vaser valley forestry railway - day tours

Don't miss it. Is a unique opportunity to spend few hours with some amazing landscapes. Everything related with this trip is excellent planned by the company which manage this project, so you will be amazed of how things can work !!

We traveled with the small train in January and the trip was fantastic. What is great about the train trip is that is genuine (using the same rail track and similar trains as ones used for decades for carrying timber) but still quite comfortable (though pretty cold outside wagons were well heated). We recommend the trip for anyone staying in the area. However, if you are looking for something special, I guess it's worth taking the trip to Viseu de Sus for it.

Except this railway, with roots deep in the history, nothing touch this corner of nature. Take this tour to fill yourself with nature, pure air and take a sip from several natural springs with pure water.

Together with my wife and another couple we spent an amazing night between the years, with the Mocanita train. It was the best new year’s eve ever. Starting with the hospitality of the organizers, the vintage train and last, but not least the party location being set in the middle of the forrest, in a magical setting, away from the crowded towns, everything was more than perfect. The whole event was incredible, and I definetly recommend it to enyone who wants something different and stunning. I knew about the CFF Viseu de Sus Mocanita, since 2011, when I was very close to book a ride during the summertime. It didn’t happened then, but now it did and I am very glad about that. It all started when together with my friends we were thinking about ways to spent the new year’s eve away from the city and the classic crowded gatherings in the main squares. So I checked out the CFF Viseu de Sus website and there it was: the perfect idea for the new year’s party: Mocanita. As we made preparations, the people from the railway station were helpful enough to tell us everything we want to know about the programe being prepared, the activites and the way we could make reservations. The cost was 240 lei/ person(about 51 euros), and we could book our place by sending in advance 100 lei/person (about 21 euros). They also said that there might be changes in the programe, because of the bad weather. This was not our case, as we had a perfect winter night, with lots of snow on the ground, but with good temperatures and without wind. So, the event went on as expected, and we were excited to discover the magical place where Mocanita took us. There were two trains prepared for the event, one of them having all seats occupied, and a second one with less people, as it was not fully booked. Both had steam railway engines powered by wood and carriages where heated through a wood stove. The light inside the cars was provided by candle lamps. Nothing was electrified. The journey started from the CFF Viseu de Sus railway station. It took about 3 and a half hours to reach the destation. The ride started with a good old traditional brandy (palinca). On the way, the train stopped for water refueling, from the river that flowed next to the railway. It also stopped for 30 minutes at a halt dedicated for serving some appetizers. This place was nothing else then a meadow in the heart of the forrest, next to the river. It was organized with torches, candles and fires. There was also a wooden gazebo with tables and a bar, from where you can take the appetizers and hot drinks, like: wine, chocolate, tea. You could also find refreshments and beers. After everyone finished, the train continued the journey, deeper into the woods, and higher up in the mountain. We reached the final stop at 10:30 in the evening, and we were stuned about what we find. Beside the river, in a large opening, there where 4 big gazebos, a bar and tables with benches, all of them made from wood, surrounded by torches, small fires and specialy designed wooden heaters. All of them put together in the middle of nature, to achieve a perfect farytale picture. It seemed like time stopped, and all of us entered another dimension. As the train headed for a full stop, we were welcomed with fireworks torches. There was also a DJ playing great dancing tunes…especially old hits like “Let’s twist again” and local traditional music. There were around 200 persons enjoying the surroundings, the atmosphere and the music. Just think about dancing a twist with your partener at -4 degrees, outside, in the snow and of course in the middle of a mountain forrest. We had another two courses, one served before midnight, that consist in some barbecue meat with garnish and another after midnight, that consist in a traditional spicy “gulas” stew. The bar was opened for drinks, and the prices where good, considering the whole event (one small plastic cup of hot chocolate/wine/tea – 6 lei (about 1.5 euros). The surprises didn’t stop, as the organizers prepared an enourmous camp fire, with flames going more than 3 meters high. At midnight we recevied a glass of champagne and a very nice fireworks spectacle. The party finished arround 02:30 AM, in 2014, when the trains returned to the main station in Viseu de Sus. Other details: it wasn’t the best food ever, but it was enough, and for all tastes. The “gulas” stew was the best. Unfortunatly, you can’t buy an “all inclusive” package with drinks included, but for us it was perfect just the way it was. You can always bring your own drinks (full bottles), as the event takes place in open air, and nobody asks you about such a thing. Again, the price for the Mocanita train ride, the meal, the fireworks, the whole event was 240 lei/ person. It did not include any kind of drinks except the champagne glass. The only thing I missed after this incredible night, was the opportunity to take the Mocanita ride during daytime, and enjoy the views form the Vaser Valley. That definetly will be another future story. I reccomed this as a fantastic opportunity to spend a new year’s celebration in a different manor, in the wilderness, surrounded by nature, feeling welcomed and treated with all the hospitality that you can imagine. And above all, for fun and for the farytale picture.For me, this happened to be the best way to enjoy a new year’s eve. Congratulations to CFF Viseu de Sus, all the staff and especially to the owners, who made a wonderfull idea came true.

We took "this little train that can" around Christmas in 2014. This Mocanita is the last operating forestry train in Europe; it is old, the wood burning, steam locomotive is old,each car is heated by a wood burning stove, the landscape is fantastic! And the sculpted wooden gates, and the wooden churches make you wonder if you are living a dream. Go there!

