This immersive two-day journey in Retezat National Park — Romania’s first national park, established in 1935 — takes you into one of Europe’s last truly wild mountain landscapes, where nature, culture, and rewilding processes come to life.

As you walk through old forests, pastures, and alpine landscapes, you will begin to read the signs of the interactions shaping these landscapes, gaining a deeper understanding of how wild nature functions, coexists with people, and recovers.

From Cârnic to Gențiana Hut, you’ll follow a thematic trail dedicated to 90 years of Retezat National Park, exploring both the area’s rich biodiversity and the legacy of early mountaineers who opened routes into these mountains. As you move through forests, pastures, and into the alpine zone, you’ll discover how this landscape became a place of exploration and discovery. At Gențiana Hut, you’ll spend the evening sharing mountaineering stories before settling into the rhythm of the high mountains. The following day, the route continues into the glacial cirque of Bucura, home to Romania’s largest glacial lake, where you’ll explore rewilding stories — including the return of marmots — and discover how life adapts and thrives in these high-altitude environments.

Rewilding Story: Marmots: Once absent from the Retezat National Park, marmots were successfully reintroduced as part of efforts to restore alpine ecosystems. Today, they are a key species of the high mountain landscape. Through their digging and grazing, marmots influence soil structure and vegetation, supporting biodiversity and contributing to the natural balance of these fragile environments. Their characteristic whistles echo across the valleys — a subtle but powerful sign that nature is returning.

Nature: This alpine region of Retezat National Park hosts a remarkable diversity of wildlife and mountain flora, from endemic alpine plants — central to its protected status — to species such as marmots, chamois, and birds of prey adapted to high-altitude environments. Wildlife remains truly wild and elusive, making every call, movement, or distant sighting a meaningful glimpse into a resilient alpine ecosystem.

Communities: All meals and snacks are locally sourced, supporting small producers and businesses from surrounding communities, while discovering traditional food, mountain culture, and the close relationship between people and nature in this region.

Difficulty: A remote mountain experience with simple accommodation and traditional food. Expect sustained physical effort, changing weather conditions, and an authentic mountaineering-style experience.

Pace: Flexible and adaptive — shaped by weather, group dynamics, and meaningful moments, with a focus on immersion.