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 and the famous castles of Transylvania: Bran and Peles.

This can be organised as a private tour or you can join a group. The next group date is October 2-10 2021. 

• 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

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  Sunday

Millions of sheep graze during the summer months high in the Carpathian Mountains accompanied by shepherds who still live life as it was centuries ago. 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 lifesyle, 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, bulz – 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 where you will 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

In the morning you will visit a glass-making factory, a place where people make glass using the old glass-blowing technique. The factory produces high quality glass used even for events of the British Royal Family.

After that you will transfer to Balea Waterfall (1234m), from where you will follow a high-altitude path leading you until reaching a high point (2250 m) from where you will 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

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.

The entire massif is filled with hiking tracks with spectacular views. 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

Today you will take a break from hiking, focusing 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. It was built and restored in several phases throughout the centuries. Now the choir is the only one still standing, having been transformed into an evangelical church used by the locals.

Next on your itinerary is Bran Castle. Usually associated with Dracula, Bran Castle is actually a beautiful medieval castle in Transylvania, 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” where 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, and one of Europe’s finest examples of Neo-Renaissance architecture. It is set in wonderful natural settings, surrounded by forests and mountains. It impresses with its intricate outdoor and interior decorations and 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’

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.

From there you will be transferred to a nearby location and start your hike in the spectacular Piatra Craiului National Park, a gem of this hiking tour of Romania.  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, 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

From your location in Pestera you will go on another hike, this time towards the Bucegi Mountains.

These mountains offer some of the most beautiful views from the Carpathians and are 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  Sunday

• 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