Whichever way you set off from the guesthouse, you are in a place that invites you to walk.
It can simply be a stroll through the village, along its lanes and among meadows full of wildflowers, with no particular destination. An unhurried walk, where the joy comes mostly from what you meet along the way.
Or perhaps you already have a place you want to reach. Then the walk has a purpose, and something waits to be discovered at the end.
See what you can visit in the area.
And if you want to leave the villages behind and discover nature as it is, head for the protected areas around you. Here, forests, meadows, rocky outcrops and waters make up landscapes where the human touch is felt less and nature follows its own rhythm.
Some of the most popular tourist routes that access protected natural areas:
- Mara Village – Hopșia Valley – Stone Table – Rooster’s Crest Reservation. A 12-km medium difficulty route (on forest road and trail) of about 4–5 hours, marked by a blue cross.
Route coordinates (GPX) - Breb Village – Morărenilor Lake – Măriuței Road – Stone Table – Rooster’s Crest Reservation. An 8.5-km medium difficulty route (on forest road and trail) of about 3–4 hours, marked by a red cross.
Route coordinates (GPX) - Gutâi Pass, Țentea Inn – Boului Meadow – Sărita Pintii – Rooster’s Crest. A 6.5-km medium difficulty route (on forest road and trail) of about 2–3 hours, marked by a red stripe.
Route coordinates (GPX) - Ocna Șugatag – Hoteni – Hoteni Lakes – Breb. A 5.5-km easy difficulty route (on asphalt, dirt road and trail) of about 1.5–2 hours, marked by a red cross.
Route coordinates (GPX) - Șugatag Village – Iezerul Mare – Tătaru Meadow – Tătarului Gorge – Mara Valley – Mara Village. A 20-km medium difficulty route (on dirt and gravel roads).
Route coordinates (GPX)
Easy village hikes
To be closer to nature and for a complete ecotourism experience where village life is revealed to you in detail, choose the easy hikes around the villages. Designed for all seasons and all tourists, they are suitable for children and seniors alike — just bring trekking equipment and, depending on weather, protection from rain or strong sun.
Breb – Borcut Budești
Breb – Ponoare – Valea Breboaia – Coasta Rusenilor – Borcut Budești
red hiker 8.2 km 4–4½ h
Breb route
Breb – Breboaia Valley – Jewish Cemetery – Muncelu Hill – Stone Bridge – Breb
red hiker 5 km 2.5–3 h
Desești route
Desești – narrow-gauge railway embankment – St. Paraschiva wooden church (UNESCO) – Mara River – Dâmbul Frumos – Desești
red hiker 6.3 km 3–3.5 h
Călinești route
Călinești – Popii Street – Gruiet Peak – Ponorele – Călinești
red hiker 5.1 km 2–2.5 h
Tips for hikers
GO TO BREB, BUDEȘTI, CĂLINEȘTI
To see traditional Maramureș houses that still survive in this area, walk the side streets and admire the ancestral symbols carved on the wooden gates — motifs of the sun, wolf fangs, the tree of life, and the rope.
ASK YOUR GUESTHOUSE HOST
The guesthouse owner knows the area best and will advise you on what to visit — depending on your available time, physical condition and preferences.
IMPORTANT: SHEEPDOGS
Outside the villages, do not get too close to sheepfolds. The guardian dogs are beautiful but very aggressive — they will bark with a ferocity you have never encountered. Do not be afraid, but keep your distance and promptly call out to the shepherd — he is the only one they obey.
