​This Carpathians hiking tour is dedicated to passionate mountain hikers and wildlife-spotting enthusiasts. The hiking tour will bring you on the highest and most imposing ridges in the Carpathians. It is addressed to people with a good physical condition and desire to see great landscapes and the Carpathians wildlife at its home.

 

Our hiking tour in the Carpathians includes 3 sub-units of the Mid Carpathians: Piatra Craiului (King’s Stone) Mountains, Fagaras Mountains and Cindrel Mountains.

The Carpathians are covered by the largest forest area in Europe. Therefore they are home to more than a third of the large carnivores living in the wild in Europe – brown bears, wolves and lynxes.

Alpine marmot(Marmota marmota), chamois(Rupicapra rupicapra ssp. carpatica), golden eagle(Aquila chrysaetos) are a few of the other potential spotting.

In conclusion, this hiking tour in the Carpathians is also a great wildlife observations opportunity.

Visits
  • Fagaras-Citadel & The Cistercian Church from Carta
  • bear hide in the wilderness and/or  LiBearty Bear Sanctuary Zarnesti
  • Kingstone Mountain National Park: Zarnesti Gorges
  • the famous Transfagarasan Road, Balea Waterfalls & Balea Glacial Lake
  • Sibiu Old Town

Other possible visits in the area:

  • Bran Castle known as Dracula Castle or Rasnov Castle/ medieval fortified church of Hărman or Prejmer (both UNESCO World Heritage sites)
  • Brukenthal Museum in Sibiu
  • Village Museum in Sibiu
Program

Day 1 – Meet at the Airport Sibiu. Transfer to Zărnești on a scenic road at the foothills of the Carpathians – Fagaras Mountains (~2hrs. drive)

+ Stops&visits: possible Sightseeing: Fagaras-Citadel, The Cistercian Church from Carta, an old cave monastery.

Dinner and accommodation in Zarnesti/Vulcan or Măgura.

Day 2 – Breakfast and packed lunch for the hike at our guesthouse.  Our hiking tour begins through Zărnești Gorges towards Curmătura Chalet/ Crăpăturii Saddle in Piatra Craiului (King’s Stone) Mountains (4-5hrs.) In the afternoon: drive to the bear hide for bear watching. Dinner and accommodation in Zarnesti/Vulcan or Măgura.

Day 3 – Breakfast and packed lunch for the hike at our guesthouse. Transfer to Bâlea(the northern side of the famous Transfagarasan Road). Our hiking tour starts today from Bâlea Waterfalls towards Bâlea Lake through Doamnei(Lady’s) Valley(4-5hrs). Dinner and accommodation at Guesthouse or Chalet in Bâlea.

Day 4 – Breakfast at Guesthouse/Chalet in Bâlea. Hiking tour on the Fagaras Mountains Ridge towards the Caltun Lake (~6hrs.) If the weather is good and the whole group is prepared, we could try and reach the second highest peak in Romania -Negoiu Peak 2535m (~10hrs altogether) Dinner and accommodation at Guesthouse or Chalet in Bâlea.

Day 5 – Breakfast at Guesthouse/Chalet in Bâlea. Transfer to Sibiu. Guided Old Town Tour and lunch in Sibiu. Free time in the city. Dinner and accommodation at a guesthouse in Sibiu or, if you prefer some more scenic landscapes, in one of the villages around.

Day 6 – Breakfast and packed lunch for the hike at the guesthouse. Transfer to Păltinis (Hohe Rinne). Hiking tour in Cindrel Mountains (7-8 hrs.) towards Iezeru Mare Lake and/or Cindrel Peak 2245m. Dinner and accommodation at a guesthouse in Sibiu or the villages around.

Day 7 – Breakfast and packed lunch for the hike at the guesthouse. Hiking tour on Magura (4-5 Std.) Dinner and accommodation at a guesthouse in Sibiu or the villages around.

Day 8 – Breakfast at the guesthouse. Transfer to airport in Sibiu

Extended tour
Extensions are possible.

Check out our other tours in the area of Sibiu and Brasov. Extra days and activities can be added to this tour.

It can also be extended by combining it with tours in other areas

Difficulty level

The hiking tours in the mountains are on average between 4 and 6 hours long/ day. However, some days might be shorter and some days longer. But if the group decides we can adjust in advance the length of the daily routes. 

All routes are on mountain marked paths and don t require special equipment (harness, rope, etc.). However a good fitness level is required and some experience with mountain trails as well. 

You will need to have comfortable hiking shoes and clothes, a day-trip backpack (20-30L) where you will need to carry your water bottle (minimum 1 Liter), the lunch pack and some spare clothes, like a dry T-shirt, wind/rain jacket).

Recommended to have: trekking poles, binoculars, sunscreen, sunglasses, insect repellant, blister patches, a pocket knife and headlamp.

Reservations
This tour is recommended to be booked at least 2 weeks in advance.
Prices

The final price is influenced by many factors that not all depend on us.

Please contact us to get your detailed customized program and offer.

The price usually includes all tour expenses starting with your arrival in the country. Meaning:

  • accommodation in 3-4 Star Guesthouses/Chalets in Double Rooms
  • meals – full board (except beverages): breakfast and dinner, and a lunch in Sibiu (for the rest day in Sibiu – all other days we will be hiking we’ll have packed lunch, received from the guesthouses)
  • transfers and transportation (car/ bus),
  • permits for accessing nature reserves, bear hides and entries at the visits included in the program,
  • wildlife specialized multi-lingual tour guide.

The offer you will receive can be adjusted if you choose to modify some of the details.

 
Extra Info

This tour can also start from Sibiu and end in Zărnești, with a transfer back at the airport the last day. Other transfers are also possible if you intend to stay longer after our tour together.

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