Award-winning Via Transilvanica! - See Beyond Magazine - An avant-garde motivational literary magazine for teens and young-at-heart adults

Diana invites us on a journey to discover the amazing Via Transilvanica  and its contribution to the global cultural heritage.

Just a short distance from the Eastern border of the European Union, only 2-3 hours from all major capitals of Europe, the magical trail of Via Translvanica awaits its travelers all year long. It’s incredible to think that in just 6 years, two brothers’ dream became an impressive 1,400 km hiking trail, across a range of historical regions in Romania.

In fact, the trail is gaining tremendous notoriety. Alin Useriu, founder of Via Transilvanica, received the Europa Nostra Public Choice Award in 2023. More recently, TIME magazine listed Via Transilvanica in “2024 World’s Greatest Places,” alongside legendary destinations, such as Cortina d/Ampezzo, Italy; Kimana Sanctuary, Kenya; Dunas de Formentera, Spain; Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, Sarasota, Florida, US. The TIME article spoke of outstanding trail attributes: Romania’s primeval forests, fairytale Saxon Villages, ecotourism, historical sites, beautiful landscapes (QR Code p57). Travelers can enjoy hiking, backpacking in the wild, horseback riding, biking, camping, hotels, or a stay with residents who will share meals made with home-grown produce.

As Mihai Lehene, President of the Romanian United Foundation (RUF), said in appreciation of TIME’s designation: “It’s good to be recognized by the most famous magazine in the world.”

Via Transilvanica listed in TIME‘s famous top 100 destinations for 2024

He added, “We should get a Guinness World Records distinction, too – at 1,400 km long, Via Transilvanica is also the largest outdoor art exhibition!” Lehene also expressed gratitude, “Thank you again for the almost 200,000 donations made for Via Transilvanica through the RUF fundraising platform, which makes our Global Romanian Diaspora contributors the third largest sponsor of this amazing trail!”

Having been designated one of the “World’s Greatest Places,” included the honor of being featured on the highly prestigious Nasdaq Tower. As you can imagine, Via Transilvanica is a strong, fast-growing brand that is changing the paradigm of Romanian tourism – the largest social enterprise in the country, bringing together Romanians and their friends to become its ambassadors, volunteers, partners, investors.

Nasdaq Tower; TIMES Square, NYC; August 17, 2024

There’s room for everyone! Come just for the joy of it. Or come for the challenge and satisfaction of preserving, promoting and enjoying the natural and cultural aspects of Romania – a rich and diverse country built on a unique mix of Latin and Slavic cultures, interwoven with other ethnic groups, from German and Hungarian to Greek, Turkish or Polish.

The TIME article spoke of outstanding trail attributes: Romania’s primeval forests, fairytale Saxon Villages, ecotourism, historical sites, beautiful landscapes. Travelers can enjoy hiking backpacking in the wild, horseback riding, biking, camping, hotels, or a stay with residents who will share meals made with home-grown produce.

Wherever you may come from, The Path That Unites will definitely be surprising. Each journey is transformative, inspiring people from around the world to fall in love with the profound tapestry of Romania. Via Transilvanica bridges the past with the present, tradition with adventure, making it a cornerstone for cultural tourism and community development in Europe.

Volunteers gather for trail upkeep; May 18, 2024

Dog Sledding in the Harghita Mountains, December to March

A well-known Romanian journalist and world ambassador of Via Transilvanica, Alex Dima, created a series of short videos, each about thirty-minutes long, to provide a small, visual understanding of this ambitious project. You will see teenagers, called Road Parents, who maintain the trail. It’s always wonderful to see young people getting involved. Road Parents are also adults, some with families, who all pitch in. You will hear from Lery and Hedly, who watched the building of the trail on the internet at home in Australia and then traveled to hike the path on a ninety-day jaunt. People come from all over! With the TIME magazine recognition, we hope to expand tourism even more.

Young adults and kids hiking the trail

If you are interested in the thrill-of-a-thousand-stars trip to Romania, check out the unique offer from the Trips to Romania Program. The Romanian United Foundation in Chicago designed the program for the Global Romanian Diaspora and all its friends throughout the world – a multi-generational, cultural exchange through tailored, all-inclusive, fully immersive packages for 3 to 6 days, all guided, supervised, safe and secure. Explore nature and visit local communities stress free.

One of many stone sculptures that marks every km of the trail

Adults Discovering Via Transilvanica: Hiking and adventures for adults (18 and over)

Romanian Adventure Kids’ Camp: Hiking and adventures for kids (6-12 and 13-17)

Volunteer Camp: Volunteer projects benefitting local communities, cultural workshops, and environmental conservation efforts for teens and young adults (15-21)