As seen on
Wild Carpathian Peaks
Romania
- Overview
- Itinerary
- Essential info
- Reviews
- Packing list
Grade:
Challenging
Type:
Activity
Transfers
Duration:
10 Nights
4 - 12
Group size
Leaders
Highlights
- Explore Bucharest & the medieval town of Brasov
- Wildlife Tracking to see brown bears
- Varied hiking in Bucegi, Piatra Craiului & Fagaras Mountains
- Summit Moldoveanu Peak (2544m) - Romania's highest peak
Add on Adventures
This itinerary has options for you to extend & customise your experience before &/or after your holiday. See Itinerary for details.
Nowhere is the soul of gothic, medieval Europe better preserved amidst an atmospheric countryside than in Romania. Combine this with world-class hiking trails through untouched natural beauty and the myths and legends of the past, to create an unforgettable experience
Accessible from the thriving capital of Bucharest, where you start your adventure by uncovering the story of Romania’s history, the Carpathian mountain ranges of Bucegi, Piatra Craiului and Fagaras, renowned for their biodiversity and natural beauty.
Our guided hiking adventure will bring you to the summit of Romania’s highest mountain, Moldoveanu Peak (2544m), before tracking wild brown bears with a professional wildlife guide. Stay in comfortable and stunningly located mountain cabins for a total immersion and escape, striking the perfect balance of adventure and culture, as you visit the infamous Bran Castle and historic medieval town of Brasov.
Add on Adventures
This itinerary has options for you to extend & customise your experience before &/or after your holiday. See below for details.
Day 1: Arrival into Bucharest
Transfer
Packed Lunch
Dinner
Arrive into Bucharest and be transferred to your hotel. Relax or explore before meeting your guide in the evening, and enjoying a welcome dinner at one of Bucharest’s restaurants serving traditional Romanian food.
Day 2: Walking Tour of Bucharest & Peles Castle
Transfer
Breakfast
Dinner
Guest house
Your adventure begins in earnest with a half day walking tour of this fascinating city, known for its wide treelined boulevards and glorious 'Belle Epoque' architecture, and striving forwards with energy, from its recent history. Enjoy the Old Town Lipscani area and enjoy walking past the city’s major landmarks including Revolution Square & the Romanian Athenaeum and the National Art Museum. Some of the most striking sites are those which link to Romania’s Communist era.
In the afternoon you drive to Sinaia (1hr 45m), a village on the medieval route that linked Transylvania and Wallachia, to visit Peles castle. It is a masterpiece of German Neo-Renaissance style from the late 1800s, built by an international team of Italian masons, Greek stone masons, Hungarian carpenters, Polish engineers and Czech engravers! It was constructed as a summer residence for the Romanian Royal Family (King Carol 1). The castle is in an excellent state and houses some fine European Art.
Leaving Romanian history behind for a while, we head to Busteni (1hr), in the Bucegi Mountains, for the first of a 2 night stay.
Day 3: Warm up Hike (4-6hrs)
Transfer
Breakfast
Dinner
Guest house
You wake to the beauty of the Carpathians. Today is about enjoying a fabulous route in Bucegi National Park. Depending on the weather and conditions, you will hike to Heroes Cross to see how the elements have formed the incredible Babele and Sphinx rock formations, or you may summit Omu Peak for breathtaking views over the Bucegi range.
Day 4: Bucegi Plateau Hike (7-8hrs)
Transfer
Breakfast
Packed Lunch
Dinner
Guest house
Enjoy a wonderful traverse of the Bucegi Plateau with continuous dramatic views. Follow local hiking trails to 'Mecca de Sus', on the other side of the mountain range, via either 'Saua Struna' or 'Saua Batran'a mountain passes. Private transport will be waiting for you to transfer you to the picturesque village of Magura, nestled in the mountains at 1000m altitude. In the centre of Piatra Craiului National Park, Magura is your home for the next four nights.
Day 5: Hiking in the Piatra Craiului Range (7-8hrs)
Transfer
Breakfast
Packed Lunch
Dinner
Guest house
There are many wonderful options for hiking trails that are accessible from Magura. Your local guide will choose the best to meet the group’s preferences, and the weather conditions on the day. Rest assured that every option is a winner!
Day 6: Bran Castle & Brasov (Rest Day)
Transfer
Breakfast
Dinner
Guest house
Brasov is the gateway to Transylvania; You may feel it is familiar, and indeed a number of films (including unsurprisingly, some Dracula themed movies) have been made on location here. It sits at the foot of Mount Tampa, and we highly recommend the hours walk or cable car ride (10€return journey/person) to the peak at 975m for a magnificent view of the town and surrounding Southern Carpathian mountains. We will take you on a guided walking tour of the town in the morning, before some freedom to explore independently and enjoy lunch out.
