In terms of temperature, spring is a pretty neat season. The explorer feels temperatures of about 15-20˚C during the day and about 10˚C during the night. If you plan to explore Buzău Land in March or April, don't forget to pack your raincoat. May and June are usually the most pleasant for a trip, with temperatures just over 25˚C during the day, and very rare rains. The rest of the summer months and the beginning of autumn are quite warm, and the temperatures can reach up to 35˚C. However, being a mountainous area, summer and autumn temperatures can vary greatly from day to day. In October we can have temperatures of almost 20˚C in one day, and 10˚C in the next, so be prepared for anything. In winter, temperatures usually vary around 0-4˚C during the day, but can drop to -10˚C at night. Snow usually begins to fall in the second half of December.

Buzău Land offers you a different experience each season, whether it’s landscapes, tastes, smells, sounds, adventures or local traditions. We encourage you to visit us as often as possible, so you don’t miss out on any season. Just make sure to pack appropriate clothes and proper hiking boots. The rest depends on what you want to see first! For example, at the beginning of May all the trees are in bloom and the grass is fresh. In June everything is green, and at the beginning of August the meadows are in full bloom. In September you’ll enjoy fresh fruits, in November you’ll have a mysteriously misty atmosphere, while over the winter months everything becomes white and magical. If you want snow, we recommend you plan your visit in the second half of December and in January. Holidays are the perfect time! If you want to explore the geology of the area, then March and April are suitable, because the vegetation is low.

Regardless of the season, you need appropriate footwear: hiking shoes or boots. It’s not a good idea to explore Buzău Land in sandals, slippers or normal shoes, as many routes are quite demanding. In summer dress thinly, and in winter pack thick pants, leggings, shirts, gloves, hats, scarves, and anything else that comes to mind. It’s better to wear clothes in layers and combine them according to temperature variations. In winter we prefer the combination of a thick shirt, a fleece and a windstopper. A windstopper is very useful in cold seasons, especially if you’re exploring open areas, where the wind is quite strong. In spring and autumn you can wear thin clothes, but always have a jacket with you, preferably waterproof. A backpack or explorer’s bag is great, especially if it contains a GPS, a compass, the Traveler’s Map to Buzau Land and a water bottle. Oh, and don't forget your camera.

Wild animals tend to avoid you and encounters are rare, unless you’re specifically looking for them. But if you’re going to explore the forests of Buzău Land, we recommend hiking in groups and talking as much as possible. In this way, the animals will hear you and flee in time. If you want to be sure, you can always shout for “Nea Ion” in the forest :). It works for us! You can stumble over lynx tracks and hear wolves, but they generally trail away long before you get to see them. Wild boars are a little bolder, so we recommend avoiding them. At night you can often meet them along river banks. You might also spot bears, but they’re dangerous only if they feel threatened. Remember that bears are afraid of you too: be careful not to photograph them, especially not with the flash, and leave enough space for them to leave. Avoid looking the bear directly in the eye: in the world of bears this is a sign of challenge. As long as it stays with its ears pricked up, it's a good sign. It means it’s just curious. If it sticks its ears to the head, then it’s really time for you to move away, preferably down a slope.

Yes, Buzău Land is full of sheepfolds and of shepherds leading herds through the mountains. You have to be careful how you treat their dogs, whether you meet them in the wild or in the sheepfold. They’ll bark at you from a distance and then they’ll get closer to your group. These dogs are disciplined and extremely intelligent, so after making sure you’ve stopped, they usually wait for the shepherd to come and assess the "risk". The best strategy is to wait quietly and talk to them (without trying to pet them), or call the shepherd. Don't try to push forward, but don't try to run either. The shepherd will come soon, the dogs will befriend you, and you can even get a piece of cheese, a shot of plum brandy and a good story to remember.

It's really good! Many dishes are cooked with local salt, either in the form of natural brine or in the form of salt powder. The pickles are made directly with salt water from local springs and are not just tasty, but also very varied. Have you ever eaten pickled plums? They go great with the local plum brandy. All the sheepfolds have sweet cheese, salted cheese but also fresh and smoked curd. You can even taste fresh butter. Many dishes are typical for people spending a lot of time outdoors, so they are dried or smoked, slightly spicy and perfect for your traveler's bag. But you should know that like many other places in Romania, food is generally based on meat and dairy, so don't forget to let your host know if you’re vegetarian or vegan. There’s definitely something tasty to be had for every palate. If you’re a gourmet, then you’re in heaven. We have places in Buzău Land where traditional recipes have been specifically preserved or adapted: look for them on our website.