I had an amazing experience and by luck I took the train up to the mountain when they organized a Rock Concert at the last stop, in the middle of the forest.It was really amazing, lots of friendly people, big bonfire and rock party.Not even the rain stopped us from enjoying it all night long.

We heard about this train for a long time and wanted to try it, so finally we did this fall. The trip itself is amazing, with incredible landscapes and the forest in October looks like a dream! We enjoyed every moment of the journey, except the food in Paltin. It is not compulsory to eat there, but we wanted top try everything :) Maybe we just caught them in a bad moment with the food, and it was just one small moment in the entire fantastic journey. This is a trip everyone should try at least one time in their life!

This is a narrow gauge railway still in use for forestry work, but also for taking passengers up in the chilly mountains. As the trains leave early in the morning (around 9 am) I would recommend to spend the night at the train-hotel Carpathia, next to the station, for a genuine feeling and amazing food. The trip takes about 2 hours up, where you have a break, can serve some traditionally grilled meats, wander in the area, and as I noticed that most did - take a nap on your way back. This is a true breath of very fresh air, so you will have a really good sleep after this day out. It's something you don't get the chance to experience everywhere and everyday!

We wanted to experience the Vaser Valley Forestry Railway (also called Mocanita) and we sure did. With us on the trip was our 2 years old niece.Everything went smooth until we bought the tickets. After buying the tickets, we were suggested to occupy some seats because there are no seat numbers! That means one can sit where seats are found. The tickets had to be bought early in the morning, so I ended up occupying the seats around 7:15 AM until 9:45 AM when the train left ( the 3rd train). I also have to say it was chilly although it was august !Also I have to mention that there were other empty train-compartments, but they were reserved in advance. In my humble opinion, all the customers should have the same privileges.Finally the train began its journey and I forgot about the 1.5 cold hours spent alone. The view is splendid ! One has the opportunity to see the only functioning forestry railway in Europe !The journey takes about 6 hours, that is 2 hours until one reaches a picnic site, approx. 2 hours break and 2 hours return trip.We enjoyed our own 'brought from home' sandwiches and we visited the little museum.After that we got into the train and the train showed us again the beautiful view....up to a point where it derailed !!! We had to wait approx. 2 hours until another train came to take us back. The staff wanted to put the train back on the tracks, but they ended up worse.So, if one is up for a little bit of adventure, with a little bit of luck, this is it !Oh, yes, the bathroom facilities are deplorable !

In the town Viseul de Sus you can find a beautiful train to visit a beatiful valley.The train is named MOCANITA and it is unic in Europa.The journey take 6 h,and you visit the VASER RIVER VALLEY.They have package in wich food is included,and this is a very good thing.My daughter love very much this trip.

In the town Viseul de Sus, in northern Romania, we made a 6 hours wonderful travel by the old fashioned train along the Vaser River Valley. The way is 21.6 km lenght along Vaser River border and the landscape is amazing, the river is swift and the valley is narrow with rocky walls. A wonderful one day trip.

Having visited the local area for two weeks recently, we went on this railway twice, for the scenery, and experiance of the wood burning narrow gauge locomotives. Both times we booked the package in which food is included in the form of a bbq, beer, soft drink and bun. The food is excellent. The railway was very busy, which was good to see, so busy that one day 3 trains went up the valley. The business did cause some problems at Paltin, with the queues for the food, it would seem quite a lot of East Europeans do not yet understand the queuing system and expect to just barge in anywhere. On the way there was evidence of lots of logging trains, whic was extreemly good to see, as this is the point of the railway, and what i personally wanted to see. Over-all, great staff, food, railway. I wish the railway every success both with the tourist trains, but most of all the logging trains. It was great to see other improvements since my last visit, the road has been done to the station, improved car park, refurbished toilets, and more seating. We also hired bikes for a day from the station. It was nice to see it all busy, and i also recomend that anyone visiting has a meal on the Hotel Train towards the back of the carpark, very good food and drink! Enjoy the whisky Daniel!

We have been also on the Oravita - Anina railway, which also have an impressive view, but this is more oriented to tourists and is very good organized. If you arrive there by chance and they say that is full booked, try to wake-up in the morning and be there around 6 am and you will get the tickets. If you know with some time before that you want to go just make a reservation.

Three trains were scheduled today starting from 9 am until 10 am, so, don't worry if the 2 first are complete with guest who have chosen the lunch package and have the priority (they get a green badge) and have reserved compartments. Unfortunately during the mid-time stop at Novat, the rain started, which really downgraded the trip. Rain in the mountains is, unfortunately, not unusual, even in the Maramures, so, don't forget a rain jacket/ the compartments of priority guest have windows, which can be closed, the others not. With fine weather, I would have rated it as excellent, so, "only" very good!

We stayed overnight in Viseu de sus as the train leaves quite early, and could therefore comfortably eat breakfast at the hotel we stayed at and go buy tickets in the morning.We were two adults with our children aged 4 and 8. We all had a great time.I absolutely loved taking the train up in the woods, and that we got to see "normal life" on the way there. A farmer cutting the hay on his field. A lady walking her 4 cows. Two boys floating a couple of logs down the river, and the guys working in "the woods." It is truly like a travel in time!