Day 7: Wildlife Tracking in Fagaras Mountains
Transfer
Breakfast
Packed Lunch
Dinner
Guest house
One of the highlights of this adventure is the opportunity to join a specialist mountain ranger from a private biodiversity and conservation reserve for some wild animal tracking on unmarked trails.
This is a far cry from visiting a brown bear sanctuary! Nature being what it is, we can’t guarantee live sightings, but as well as learning about wildlife tracking, you will be able to spend time in an observation hide in the early morning or late evening, where bears are often spotted.
Day 8: Hike from Balea Lake, Fagaras Mountains (6hrs)
Transfer
Breakfast
Packed Lunch
Dinner
Mountain refuge
The start of todays hike is the stunning Balea Lake (2034m), and the goal is our accommodation for the night: Podragu Cabin. The refuge is situated in a glacial valley at 2136m; Built in the 1950s by the National Bank of Romania, for its employees, it is now used for walkers and hikers.
Our guide will lead us on the most suitable mountain trail for our group but you can be guaranteed immense views, fresh mountain air, serenity and a sense of escapism!
Day 9: Summit hike, Moldoveanu Peak @ 2544m (7-8hrs)
Breakfast
Packed Lunch
Dinner
Mountain refuge
Now you are well acclimatised to the Carpathian mountains, perhaps one of the highlights of this adventure (but there are so many that it is hard to say..), today you have the opportunity to do a round trip incorporating Moldoveanu Peak, which, at 2544m is the highest peak in Romania! The views and the sense of achievement will be incredible. This summit attempt is weather dependent but your guide will look at the itinerary flexibly in order to maximise your chance of being able to complete this hike.
Day 10: Hike to Victoria (5-6hrs)
Breakfast
Packed Lunch
Dinner
4 star hotel
You need to head out of the mountains today, stepping, perhaps reluctantly, back towards ‘civilisation’! It is a beautiful 5-6hr walk from Podragu Cabin to the town of Victoria which lies on the edge of the Fagaras, providing the town with an awe inspiring backdrop.
We take a private transfer from Victoria back to Bucharest in time for a celebratory group meal at a recommended restaurant.
Day 11: Travel Home
Transfer
Breakfast
After breakfast, unless you have chosen to continue your adventure with our Danube Delta add on, you take your airport transfer to Otopeni Airport for your travel home.
Time to plan your next escape?!
Adventure Optional Extras
Single Room Supplement
Single rooms are available on a first come, first served basis, however, due to the nature of the accommodation we are using on this adventure, there are several nights where single rooms are not possible, so the supplement price reflects this. We will charge on a pro-rata basis if a single room is not available to book for part of the trip where it would have been possible.
Extra night in Bucharest - Twin/Double Room
Should you want to arrive a little early for your adventure, or stay on for a night after your adventure, to have longer to explore Bucharest, or to fit in with convenient travel, we can book accommodation for you in our starting Hotel in Bucharest.
Extra night in Bucharest - Single Room
Should you want to arrive a little early for your adventure, or stay on for a night after your adventure, to have longer to explore Bucharest, or to fit in with convenient travel, we can book accommodation for you in our starting Hotel in Bucharest.
Not Included
- International flights & airport taxes
- Insurance cover
- Tips (allow approx £100)
- Some meals, drinks & snacks - see itinerary for details
- Single room accommodation
Adventure Optional Addons
Maramures Wooden Churches
300yr-old UNESCO Heritage wooden churches. Merry Cemetery & stark reminder of recent history with Victims of Communism Memorial.
Single Room Supplement
Single rooms are available on a first come, first served basis. We will charge on a pro-rata basis if a single room is only available for part of the trip.
Danube Delta
Small boat delta tour to see abundant wildlife. Harbour town Tulcea and historic Costanta.
Single Room Supplement
Single rooms are available on a first come, first served basis. We will charge on a pro-rata basis if a single room is only available for part of the trip.
Contents
Accommodation
We fully believe in, and practice, Responsible Tourism and are using hotels run by locals. The accommodation on this adventure really accentuates your experience. We put time and effort into building our relationship with accommodation suppliers to ensure you have a great trip.
We choose accommodation based on cleanliness, comfort, safety, proximity to our route (to avoid unnecessary extra travel) and a warm client welcome, as well as reliability in their service to us.
Wherever we can we will choose smaller, more characterful, individual hotels, but in areas where tourism is still developing, or in remote areas (like the mountains), we may not have a wide range of options.
