Adventure in Banat Mountains

Adventure in Banat Mountains - rafting, caving, boat ride, trekking

If you're fit and ready for some action, then this program will satisfy your demands. We have lots of physical activities to complete, designed on the easy level: rafting on Nera river (the longest route from the country), trekking in a couple of stunning gorges, train ride along the oldest mountain railway route, rich in breathtaking passages, the beautiful canyon of Danube - boat cruise included, caves to check, and the list continues with things you'll discover by yourself. All these in a spectacular natural setting, included in diverse protected Natural and National Parks.

Day 1. Timisoara - Sopotu Nou

We focus first on a beautiful trekking route, ‘off beaten track’ dense forested pathway, between steep and craggy limestone walls: Garliste Gorges. During the path we have the chance to admire the impressive construction of the first mountain railway in Romania (1863) between Anina to Oravita, inclusive a tunnel and some viaducts. As we advance inside the gorge at some point we find and visit the Cave with Water, designed by the active stream which is flowing through it. As the water is a good and permanent supply, the locals have built over the time lots of water mills; we shall see about 14 of them, in different stages of degradation. The trip takes about 4-5 hours, then we get to the next attraction to jump in: Oravita-Anina railway.

The 33 km long train ride on the railway reveals the visitors some 14 tunnels and 9 viaducts.

Dinner and accommodation at local 3* guesthouse.

Day 2. Sopotu Nou - Sasca Romana

Nera gorge and Beusnita valley, both attractions are included in the National Park with the similar name; the Park was created in order to preserve unique natural beauties, consisting of a wide variety of woody and grassy plant species, specific to the climate with Mediterannean influences.

Rafting: we shall enjoy the Nera Gorges by boat and sometimes on the shore in particularly beautiful places, difficult to reach by other means. The karst relief, the color of the Devil's Lake, the legends represent a perfect setting for a complete day in the middle of nature. The Nera Gorges are the longest in the country - 28 km long with steep limestone walls, rising up to 200 m vertically, lakes and canyons, impressive caves and waterfalls. The rafting will be done along 17 km of the gorge (5-7 hours), then we take the path, trekking on Beusnita valley (the main tributary of Nera river). Here we’ll be amazed by several waterfalls and another scenic crystal-clear lake (Ochiul Beiului) who never freezes.

Dinner and accommodation at a local 3* guesthouse.

Day 3. Sasca Romana - Baile Herculane

Driving downstream along Danube Canyon, named Iron Gates at its final part, close to the big power plant built in the 70’s. Before the dam construction, the area was characterized by rock slides, whirling formation, and getting through was made difficult by debris floating in the river. Now the impression is like a still and wide river, yet the landscape is majestic: the walls and rock towers of the tight limestone alternate between 300 to 150 meters on both sides of the river, the mountains reaching altitudes of 500 to 700 meters.

The opposite, right bank belongs to Serbia; at the entrance in the canyon, long for 135km we’re impressed by the massive 14^th century Golubac fortification from the Serbian side. Then, we admire the most beautiful part of the Danube River, situated on the place where it divides Carpathian (on the Romanian side) and Balkan Mountains, across.

At some point we get to the the narrowest 2 sections of the river course: Cazanele Mari (The Large Boilers) and Cazanele Mici (The Small Boilers), only 120 m wide, where the river’s erosion has formed beautiful caves and cliffs. Near the mouth of the tributary river Mraconia we can see the face of the Dacian king Decebal, the biggest rock sculpture in Europe, 40 m tall and 25 m wide.

Once getting inside the canyon we stop and head out up the mountain on a loop trail, getting to the top of it in less than one hour. The souls are delighted with the wonderful images seen from a lofty height, over the most spectacular part of the Danube, Cazanele. It's fantastic, the viewpoints anchor you to the place, you look, you photograph, you try to fix the unique details in your memory as best as possible, to recognize various shapes, and you don't want to leave.

Back to the road; the drive continue to Mraconia Monastery where we take the boat on Danube in order to visit the Cazane and a couple of caves, Ponicova and Veterani, as well as 2,000 year-old Tabula Traiana memorial plaque, who marked one of the commercial and military roads built by the Romans.

Accommodation in Baile Herculane resort, famous for its mineral, thermal waters. Relax to the wellness 4* hotel.

Day 4. Baile Herculane - Timisoara.

After the breakfast we’re heading to the village of Eftimie Murgu where we will see the largest watermills park from SE Europe. Although the use of these primary hydraulic systems was introduced in the area in the 2^nd-3^rd century, the first 8 mills were officially registered in 1722. We have the opportunity to understand the milling system in the museum at Rudaria, where a dismantled mill is exhibited.

Then, we set the compass to reach the underground world of Comarnic Cave; built in diverse stages, hence the few sectors and amazing galleries or wide halls; the black silex abundance on the walls, contrasting beautifully with the white limestone rock. Fauna is rich, mainly in a few bat colonies.

Back to light; after a short drive we get o Caras Gorge, where we set our feet to hike the next 4-5 hours. The place impresses with a succession of special karst phenomena, rock falling, steep cliffs, sinkholes and caves. In some places the path follows narrow and spectacular canyons, close to the water stream.

Back to Timisoara by evening. End of tour.

PHOTO GALLERY