7 days
Duration
Hiking
Activity
Difficult
Difficulty
Piatra Craiului, Fagaras, Bucegi
Location
May – October
Dates

This tour is first about Romania. It is about discovering Romania by climbing her most beautiful mountains, by experiencing the rural richness of Romania and by enjoying the multi-cultural Transylvania, while striking the right balance of physical effort during the hikes followed by cultural dedicated days.

Variety is the main characteristic of this tour, of mountains and of the cultural objectives.

One of the main features of Romanian Carpathians is variety of mountainous landscape. Although neighbors, Fagaras, Piatra Craiului and Bucegi could not be more different:

  • Fagaras is the biggest, highest and probably most sought mountain massif in Romania in the summer months, while in winter it becomes a challenge. The range it is not called for nothing the Transylvanian Alps.
  • Piatra Craiului in English translation means the Kings’ Rock. Why is this name? Because this mountain is truly special: it has the most spectacular ridge of the Romanian mountains, it has exposure, has vertical huge walls, is always full of mountain goats and is simply beautiful. Piatra Craiului is the love of many mountaineers here in Romania and a must hike mountain.
  • Bucegi massif owns the most known mountain landmarks of Romania. Aside for its highly known and circulated trails, there are some less known paths which hid some of the most beautiful landscapes in Romania.

So, this tour is about hiking in one week on three of the most beautiful mountains of Romania while at the same time discovering the rich rural and cultural areas around these mountains. The highlights of the tour are:

Mountain highlights

  • Hiking the spectacular Canyon Valea lui Stan, with its huge walls and lots of waterfalls. Its climb is secured with metal cables and ladders which makes it all the more interesting.
  • Climbing the rocky second highest peak of Romania, Negoiu (2535m) while following a beautiful ridgeline section.
  • Climbing the highest point of Piatra Craiului (2238m), and being of one of the most beautiful ridgeline anywhere in the world accessible to ordinary hikers.
  • Hiking in Bucegi under the big walls of Bucsoiu and through the Malaiesti big chimney up to one of the highest peaks of Romania (Omu – 2507m).

Other highlights

  • Discovering Transylvania by visiting two of her most beautiful saxon cities: Sibiu (an European Capital of Culture in 2007) and Sighisoara (with its medieval citadel still inhabited).
  • Experiencing rural Romania both by visiting the open air museum of village from Sibiu and by hiking through the gorgeous landscape and old houses of Magura and Pestera villages.
  • Driving on “the most beautiful road in the world”, Transfagarasan, as it was called a couple years ago by the Top Gear TV series.
  • Standing on the most spectacular and highest dam in Romania, built on the river Arges.
DEPARTURE/RETURN LOCATION Bucharest
DEPARTURE TIME watch 7.00 the first day
ARRIVAL TIME watch 21.00 at the end of the tour
Estimated duration of hikes watcharound 10 hours
Maximum height mountain 2535 m
Elevation gained chart more than 1200 m in each of the three hikes
Individual equipment needed
equipment
  • backpack -20 l
  • mountain boots or shoes
  • hat
  • thin gloves
  • mountain jacket
  • long mountain trousers (short trousers will help in the summer months)
  • sunglasses
  • polartek blouse or something similar
  • synthetic t-shirt
  • trekking sticks
  • headlamp torch
  • water recipient
  • sun protection lotion
Accommodation house1st night – at one of the cabins which litter the sides of the Transfagarasan Road.

2nd night – the Transylvanian city of Sibiu

3rd night – Sibiu again

4th night – at one of the cabins at the foot of Piatra Craiului Montain

5th night – Rasnov, close to Brasov

6th night – again Rasnov

Meals mealBreakfast and dinners will be eaten where we will stay overnight or in the cities we will visit. During the hikes, some sandwiches and a couple of chocolate bars and/or biscuits will help.
INCLUDED  Transport from and to Bucharest by car

6 Dinners, Breakfasts, 3 Lunches

6 nights’ accommodation

 Professional Mountain Guide

Entrance fees to museums

 

NOT INCLUDED   Other meals

  Pieces of individual equipment

  Insurance

Discount policy wallet For group bookings we apply a discount based on the number of the participants. Please book the tour and/or contact us to negotiate the discount.

Other good to know issues:

  • During summer months the heat may be a problem so having a hat and lotion protection against sun is mandatory.
  • The program of the tour is adjustable based on the weather. If some days are less good for hiking, we will exchange them for the cultural parts of the tour and the other way around.
  • The hikes are long and difficult. They are not for absolute beginners but they can be achieved if enough physical fitness and personal drive exists.

1

Day 1

We take the highway towards Pitesti and then Curtea de Arges lovely city. In half an hour from this city we will be then at the beginning of the Transfagarasan road. We will leave the car at a bend in the road and start our hiking tour. We slowly gain height following the river until the trail forces us to the steep banks and then it all starts: the first waterfalls and ladders and bridges come into view. Be prepared with the camera while paying attention where you put your feet on. You will want to take pictures at every corner.

And it goes like this, for about more than an hour. We might even need to pass through the water at some points along the route.

Finally, we feel sorry for actually finishing the canyon route. The remaining route takes us back in an arch to the most impressive dam lake. We must stop to see it, the vertical drop is huge. Then, by following the road, we descend to the car(s).

We take the car(s) and continue on the Transfagarasan road on the right side of the like toward Balea lake. We stop for the night at one of the cabins on this road just before the alpine landscape starts.

2

Day 2

We get up early, have breakfast and by 8.00 we are again on Transfagarasan road. We continue on this road (opened only from June to September) getting dizzy from time to time because of the sudden steep bends of the road and passing through 1Km tunnel we end up on the North side of the mountain at Balea glacier lake.

