Făgăraș Mountains

Your journey starts in the early morning in Bucharest, from where you will head northwards passing by the former capital of the medieval Wallachian principality, Curtea de Arges. Climb your way toward the Carpathian Mountains through the Transfagarasan Road and stop by to admire the Vidraru Dam, one of the largest in Romania, followed by a memorable ride along the picturesque Transfagarasan, declared by Top Gear as the best road in the world. Be ready as bears tend to join our tour but only from the side of the road. Built high up in the Fagaras Mountains, this road stretches for 100 km, offering breathtaking views. You can make stops on the way to admire the scenery, take photos, and simply enjoy the strong and healthy mountain air before heading back to Bucharest, which you will reach in the evening. Pass Capra Waterfall and reach the very top at Balea Lake where you will enjoy free time and perfect picture views. Be ready as bears tend to join the side of the road.

Join us for an unforgettable journey through Romania’s historic and natural wonders in the beautiful Făgăraș Mountains. Begin your day with a visit to the architectural jewel of Curtea de Argeș. This 16th-century monastery is famed for its intricate stonework and fascinating legends. Discover the history and beauty of this spiritual site, the resting place of Romanian royalty, nestled in a serene setting. Continue your adventure with a stop to see (from outside) the imposing Poenari Fortress, an ancient stronghold dramatically perched on a cliffside. Although currently under renovation, you’ll get impressive views from below and learn about its history as one of the real-life strongholds of Vlad the Impaler, the inspiration for Dracula. Next, marvel at the engineering feat of Vidraru Dam, one of the highest in Europe, and the stunning Vidraru Lake it created. Take in the awe-inspiring vistas as you stroll along the dam and capture views of the mountains reflected in the sparkling lake. Venture into the heart of the Făgăraș Mountains National Park, a region of unspoiled nature, lush forests, and alpine landscapes. This area is a paradise for nature lovers, offering a glimpse of Romania's pristine wilderness and diverse wildlife. As we reach higher altitudes, enjoy a taste of winter sports and activities in a scenic snow-covered landscape at 1,700 meters. Suitable for all skill levels, this experience lets you try sledding or enjoy the fresh mountain air and snow. Conclude your adventure with a short, easy hike on a scenic mountain trail. Take in the panoramic views, breathe in the crisp alpine air, and enjoy the serenity of the surrounding nature.

Experience the charm of Sibiu on a sightseeing tour of the medieval city center and see why it was named the European Capital of Culture in 2007. Stroll down narrow streets and encounter colorful buildings, peaceful courtyards and mysterious passageways. Enjoy moments of quiet in historical churches and get an amazing view, framed by the snow-capped peaks of the Făgăraș Mountains. Admire the elegant architecture on Grand Square, pass the charming Renaissance-style Haller House, and see the Brukenthal National Museum in an Habsburg palace. Admire the symbolic Council Tower, take an enchanted walk up the Passage of the Stairs in the Lower Town, and join the hustle and bustle of Cibin Market. Discover the remains of the old city walls and pass the elegant Thalia Hall, where many of the city's concerts are performed. Be amazed by the Gothic façade of the Evangelical Lutheran Cathedral on Huet Square and much more.

Hairpins, tunnels, and sweeping mountain views await on a private day trip on the Tranfagarasan Highway through the Fagaras Mountains. Enjoy having a private guide to lead your group as you visit Balea Lake, Cistercian Abbey, and Brukenthal Palace. Driving along the Transfagarasan Highway, one of the most spectacular roads in the world, your private guide will point out local landmarks. The highest road in Romania, it runs through the Fagaras Mountains and has more tunnels and viaducts than any other road in Romania. Located in the Fagaraș Mountains, Balea Lake is a spectacular landmark on your day trip from Sibiu. The lake formed after glaciers melted away, leaving a huge void carved into the rugged stones. Visit the partly-ruined Cistercian Abbey in Carta. Admire impressive architecture featuring capitals, keystones, windows, and a 15th-century western portal that still remains. Today the church is frequented by the evangelical community of Carta. Continue to The Brukenthal, a stately palace from 1788, formerly used as the summer residence of Transylvanian Baron Samuel von Brukenthal. Visitors to the historic Brukenthal Palace can enjoy the Baroque architecture and the large landscaped palace park.

Your tour will begin as you are taken from your hotel in Brasov by a professional guide. Once having departed Brasov, you will travel to the most spectacular road in Europe: Transfagarasan. You will stop first and visit the Carta Cistercian Monastery .the monastery was built at the beginning of the 13th century, in the Gothic style, by the Cistercian monks who came to Transylvania from Burgundy, France. You will then continue to the mountains which host the Transfagarasan Highway, the most spectacular and beautiful mountain road in Europe. The road has been featured on the UK motor show Top Gear, and traverses up through the mountains uniting Transylvania with Valachia. Whilst there you will experience great scenes, noisy waterfalls, and with some luck you may even see wild animals such as the brown bear or black goats. Moving onward, you will travel to the Balea Glacier Lake, where you will have lunch at the Lake Balea Chalet. You can then take a walk around the lake, and in summer can also climb up the slope near the lake. From the top of this ridge you will have wonderful pictures with the peaks of the surrounding mountains and the lake and cottage Balea. In the winter between December and March you can visit the ice hotel, as well as the neighboring ice church. You will later return to Brasov in the evening, with wonderful memories of your trip into the sky. During the winter between November and July, we will go up by van to the hotel Cascada Balea 1446m (above the road is closed due to snow), from where we will take the cable car up to Lake Balea. The price of the cable car (100 lei - 24 euros uphill) + descent) is not included in the price of the tour.

