Hiking trails in the Romanian Bucovina to Raraul Mountains

If you reach Bucovina with the main goal to discover its terrific painted monasteries, please observe the wonderful living nature in the neighborhood. And, yes, please, watch carefully the mountains. They are not very high and easy accessible even for untrained people, within 6 hours you can reach the peaks starting from Campulung Moldovenesc.

One of the most iconic landmarks of the region, The Rarau Mountains are the highest in the area (1650 meters in Rarau peak, and 1857 meters in Giumalau peak). These mountains are stretching on 375 sqkm. Admire on the Rarau Mountains the limestone rocks. Even on the peak you can discover amazing markers of erosion, The Lady's Stones (Pietrele Doamnei in Romanian).  These stones are very visible from big distance on the clear days. They are declared nature Monuments and thus severely protected from 1955. The protection comprises not only the geological structures, but also the amazing plants growing there. Even higher with 200 meters, Giumalau is more difficult to climb on, but rewards the brave travelers with an breathtaking view of the all region. Somehow, on mysterious ways, Raraul and Giumalaul managed to preserve their forests up to the peaks, and this is one of the reasons making them so easy accessible.

A map of the region, with the exact locations and the many trails

Special mention on Rarau, for the amazing Slatioara Forests. It is a natural reserve stretching on 270 hectars (340 accres) between 100 and 1340 meters altitude. It is actually one of the the last genuine European forests, being protected from 1940! It is also one of the oldest European forests, proudly counting 400 years, with firs of 50 meters height and 1 meter in diameter!  Discover on the low altitude the firs, followed by the spruce firs at the bigger ones, but if you are really an expert find also pine, yew trees or beech. Also very well represented in diversity and numbers are the animals: bears, wolves, deers, foxes, squirrels, lynxes. Add the rich world of the birds, singing or prey ones, and get a seducing mix. just leaving the old forests of Slatioara, you see a huge impressive meadow, on 44 hectars/88 acres, also named the Todirescu Botanical Reserve, with many species enjoying your senses.

The majestic Rarau with its lady's rocks

The easiest way to reach Raraul peak is starting from Campulung Moldovenesc, near the railway station. Within 6 hours you can reach the peak. The trail is usually and normally easy accessible all year long, as 14 km are along a highway. The total climbing is 900 meters, and the mark consist on the red point. Only 2 km away from the town, the first pleasant surprise, The Gorges of The White Creek. It is a natural reserve on 2 hectars, with old houses, forest, meadows and rocks. 7 km away from Campulung discover a strong water source, a good place for peace and meditation. From Poiana Sihastriei the climbing becomes much more difficult and demanding, but also rewarding. E.g., observe a huge landfall, which took the forest ant the highway with. At km 12 you can see already The Lady's Stones, at the Hawk Rock. Go straight to them, turning left, and discover the  Mountain Hotel Rarau.

The Giumalau peak is crowned by a legendary Christian cross. Please, don't try to reach it in winter, unless you are an exceptional skilled and trained traveler

Within very short time you will forget the efforts to reach the peak. The breathtaking view is a good reward, as discovering some endemic plants on the rocks, e.g the rock flower (Leontopodium alpinum). This trail is not very difficult, but rewarding, I hope to enjoy it. Hiking is much better than writing or learning about it!

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Digital detox in Romania

Don't get me wrong, I am not against modern technology. No one can afford to be against these days when we think to social media, networking, marketing on the Net etc. But sometimes all these targets, and all those wonderful gadgets you have and enjoy using are simply too much, leading to addiction and depression.

Best place for digital detox, with the purest air in Europe: Soveja, Vrancea county, Romania

Hard to say when one can say to be digital addicted. Maybe when he is not able anymore having contact with people without prior contact by the computer; or maybe when one can't stay longer than 30 minutes away from computer. There are not very good specialists   to set this diagnosis, I repeat that you are the best doctor for yourself.

Soveja is even more charming in winter. There is a lot of snow. Here the terrace of the pension Perla Vrancei  (The pearl of Vrancea)

That's why I am proposing to you a treatment digital addiction here in Romania, as I searched a found an ideal place for that. I found a resort with a very clean air, containing mos ozone in the all Europe, namely Soveja, in the Vrancea District. I am asking myself if I will allow your cameras during this week of digital detoxification. The most important aspect, I need your total cooperation, but I promise you that you will be totally cured within only one week.

Basic regulations: no laptops, no smartphones, no Internet access. During this week we are going to do some small trips in the neighboring mountains and in the village Soveja. From my personal experience, I can tell you that the first day is difficult, the second impossible and the third critical. During all these days a life coach will have more meetings with you, teaching new methods of approaching people, how to escape Internet addiction, how to escape computer addiction, dating without prior computer contact, spiritual integration in the Universe and other conferences according with your specific state and wishes ( conferences not available in electronic format) .

The pension Perla Vrancei in Soveja is a good place to escape and forget any addiction 

Everyday you are going to walk 30 minutes, run 15 minutes, socializing 3 hours and also do some meditation (the time for meditation increases progressively, reaching one hour in the last day).

Soveja is a mountain resort in Vrancea mountains (80 km away from Focsani, 300 km away from Bucharest), with much snow in winter. You will have all the meals and lodging for 6 nights/7 days in good rooms,coaching and airport transfers  costing 450 Euros.

An outmost important thing about this treatment: after complete recovery, take very big care on the way you are going to reintegrate in the society. Avoid meat, avoid alcohol, cigarettes, don't go back to exactly same way of life you had before the treatment. I checked on my own the results of these treatment, with excellent references! And there is only one major risk I can accept : you can develop a Soveja and Romania addiction!

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