An aspect of our adventures is to escape the ‘trappings’ of modern Western lifestyles and to experience new things with are exciting and memorable and reflects the countries we are visiting.
The list below gives information on our first choice of accommodation for this adventure. Where hotels and refuges are fully booked or unavailable, we will use an alternative of a similar standard, and equally well situated. We will provide you with an accurate list of accommodation, with contact information to leave with relatives, prior to departure on your adventure.
Bucharest (Day 1 & 10): 4* hotel: Siqua or Moxa, depending on availability. Ensuite rooms with Wifi
Cabana Padina (Day 2 & 3): Mountain lodge at 1509m altitude. Rooms with 4, 6, 10 and 15 beds. No singles available. Linen provided. Shared bathroom facilities. Usually separate dorms for men & women.
Magura Guesthouse (Day 4-7): Pepino or Mosorel Guesthouse, depending on group size. Ensuite rooms.
Cabana Podragu (Day 8 & 9): Stone built mountain refuge at 2136m altitude. Accommodation is in a shared dormitory with 10, 16 or 20 beds. Shared toilet & bathroom facilities. Bed linen provided. Usually separate dorms for men & women but depends on numbers.
Facilities
Unless you have booked a single room (where they are available) and paid the single room supplement for those nights, you will be sharing a twin room with another client (of the same gender).
Extra nights
If you need an extra night in Bucharest before or after your adventure, then please select this option when you book the adventure (online booking). You will be able to book a twin/double room (for 2 people) or a single room (for 1 person).
Guiding & Your Group
Supporting you on your holiday will be a local, English speaking Romanian guide who is qualified to lead walkers in the mountains. They will be joined by a wildlife expert for Day 7 of the adventure, when you are tracking wild animals. Also accompanying you for the full duration of the trip, is a qualified International Mountain Leader from YellowWood Adventures. This ensures you are in excellent hands in the mountains, and that you have access to local knowledge as well as being closely supported by YellowWood.
We work closely with our Romanian Tour Operator partners both before and during your adventure to ensure that they understand your needs and the standard that YellowWood Adventures expects. We believe that it is a very important positive aspect of Responsible Tourism, to employ the expertise of local suppliers, as well as offering you a much more informative and authentic experience.
Your Group
Your group will be any number from our minimum group size of 4, up to a maximum of 12 clients. This number works really well with the ratio of guides, and ensures the optimum level of service to you during your adventure.
We get clients booking alone, as couples and in small groups of friends. If you have a group of friends or family who are interested in having their own customised trip, then please let us know and we can cost it for you.
Am I Fit Enough?
Your itinerary involves trekking over passes, summiting peaks and traversing plateaux and mountain valleys. You will encounter rough terrain, steep gradients and some scree and boulders at varying times. You will not always be walking on a defined path.
To get the most of out of this adventure, you need to be a regular walker and in good physical condition. The terrain requires that you are used to walking up and down steep gradients, and hiking for extended periods of time and on consecutive days. You will be walking at altitudes of up to 2500m.
Any hiking is undertaken at the natural pace of the group, with regular stops. Walking boots that have already been worn in are essential on this adventure. You will be carrying just a day pack with camera, spare layers and a bottle of water. All other equipment is carried on horses.
For convenience, peace of mind, and to reduce the purchase of single use plastic water bottles, we highly recommend a filtration water bottle such as Aquapure Traveller (offer available - see section on Water)
Training
As with all active holidays, the fitter you are, the more you can relax and enjoy the stunning route, and the better you can cope with challenges such as the outside elements.
You are advised to get into a regular walking & or running pattern before the trip as convenient.
Travel
Your YellowWood adventure starts at the airport in Bucharest. We understand that arriving into an unfamiliar airport can be daunting, so we aim to give you as much information here as possible to help you prepare.
Finding flights
Flights are not included in the cost of your holiday, and whilst we are happy to help advise you, responsibility for booking the correct flights rests with you. We recommend that you use a comparison tool when searching for flights, such as skyscanner or www.momondo.co.uk.
We will send you a Flight Information Sheet with further pointers on which flights to book for your adventure.
Travel by Train
Although the most cost effective way to get to Romania is to use a low cost airline, there is much joy to be found in incorporating your travel into your adventure and choosing the lower carbon footprint option of the train. You can travel direct on the train from Vienna, Budapest, Belgrade, Sofia or Thessaloniki, as well as a multitude of destinations having indirect routes.
Foreign Travel Advice
For the latest travel advice from the Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) including security and local laws, plus passport and visa information, check www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice. As the situation in our destination countries can change, please do ensure you check regularly before your adventure.
We also receive notifications direct from the FCDO so we are always aware of the ‘status’ in our destination countries.
