Are you interested in trekking in Fagaras mountains? Take a look at our 11 day itinerary which takes you to the highest point in Romania: Moldoveanu peak.
Area: Făgăraș Mountains
Difficulty: Medium
Departure dates: June – October, on demand .
Participants: 2-10
Trip duration: 11 days
Required gear: Backpack, good condition trekking boots, waterproof and warm change of clothes, water flask or bottle, sweets, energy bars.
Accommodation: Mountain huts, tents.
Weather conditions: Daytime temperatures should be in the range of 25-30 C, slightly cooler in late August departures. Temperatures during the night might drop significantly, especially on the Fagaras section where we sleep at high altitudes. The highest of the Romanian Carpathians, the Fagaras mountains, are pretty cold during the night. Generally, we will be able to walk in t-shirts and shorts. However, weather in the mountains can suddenly change and you should be prepared for a swift thunderstorm. In extreme cases, even snow can be expected in mid august.
Transport: We will use minibus throughout the trip.
ITINERARY
Day 1: Welcoming the guests at the Bucharest Henri Coanda International Airport and transfer to Sinaia
- Short walk in Sinaia (if there is time)
- Dinner at the hotel (not included)
Accommodation: 4*hotel in Sinaia
Day 2: Cultural visits on the way to Fagaras Mountains
Highlights: Peles Castle, Sinaia Monastery Sambata Monastery
- 7 am – transfer to Sinaia Resort, in the “Bucegi” Mountains (800 – 1000 m);
- visit Sinaia Monastery and Peles Castle (former residence of the Romanian Royal Family);
- lunch in Sinaia (not included)
- 14:00 – transfer to Sambata Monastery (750 m)
- visit the monastery
- pitching the tents
- dinner (not included), next day briefing
- lights out;
Accommodation: camping near Sambata monastery: 750 m elevation
Day 3: Hiking up to Sambata Chalet, easy walk in the area
- Hiking time: ~ 3 hours
- Height difference: + 1100 m;
- Highlights: The beautiful view from Sambata Chalet.
Accommodation: Sambata Chalet:1401 m altitude
Day 4: Hiking in Fagaras Mountains, moderate hike
- Hiking time: ~ 7 hours
- Height difference: + 1100 m;
- Highlights: The beautiful view from Moldoveanu Peak, Iezerul Moldoveanu Lake.
07:30: wake up;
08:00: breakfast;
09:30 – 12:00: Sambata Chalet – Fereastra Mare a Sambetei (2128 m). The route climbs the alpine valley of Sambata, through the glacial landscape to the main ridge.
While climbing to the ridge, you can see a spectacular waterfall on the right wall of the valley (called Dragusului Ridge). We will reach the main ridge in Fereastra Mare section.
12:00 – 14:00: Fereastra Mare – Portita Vistei (2310 m). From Fereastra Mare we climb the Slanina Peak (2245m), then we follow the main ridge marking, passing by the Galasescu Mare peak (2471 m), Galasescu Mic glacial lake (2180m), Vistisoara glacial lake, Fereastra Vistisoarei (2291 m), finally reaching Portita Vistei, our destination for today.
14:00: Camping;
14:30: leaving for the Moldoveanu Peak (2544m), the highest point in Romania- via the Vistea Peak (2527 m), if the weather allows it; the two peaks are connected through a narrow ridge, which allows a spectacular view on the surrounding valleys.
15:30: taking pictures on Moldoveanu Peak;
16:30: returning to the tents. Lunch;
17:30 – 20:30: leisure time, optional walk to the Iezerul Moldoveanu Lake.
20:30 – 21:30: Dinner. Next day briefing;
22:00: lights out;
Accommodation: tents.
Day 5: Trekking in Fagaras Mountains, moderate hike
- Height difference: + 850 m
- Highlights: The Portita Vistei area, Podragu Lake
05:00: Optional hike to the Moldoveanu / Vistea Peak, sunrise photos, if the weather allows it and/or the weather was bad the other day.
08:00: “official” wake up;
08:30: breakfast;
10:00: Portita Vistei – Podragu Chalet (2136 m). Our route takes us to the Vistea Mare Peak (2527 m) peak, and descents to Orzanelei saddle, following the trail under the Ucisoara peak (2418 m), to the Ucisoara saddle (2312 m). This point offers a wide perspective over the Ucisoara Valley. From here, the trail climbs close to the ridge, to the Podul Giurgiului saddle, near the Podul Giurgiului valley top section. We will traverse this valley through the top section, and reach Podragu saddle (2307 m). From here our path descends into the Podragu valley to the Podragu Chalet (2136 m), near the Podragu lake, one of our points of interest in this stage of our journey.
13:30: arriving at Podragu Chalet where we’ll stay for the night;
14:00: having lunch at Podragu Chalet (not included);
– hike to the Podragelu Lake and return (aprox. 3h): the marked path climbs the east side of the valley to the Strunga Podragelului point (2153 m) and descents afterwards into Podragelul Valley, where this glacial lake lies. From here we will return on the same route to the chalet.
20:30: dinner;
-free time;
22:00: lights out;
Accommodation: camping in tents in Podragu Area
Day 6: Trekking in Fagaras Mountains, moderate hike
- Hiking time: 10 hours
- Height difference: + 300 m, -1100 m
- Sightseeing objectives: La 3 Pasi de Moarte, the main ridge.
07:30: wake up;
08:00: breakfast;
09:30 – 10:00: Podragu Chalet (2136 m) – Podragu Saddle (2307 m); we follow the same route as the other day, until we reach the crossing point in Podragu saddle.