No matter where you travel, it is not recommended to drink water from sources you don’t know. We often think that spring water is clean, especially if it springs from the mountains, but if you take a look at our Environmental User Guide you’ll find that groundwater dissolves many chemical elements, some of them harmful. In Buzău Land we’ve analyzed over 100 water sources, both wells and springs, and we can tell you that many of them are actually mineralized waters, i.e. waters rich in Mendeleev's table. Some springs are very good in terms of quality, but others have high concentrations of elements such as iron, copper, zinc or even lead. They don’t result from pollution, because there’s no industry here. All these elements are naturally enriched in the waters, by dissolution from the rocks and minerals they wash. We plan to mark the water sources that should be avoided, but until then, please use the fountains and springs that the locals recommend.

Basically yes, but we recommend that you camp in the backyards of local households. Many villagers will welcome you to a piece of their garden, and you’ll have the chance to interact with them and hear a lot of stories. Some guesthouses also provide space for tents, while others have tents ready for you. In Buzău Land we don’t have designated camping spaces yet, so if you do choose to set your tent in a wild area, you might receive nightly visits from curious animals. Or you might wake up the next day in the middle of a sheep flock. We recommend you choose the large, beautiful and fenced yards of the villagers. On the bright side, you have the chance to enjoy a warm donut or a piece of freshly baked bread.

Buzău Land is a natural environment and we want to keep it as authentic as possible. For this reason, we avoid placing rubbish bins on hiking trails or in outdoor visiting sites. Not only does it impact the landscape in a bad way, but food debris can attract wildlife. As in any other destination, the visitor is a guest who must respect the places they journey to. In this way, all travelers can enjoy the outdoors and the locals get to feel good at home. Since you’re a responsible traveler, we’re sure you’ll keep the waste in your backpack until you reach the nearest village, where you will definitely find disposal bins. In some places you’ll even receive a special paper bag to help you collect your waste. Thank you :)

You can always enjoy a barbecue, but you should avoid making one in the natural environment. In Buzău Land we don’t have areas designated and authorized for outdoor barbecue, unless they are part of someone’s private property. For this reason, preparing a grill in the wild can create legal problems. At the same time, you have to prepare a generous meal for your unwanted guests, because the greedy bears won’t resist the smell of sizzling steak. No matter where you prepare the grill, please put out the fire with water, collect the waste, including ash and embers, and please take them to the nearest disposal bin. However, it’s easier for you to set up the barbecue in the backyard of a guesthouse, and then pack the cooked meal and go out in nature for a picnic.

In Buzău Land, the main access roads and those following the main valleys are freshly asphalted or currently being repaired, granting good accessibility. Our strategy is to preserve the rural and natural landscape that we all love so much, and to avoid the transit of villages with paved roads. Beyond the negative visual impact, they can increase the degree of discomfort and pollution, and decrease the safety of residents and pets, but also of visitors who choose hiking, biking or horseback riding. For this reason, much of the secondary roads will remain dirt or stone roads. These secondary roads are still accessible by car, but please try to avoid driving along cart roads, because they are only designed for access on foot, by cart, on horseback or by bicycle. If you follow our recommendation you’ll protect your car from road damage, but you’ll also protect the road, the villagers, the animals and the experience of other visitors. The most beautiful and pleasant way to explore Buzău Land, both for your own experience and for the natural environment is on foot or by bike. You can leave your car at the guesthouse and discover the picturesque setting of Buzău Land by following some of our unforgettable hiking trails.

It depends on what places you choose to explore. There are spots, especially in forests, deep valleys, or in some remote villages, where mobile coverage is not available, or only present a few hours a day. This effect is due to the landscape, which can effectively block signal in certain areas. At guesthouses, however, you’ll always have mobile and Wi-Fi connection.

If you’re injured or if you have minor health problems, you can look for the nearest pharmacy, you can call a medical center or reach out to the local family medics: you’ll find them in most communes. If you are on the Salt River Valley (Slănicului Valley), you have the option of the Ecomed clinic in Vintilă Vodă. If you are on the Fair Maidens Valley (Bălănesei Valley), you can opt for the Health Center in Pârscov. If you are in the Colți area, you can reach out to the Municipal Hospital in the nearby city of Nehoiu, which is open 24h. For more serious health conditions we recommend the Buzău Municipal Hospital, in the city of Buzău.

Almost certainly! In some guesthouses and restaurants you can pay directly by card, but in other pensions and in almost all stores you need cash. Also, local museums and visiting points that charge an entrance fee only accept cash. If you want to buy a souvenir or a product from a villager, or if you need the help of a car mechanic you’ll find yourself in the same situation. You can find ATMs in Berca and in Pătârlagele.