Brexit
We have put together a journal post with a short summary of Brexit Advice for Travellers to Europe.
Airport & Arrival Information
All group specific final details on where to meet your guide will be sent to you prior to the start of your adventure. If you are arriving ahead of the group and have some time spare in Bucharest, we can send you information to help you spend your time wisely.
Flights
Otopeni Henri Coanda International Airport (Bucharest) is 16km North of Bucharest’s city centre. It is a fully functioning, bustling airport welcoming flights from Europe and further afield. Airport services include Duty Free, ATMs, Currency Exchange, Fee Wifi and a Post Office.
On arrival at the airport you will go through passport control to baggage reclaim. There is then a huge door through to Arrivals where you will be met by a driver / guide with a YellowWood Adventures sign.
Alternatives to Flying
As an alternative to flying it is of course possible to travel from the UK to Bucharest by bus or train. Both involve extending your adventure by several days as the fascinating journey route takes you through some of the highlights of Europe! The train route for example, starting in London, stops at Brussels, then Frankfurt, Budapest and then Bucharest. Total journey time (if you don't do the obvious thing of breaking it to visit some of these wonderful places!) is around 34hrs. A bus is also an option though it is 30 hours, taking you through Belgium, Austria, Hungary and finally into Romania.
Hotel Arrival
On arrival at your hotel, please head to reception where you will be greeted warmly and checked in to your room. You will meet your local guide this evening before a welcome dinner, so depending on your arrival time, take your time to relax in your room or explore. We will provide you with more details before your adventure.
Insurance
Holiday insurance is essential for all Yellow Wood Adventures. Unfortunately anyone without insurance is not able to take part in the holiday, so please make sure you arrange cover. We recommend sorting your insurance when you book so that if you have problems during the run up to your holiday, and need to cancel, you are covered.
Prior to the holiday, we will ask you to send us details of your insurer, policy number, 24 hr emergency assistance contact details and the name, address, and telephone numbers of your NOK or persons to be notified in the event of an emergency.
Your insurance needs to cover you for hiking /trekking with the following fairly standard inclusions:
- Medical Expenses
- Coronavirus linked expenses
- Repatriation
- Helicopter rescue & Air ambulance
Some clients also like to ensure they have the following optional items:
- Cancellation cover
- Loss or damage to property
Special Requirements
Please inform us of any special medical or dietary requirements at the time you book your holiday. We will ask you to complete a confidential booking form that includes questions regarding any health requirements. Please give us up to date and relevant information so we can best support you on your adventure.
Special diets
Please inform us of any special dietary requirements prior to booking. Vegetarians and Vegans will not have difficulty in Romania as in the Christian Orthodox religion there are many fasting periods when no animal products are eaten. So we would arrange this for you, or you ask for ‘mancare de post’; ie. food suitable for fasting. As might be expected, for vegan and vegetarian diets, there may be less variety of dishes available.
Coeliacs and other intolerances can also be provided for and we can communicate with you individually to prepare and make sure you have the right food throughout your trip. We may suggest bringing a few provisions with you.
Reviews
YellowWood Adventures
This is a new itinerary for YellowWood and as such, we do not yet have any reviews. We would love you to be the first to review the adventure!
Compulsory
- € currency or $US / £GB to exchange
- Passport & insurance documents
- Credit / debit card for use in ATMs
- Prescription medication
- First aid kit: paracetamol, anti-diarrhoea tables, rehydration sachets, antihistamine cream, ibuprofen cream, thermometer & blister kit (eg plasters & zinc oxide tape).
- Insect repellent
- Hand sanitiser (70% alcohol) & min of 2 reusable & 10 disposable face coverings
- Washbag & usual contents - small travel bottles please! Biodegradable multi purpose soap can be used for washing clothes & self.
- Flannel & Towel (ideally quick drying travel towel)
- 'On the go' Toilet kit: toilet roll, wet wipes & ziplock bags for carrying paper out. Biodegradable wet wipe brands: Canny Mum, Close Pop & Travel Buddy
- Sunglasses & high factor suncream
- Sun hat / baseball cap
Items for Hiking
- 20-30L daypack with waist & ideally chest strap
- Reusable filtration water bottle (approx 2 litres) eg Aqua Pure Traveller water bottle
- Waterproof stuff sacks & liners to keep kit dry.
- Waterproof walking boots - already broken in...
- Torch with spare batteries / charger
Clothing
- Socks / underwear including suitable socks for hiking
- Suitable clothes / pjs for sleeping in at night (NB some dormitory accommodation is included in this itinerary)
- Light clothes for day time - long & short sleeved tops for layering. NB technical fabrics dry quickly in hot or wet weather when hiking.