This is the spot where we leave the car(s) and start hiking.

In less than an hour, after climbing a rough slope we reach the main ridge trail of the Transylvanian Alps. Our objective for the day, Negoiu Peak, closes the Western horizon for us, after the long and spectacular section of ridge that we must pass in the following hours.

We follow then the ridgeline, climbing up and down several times, up to Caltun Glacier Lake, where the path broadens. The lake is surrounded by big boulders and the high walls of Lespezi and Caltun Peaks.

We continue towards our goal and after climbing up a beautiful chimney we are getting closer to our target. We reach finally the second highest peak of Romania after a five hours hike. In the distance both West and East, unnumbered peaks and ridges make the eye stop and wonder. Transylvania’s plains and hills are as well at our feet.

We return to Balea lake following a different path, under the ridge, on its South side.

10 or 11 hours after we started we are back at the car(s) and start descending the road towards Transylvania and Sibiu, the city where we will stay the next two nights.

3

Day 3

This is a rest day, dedicated to rural and urban impressions. Thus, we will enjoy Sibiu, a former cultural capital of Europe back in 2007. Our objectives or choice are the Museum of Village – a must see for the old houses which were build en purpose for preservation, the wonderful village of Rasinari and the old town of Sibiu, a wonderful Saxon imprint.

4

Day 4

It’s time for the second mountain of the tour. After the highest range of Romani, we aim for perhaps the most beautiful: Piatra Craiului.

We need to start early because before hiking we have some road distance to cover, following to the East the line of the Transylvanian Alps. We should start the hike before 10.00.

After we reach Zarnesti, the main city at the foot of Piatra Craiului, we take a Western country road which follows the river Barsa. In about 10 km we will be at the start of our hiking route. Almost all the West side of Piatra Craiului is visible from this spot offering us a continuous unbroken vertical wall of more than 1000m. It is breathtaking! And we shall go right at it.

Our trail of choice for climbing up is called Braul Cioranga Mare. As with all the other Western side routes of Piatra Craiului, we need first to reach the base of the wall through the steep path through the forest. We will reach in one hour and half the shelter called Hope which is strategically positioned at the food of several climbing routes.

Just behind the shelter we are starting on Braul itself – an ascending trail which goes parallel with the North-South direction of the mountain below the ridge. For more than two hours we will hike just beneath the huge amazing walls and, if we are lucky, we will see some shy mountain goats. The exit on the ridge is just on Varful Ascutit (the Sharpe Peak) which, contrary to its name, is not at all sharpen but rather round.

We are on the ridge and the view is magnificent: Zarnesti at hour feet and mountains all around us. But the true image that lingers long after we will be back in Bucharest is the long sharpen ridge of Piatra Craiului. And yes, there is a trail following it.

We are actually going to cover a little of the ridge itself. We head East following the ridge path up to another peak, called Padina Popii. From here we start to descend on a trail called Brana Caprei. It is as magnificent as the one we climbed up, but more direct and steeper.

We reach back the car(s) after an exhausting but rewarding day and stay on this river valley for the night.

5

Day 5

Maintaining the rhythm that we set up for the tour, respectively one day hiking and one day active rest by visiting the cultural landmarks of Transylvania, this is the day we reserved for visiting the core of the province.

Sighisoara is the main objective of the day, but not the only one. In about two hours and half by car we will be in the very heart of Transylvania. The medieval citadel of Sighisoara is one of a must see places in Transylvania. With its walls, churches, guild towers, restaurants this city is made to charm. Just keep in mind that the old medieval houses in the citadel are still inhabited. Every year here a medieval festival takes place.

On the way back to Brasov we pass to Viscri and other Saxon villages where we will visit the fortified old medieval churches. You know, here is where Prince Charles of England bought a farm and spends summers.

The evening will find us in Brasov, one of the most engaging cities of Romania and probably the best place to live if you are an outdoor enthusiast.

6

Day 6

The time has come for the third mountain of the tour. This time is Bucegi. As usually, we have a long and difficult hike in store for the day so we need to start up early. For about three hours we hike through a wood trail until we reach Malaiesti hut.  This is surrounded by a gorgeous ladscape. Just in front of the hut raises the huge wall of Bucsoiu.

After a break for a tea at the hut we continue through a highly glaciated landscape (with no glaciers of course). The trail gets steeper and will take us at the entrance of a huge and wide chimney which will take us 30 minutes to pass it.

We are now on the plateau of Bucegi Mountain and at our feet we have another glaciated valley, Gaura (the Hole), the biggest one of the Mountain. Finally, after 5 to 6 hours of hiking we are at the hut standing on top of the highest peak of Bucegi (2507). It is also the highest standing hut in Romania. Four valleys start around this peak which has a fantastic vantage point. The mountain resorts of the Valley of Prahova come into view. Piatra Craiului and Fagaras, the mountains we hiked the other days are lying to the West.

We start climbing down following the same route. We will eat a late lunch at Malaiesti hut and then finish the hike late evening. We will stay for the night in Rasnov.

7

Day 7

This day we return to Bucharest, but only after we experience a little bit more of Romania. We avoid the crowded Prahova valley and take probably the most beautiful pass of Romania which links Transylvania with the old kingdom of Romania.

We pass just below the Bran castle, where the Dracula legends were born and then a mountain road will take us in the Pestera village. This is a place for sure we would have liked to stay more. It is a spread village, we houses on top of each hill just between Piatra Craiului and Bucegi mountains. This is the most beautiful rural landscape of Romania.

After spending some hours in this village, we continue to South until we exit the mountains. At this very exit there is a Mausoleum, a reminder of the fights which took place here during the First World War. It is a interesting visit.

In two hours from here we are back in Bucharest.