Colibița , the Sea in the Mountains

Today we travel to northern Romania, to Colibita, dubbed the "Sea in the Mountains”

Daniel Onea, 18.09.2025, 13:01

Today we travel to northern Romania, at the “Sea in the Mountains”. This is how the large lake of Colibita was dubbed, on the shores of which people live quietly, raising animals and farming. In recent years, new guesthouses have appeared in Colibița, some even with four stars, but they complement the landscape and do not disturb the peace of the inhabitants. We will visit Colibița, but also its surroundings, which offer many opportunities for leisure activities.

Seen from above, we could say that Colibița resort is no different from any other established top destination in Europe, says our guide, Răzvan Cerceja, executive director of the Intercommunity Development Association “Tourism in Bistrița-Năsăud.”

“Colibița is a relatively new, reinvented destination that is undergoing a healthy transformation process, in my opinion. In a very short time, we will be competitive with everything that is good about European tourism. In no time, we will find Colibița to be a health destination. We are now talking about the orientation of this century, “health above all else.” We want to sell and offer tourists health above all else. We can add the rest along the way.”

Colibița can be accessed from Bistrița or Vatra Dornei via modernized roads, and the area benefits from good connections for tourists coming from other regions of the country. However, our starting point is the county seat itself, Bistrița.

“We, being part of Siebenbürgen, meaning the seven Saxon fortified cities, head east towards the world-famous destination of Valea Bârgăului, thanks to the myth of Count Dracula. Taking the Bârgău Valley for 50 km, somewhere on the right, we turn six kilometers from Mureșenii Bârgăului and arrive at the Colibița resort. It is a place one should visit at least once in their life, because they will surely want to come back. To give you a different kind of presentation, the Colibița resort is a balneoclimatic resort, located at an altitude of 800 meters, between the Călimani Mountains and the Bârgău Mountains. It is nicknamed “the sea in the mountains,” and it has every reason to bear this name. There are also small beaches, which are constantly being developed. Added to this are spectacular mountain landscapes. The air in this area has real healing properties for various ailments, from heart and lung conditions to combating stress, which I would say is the ultimate disease in the world today.”

For hiking enthusiasts, Colibița is the starting point for mountain trails leading to the 12 Apostles nature reserve or to Bistricioru Peak, one of the most spectacular in the Călimani massif. The area is also suitable for mountain biking, nature running, and off-road activities. However, Colibița practices sustainable tourism with respect for nature, says Răzvan Cerceja, executive director of the Intercommunity Development Association “Tourism in Bistrița-Năsăud.

“In the area, we can offer various activities for tourists, ranging from mountain hiking to marked trails, which are constantly being developed, from short, medium-difficulty trails to high-difficulty ones. We can do activities on the lake, from kayaking to SUP, everything that means adrenaline and entertainment on the water, but I would like to specify that these are only activities without combustion engines. Although rafting has been practiced on the Bistrița River in Transylvania in the past, we want to reevaluate the river and redesign it so that we can resume this activity as soon as possible. Mountain biking is very popular in the Colibița area and is currently being developed, but we already have a number of trails in place. There are now nine trails that we have worked on. They are highly appreciated by tourists and athletes in general. We also offer relaxation at guesthouses, resorts with spas, swimming pools, and the local cuisine somehow crowns all the efforts of those in the area.”

Another important element of the area is local crafts. In the villages around Colibița, tourists can discover handmade crafts, from traditional fabrics and embroidery with folk motifs to wood carvings. These reflect the traditions of local communities and can be purchased as authentic souvenirs. Participating in craft workshops or visiting traditional households offers a cultural experience that complements relaxation in nature.

“We also have traditions and crafts, which have been somewhat reinvented, although they were very well established in the Bârgău Valley and Colibița areas in particular. Now they have become attractive to tourists again and, implicitly, encourage these people who carry on the crafts. We just had a representative for a longer period in Japan, in Tokyo. He proudly presented everything that local manufacturing means. The Bistrița Năsăud area is identified by a wonderful, very colorful, and very attractive folk costume, among the most cheerful costumes in Romania. It is perhaps the most easily identifiable.”

A new development would be the bringing together of accommodation owners in the Colibița area into an association called “Garantat Colibița.” The main objective is to promote quality tourist services in the resort. Members work together to ensure that visitors enjoy experiences that meet the promised standards.

“The people in this group want to guarantee that things are real in the resort. We have not adopted a false image that would mislead tourists. I am proud of the activities that this group carries out, from greening to everything that means paying attention so that tourists leave the destination satisfied. It is indeed a long road, but the first steps have been taken. We have solid partners in this action and initiative, and I hope that you will soon hear more about this model of good practice. “Guaranteed Colibița” will be a surprise for many in the future.”

Therefore, Colibița is a suitable choice for those who wish to combine the tranquility of nature with the opportunity to engage in various activities, in a well-preserved natural setting with modern tourist facilities. (MI)