ROMANIA HIKING TOUR

Carpathians trekking for fit hikers - Conquer Transylvania’s Alps

(tour code Ro6.2RoHi)

Highlights:

Bran Castle – also known as Dracula’s Castle, a legendary Transylvanian fortress dating back to 1377
2 night sleep at highest Mountain Hut in Romania - located at an altitude of 2505 meters
Fagaras Mountains - part of the Southern Carpathians, the wildest, imposing, most spectacular mountains in Romania, home of the highest peak in Romania and incredible blue glacial lakes.
Highest Romanian Peak - Moldoveanu Peak, altitude 2544 meters
Omu Peak- the highest peak of Bucegi Mountains, altitude 2505 meters
Babele and Omu - famous mountain megaliths shaped by wind and rain in human forms.
The Cross on Caraiman Mountains - an initiative of Queen Mary of Romania
Sinaia – the pearl of mountain resorts in Romania home of the royal Peles Castle
The Medieval Saxon city of Brasov, one of the best preserved medieval cities in Europe

Level and Fitness
Strenuous walking, from 5 to 9 hours of march per day, the walking is mainly on mountain paths.

Day by day itinerary:

DAY 1 Saturday, Bucharest – Sinaia – Brasov – Fagaras - Balea Lake
Welcome to Romania! You will be collected by our English speaking guide from Bucharest Airport. Tranfer to Balea Lake, located at an altitude of 2034 meters. On the way stop in Sinaia, the pearl of mountain resorts in Romania to visit Peles Castle, one of the most beautiful royal residences in Europe. Next stop is the Medieval Saxon City of Brasov, a city with an outstanding medieval atmosphere which has played a vital role in Romania’s history, both old and new. The most famous landmark of Brasov is the Black Church, the largest gothic edifice built in Southern Europe. You’ll reach Balea Lake in the evening. Accommodate in a 3* hotel located on the lakeside.
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DAY 2 Sunday, Balea Lac Hut - Capra Lake - Dragon Window - Podragu Hut
After breakfast explore the beautiful area of Balea Lake and prepare to start the hiking programme. You’ll make the acquaintance of Fagaras Mountains, part of the Southern Carpathians, the wildest, imposing, most spectacular mountains in Romania, home to the highest peaks in Romania and beautiful glacial lakes. From Balea Lake hike up to Capra Lake, a stunning blue glacial lake with a depth of 11 meters located at an altitude of 2241 meters. From the north side of Fagaras Mountains walk to the south side, hiking near by the most difficult winter mountaineering route in Romania, the Albota - Arpasel ridge and “Dragon Window”. In the evening you’ll reach Podaragu Peak, accommodate in a mountain hut near by.

DAY 3 Monday , Podragu Hut - Moldoveanu Peak - Fereastra Mare a Sambetei - Valea Sambetei (1401 m)
Today you'll conquer the highest peak in Romania - Moldoveanu (2544 m) offering an incredible view of Fagaras Mountains. From Podragu hut hike up to Giurgiului Bridge up to the imposing Moldoveanu Peak.You’ll enjoy a picnic lunch on the hiking route. Continue walking on the main ridge up to Fereastra Mare a Sambetei and then descend on Sambetei valley for accommodation in a mountain hut.
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DAY 4 Tuesday, Valea Sambetei – Bran
In the morning descend to Sambata Resort from where you’ll continue the road by car to Bran village, located on the Rucar – Bran corridor, renowned for the home made traditional cheese assortments produced here ( the ones smoked in pine tree bark are particularly delicious). The main point of attraction is Bran Castle, the legendary Transylvanian fortress, unrightfully called Dracula’s castle. The edifice owes its fame both to its unique charm and to the myth Bram Stoker created around Dracula. Documentary evidence of the castle dates back as far as 1377. In 1920, Queen Mary, the niece of Queen Victoria of Great Britain, turned the castle into a beautiful summer residence. Close to the castle there is a shrine set in the wall of a mountain which once sheltered her heart. Accommodate in a 3* country-inn.

DAY 5 Wednesday, Bran - Poarta Valley - Gaurei Gorges - Omu Peak - Omu Hut
To give you an idea on the incredible landscape you’ll enjoy today it’s enough to say that Bucegi Mountains are home to the most sophisticated Romanian mountain resorts. Conquer today the highest peak of Bucegi Mountains - Omu Peak. It ranks number 9 in the top of the highest Romanians peaks with an altitude of 2505 meters. From Bran walk up to “Poarta Valley”, crossing the imposing “Gaurei” Gorges also called “Delvil's Mill” and reach “Hornurilor” Shed from where the view is breath taking. Accommodation in a mountain hut located at the highest altitude in Romania.
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DAY 6 Thursday, Omu Hut – The Cave – Piatra Arsa – The Cross on Caraiman Mountains – Omu Hut
The highlight of this day is “The Cross on Caraiman Mountains”, an initiative of Queen Mary of Romania who wished to commemorate in this way the heroes of the First World War. The construction began in 1926 and ended in 1929. The hiking route is spectacular as well, in the morning descend from Omu Hut to the beautiful area of the “Cave”, continue with Piatra Arsa (Burned Rock) then hike up to the Cross on Caraiman. Return to accommodation on a different hiking route.
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DAY 7 Friday, Omu Hut - Babele Hut - Busteni – Bucharest
Your last day in the Carpathians. In the morning walk on the edge of the steep eastern wall of Bucegi Mountains full of mountaineering routes, arrive to “Babele” hut, and descend using the cable car on the spectacular Jepilor Valley in Busteni. From Busteni take the train to Bucharest, Gara de Nord (The North Railway Station).

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Price and departure

Price includes :
The services of an experienced English speaking guide with intricate knowledge in Romania’s hiking routes.
Accommodation: 1 night in a 3* hotel, 2 nights in a 3* pensions, 3 nights in mountain huts (hostel style dormitories) with a fine position which helps shorten the routes between accommodations. Some of them have no bathrooms and have outdoor toilets.
Transportation:
- pick up from Bucharest, Henri Coanda Airport and transfer to Balea Lake
- transfer from Valea Sambetei to Bran village,
- train ride from Busteni to Bucharest  
- cable car ride in Busteni
Meals:  breakfasts (6)
Entry fees to: Bran Castle

Not included: airfare, lunches and dinners, photo & video taxes for the tourist attractions, and all items not specified in the inclusion section.

Special notes & info:
The itinerary is flexible and could be changed due to bad weather conditions, fitness and other local conditions.
What do you have to bring: Hiking boots, raincoat, sleeping bag
Weather:Romania has a temperate –continental climate with 4 distinct seasons. The summers are quite hot; 40°C are often reached in July and August, while violent thunderstorms and sudden bursts of torrential rain are also common. In the mountains temperatures are cooler (night time temperatures could go down as far as 5° C)
Note: The price may be subject to changes based on currency fluctuation, availability issues or changes in local costs at the time of booking. Group discounts could be applied depending on the size of the group.
Attention: on the hiking routes you'll have to carry personally your equipment, so please limit your self to one rucksack

Payments

We accept MasterCard and Visa on our on-line secure internet payment form, MasterCard, Visa, JCB, Diners Club and American Expres by fax and by phone. We also accept payments by Moneybookers, bank transfer and Western Union.
Click here to see our Reservations page for more details.

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