The mushroom hunting adventure starts with your arrival at the city of Satu Mare, Romania where you’ll spend 3 days learning about mushrooms, herbs and their use in healing and cooking. Then we’ll go up for a 7 day tour in the wonderland of Maramures and Bucovina neighboring counties where we’ll visit various touristic attractions and where we’ll forage for herbs and mushrooms (details below).
HERE'S WHAT YOU'LL LEARN
WILD EDIBLE & MEDICINAL MUSHROOM & HERBS - THEIR USES IN HOLISTIC HEALING AND BEYOND
Join us for an educational and inspiring journey into the remarkable world of fungi and deepen your connection with nature, healing traditions, and wild food.
Throughout the experience, participants will discover mushroom and plant knowledge, local culture, and authentic Romanian hospitality while staying in guest houses and enjoying the beauty of northern Romania. We’ll be visiting traditional villages, wooden churches, monasteries, and a medieval city.
Participants will have the opportunity to observe several medicinal mushrooms in their dried form while learning about their therapeutic properties and practical uses in holistic wellness. Discover how medicinal fungi have been used traditionally and how they may support wellbeing through various natural preparations.
The workshop will also cover a variety of gourmet mushrooms—both popular and lesser-known species—including their identification, safe collection, preservation methods, and culinary use. Learn how to recognize important diagnostic features and develop greater confidence when identifying fungi in the field.
A special highlight of this experience is the hands-on microscopy session, where you’ll learn the fundamentals of mushroom identification using a microscope. Together, we’ll explore spores, microscopic characteristics, and essential identification tools used to study fungi more accurately.
During the workshop you will:
– Learn the basics of wild edible and medicinal mushroom identification
– Discover therapeutic properties and holistic applications of medicinal fungi
– Participate in practical mushroom microscopy and identification exercises
– Explore safe collection and preservation techniques
– Learn about cooking and preparing gourmet wild mushrooms
– Understand how to prepare natural mushroom-based remedies and healing preparations
– Build practical skills and confidence in mushroom foraging and study
Bonus Included:
Participants will also receive access to the online course “Foraging For Wild Gourmet & Medicinal Mushrooms,” where over 30 mushroom species are explored and discussed in detail.
Gaining knowledge about various edible and medicinal wild plants is a huge plus for every bush enthusiast. You’ll be learning how to identify over 25 edible weeds and several important medicinal herbs used in healing. We’ll be talking about their nutritional value (compared to regular food), how to use some of them as powders, capsules or tinctures as part of holistic treatments. We’ll also discuss ways to preserve them, cooking, and much more.
At the end of your stay in Romania you’ll get a symbolic certificate stating that you’ve been trained in the identification process of edible and medicinal mushrooms including herbs and their use in holistic therapy
BucketList
3 days in the city of Satu Mare
In the city of Satu Mare we’ll go to visit the city and then we’ll go for a thermal water bath just to brush our senses and relax. Your stay at Satu Mare covers beginner instructions on edible and medicinal mushrooms and plants. If time and weather permits we might go to forage for herbs and mushrooms around the city of Satu Mare.
1 day in the city of Bistrita – Medieval Charm and Cultural Heritage in Northern Romania
Located in northern Romania, Bistrița is one of Transylvania’s oldest and most charming medieval cities, offering visitors a blend of history, architecture, culture, and nearby natural beauty. With colorful buildings, cobbled streets, and a relaxed atmosphere, Bistrița provides a wonderful glimpse into the region’s Saxon heritage and local traditions.
3 Days in the wonderland of Maramures, Region of Romania
Whether you’re a history enthusiast, nature lover, or cultural explorer, Maramures promises a journey that not only delights the senses but also enriches the soul. It is a place where time has slowed down with a way of life that has endured through the ages. It is famous due to its cultural traditions, culinary delights, carved wooden gates, wooden churches, and natural beauty.
In Maramures we’ll have the chance to see the following attractions:
It is famous for its brightly colored tombstones with naive paintings describing, in an original and poetic manner, the people who are buried there in addition to scenes from their lives. The cemetery is noted for featuring a large number of humorous epitaphs that generally poke fun at the interred person in a light-hearted way or reference a general trope about family relations. The cemetery’s origins are linked with the name of Stan Ioan Pătraș, a local artist who sculpted the first tombstone crosses. In 1935, Pătraș carved the first epitaph and, as of the 1960s, more than 800 of such oak wood crosses came into sight.
