Adventure tourism in Romania

Romania is becoming an increasingly popular destination for foreign visitors in search of adventure tourism.

Daniel Onea, 21.07.2022, 13:00

The peaks and fast-flowing rivers in the Carpathians invite tourists to test their limits practising various sports and activities. Adventure tourism means, above all, adrenaline and fun. Most adventure tourism packages in Romania cover 3 distinct areas of the country, Wallachia, Transylvania, and Moldavia, each with its specific features.

Twelve years ago, Emilia Câmpeanu and her husband set up a company specialising in adventure tourism. At present, the two work as rafting guides, accredited by the International Rafting Federation:

“A lot has changed since we first started, the range of activities has grown quite diverse, from rafting to canyoning, kayaking and via ferrata. There are many activities that we include in our offer, but I would always choose rafting on Buzău river, because it is suitable both for children and for adults, and families are thrilled with this programme. We also love kayaking and we recommend kayaking on the sea, rivers and in the Danube Delta. We also organise kayaking classes. Our trekking programmes, which may include via ferrata sections, are also quite popular.”

Travel packages are unique, and so is the accommodation. Emilia Câmpeanu:

“One option is glamping, which is a portmanteau of glamorous and camping. Weve built a unique place that combines camping and comfort, weve made all the furniture by hand, and the location is in the middle of nature. You can come here just to relax, to enjoy the greenery, go on hikes or just lie in a hammock, sit by the campfire or in the restaurant. But you can also choose from the activities we organise here. You dont need any experience or knowledge, we provide the equipment and our guides are in charge of the training. Our greatest joy is to see precisely those people who had not expected to do a particular activity leave here delighted.”

What particular area and activity would Emilia Câmpeanu recommend?

“We are in love with the Buzău area, we have lots of activities here, but we also enjoy the area near Băile Herculane resort, where we can also go rafting, canyoning or kayaking on the Danube. We have explored a lot of the country over the years. Sibiu has beautiful canyons and mountain rivers suitable for kayaking. It all depends on each tourists taste and on the type of activity they want, but they will certainly have an experience they will never forget.”

Dan Panțuru is the manager of a company in Brașov, which promotes adventure tourism. He says this is a form of tourism for any person, regardless of age. And Romania has all the necessary ingredients for adventure tourism to be able to develop in a sustainable way:

“We have everything, mountains, waterways, every condition to create the perfect atmosphere for outdoor activities. Our website is divided into three sections: air, water and land sports. But let me tell you about some of the activities suitable for this time of the year. Some can be practised on flat water, such as lakes. There are many such lakes in Romania, and one of the biggest, Siriu, is located very close to Brasov and Bucharest. This lake is ideal for kayaking, stand-up paddle, a new and very interesting sport, as well as rides by motor boats and rowing boats. Not far from Siriu you can find Buzău river, which allows for more adrenalin pumping activities, such as whitewater rafting. Its an interesting sport that can be practised by people of all ages.”

From water, lets go up into the sky, on board an ultralight plane. Dan Panțuru explains:

“Its an incredible experience. We can provide one to three seat aircraft. Guests will be able to fly with an experimented pilot who will hand over to the guest when the plane reaches a sufficiently high altitude. But dont worry. The pilot is always in charge, there are two control sticks. Tourists can experience what its like to fly a plane and enjoy the view from up there. This activity is not available to persons under 16. Before flying, guests are trained and the aircraft is thoroughly checked. Weve had some foreign tourists who signed up for this activity a few days ago. They came to Brașov to attend an event and wanted to see the surroundings and they chose this flight by ultralight aircraft. They thought the experience was extraordinary and said Romania is a wonderful country.”

A less challenging, but no less exciting activity is the exploration of traditional customs and crafts. Dan Panțuru:

“We are trying to combine outdoor activities with the discovery of local traditions and customs. Everything can be done in the same area and can be combined in a very interesting way. Romania is one of the most spectacular countries when it comes to adventure tourism and is becoming an increasingly popular such destination with foreign tourists.”