Welcome to the Explorers section of the Jiu Valley Portal (JiuValley.com), your one-stop-shop for adventure travel and recreation in the Jiu Valley and the surrounding Transylvanian Alps. With the historical importance of coal mining in parts of the Jiu River Basin, the Valley has traditionally not been thought of as a tourist destination. Nevertheless, three important factors make the Valley an important find for adventure travelers and nature tourists:

• Jiu Valley serves as a key gateway to Retezat National Park and various ranges (Parîng, Retezat, Valcan) within the surrounding Carpathian Mountains

• The Jiu Valley is affordable.

• Jiu Valley is still relatively undiscovered. Because of its geographical location and socio-economic context, the forest and mountain regions have not suffered from the environmental degradation of so many popular resort areas and mountains around Europe. Here one can still discover new caves, hike in the back-country without encountering hordes of noisy car-camping tourists, be able to pioneer new routes up challenging cliff ascents, and witness Carpathian animal treasures such as the elusive bear, chamois, wild boar, and wolves.

With this website, our goal is to attract and assist people who love adventure and nature, who are attracted to the unique and want to authentically experience the lives and customs of the mountain and valley people who inhabit the region. And as adventure travel and tourism becomes a larger part of the Jiu Valley economy, we wish to ensure that the Valley's natural resources and customs are conserved.

The Explorer's Tourism & Travel Section is divided into five main categories for your easy navigation: