Overview
Our Transylvanian Alps Explorer is the perfect way to immerse yourself in a different world that you will find in Transylvania and Romania. Dubbed the Transylvanian Alps, the Fagaras Mountains are impressive, with multiple peaks of over 2,500m.
Your actual walking starts near Balea Lake, a picturesque glacial lake at just over 2,000m above sea level. For a spectacular view of the Fagaras, you will hike to one of Romania’s highest peaks before descending back to the beautiful Balea Lake and Balea Waterfall.
In the following days, you will explore the charming landscapes around Cisnadioara, where you also visit the Cistercian and Evangelical churches. For a glimpse into medieval Transylvania and its towns with narrow, winding streets, you take a stroll around the stunning cities of Sibiu and Brasov.
Accommodation is in hand-picked 3 or 4-star hotels.
- Vânátarea Lui Buteanu Peak, 2,507m
- Transfagarašan Road, arguably the most beautiful road in the world
- Balea Glacial Lake, 2,034m
- Brašov, former capital city of medieval Transylvania
- Beautifully restored Old Town of Sibiu, the 2007 European Culture Capital
Click to view map
Itinerary
Day 1: Bucharest – Brasov
Arrive in Bucharest, the capital of Romania and start your transfer to Brasov. Easy Jet, Wizz Air and Ryan Air all fly directly to Bucharest; Brasov is then accessible via a 2-hour train ride or a private transfer. Visit the medieval fortress, the Black Church and stroll the beautiful streets of the old town.
- Accommodation: 3-star hotel next to the main square and the old town of Brasov (Hotel Coroana Brasovului 3* or similar)
Day 2: Balea Lake, Vanatarea Lui Buteanu Summit (2,507m) | 5km
Morning transfer to Balea Lake (150km / 2.5h from Brasov), a beautiful resort in the Carpathian Mountains’ heart situated at just over 2,000m. Arrive at the hotel. Afternoon hike to one of the highest peaks in the Carpathian Mountains (Vanatarea Lui Buteanu, 2,507m), where you can enjoy the impressive panorama of the surrounding mountains.
- Walking for the day: 5km, 4h, 600m elevation gain
- Accommodation: 3-star chalet next to Balea Lake (Cabana Balea Lac or similar)
Day 3: Balea Waterfall – Cisnadioara | 9km
Hike from Balea Lake towards Balea Waterfall, the largest step waterfall in Romania. You get the chance to experience multiple levels of vegetation, starting with the high alpine and reaching down to the dense coniferous forests. Transfer to the guesthouse in Cisnadioara (55 km / 1 hour), a small village famous for its Saxon heritage.
- Walking for the day: 9km, 4h, 900m elevation loss
- Accommodation: a 3-star traditional guesthouse
Day 4: Cisnadioara – Magura Peak (1,500m) – Rasinari | 10km
The central landmark is the Medieval Fortified Church on top of the hill where you enjoy a spectacular view of the entire region. Also, you visit the Evangelical Church. In the village, you can still find traditional potters, and you can see their workshop. The hike of the day is a short but intense trek up to Magura Peak (1,500m) and then back down to Rasinari.
- Walking for the day: 10km, 4-5h, 500m elevation gain
- Accommodation: 3-star traditional guesthouse
Day 5: Rasinari – Paltinis | 6km
Morning transfer (30km, 40min) to Paltinis, a famous ski resort but also a base camp for various treks in the region. The trail for today is very smooth, just perfect for a relaxing walk in nature through a dense spruce forest -an oasis of freshness in hot summers. Take a break at the Găujoara Glade, the panoramic view of the Păltiniş is fabulous! Transfer back to Rasinari.
- Walking for the day: 6km, 4h, 180m elevation loss
- Accommodation: 3-star traditional guesthouse
Day 6: Rasinari – Sibiu | 15km
The route for the day is a spectacular descending trail with an altitude difference of 880m. The landscape alternates between wooded areas, meadows, sunny pastures, steeper heights and gentle slopes. Evening transfer to Sibiu (12km, 25min).
- Walking for the day: 15km, 6h, 880m elevation loss
- Accommodation: 4-star hotel in Sibiu
Day 7: Sibiu – Brasov
Walk around the beautiful and picturesque old town of Sibiu, a place where Europe’s culture has its unique place since the 1800s. Visit the Main Square, the Liars Bridge, the History Museum and stroll around Astra Outdoor Museum, one of the largest outdoor museums in Europe. Transfer to Brasov (150km, 2.5h). Overnight in Brasov.