- Waterproof jacket (GoreTex or similar quality)
- Warm jacket & fleece for evenings, and at altitude. Down or synthetic insulated jacket & light fleece recommended.
- Warm hat & gloves
- Walking trousers & shorts for hiking.
- Walking sandals & / trainers
- Lightweight waterproof trousers
Optional
- Sleeping sheet for use in refuges
- Inflatable pillow, or pillowcase you can stuff with spare clothes, for comfort.
- Camera & charging cables / plug
- Phone & charging cables / plug
- 2 prong adaptor
- Purification tablets as alternative to Aquapure Traveller Water Purification Bottle
- Spare ziplock bags for dirty clothes, waterproofing phones, rubbish & general organising
- Bum bag or grab bag for essentials
- Walking poles
Need a little help?
Not sure which adventure is best for you? Dates or itinerary not quite fit?
+44 207 846 0197
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Booking Process
- Select dates & add any extras or 'Add on' adventures.
- Complete our Booking Form
- Check out our Covid-19 friendly booking conditions (FAQs) & check the box to agree to our Terms & Conditions.
- A £200 (or $250) deposit is payable if booking >30 days before your adventure. The remainder (or full payment) is due 30 days before the departure date. (We send reminders.)
- Select 'Make Booking'. You will be redirected to World Pay to make your secure payment (receipted). Your monies are held securely by the Travel Trust Association.
- Your booking will show as 'pending' in your YellowWood online account.
- You will be invited to enter booking information for all guests in your party.
- We will be in touch as soon as we are able, to confirm your booking or discuss any availability limitations.
- Do not book transport/flights until we have emailed you to confirm your booking (receipt of your booking form is not confirmation).
- Contact us with any questions about your adventure or booking.
+44 207 846 0197
Grading
To help you choose the right adventure for you, we have given each itinerary a grading that relates to the level of Walking / Trekking you will experience during the trip. This grading can be found on the Yellow map on the adventure page of the website.
All of our trips involve a level of general activity so are designed for people who are in good health, enjoy the outdoors, and have a taste for adventure and some level of fitness. As will be clear from our destinations, the climate (and altitude) may be different to that which you are used to, so please take this into consideration when choosing the most suitable holiday.
Please read our Adventure Itinerary & Essential Information for more information and don't hesitate to contact us if you would like to chat through whether you have found a suitable adventure for you.
Grade 1-3: Entry Level
You need to be in good physical health to enjoy your active holiday, but you don’t need to be an experienced hiker. These itineraries offer a mix of sightseeing and easier walking for around 2-4hrs a day, with the emphasis on sights and cultural experiences.
Walks will be well marked or on defined pathways, and often around sites of interest. The expected amount of descent/ascent will depend on the landscapes of the destination, but will not exceed 400m/day, and will often be much less. Walks are at low altitude (below 3000m).
You will not be required to carry more than a day sack with water and essentials. Ensure you are aware of the weather conditions likely in the destination you are visiting and have a pair of comfortable and worn in walking shoes/boots.
Grades 4-6: Intermediate
You need to have a good level of fitness and be a regular walker for these adventures, with ideally some trekking experience. You can expect to be walking for 3-6 hours per day, not including rest stops, normally on good trail paths but with some uneven surfaces at times.
You will not be required to carry more than a day sack. You may be walking in more challenging temperatures. You will generally be walking at low altitude (below 3000m) but may walk at altitudes up to 4000m. The amount of ascent could be up to 800m in a day but will frequently be less. You may walk on consecutive days.
Ensure you are aware of the weather conditions likely in the destination you are visiting and have suitable clothing for this adventure.
Grades 7-9: Challenging
You need to have a good level of fitness with previous experience of trekking. Extra training before your trip will ensure that you get the most out of your adventure. Areas will be remote and terrain uneven.
Expect to walk for 5 – 8 hours a day, not including breaks, with some very steep ascents and descents. You will be walking at altitude (over 3000m but not higher than 5000m).
Ensure you are aware of the weather conditions likely in the destination you are visiting and have suitable equipment/clothing for this adventure (see the packing list for your adventure).
Please check individual itineraries for details of what you will need to be carrying with you.
Enquiry Process
Get in touch via our Enquiry form to check our availability, discuss the adventure and check we can meet your needs.
- Complete our Enquiry Form; contact details, additional requirements (eg diet or health requirements) & questions you may have.
- Include as much information as you are able to, so we can help you with the detail you are looking for.
- Click on 'Send Enquiry' (receipted).
- We will be in touch as soon as we are able, to answer your questions and help you plan your adventure.
+44 207 846 0197