15 minutes from the cabin · 2-3 hours · open all year, depending on trail conditions
The Slătioara old-growth forest (Codrii Seculari Slătioara), about 15 minutes’ drive from the cabin, is one of the most valuable natural forests in Bucovina. Centuries-old spruce, fir and beech trees, some of them several hundred years old, grow here in an ecosystem that largely follows its own natural rhythms. In 2017 the reserve became part of a UNESCO World Heritage site, the “Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe”. Access is free, with no fixed visiting hours.
A forest where time runs differently
You can feel from the first steps that this is no ordinary forest. The trunks are so thick you cannot get your arms around them, fallen trees are left to return slowly to the earth, and the light only reaches the ground here and there, in thin strips. It is cool and almost solemnly quiet, even in the middle of summer.
The main trail is waymarked, climbs gently and takes two to three hours there and back, with no special equipment. After rain it gets muddy, so footwear matters.
With a guide or on your own
On your own, if you want to enjoy the beauty of the forest at your leisure: you can follow the waymarked trail and discover the place at your own pace.
With a guide, if you want to understand what you are seeing. Someone from the village shows you the oldest trees, tells you why fallen trees are left in the forest and where to spot animal tracks. We arrange the guided walk for groups of at least four adults, with a picnic of local produce at the end.
When it is at its most beautiful
Late spring, in May, when the forest is a fresh, bright green and still cool.
Autumn, in October, for the colours that set it all ablaze. Picking mushrooms or anything else that grows wild is not allowed in the reserve.
In winter we don’t recommend the long trail, because the path isn’t cleared, but a few steps through the white forest, in the quiet of the snow, are a joy in themselves.
What to bring
Water, shoes that don’t mind mud, a light jacket even in summer and insect repellent in June and July. There is almost no phone signal, which, honestly, is part of the charm.
Frequently asked questions
Can we go with children?
Yes, the waymarked trail suits children from six or seven. With younger children, just do the first part.
Is there an entrance fee?
Entry is free. Please follow the reserve’s visiting rules.
How far is it from the cabin?
Ten kilometres, a quarter of an hour by car. It is the closest major sight in the area.
Start from the gate, not from a hotel
The whole house, a quarter of an hour from the ancient forest, with the warm hot tub waiting for the evening after your walk. From 900 lei a night.
