Adventure Tourism

This sector has developed rapidly in the past years in Romania.

România Internațional, 28.11.2013, 13:24

Even if the weather is getting colder by the day, it does not mean mountain hiking is no longer an option. In fact, now it’s the right time for adventure tourism, a sector that has developed rapidly in the past years in Romania and the number of operators specializing in this type of tourism has grown. Outdoor Activity Coordinator Dan Panturu gave us a few hints about what the more adventurous tourists can do at this time of the year:

Dan Panturu: “The offer is rich. We are actually trying to get tourists out of their comfort zone and help them discover new things, to discover Romania as we know it. We’ve got all the necessary ingredients for great adventure tourism in Romania. We’ve got mountains, water, actually everything we need for outdoor activities.”

In the Rasnov or Brasov areas, in central Romania, in places such as Cheisoara, Lempes, Bunloc or Poiana Brasov, tourists have the opportunity to do hang-gliding in the mountains, to go zip lining or to climb up and down special nets. Here is Dan Panturu again:

Dan Panturu: “If we talk about outdoor sports, Romania is perfect for hang-gliding. This can be done with a professional trainer, who can help us go up and look at the world from high above. Also, people can fly extra light planes, which means they can fly over the mountains and take some great pictures. Another option is to fly in a hydrogen balloon, which can be yet another exceptional experience. If we talk about mountain sports, we can also mention zip lining or climbing.”

Another of Romania’s strengths are the fast mountain springs where people can do rafting or kayaking, not to mention the Black Sea, the perfect place for sailing and diving.

Dan Panturu: “We pass on to the water sports category, where there are lots of sports. I’d like to insist on rafting, which is an extraordinary sport sure to induce adrenaline rush, a sport that can be practiced on several rivers in Romania. I’d recommend the Buzau and the Jiu rivers, two interesting options. Buzau is the most interesting option for us because it is a river on which rafting can be practiced all year round, maybe less in winter. Speaking of water sports, let’s also mention kayak paddling, which can be practiced on the mountain rivers in Romania, yachting which can be practiced on the Black Sea, and diving.”

You can enjoy adventure trekking on less accessible mountain routes without having previous training or a special physical condition. Dan Panturu again:

Dan Panturu: “There are lots of options as regards outdoor sports. You can have a ride by off-road vehicles to difficult areas that you can’t reach by foot. Speaking of the mountains, let’s not forget mountain biking. ATV tours are also quite popular in Romania.”

More adventurous tourists in a better physical shape can also discover less known caves. Here is Dan Panturu with the details:

Dan Panturu: “But there are other options too. Why shouldn’t we go down into caves? Why shouldn’t we try out cave exploring? We’re fortunate from this point of view, because we have a lot of caves that can be visited. The Western Carpathian area is fabulous in this respect. In the central Brasov area there is quite an interesting cave, called “The Fortress Valley”, where you can have a guided tour. It is very exciting because you go into the cave on one side of the mountain and go out on the other side. It’s fabulous!”

There are qualified trainers with experience in mountain activities and there is also adequate equipment available. Climbing the mountains by foot to as far as an altitude of 2500 m is another activity available for tourists. In winter, you can enjoy cross-country skiing, alpine ski touring, and snowmobile touring, as part of one or several days’ programmes giving you the possibility of enjoying freedom and adventure.