LESS CROWDED DESTINATIONS TO VISIT IN 2021 (II) January 6, 2021
Less crowded destinations to visit in 2021 (II)
The second part of the article dedicated to less crowded destinations, recommended in 2021, leads us to five other picturesque areas in the country. We inspire you to travel safely, you just have to book a holiday home or a bungalow KUB (or not) and enjoy every moment of the trip!
- The Danube Delta
Slowly but surely, the Danube Delta is gaining its status as a genuine tourist destination. And no wonder, the youngest land in the country has a lot to offer. With special dedications for those who love both nature and culture! Picturesque villages with colourful houses, unique stories and traditions, fabulous cuisine, incredible landscapes, wildlife and vegetation make the Delta a place to visit this year. Not to mention the energetic sunrises and sunsets that bathe everything in gold, from the branches of the Danube to the Black Sea! Only here you can admire something like that, the atmosphere is unique. Especially if you choose to stay at an authentic wooden holiday home, maybe even a KUB!
What is worth visiting in the Delta?
If you are on your first visit, choosing a final destination is difficult, given the distances and means of travel, mandatorily on water. One of the most famous sights is the Letea Forest, located in the largest ridge of the Danube Delta, Letea. Between Sulina and Chilia branches, Grindul Letea is at approx.18 km away from the Black Sea coast. Lying on approx. 5,000 ha, Letea Forest Reserve is the oldest in the country and amazes you with the strange landscapes and subtropical flora, where the wild herds of wild horses make way. Don't miss the village of Letea and a Lippovan fish borscht before leaving the place!
Where the Danube embraces the sea
Gura Portiţei proudly owns one of the few virgin beaches in Europe, so here you can merge with nature imagining that this is what it looked like …thousand years ago. You get here from Jurilovca, the largest fishing village in the Delta, from where you can explore the Goloviţa and Razim lagoons. That's after you tried a “storceac”, deltaic fish brine. Accommodation in bungalows can be a good option, if the one from holiday homes or guesthouses does not catch your eye.
Gura Portiței is not the only one where the Danube embraces the Black Sea; you can find at least one more sensational place, at Sf Gheorghe. Access here is only by boat, as in the sunny Sulina.
Tourist treasures
The picturesque town, although quite shabby, has its unparalleled charm, the result of history with ups and downs. On the streets of Sulina you can find old palaces and churches, true survivors of the time, guiding lighthouses for ships that were once full of goods. A wind of freedom blows on the streets of Sulina… Is it just from the fact that they are caressed by both the air of the Delta and the sea breeze? Port on the Danube and the Black Sea, Sulina offers both of the best, even in its vicinity. Located in the south of the Sulina branch, Caraorman Forest fascinates you with its desert landscapes, with dunes up to 10 m high. And the beach in Sulina is less than two kilometres away; you wouldn't want to miss it for the world!
-Tulcea and Măcin Mountains
Tulcea is always overlooked, unjustly, perhaps because it is at the gates of the Delta and the Măcin Mountains, some of the oldest in the world. The remains of the Aegyssus Fortress (3rd century AD) and some interesting museums such as the Danube Delta Eco-Tourist Museum Centre which includes a very interesting and modern aquarium, the Danube seafront and Dealul Ciuperca are some of the reasons why you could at least book 3-4 hours for the town of Tulcea. A walk on Independenţei Street, up to Dealul Monumentul, is also recommended, it is the historical part of Tulcea. In the surroundings, from the Ciucurova forest, the vineyards are lined up. The chain of the Babadag, Topolog or Zebil vineyards is crowned by Sarica-Niculițel, the most famous. Dobrogea also means the Macin Mountains; in fact you could say that everything comes from here. These are the oldest mountains in Europe, after the Scottish Mountains. These rocks are 300 million years old, older than dinosaurs. But time has taken its toll; the tribute is the modest altitude today, the highest being the Ţuţuiatu peak (467 m). Your journey in this somewhat mystical and mysterious land should begin in Greci. Here you will be able to find out about the mountain paths that open at your feet and the attractions you can enjoy in the Măcinului Mountains Nature Reserve. There are over 10 marked hiking trails, most of medium difficulty, but you can also do horseback riding and cycling here. Make an early reservation at one of the guesthouses or holiday homes here!
