Hiking Tour of Romania
Discover the picturesque hiking trails of the Carpathians
9 Days
Explore the majestic Carpathian Mountains during this 9-day hiking tour of Romania. You will climb high peaks, pass by impressive rock formations and admire idyllic panoramas. But you will also get to discover the gentle hilly landscapes where sheep graze in the summer or walk through vegetable-rich gorges.
To make this a memorable trip, you’ll also explore the beautiful medieval town of Sibiu. Additionally you will visit some of the famous castles of Transylvania. They are Bran and Peles to be more precise.
The recommended times of the year however are May-July and September-October.
Highlights of the Hiking in Romania Tour
- Cross the Carpathian, stopping on the way for a hike in Lotru Mountains
- Enjoy a hike on the nearby hills where sheep graze during the summer
- Taste a traditional shepherding lunch
- Hike in the Fagaras Mountains, known as the Transylvanian Alps
- Visit a monastery and the famous castles Bran and Peles
- Hike in Piatra Craiului and Bucegi Mountains
Suggested Itinerary
Day 1
Upon your arrival in Bucharest you will be transferred to the hotel located in the heart of the city. You will enjoy a welcome dinner during which you’ll get to sample some of Romania’s Balkan cuisine.
Optional: Depending on the time of your arrival, you can have a guided walking tour of the Old Town on Bucharest, a vibrant place with plenty of historical buildings, interesting architecture and museums.
Overnight in Bucharest
Transfer time: 30’
Day 2
During this hiking tour of Romania you will explore Transylvania, promoted as “the best region to travel to” a few years ago by Lonely Planet. In Latin, Transylvania translates to “beyond the forest”, which holds true. To be precise, Transylvania is like a fortress, but instead of huge walls it is protected by the Carpathian Mountains.
From Bucharest to Sibiu you will travel through the Carpathians, on a valley so you will have wonderful views of the mountains and the forests.
You will stop on the way and do a hike to a panoramic point called The caves of the dragons, which also has interesting rock formations.
In the evening you will reach Sibiu, a truly charming medieval town elected Europe’s Cultural Capital in 2007.
Overnight in Sibiu
Drive time: 4h
Hiking time: 4h
Level of difficulty: easy
Altitude difference: +/- 400 m
Day 3
Millions of sheep graze during the summer months high in the Carpathian Mountains. Specifically, shepherds who still live life as it was centuries ago accompany them. They tend the herds, milk the sheep, make cheese and cook, all at a very slow pace. You will hike to a sheepfold and get insight into this picturesque pastoral lifestyle, passing by beautiful natural sceneries on the way.
You will have lunch at the sheepfold and enjoy a traditional meal consisting of various kinds of cheese e.g. bulz. This is a type of food made from corn flower, cream and cheese, lamb meat and local vegetables. You’ll also get to have a shot of the traditional liqour “rachiu”.
You will return to Sibiu just in time so you can have a guided walking tour through the Old Town to discover its medieval squares, towers and buildings.
Overnight in Sibiu
Drive time: 1h
Hiking time: maximum 6h
Level of difficulty: easy-medium
Altitude difference: +/- 500 m
Day 4
You will travel to Balea Waterfall (1234m), from where you will follow a high-altitude path leading you until reaching a high point (2250 m). From there you will surely have spectacular views of the sharp road turns of Transfagarasan Road and the surrounding mountains. You’ll then do a short descent to Balea Lake (2034 m altitude) where you will spend the night in a wooden chalet.
Balea Lake is a glacier lake, of only about 11 meters deep and 360 meters long, but which is worth-visiting because of the great landscape surrounding the area.
Overnight in Balea
Drive time: 1h 30’
Hiking time: 4-5 h
Level of difficulty: medium
Altitude difference: +1120 m / – 220 m
Day 5
The Fagaras Mountains, also known as „The Transylvanian Alps” are undoubtedly the most impressive mountains in Romania. Eight of Romania’s fourteen peaks above 2500 meters can be found here, as well as numerous glacier lakes.
Furthermore, hiking trails are present in the entire massif ensuring spectacular views. For instance several hiking routes start from Balea Lake, going towards the mountains’ peaks and dramatic valleys. You will follow a panorama-trail that zig-zags up and down towards peaks of over 2500 m altitude and downhill towards glacier lakes, before finally reaching Balea Lake where you will spend another night.
Overnight in Balea
Hiking time: 6 h
Level of difficulty: medium
Altitude difference: + / 750 m
Day 6
Today you will take a break from hiking, in order to focus on uncovering the rich culture and history of Transylvania.
As you leave Balea Lake behind you will make a stop at Carta (former monastery) which belonged to the Cistercian order. People built and restored it in several phases throughout the centuries. Now the choir is the only one still standing, after people transformed it into an evangelical church for the locals to use.
Next on your itinerary is Bran Castle. Usually associated with Dracula, Bran Castle is actually a beautiful medieval castle in Transylvania. It was tastefully decorated by our queen (granddaughter of Queen Victoria) in the 1920s. Among the many rooms of the castle, you will encounter a room named after “Bram Stoker”. It is precisely here that you can find out the story of Vlad the Impaler, the man behind Dracula’s legend.
You will end the day with a visit to Peles Castle, considered by many as Romania’s most beautiful castle. It is also one of Europe’s finest examples of Neo-Renaissance architecture. It is set in wonderful natural settings, surrounded by forests and mountains. Surely it impresses with its intricate outdoor and interior decorations and also gives a sense of how a royal family used to live.
You will spend the night in a mountain village from where you can see both the Bucegi and Piatra Craiului Mountains.
Overnight in Pestera (near Bran)
Drive time: 3h 30’
Day 7
Firstly your day will start with a visit to a bear sanctuary. Previously being captive in small cages and living in improper conditions, more than 100 bears are now enjoying a natural and safe habitat at the Libearty sanctuary in Zarnesti.
Next, you will be transferred to a nearby location and start your hike in the spectacular Piatra Craiului National Park. It is surely a gem of this hiking tour of Romania. Additionally, it is a haven for bird and plant lovers, as hundreds and unique species made this place their home. It also has many trails crossing small mountain villages up until the long and narrow limestone ridge, one of the most spectacular in Europe.
The hike will take you through a spectacular gorge of about four kilometers long. The wild landscapes of the gorges as well as the spectacular caves and tranquil picturesque mountain villages that you’ll cross in the second half of the trail will make for an unforgettable hike.
Overnight in Pestera
Drive time: 1h
Hiking time: 6 h
Level of difficulty: easy – medium
Altitude difference: +/- 500 m
Day 8
Firstly from your location in Pestera you will go on another hike. This time however it will be towards the Bucegi Mountains.
These mountains offer some of the most beautiful views from the Carpathians indeed and are also a great way to end this hiking trip in Transylvania before going down south towards Bucharest.
The path that you will follow will lead you along a panorama-trail with great views over the Carpathians. You will cross alpine meadows and admire the rigged walls of the mountains.
Afterwards you will travel towards Bucharest where you will have a goodbye dinner.
Overnight in Bucharest
Drive time: 3h 30’
Hiking time: 6-7 h
Level of difficulty: medium
Altitude difference: +/- 800 m
Day 9
In the morning you will have free time to either do some shopping or explore some more of Bucharest.
You will then be transferred to the airport so you can catch your flight back home.
We certainly hope you thoroughly enjoyed Romania and made beautiful memories during this hiking tour!
Suggested Itinerary Viewed On Map – Hiking in Romania
Suggested Accommodation
Included Services – Hiking in Romania
- Trip planning and assistance
- Certified English speaking tour guide (accommodation, relocation and meals are included) for 7 days
- Accommodation for 8 nights in standard double rooms with breakfast (B) included
- Rented car on the above itinerary: by 9 seater minivan (Renault Trafic, Mercedes Vito or similar) for 2-8 people or by 19+1 seats bus (Mercedes Sprinter, VW Crafter or similar) for a group of over 10 people; fuel, taxes and parking fees are included
- Entrance tickets to tourist sites (without photography fee)
- Meals: 2 dinners (in Bucharest on the first and last night) and 7 lunches (days 2-8). 4 of the lunches are packed sandwiches in days with longer hikes, 1 is a traditional cooked shepherds meal at a sheepfold and 2 set menu lunches while traveling by car.
Services which are not included in the tour package price:
- Meals, except those included above. On average you can pay for a meal 10-15 USD
- Other services not mentioned in the above sections
Prices
The prices are calculated for a guided tour for groups of the sizes mentioned below. If you are interested in a self-drive tour, please let us know.
