Highlights
- Hike the Bucegi Mountains
- Visit the waterfalls of Jurassic Zarnesti Canyon
- Explore Bran Castle, also known as Dracula's Castle
- Visit traditional villages and try local cheeses
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Highlights |
|---|---|
| Day 1 | Welcome to Bucharest |
| Day 2 | Curmatura Hut |
| Day 3 | Bran Castle |
| Day 4 | Piatra Craiului National Park |
| Day 5 | Mountain villages |
| Day 6 | Bucegi Mountains |
| Day 7 | Up to the ridge |
| Day 8 | Departure |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Welcome to Bucharest!
Welcome to Bucharest - the capital of Romania and the most convenient place to start your Romanian adventures. A guide will meet you here with road books and maps. Once you have everything you need from the guide, take the train to Brașov, then to Zărnești, a nondescript little town where you'll spend your first night on the edge of a national park.
Day 2: Curmatura Hut
Lace up your hiking boots and take to the trails in the Piatra Craiului Mountains (King's Rock Mountains). Breathtaking views of ridges and valleys greet you as you make your way to Curmatura Hut, where a lunch of local soup and delicious pie await. After lunch, make your way downhill through the hilly landscape and into a large wooded area along a river. From here, follow the old track to the Jurassic Zarnesti Canyon with its 656-foot (200 m) waterfalls.
Distance: 9 miles (15 km)
Duration: 5 hours
Day 3: Bran Castle
Today, a walk along a small ridge will take you to the dark, historic Bran Castle, built in the 14th century as a defensive structure against migratory people. Later, this castle protected Transylvania from the Ottoman invasions and was associated with the fictional character of Dracula, who was based on the very real prince Vlad Tepes of Wallachia, also known as Vlad the Impaler. Explore the castle before transferring back to your guesthouse for the night.
Distance: 7.5 miles (12 km)
Duration: 4.5 hours
Day 4: Piatra Craiului National Park
Start your fourth day in Romania with a trek in the National Park of Piatra Craiului, through pastures, sheepfolds, woods, and scattered villages where time seems to stand still. The park is home to the most diverse wildlife in the nation, so keep your eyes peeled for deer, chamois, wild boar, and red squirrels. End your day in a traditional Romanian mountain village.
Distance: 8.5 miles (14 km)
Duration: 5 hours
Day 5: Mountain Villages
Wave a fond farewell to the Piatra Craiului Mountains as you make your way through picture-perfect landscapes of scattered villages and ancient houses at the foot of the Bucegi Mountains. The locals here are livestock breeders and there's a long history of cheese preparation, so don't miss out on a taste.
Distance: 8 miles (13 km)
Duration: 4 hours
Day 6: Bucegi Mountains
A nice, steady climb awaits on the morning of your sixth day as you make your way into the Bucegi Mountains along woodland trails. Make your way up to the ridge for a picnic lunch with sweeping views of the valley and villages, then head back down the mountain.
Distance: 11 miles (18 km)
Duration: 6 hours
Day 7: Up to the Ridge
For your last hike in the Bucegi Mountains, a long, magnificent trek to Piatra Craiului’s Crest awaits. Pass through the meadow of Gutanu. Take in the steep vertical walls of Bucegi's Crest. And, starting in June, greet shepherds as they pass with their flocks. If you're lucky, they might let you taste the cheese they prepare.
Distance: 11 miles (18 km)
Duration: 6 hours
Day 8: Departure
After breakfast, a private transfer will take you from Bran to Brașov, where a train waits to take you on to Bucharest. If you have time to kill, Herastrau Park, Stavropoleos Church, and the charming streets of old town are all popular attractions. There are also communism tours, pub crawls, and market tours available in the city.
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