each day which was very welcomed after long treks. It's wonderful to see that big efforts to bring back some of the nature that was once so abundant in Romania are being made and awesome to be a tiny part of that. Unfortunately we didn't see any bears, wolves or wild boar during our stay but we did see bison up close along with chamois and other animals. Lots of bear tracks ...but sadly no bears! In short, it's a well organised trip in a beautiful part of the world with fantastic guides and at a very reasonable price!

Great hosts, great experience, great country. Highly recommend

A wonderful trip! Matei and the other members of the local team made us so welcome alongside a fab group of likeminded individuals! We had a special time hiking in the forests, mountains, tracking bison...it was very exciting to see bison and other wildlife in this environment, as well as opportunities to spend much-needed time in nature. Our ranger and guide brought the area to life explaining how the area was being rewilded with the local community involvement - fascinating and incredibly important for the project's long-term success. An amazing scheme that we feel very happy to support, and it was a real highlight to spend time with the local community, they welcomed us! food and plum brandy were great also!! A trip of a lifetime, would highly recommend!

Would recommend. Four days well spent

A fantastic trip from start to finish. Highlight was successfully tracking bison through the forest as you might expect. Matei was a fantastic guide and the wider team of locals provided a warm welcome with wonderful food and excellent accommodation.

Really great trip with an awesome group of people. Matei was an exceptional guide with mountains of knowledge about the animals and area. We were lucky enough to see bison, bears, chamois and other smaller animals. I would recommend this trip to anyone who enjoys nature and the great outdoors.