For nature enthusiasts
Nature enthusiast? You can admire it in two Natura 2000 sites, namely the Măcin Mountains (plants, insects, amphibians, reptiles and mammals) and Măcin-Niculiţel (birds). These mountains may be old, but they are pulsating with life. Here we find over half of the plant species in the country. Don't miss the most spectacular route, the one that leads to the Pricopan Peak, where a wide panorama awaits to take your breath away. See the mountains blunted by the trials of time, the Danube meandering lazily, the distant towns, the vineyards. The diversity of the landscape amazes you with the megalithic formations with shapes that stir your imagination, with the alternation between the steppe landscape and the forest vegetation at the base of the mountains. On the way, you will meet the Sphinx of Dobrogea, a rock whose shape strikingly resembles the Sphinx of Bucegi. In the evening, retire to the holiday home or to a mountain guesthouse, so to speak. And try one of the local gastronomic specialties.
Old cities and selected dishes
The Roman-Byzantine fortress Dinogeția, the Troesmis Fortress, built by the Romans on the site of a Getic fortress and Lake Iacobdeal are among the attractions in the area. Like the Cocoș Monastery, founded in 1833 by three Romanian monks from Mount Athos, the Saon Monasteries (1846, during the Ottoman rule) and Celik Dere, where you have the impression you are in a village with scattered households, not in a monastic settlement. Maybe a good wine produced in the area, as well as fish borscht or sheep pastrami and a baklava, traditional dishes here, will convince you to come back.
-Râșnov and its surroundings
This area is more secluded, but so close to what matters in terms of sights! And Râșnov, an increasingly beautiful town stubbornly guarded by its medieval fortress, is a very beautiful and strategic “attack” point for a successful stay. You can book a holiday home or an authentic mountain cottage. Strategically perched on a rocky corner, Râșnov Fortress was impossible to conquer. Now, it is more and more accessible to those who want to listen to its legends and unveil its secrets. Dino Adventure Park is waiting for the little ones for a friendly meeting with the dinosaurs, and the Valley of the Fortress cave is an invitation to enter the inner beauty of the mountain. The accommodation in the mountains here is very diverse, make your choice: holiday homes, bungalows, hunting lodges.
The most beautiful city
At a stone's throw from Râșnov is the wonderful Brașov. Do you agree that it is the most beautiful city in Romania? If you are not convinced it truly is, walk leisurely through its historic downtown, without by-passing the route under the walls, the bastions of the guilds and of course Piața Sfatului (the Council Square). Listen to the stories of the Black Church from a professional guide and the serious sounds of the famous organ. Don't miss a hike up to Tâmpa, or at least take the cable car to the top. Upstairs, Brașov will lie at your feet and your surroundings will allow themselves to be spied on. Very close to Râșnov, the legendary Bran castle keeps watch and ward; it is not the best place to visit on weekends! But crossing its threshold is a must do!
Our Switzerland
And, somehow, right from its old gates, a fairy-tale realm begins. Villages with divine landscapes such as Peștera and Magura will amaze you with the tranquillity and heavenly beauty of the landscapes. You could say you arrived in Switzerland; the landscapes here look so bucolic. You can follow the mountain paths of the Piatra Craiului National Park, there are over 30 marked routes, you can go cycling or visit the caves. Or just walk the cobbled streets of the villages, gazing at their picturesqueness. Book a mountain guesthouse, a transformed traditional house, and you will return in any season!
On high mountain paths
We recommend a holiday home hidden on accessible mountain trails. The Hunter's Chalet is like a piece of heaven. Here you will find peace, fresh, clean and ozonated air and relaxation just as much as you need. Strategically located on the Glăjariei Valley and guarded by the Bucegi and Piatra Craiului massifs, The Hunter's Chalet is simply inescapable especially since you can take your friends away from prying eyes. This mountain accommodation is ideal for slightly larger groups. The facilities with which this holiday home is equipped are appreciated by all, as well as the privacy offered and the generous garden. Don't forget to gaze at the stars and the sky that seem closer here, you feel you can almost touch them! You will realize that the decision to book this holiday home was the best. And you will surely return!
