Hi,

My name is Renáta and I am a mountain addict girl from Romanian!
My first real encounter with the Carpathian Mountains was at the age of 16, when I enrolled in a mountaineering club, the Condor Club Arad, where I was allowed to help with the repainting of a trail in the Codru Moma Mountains. After this experience hiking became a basic necessity for me and I started visiting the Carpathian Mountain trails more and more frequently, wandering around virgin natural landscapes.
My love for the mountains and nature also helped me chose the career path I wanted to follow, so I enrolled and graduated from the Western University of Timișoara, where I studied Geography. I later also enrolled in postgraduate studies of Geography at the University of Oradea, which I successfully finished in 2013.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I want to help you enjoy your time during your visit to the Romanian Carpathians!
Using the knowledge gained at university and the experience gathered during my hikes, I would like to show you the untouched Carpathian landscapes. If you are a backpacking traveler and you want to get to know the wild mountains of Romania, I will be happy to show you the best trails.
If you would like to visit Romania’s mountains guided by a passionate, reliable, experienced hiker who also possesses a vast amount of local knowledge and can help you find the best trail, feel free to contact me!

Interests

A. If rocky ridges and heights above 2000 meters attract You, the Meridional Carpathian is a must see for You! The Retezat-, Făgăraș-, Parâng- and Piatra Craiului- mountains hiking paths lead to heights where you can find beautiful glacial lakes, glacial valleys and rock labyrinths.

B. If you want to learn about water and limestone interaction which results surface and underground forms like caves, karst landscapes and visiting dense pine forest covered karst regions, where gushing groundwater forms beautiful rock gorges appeals to you, the Western Carpathians, the Padiș plateau and the Trascău Mountains have the right trails for you.

C. The Eastern Carpathians offer what is probably the most diverse landscape in Romania, because glacial-, volcanic- and karstic- forms can all be found here. The Rodnei Mountains offer remarkable alpine landscapes, the Ciucaș and Ceahlău mountains abound in conglomerate labyrinths, while the white limestone rocks which represent the Hașmaș Mountains serve its visitors with unforgettable experiences.

• traveling
• outdoor activities
• hiking
• backpacking
• mountaineering
• skiing
• trekking
• biking
• roadtrips

Music, Movies, and Books

My music styles: indie rock, alternative rock, dnb
Movies: Documentaries about mountains, natural wonders, skiing, traveling, wild life; short films about skiing, traveling, tiny eco homes, green homes
I like to read books from Jon Krakauer, John Green, Paulo Coelho, Osho

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I fell in love with mountains

Teach, Learn, Share

After hiking a lot on Western-, Meridional- and Eastern- Carpathian trails I recommend following trails:
Retezat National Park hiking trails options:

1. Râușor tourist base-Ștevie Valley- Lolaia Saddle- Retezat Peak- Lolaia Saddle-Lolaia Ridge-Ciurila Saddle- Râușor tourist base (1 day)
2. Cârnic Hostel-Pietrele Valley-Gențiana Hostel-Bucura Saddle-Bucura Lake (1 day)
3. Bucura Lake-Bucurelu Lake-Tăul Porții Lake-Tăul Agățat Lake-Bucura I Peak-Bucura II Peak-Curmătura Bucurei Saddle-Bucura Lake (2-3 hours)
4. Peleaga Meadow-Plaiul Mic Saddle-Custura Peak-Păpușa Peak-Peleaga Saddle-Peleaga Peak-Bucura Lake-Peleaga Meadow (1 day)
5. Gura Zlata Hostel- Academy House-Radeșu Mare Valley-Plateau Radeș-Zlata-Zănoaga Lake (5-6 hours)
6. Cheile Buții Hostel-La Fânațe Glade-Buta Valley-Buta Hostel-Plaiul Mic Saddle-Custura Peak-Buta Hostel (1 day hours)

Făgăraș Mounains hiking trails options:

1. Porunbacul de Sus-Negoiu Hostel-Negoiu Peak-Călțun Hostel (1 day)
2. Bâlea lake-Capra Saddle-Vânătoarea lui Buteanu Peak-Capra Lake-Iezer Peak-Paltinul Peak-Bâlea Lake
3. Victoria Town-Turnuri Hostel-Podragu Hostel (7-8 hour)
4. Podragu Hostel-Podragu Saddle-Viștea Mare Peak-Moldoveanu Peak-Portița Viștei Hostel (4-5 hour)
5. Portița Viștei Hostel-Viștea Mare Valley-Victoria Town (8-9 hour)
6. The eastern ridge of Făgăraș (Balea Lake- Plaiul Foii) (4-5 days)

Piatra Craiului Mountains hiking trails options:

1. Zărnești-Botorog Spring-Zănoaga Meadow-Curmătura Hostel- Zărnești Gorges-Zărnești
2. Plaiul Foii Tourist Base-La Zaplaz-Grind Saddle-La Om Peak- Grind Hostel-Folea house (1 day)
3. Curmătura Hostel-Piatra Craiului Ridge-Funduri saddle (1 day)

Parâng Mountains hiking trail:

1. Parâng Tourist Base- Cârja Peak-Parângul Mare Peak-Parâng Tourist Base (1 day)
2. Parâng Tourist Base-Parângul Mic Peak-Mija Lake- Parâng Tourist Base (5-6 ore)

Trascău Mountains hiking trails:

1. Turda Gorges tour (4-5 hours)
2. Râmeț Gorges tour (3-4 hours)
3. Rimetea-Colțești-Piatra Secuiului Ridge-Rimetea (5-6 hours)

Plateau Padiș hiking trails:

1. Galbena Gorges tour (3-4 hours)
2. Cetățile Ponorului tour (2-3 hour)
3. Someșul Cald Gorges tour (3-4 hour)

Ciucaș Mountains hiking trail:

1. Berii Valley-Ciucaș Tourist Base-Ciucaș Peak-Ciucaș Tourist Base

Hășmașul Mare National Park hiking trail:

1. Bălan Town-Lonely Rock Hostel-Hăghimașul Mare Peak- Lonely Rock Hostel- Lonley Rock Cliff-Bălat Town (1 day)

Ceahlău National Park hiking trail:

1. Durău-Fântânele Hostel-Toaca Peak-Dochia Hostel-Duruitoare Waterfall-Durău (1 day)

Rodnei National Park hiking trail:
1. Borșa Town-Pietros Valley-Iezer Lake-Pietrosu Peak-Buhăiescu Mare Peak-Borsa Town (1 day)

What I Can Share with Hosts

Experiences and photos about hiking, skiing, backpacking, traveling, exploring nature, biking and a positive attitude :)

Countries I’ve Visited

Czech Republic, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Serbia, Slovakia, United Kingdom

Countries I’ve Lived In

Hungary, Romania