10:00 – 12:30: Saua Podragu (Podragu Saddle)- La 3 Pasi de Moarte, on the main ridge; we head West for Balea Chalet, circling the Podul Giurgiului upper valley and passing by the glacial lake which lies in this valley. The trail climbs a steep side of the valley, to the Mircii peak (2467 m), connected with the Arpasul Mare peak (2474 m) by a narrow ridge which also must be traversed. From Arpasul Mare peak, the marked path descends to the difficult passage called La 3 pasi de moarte (3 steps from death).
– short meal on the route
12:30 – 16:00: La 3 Pasi de Moarte (3 steps from the Death) – Capra Saddle, on the main ridge; turning right, our path circles the Vartopelul Peak and follows the main ridge to another difficult section, which ends at Fereastra Zmeilor point. From here you can see the Fereastra Zmeilor mountain refuge laying well bellow our altitude.
Our route takes us on the steep slopes of Fundul Caprei valley and climbs the south section of Vanatoarea lui Buteanu peak, into a wider location, where a beautiful lake lies (the Capra lake – 2241m)
16:00 – 16:30: Saua Capra (Capra saddle) 2315 m – Balea Chalet (2037 m); The chalet is now near; we first reach “Capra” saddle and descent for about 30 minutes to the Balea chalet, where we stop for the night.
20:00: dinner (not included);
– free time;
Accommodation at the Balea Lake Chalet.
Day 7 – Transfer from the Europe’s wildest mountains to Sibiu, Europe’s capital of culture in 2007
9:00: Breakfast at Balea Lac Chalet;
10:00: Leave for Sibiu
12:00 – 19:30: Visit Sibiu, European capital of culture in 2007.
13:00: Lunch in Sibiu (not included)
20:00: Dinner at the guest-house in Răşinari (not included)
Accommodation in 3* guest-house in Răşinari village, near Sibiu.
Day 8 – Cultural tour of Răşinari ,Sibiu, Sighişoara
9:00: Breakfast
10:00: Visit Răşinari village.
11:30- 16:30: Visit Astra museum near Sibiu – Museum of Traditional Civilization, sheltering houses from all over Romania, with the tools used in a traditional household.
13:30: Lunch at the restaurant inside museum (not included)
18.00: Arrival in Sighisoara
20:30: Dinner (not included)
Accommodation in Sighişoara, 3* guest-house.
Day 9 – Cultural tour of Sighisoara, Rupea, Feldioara, Brasov
9:00: Breakfast at the guest-house in Sighisoara
10:00: Visit Sighisoara early in the morning, then heading up for Rupea citadel.
– Visit Feldioara citadel
– Lunch in Brasov (not included)
– Visit Brasov
– Arrival in Predeal resort by evening
20:00 Dinner at the hotel’s restaurant (not included)
Accommodation at 3* hotel in Predeal.
Day 10: Dracula’s Castle
9:00: Breakfast at the hotel in Predeal
– Transfer and visit Brasov’s medieval center, the Black Church (famous for its organ)
– leaving Brasov, heading for Rasnov.
– Visit Rasnov stronghold, then heading up to Bran Castle, known as Dracula Castle;
– leaving for Bucharest;
– dinner at the hotel or other location (not included)
– leisure time;
Accommodation in Bucharest, 3* hotel
Day 11 – Departure day
Schedule according to your flight’s timing
– Transfer from Bucharest to Henri Coanda Airport
Highlights
Sambata
Sambata is one of the largest glacial calderas in the Carpathian mountains. Relaxing day before the “big hike”. Sambata Chalet is known to have the best mountain view in Romania.
Sibiu
The city of Sibiu is one of the largest in Transylvania and the largest medieval city in Romania, very well preserved. Its fortifications are the largest in Transylvania.
The city’s wealth was given by the commerce with Walachia and by its manufactures specialized in wool.
In Sibiu can be seen: Main Square, Small Square, City Hall’s tower, Lairs Bridge.
Sibiu hosts one of the most important museums in Romania (Brukenthal Museum) and the largest open air museum in Europe: Astra – Museum of Traditional Civilization.
Răşinari
Răşinari (German: Städterdorf, Hungarian: Resinár) is a typical Romanian village in Transylvania, at the foothills of the Carpathians, with influences of the German style. It lies nearby Sibiu, in an area called Marginime and it is famous for its sheep droves. The streets are narrow; the houses have tall walls, hiding the yard and the house. Large gates allow the wagons and still running horse-driven carriages to enter inside, and nearby there is a small door for people. Răşinari is the village where two of the greatest Romanian writers were born: Octavian Goga and Eugen Ionescu, the last being the founder of the absurd theater. He lived the last part of his life in France, at Paris, being adopted by the French culture under the name Eugen Ionesco.
Sighisoara
The citadel Sighisoara, included by UNESCO in the World Heritage, is a unique town in Europe being the only medieval citadel still inhabited. The Clock Tower, The Church on the Hill, the defense bastions and walls are things to see in this fabulous medieval town. Sighişoara is knows as the city where Vlad III (a.k.a. Dracula) was born.
– Visits the Clock Tower museum, Church on the Hill, Dracula’s house, the place where Vlad III Dracul was born
Rasnov
Rasnov is a peasant’s fortress built on a cliff by the residents of Rasnov village in the 13th century. The fortress couldn’t be conquered by the invaders; only once the people inside were forced to surrender because they ran out of water. After that a deep well was dug.
Bran Castle was built to defend the South border of Transylvania and was also used as custom point on the commercial road to Walachia. It is better known as Dracula’s Castle, even if its connections with Vlad Dracul are scarce. The castle was restored in the first half of the 20th century and served as the summer residence for Queen Mary.
If you are interested in our trekking in the Fagaras mountains itinerary, please contact us.
For other interesting activities, please check out bear watching tours.