- Accommodation: 3-star hotel next to the main square and the old town of Brasov (Hotel Coroana Brasovului 3* or similar)
Day 8: Departure
Departure on your own after breakfast (or optional private transfer to Bucharest International Airport)
What to expect
Accommodation
3 and 4-star hotels and family-run guesthouses, as indicated in the itinerary. All places have been carefully hand-picked by us and their quality is regularly monitored. We have tried to choose accommodations that offer friendly service, clean and comfortable rooms and local flavour.
Click to view default hotels
Hotels are subject to availability. In case a particular hotel is fully booked for your desired dates it will be replaced with a hotel of equal value and quality level. Exact accommodation details will be provided to you upon booking confirmation.
Meals
Breakfast is included. When no restaurant location is available on route lunches and snacks should either be bought from local shops, or packed lunch can be pre-ordered from your hotel the night before. Dinner is available either from the restaurant in your hotel or restaurants in the village near your hotel.
Difficulty and terrain
Appropriate for regular walkers. Requires a reasonable level of fitness. May include 4-6h of walking per day (up to 18km of walking). Total elevation gain is 2,000m, average daily elevation gain is 285m (read more about difficulty grades). The walks are mostly on rocky hiking trails. We strongly advise you to follow only marked trails and never shorten the path through the unknown and unmarked terrain. We will provide you with detailed road notes and maps, and you can call our 24/7 local assistance phone number anytime. More detailed info on route navigation will be included in your holiday information pack
When to go
This trip is available from May until October, in normal conditions. The climate in the Fagaras Mountains is continental with sub-polar aspects. Depending on location and altitude, temperatures vary, but, in the May-September period, the daily averages are 15 – 25C. The best walking weather is in July – September. Spring and autumn are cold in the Fagaras Mountains with cool nights and occasional rain. Expect the weather to change rapidly during the day. The winter months are cold with snow on the ground and average temperatures of -10 – 2C.
The flexibility of self-guided holidays means that there are no fixed dates and you can start your holiday on any date in the season – please indicate desired starting date when booking.
Getting there
Click to view travel options
By plane
Our recommended airport for this tour is Bucharest.
By train or bus
From Bucharest Airport To Brasov
- Advised latest arrival time is 17.00
- Option 1: Take a taxi from the airport to the train station (Gara de Nord), takes 20min, 25-30 LEU (£5)
- Option 2: Take bus 780 from the airport to the train station (Gara de Nord), takes about 60min
- Take the train to Brasov, you can travel with either Intercity or Eurocities. The journey takes about 2.5h and the price range is from 100 LEU to 500 LEU depending on the ticket range and time of the train (£18-70)
- Take a taxi from Brasov Train Station to the hotel – 15min
From Brasov Hotel to Bucharest Airport
- Advised earliest flight departure is 14.00
- Take a taxi from the hotel to Brasov Train Station – 15min
- Take the train to Bucharest (Gara de Nord), journey takes 2.5 hours and costs from 100 LEU to 500 LEU depending on the ticket range and time of the train (£18-70)
- Alternative 1: Take bus 780 to the airport, journey is about 60min
- Alternative 2: Take a taxi to the airport, 20min, 25-30 LEU (£5)
Inclusions
Included
- Accommodation for 7 nights in hand-picked 3/4-star hotels or family-run guesthouses as listed in the itinerary
- Holiday information pack including GPS-checked and regularly updated route descriptions and road notes, maps with daily routes and optional hikes marked
- 7 breakfasts
- Daily luggage transport to the next accommodation
- All internal ground transfers and baggage transfers as listed in the itinerary
- Arrival meeting
- 24/7 phone assistance by our local office/representative
Excluded
- Airfare and connecting land transfers
- Lunches, dinners, drinks and snacks
- Travel insurance (required – get a quote online)
- Personal expenses
- Local tourist taxes and entry fees (payable on-site)
- Any items not explicitly listed as included
Options, extras and supplements
- If you’re travelling in a group, a supplement applies to group members who would like to have a room of their own.
- This holiday is available for solo travellers; a supplement will be charged as accommodation and luggage transfer costs are not shared (we never mix and match – solo travellers will be accommodated in single rooms)
- Private airport transfers to/from airport
- Optional hotel upgrade: if you prefer to stay on Days 1 and 7 at the 3-star Bella Muzica hotel (or similar) near the Old Town of Brasov rather than at Casa Timar B&B (or similar), you can add this option when completing the online booking form
- Extra nights in Brasov before and after the tour
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