At Moo Moo Retreat, camping takes on a new dimension: nature, campervans, a pool, fresh air and a North Heat sauna set with a view of the Făgăraș Mountains. For guests, the sauna is not just an added amenity but a moment of deep relaxation, reconnection and wellbeing.
Interview – Moo Moo Retreat: “The sauna perfectly completed our retreat concept”
Moo Moo Retreat, Sibiu
May 2026
Interview with Nicola Andrei, Moo Moo Retreat manager
A perfect match – the North Heat sauna and Moo Moo Retreat came together naturally, like two things meant to be.
How would you describe Moo Moo Retreat to someone who hasn't visited yet?
Moo Moo Retreat is the perfect place for an escape into nature. We have fresh air, quiet, a farm-like atmosphere and a great vibe for socialising, lifting spirits and unwinding from stress. It's a place where people come to breathe, relax and reconnect with nature.
It's not just a classic campsite. We offer modern comfort and facilities – a pool, sauna, bar, showers and toilets kept clean, disinfected twice a day. The setting is also special: we sit on the edge of a hill, with views over the Făgăraș Mountains and the dam on the Olt river.
How did the idea of adding a sauna to the campsite come about?
From the start, our dream was to create a retreat with wellness facilities. We promote health, mental health especially, and a sauna was a natural choice. But we wanted a higher-quality sauna, one that fit the place and our concept, which is exactly why we chose North Heat.
For a campsite, a sauna adds a lot of value. About 80% of our campervan guests are foreigners, mostly German, and they're already very familiar with saunas and their benefits. For them, a facility like this is appreciated instantly. For us, the sauna perfectly rounds out what we've built here: a space for relaxation, detox and wellbeing.
What did you want guests to feel when using the sauna?
We want people to leave with a memorable experience and want to come back. To say they found a beautiful sauna at Moo Moo Retreat, perfectly placed, with a stunning view. The sauna is next to the pool, so guests can combine the heat with swimming, stretching or relaxing outdoors.
What matters to us is that people feel they had more than just a stay or a stop at a campsite. We want them to feel they had a moment for themselves.
How did you come to work with North Heat?
We had been planning to add a sauna for a long time, but hadn't found exactly what we wanted. North Heat came to us with a proposal that suited the Moo Moo Retreat concept very well, and the product fit naturally into what we're building here. We were drawn by the quality, the design, the materials and the fact that the sauna matched our style: natural, premium, without feeling forced.
We chose a model with a capacity of about 8 people, with an electric stove, a smoked-glass window and top-quality wood. For us, the electric version makes a lot of sense, since we also use solar panels.
How was working with North Heat?
The collaboration was very professional, from the first discussions through to delivery and positioning of the sauna. The whole process was supported by the North Heat team, including fitting it into the campsite's layout. What mattered a lot to us was feeling real support and involvement. It wasn't just a product delivery, but a full collaboration that took into account space, safety, positioning and the guests' final experience.
Where did you place the sauna and why did you choose that spot?
We placed the sauna next to the pool and the outdoor showers, with a view of the Făgăraș Mountains. It was a natural choice: after the sauna, showers are needed, and being close to the pool rounds out the experience. The view of the mountains has a calming effect. The energy is different when you sit in the sauna looking at the mountain range.
On top of that, the sauna faces south, so the sun heats it naturally through the smoked-glass window. Sometimes it reaches around 50 degrees without us even turning on the electric stove.
How did the first guests react?
The first word was, most of the time, “Wow!”. Foreign guests, especially those in no hurry, almost always want to use it. They already know the benefits of the sauna and immediately understand the value of the experience.
On the other hand, we've noticed that Romanians are sometimes more hesitant or less familiar with saunas. We think more information about the benefits is needed. Once they try it, though, many change their minds.
Do you think the sauna changes how people see Moo Moo Retreat?
Yes, definitely. The sauna and the pool help us be seen as a retreat, not just a campsite. Guests feel they have access to a more complete, comfortable and premium experience.
For us, the sauna has become part of our identity. It's one of the facilities that sets Moo Moo Retreat apart and gives people one more reason to choose us and come back.
What was the atmosphere like at the season opening, on 1 and 2 May?
The atmosphere was festive. We had around 200 people and 45 campervans, and the energy on site was very positive. Not everyone could use the sauna, since some guests had been drinking alcohol, but the overall reactions were excellent, and the reviews were five stars. For us, it confirmed that Moo Moo Retreat is growing in the right direction: community, relaxation, nature and authentic experiences.
How did the guided sauna sessions with the sauna master feel?
It was an intense and truly beautiful experience. After a guided session I felt like a new person. We often forget to appreciate our body and our health, and a session with the sauna masters makes you reconnect with yourself and with nature. The ritual, the steam, the aromas, the group's energy and the guidance turn the sauna into far more than a heated room. It becomes a complete experience.
What feedback from participants stayed with you?
The simplest reactions were also the most honest: “I want more”, “that was interesting”, “it's the first time we've experienced something like this”, “wow”. For us, these reactions say it all. When people leave the sauna relaxed, surprised and keen to repeat the experience, you know you've created something valuable.
Do you have a special memory linked to the sauna?
Yes. One moment that stayed very clear in my mind was during a guided session. I sat with my eyes closed while the sauna master played ambient music. Every so often I'd open my eyes and see the peaks of the Făgăraș Mountains. At the same time, I was being massaged with birch leaves, and the scent reminded me of childhood, of walks through the forest with my grandfather. It was one of those moments where you wish time would stop.
Do you consider the sauna a good investment for a campsite?
Yes, we consider it a very good long-term investment. The quality of the materials the sauna is built from keeps maintenance costs down, and interest in campervan tourism is growing. As the number of campervan travellers and tourists looking for wellness experiences increases, we believe the sauna will become an ever more important facility. For Moo Moo Retreat, it's a separate, premium service that can be used all year round.
What would you say to other owners of campsites, guesthouses or retreats considering an investment like this?
I'd say that for a campsite, a sauna is almost a no-brainer. Especially if you have foreign guests or campervan travellers who drive for hours to reach you. After 4-5 hours of driving, when they see a sauna, most of them want to use it. The sauna adds value to the experience, sets the location apart and turns a simple stop into a moment of real relaxation.
Would you recommend North Heat to other tourism property owners?
Yes. For their professionalism, understanding, advice, support, price, quality and involvement. For us, working with North Heat was a great choice and it perfectly complemented the direction we want to grow Moo Moo Retreat in.
Moo Moo Retreat and the North Heat sauna really are a perfect match.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/moomoo.retreat
Thinking about a sauna or hot tub of your own?
Tell us what you have in mind and we will send you a quote.
