Retezat Mountains – Dora Pension

View of Dora Pension

Retezat is one of the most spectacular mountains from Romania and one of the most beautiful mountains from Eastern Europe. Dora Pension is placed right at the entrance from the North side of the Retezat National Park. It is a very good place to start for hiking in those great Retezat Mountains, being situated at an altitude of 1350 meters near touristic complex of Rausor, 30 km from Hateg, Hunedoara, România.

This was the main reason for me to choose this location for few days visit – also the access to Rausor by car is really easy – good roads (some recently made).

The pension has a limited accommodation space – only 22 places in rooms with two, three or four beds – six rooms in total – one room with four beds (one double bed and two singles). We’ve started on the wrong foot when I arrived there because my reservation made with four weeks before has been shorten with one night for no reason however. Of course this made me mad, as I really wanted to enjoy 4 days in Retezat and not 3 – and this after many emails exchanged with the owner and also a couple of phones made. In the end all went well – the receptionist (which was playing many other parts) called the owner and I was given the four beds room at the price of two beds. So my advise is to keep calling the owner a few times, even one day before the arrival so that everything goes smoothly.

2 of the 4 beds in my room

After this small issue, things got towards a good direction when we got to our room – each room has its own sanitary group, nice wooden furniture – everything you’d want to have when coming back from the mountains. Each evening the heat was on and the warm feeling was immediately making us get relaxed.

For sure, all mountain lovers would find here one of the best place where to leave behind the city’s stress and pollution. Also many interesting objectives are available to be visited by car of by foot – I’ll present some of them in the future episodes dedicated to Retezat Mountains and Hateg country.

Ski Track in the Summer

This place is not only a summer visit location – for winter recreation guests have at their disposal at two hundred meters distance a ski track with a 1300 meters length and 380 meters level difference. Modern cableways (teleski) are available on the piste – for those not very intimate with skiing, usage of sleighs is also permitted. At guests’ requests ski training can be done by professionals. During winter in Retezat most of the paths are considered to be dangerous, but those around Dora pension can be used for short walks, of course not without taking into consideration all the rules of winter hiking.

The restaurant is available for outside visitors also – it is a small but friendly location. The food is quite good and plenty for any appetite. Choosing the half board, you would be able to serve breakfast and dinner (with two courses) at a very convenient price.

Talking about prices, here are the latest available:

Prices (€/day):

Double room 42 EUR/day/BB   50 EUR/day/HB
3 beds room  58 EUR/day/BB   70 EUR/day/HB
4 beds room  70 EUR/day/BB   84 EUR/day/HB

Map to Rausor - Dora Pension

Access roads:

From Deva
On DN66 Road Deva – Simeria – Hateg – on DN68 Road Hateg – Totesti – Paclisa – to Sarmizegetusa – Rau de Mori – Suseni – Colt Monastery – Râusor – Dora.

From Caransebes
On DN68 Road Caransebes – Otelu Rosu – Sarmizegetusa – Rau de Mori – Suseni – Colt Monastery – Râusor – Dora.

From Râu de Mori – 10 km on the DJ686 Road, tarmac road until Suseni, between Suseni and Râusor is frequently maintained and in very good condition, being accessed by cars in all seasons.

For more details you can access Dora Pension site: www.pensiuneadora.ro

In the end we’ve had a great time staying here, and that’s why I recommend you to try it too.

Following this I will cover in some future articles the mountain routes we’ve been and show you the beautiful, unique surroundings in Retezat.