The pre-industrial whirlpools of Sapanta
The hydro-powered washing machines/ whirlpools have been used by the local since early 1800s to clean carpets, rugs, blankets and heavy coats. Rapid water streams are directed towards a large cone-shaped wooden basin to create a powerful whirlpool which tumbles the carpets to remove the dirt.
The Wooden Monastery of Barsana
The Bârsana Monastery is one of the most beautiful wooden monastic complexes in northern Romania, located in the scenic Iza Valley. Built in traditional Maramureș style, the monastery is known for its tall wooden structures, intricate carvings, and peaceful setting surrounded by hills and forests.
Its origins date back to the 18th century, with the old wooden church (built in 1720) now part of the UNESCO-listed wooden churches of Maramureș, while the current complex was rebuilt after 1993 as a vibrant spiritual and pilgrimage site.
Today, Bârsana Monastery stands as a symbol of Romanian Orthodox faith and craftsmanship, where architecture, nature, and spirituality blend into a serene and deeply authentic atmosphere.
A hidden treasure that promises an authentic experience of traditional Romanian life, Breb Village is a destination that captivates travelers with its rustic charm, rich history, and breathtaking landscapes. If time permits we’ll go up on the mountain called Creasta Cocosului (The Rooster’s Comb). The local wood carver Ioan Petric has opened his workshop for visitors and we’ll try to visit his workshop. Here’s some pictures of The wooden church Archangels Michael & Gabriel of Breb.
Ocna Șugatag is a charming spa village in Maramureș, Romania, known for its salt lakes and therapeutic mineral waters. Nestled among gentle hills and traditional wooden houses, it has long been a place where people come to relax, heal, and reconnect with nature. The salty lakes—formed in old salt mines—are especially popular for their buoyancy and health benefits.
Beyond its wellness appeal, the village keeps the authentic spirit of Maramureș alive, with local traditions, handcrafted gates, and a calm, welcoming atmosphere that makes it feel both restorative and timeless.
3 days in Bucovina – A Land of Painted Monasteries, Mountains, and Living Traditions
Nestled in northern Romania, Bucovina is one of the country’s most enchanting regions, celebrated for its spiritual heritage, breathtaking landscapes, and deeply preserved traditions. Known as the “Land of Painted Monasteries,” Bucovina offers visitors a unique blend of history, culture, and natural beauty.
Painted Monasteries – UNESCO Treasures
Bucovina is world-famous for its extraordinary painted monasteries, many recognized as UNESCO World Heritage sites. Their vibrant exterior frescoes, dating back to the 15th and 16th centuries, depict biblical scenes and religious stories in remarkable detail.
During our stay in Bucovina, we’ll visit 4 Monasteries:
- Voroneț Monastery – often called the “Sistine Chapel of the East,” renowned for its striking Voroneț blue and the impressive fresco of the Last Judgment.
- Sucevița Monastery – admired for its fortified walls and the famous “Ladder of Virtues” painting.
- Moldovița Monastery – known for its warm colors and beautifully preserved exterior artwork.
- Humor Monastery – featuring vivid red frescoes and medieval charm.
We’ll be staying in Campulung Moldovenesc where we’ll have the chance to visit the local wooden art museum.
Note: the itinerary might have some variations depending on different factors such as: weather/participant wishes, etc. Participants should be prepared for long hikes with a back pack on, should bring sturdy boots, and a rain coat. We’ll stay at local guest houses and possibly hotels. Bears are not common for the area but not excluded. The hiking trails might cross over creeks and steep areas and therefore you must be prepared for such an adventure.
Additional Info
The cost of a participant ticket includes the following:
- all accommodation & breakfast
- overland transport
- entrance fees
- teachings and workshop
- access to online course
- certificate
- field trips
Additional costs (not included): flight from your location to Satu Mare/Cluj, Romania and back (tickets need to be purchased individually by participants).
Other expenses: meals & beverages, souvenirs, etc
Those that don’t have the possibility to attend these workshops are invited to enroll into online training programs or start with the learning center