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ABOUT HOIA-BACIU PROJECT

Hoia-Baciu Project is an experiential tourism initiative developed by Romania – Your Lifetime Experience (RYLEx) NGO, focused on exploring one of Europe’s most intriguing forests.

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Known internationally for its mysterious reputation, Hoia-Baciu Forest has been featured among the world’s most haunted forests, attracting researchers, media, and curious travelers from around the globe.

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Since 2013, we have been creating guided experiences that combine storytelling, nature exploration, and cultural context. From day and night tours to interactive games, photo experiences, and special events, our goal is to offer a deeper, more meaningful way to discover the forest.

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Beyond the experience itself, the project is rooted in responsible tourism. We actively contribute to raising awareness about the environmental pressures affecting the area, including deforestation, urban expansion, and illegal waste disposal.

TOURSYLVANIA

 

www.toursylvania.com

THE DUNGEON

 

The first and the best escape-room game in Cluj-Napoca

 

www.thedungeon.ro

HOIA BACIU FOREST

 

www.hoiabaciuforest.com

ILLO TEMPORE

 

A group of pupils and students which are sharing the same passion: the local myths. Their wish is to reborn these myths in the youth consciousness through thematic projects.

 

www.facebook.com/echipaillotempore

niste_oameni.png

NIȘTE OAMENI

 

Support organization for good causes.

DECATHLON CLUJ

 

www.decathlon.ro

@ Vivo Cluj

HOIA-BACIU PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS

2013

  • The Hoia-Baciu Project was born, marking a night of significant importance

  • Launched the first logo and the official Facebook page

  • Created a platform for nature and paranormal enthusiasts to explore the forest together

  • Nighttime exploration with Dacre Stoker (great-grandnephew of Bram Stoker), Aaron Sagers (Travel Channel), and Hans de Roos (Dutch writer), unveiling the mysteries of Hoia-Baciu Forest

  • Bob Woodruff and Christine Romo from ABC News ventured into the forest for the first time

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2014

  • Hoia-Baciu Project became listed on TripAdvisor

  • Two mass outings with locals during Cluj Days, featuring Cristian Mureșanu (TVR Cluj)

  • Introduced a new visual identity (logo)

  • Hoia-Baciu Project featured on national television (TVR Cluj)

  • Organized the first Halloween activities with Mystery Cluj Group: treasure hunts, escape games, guided tours, and a yoga workshop in Poiana Rotundă​​​​​

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2015

  • Participated in Cluj-Napoca City Days with guided tours and forest escape games

  • Dacre Stoker officially joined as the project's ambassador

  • Received private funding from Niște Oameni NGO - Sfera Donatorilor din Transilvania project for forest cleaning, for organizing a photo contest, followed by an itinerant photo exhibition, and for the design & printing of the first free map of the forest for tourists and visitors (2000 copies)

  • Hosted the first tourist orientation workshop and forest cleanup

  • Guided guests of an international marketing conference organized by the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration at Babeș-Bolyai University and a group of the Apuseni Mountain Club

  • Launched the itinerant photo exhibition "What Does the Hoia-Baciu Forest Mean to Me?" at Baciu village's Cultural Center and Commune

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2016

  • The photo exhibition traveled to multiple venues: The Tailors' Tower, Diverta Bookstore (both in Cluj-Napoca), and Florești Commune

  • Released two trailers for the first Romanian professional documentary about the Hoia-Baciu Forest, which premiered in Dacia Cinema and the forest itself, during the Cluj-Napoca City Days

  • One of the trailers was selected as a finalist in the Tres Courts International Short Film Festival

  • Conducted a geomagnetic study in the Hoia-Baciu Forest, using laboratory equipment, in collaboration with researchers from the National Institute of Geomagnetism

  • Presented the project to students from the Faculty of Geography (Babeș-Bolyai University), NGO Forum participants, and the participants of Zig-Zag through Cluj Program

  • Published the first scientific article on niche tourism in the Hoia-Baciu Forest

  • Hosted Fuji TV crew from Japan

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2017

  • Featured the Hoia-Baciu Forest in Cluj-Napoca's tourism promotional materials

  • Organized three outdoor screenings of "The Hoia-Baciu Forest – Truth or Legend?" in the Hoia-Baciu Forest, during the Cluj-Napoca City Days

  • Partnered with Transylvanian Diggers Association for a forest cleanup

  • Hosted (paranormal) research/investigation* by:

    • Paranormal Scholar and media visits from Russia, Haunted Earth, The Guardian, and The Independent

    • A Russian television crew, for the show "Here is not like there" on NTV Channel

    • Chris Halton, from Haunted Earth

    • The Guardian journalists

    • The Independent journalists

    • * to promote the Hoia-Baciu Forest

  • Presented the project to the participants of the new NGO Forum organized in Cluj-Napoca by the French Cultural Center

  • We organized the Recycling Month 2017, awarding eight finalist NGOs with €2,000, for nearly 10 tons of recyclable waste delivered to the sponsor, Hamburger Recycling Romania

  • Another cleanup action took place at the end of Recycling Month 2017, involving 150 participants and collecting two containers of waste from the Romulus Vuia Ethnographic Park area

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2018

  • Collaborated with Alain Kerjean for a documentary about Transylvania, including the Hoia-Baciu Forest

  • Expanded the promotion of the Hoia-Baciu Forest to South Korea

  • Won "Eco-Friendly Tour Company of the Year" by Travel & Hospitality Awards

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2019

  • The Hoia-Baciu Forest was featured in Atlas Obscura – 2nd Edition (the New York Times bestseller)

  • Assisted Russian National Channel, Ren TV crew

  • Conducted field research with Dacre Stoker on Dracula's Castle location in the Călimani Mountains

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2020

  • Guided the UK WAG TV crew through the Hoia-Baciu Forest

  • Attracted interest from ITV Studios Sweden in shooting in the Hoia-Baciu Forest

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2021

  • Maggie Rulli (ABC News) explored Hoia-Baciu Forest and Dracula folklore

  • The Independent published a new article featuring the forest

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2022

  • We won the title of Unique Tour Company of the Year, offered by the Travel & Hospitality Awards

  • We released a new travel map of the Hoia-Baciu Forest, in collaboration with Cluj-Napoca Tourist Information Center (2000 copies)

  • Hosted Zeit Online from Germany

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2023

  • Collaborated on Destination X episode filmed in the Hoia-Baciu Forest (for Discovery Channel)

  • Launched a night quest using a smartphone app

  • Made available online (on YouTube), free of charge, the documentary about the forest "The Hoia-Baciu Forest - Truth or Legend?"

  • Gave interviews to The Sun

  • Featured in The Times of India

  • Introduced fixer services for TV productions (documentaries, reality shows, and feature films)

  • Hosted and attracted film directors in the forest to scout filming locations (in the Hoia-Baciu Forest)

  • Dorsey Film USA is interested in filming an episode in the Hoia-Baciu Forest

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2024

2025

  • Dacre Stoker returns to the Hoia-Baciu Forest for the second time, leading an international group of tourists along Dracula’s trail through Transylvania

  • The Hoia-Baciu Forest is featured in Wizz Magazine

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2026

  • The History Channel is filming in the Hoia-Baciu Forest for one of its renowned TV series

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