-Maramures, realm of wistfulness
The year 2021 can take you even higher on the less trodden paths of the homeland, in the wonderful Maramureș. Here, you will certainly not feel annoyed by the crowds of idler and bored tourists. You can visit the forgotten villages under the Creasta Cocoșului Mountains, like the beautiful Breb. You walk not only on the streets, sometimes overly narrow, saluting rare passers-by, admire churches and old houses or even holiday homes where some of the traditional homes have been transformed. Try the greasy cheese or at least a pie and go up a nearby hill to fill yourself with peace and beauty.
The chain of villages on the Iza Valley
Iza Valley is a reason in itself to visit Maramureș. It is one of the few places where you can find the authenticity and traditions that made the province famous in the not too distant past. Hidden among the hills, villages such as Vadu Izei, Bistra, Oncești, Bârsana, Botiza, Poienile Izei and Ieud are still the keepers of tradition. Pottery workshops, traditional water mills, Dacian fortresses and wooden churches, included or not in the UNESCO patrimony, make Valea Izei a destination one should not miss. Like landscapes of pure beauty. Stay at a holiday home and feel the authentic hospitality and taste of Maramures.
Complete offer
And, if you have a little more time to spare, go to the Pain Memorial in Sighetu Marmației and visit the chic town of Baia Mare. Here, do not miss the Village Museum and the Museum of Mineralogy, as well as a walk through the historic area.
We know you love nature, so you can schedule a short hike to Cascada Cailor and Valea Vaserului, by train or, why not, on foot. It is good to know that in Cavnic, Mogoșa and Borșa there are ski slopes with all degrees of difficulty. Some of them are among the longest in the country, and the season here is longer. The offer of accommodation at holiday homes, guesthouses or bungalows is quite rich in the area, but it doesn't hurt to make a reservation in advance!
- Țara Dornelor
The last less crowded destination recommended for 2021 that has made its place on the list is Ţara Dornelor. These mioritic realms have a native beauty that cannot be overlooked in any form. Isolated in the mountains, Ţara Dornelor has kept its attractiveness for those who love nature. What is there to do in Țara Dornelor? You can practice any winter sport, here the snow is richer and the season lasts longer. Vatra Dornei resort is known for its offer to lovers of all white sports. The ski slopes are over 5,000 meters long, are served by a modern infrastructure and are suitable for all levels of experience.
In the wilderness of nature
In summer, the trails in the nearby mountains lead you to famous sights. You can see the Suhard Mountains with its isolated Oușoru peak, Călimani with the 12 Apostles reunited in a Nature Reserve, the Rarău Mountains with the enigmatic Pietrele Doamnei. Pietrosul Bistriței and Muntele Giumalău are waiting to be conquered by the most daring, rewarding them with fascinating landscapes and unforgettable memories. Do you love adrenaline? One of the most exciting experiences is rafting on the river Bistrita. You will be able to float on the river that passes at the base of the Giumalău and Pietrosul Bistriței mountains and discover from the boat a crumb from the beauty and wildness of the Cheile Zugrenilor Reserve. Cycling, more precisely mountain biking, is also to be tested in Ţara Dornelor, there are routes specially designed for them. As well as enough mountain guesthouses or holiday homes where you can be a dear guest for a few days. The Rarău Hermitage Monastery, after which you can descend on the picturesque Transrarău in Pojorâta and you can go to Gura Humorului, at the Voroneț Monastery, are close enough to be visited in a single day. Or maybe you want to admire one of the most beautiful villages, Ciocănești, famous for its houses painted in traditional motifs or the Museum House from Poiana Stampei.
Wherever you might consider travelling to this year don't forget about the KUB holiday homes. We look forward to convincing you that we would be happy for you to be our guests and we are ready to give you reasons to return to us over and over again.
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