Discover the stunning scenery of the Southern Carpathian Mountains on a guided hiking excursion. See the grandeur of the Balea Waterfall and enjoy a peaceful picnic lunch by the glacier lake Balea. Climb to the peak of the Fagaras Mountains and be enchanted by the views of Transylvania.  In the morning, meet your guide to begin your hike. After a short distance, the day's first stop will be one of the biggest waterfalls in Romania, the fan-shaped Balea Cascada. Enjoy seeing Romania’s highest mountains the rugged Fagaras Mountain range known as the “Transylvanian Alps”. Next, a walk through Balea Valley will lead up to the Balea Glacier Lake which sits at 6673 feet (2034 meters) high. Before climbing to the mountain peak at 7929 feet (2417 meters), restore your energy with lunch by the lake and enjoy some free time to explore.  Finally, enjoy the impressive view of Walachia, Transylvania and the spectacular winding Transfagarasan Road from the top of the mountain. Travel by bus or cable car back to Sibiu to complete your day trip.

More than 150 kilometres in length, the Transfagarasan Highway is Romania’s most spectacular and best known road, and, thanks to an appearance on BBC Top Gear in 2009, now one of the country’s most popular tourist attractions. Fully open only from June to October, the road’s highest point is at 2042 metres: the tunnel which links the northern and southern sides at Lake Balea (Balea Lac). The Transfagarasan was built from 1970-1974 on the personal orders of Nicolae Ceausescu, who wanted to create a strategic route across the Fagaras Mountains to ferry troops north should Romania be invaded by the USSR (as Czechoslovakia had been in 1968). On the way back we will make several stops to enjoy the goat waterfall as well as the Vidradu dam and finally at the real Dracula's castle. which unfortunately is under renovation.

Your tour starts from and ends in Brasov. It will take you along the Transfagarasan Road, which is open from July 1 through to October 31. The driving time from Brasov to Balea Lake is about 2 hours, and once there you will hike from Balea Lake up to Capra Lake. Once there, it will be decided if the tour will take a hike up to the Vanatoarea lui Buteanu peak of 2,507 meters, or if you will instead enjoy a walk around the lake (this is all depending of weather conditions on that given day) At the end of the trip, you will have the option to enjoy a lunch at the Balea Lake Hotel. The total hike takes around 4-5 hours. From November to June, the hike will be taken on a different route in Fagaras Mountains, in the Valea Sambetei area.

Day 1: Bucharest – Curtea De Arges – Vidraru Dam – Transfagarsan Road - Sibiu (430 kilometers) This tour begins with a morning pick-up from your hotel in Bucharest. Start your journey with a stop at Curtea de Arges Monastery, an important pilgrimage site in the southern part of Romania located at the foot of Fagaras Mountains. During the visit, you will also be told the amazing legend associated with the building of this monastery. The visit will be followed by a stop for lunch at a traditional Romanian restaurant. After lunch, you will reach the beginning of Transfagarasan Road and enjoy a short stop at Vidraru Dam, an impressive engineering feat, being the first arch valley dam in Romania built during the Communist period. These days, it is a favorite place for people passionate about extreme sports. Driving along Vidraru River, you will leave behind the region of Wallachia and head to the region of Transylvania. On your way to the next stop, Balea Glacier Lake, take in gorgeous landscapes and amazing mountain scenery as you cross the longest tunnel in Romania. Surrounded by the stunning mountain peaks of the Fagaras Mountains, Balea Lake will be the perfect location for some beautiful photos. Continuing your journey through the northern part of Transfagarasan Road, the tour guide will tell you more about its construction and how Transfagarasan Road came to be considered the most beautiful high altitude road in the world by British “Top Gear” in 2013. By the end of the first day, you will reach the city of Sibiu, one of the seven German medieval citadels in Transylvania. Spend the evening in Sibiu. Day 2: Sibiu – Cozia Monastery - Bucharest (280 kilometers) In the morning, enjoy breakfast at your hotel in Sibiu. After breakfast, the tour guide will lead you on a short walking tour through the old city center of Sibiu, where you will see the Large Square, the Small Square, Huet Square, the Council Tower, Brukenthal Palace, the Liars Bridge, the Stairs Passage, the Evangelical Cathedral, and hear exciting stories about a town that was declared a "European Capital of Culture" in 2007. On your way back to Bucharest, you will also make a stop at Cozia Monastery, a valuable monument of Romania’s architecture and culture erected between 1386-1388 by the ruler Mircea the Elder. In the evening, arrive back to your hotel in Bucharest.

You will meet the driver in the morning in Bucharest and you will drive to Vidraru Dam and Transfagarasan Road via Curtea de Arges, the old capital of Romania. You will stop to see Vidraru Dam where you will see numerous bears in their natural habitat, as well as baby bears. Please be careful as bears tend to say hello to you, so do not feed them. You will also admire Poenari Citadel, up in the hill from distance. The picturesque view is incredible and you will be amazed how nature can bring joy to your life. On the way up to Balea Lake we will drive through Transfagarasan Road. Breathtaking views await you, accompanied by many cute brown bears. Take as many photos as you want! Breath fresh air while on top of Transfaragaran road, enjoy lunch, buy souvenirs and local food products. In the afternoon we hop on back to Bucharest.