Compare 3 Mountains, 4 Adventures by Alpine Adventure Romania vs Halloween in Transylvania (Southbound) by Intrepid Travel

Day 1

We take the highway towards Pitesti and then Curtea de Arges lovely city. In half an hour we will be then at the beginning of the Transfagarasan road. We will leave the car at a bend in the road and start our hiking tour. We slowly gain height following the river until the trail forces us to the steep banks and then it all starts: the first waterfalls and ladders and bridges come into view. Be prepared with the camera while paying attention where you put your feet on. You will want to take pictures at every corner.

And it goes like this, for about more than an hour. We might even need to pass through the water at some points along the route.

Finally, we feel sorry for actually finishing the canyon route. The remaining route takes us back in an arch to the most impressive dam lake. We must stop to see it, the vertical drop is huge. Then, by following the road, we descend to the cars.

We head then north following the “most beautiful road in the world”. We will spend the night at one of the guesthouses on this road.

Day 2

In the morning, as early as we can but no later than 8.00, we continue on this road (opened only from June to September) getting dizzy from time to time because of the sudden steep bends of the road and passing through 1Km tunnel we end up on the North side of the mountain at Balea Glacier Lake. Now you should be cold and the only way to warm up is to start the hike.

We are now in Fagaras. This is the biggest, highest and probably most sought mountain massif in Romania in the summer months, while in winter it becomes a challenge. The range it is not called for nothing the Transylvanian Alps. And we are going to have a go for its second highest peak, Negoiu – 2535, following the ridge trail.

The first hour is tough. The second is a pleasure following the ridge. The end of the third one will find us having a short meal just beside Caltun Glacier Lake. At this point Negoiu is overpowering us and you must wonder which the way through these vertical walls is. But some chimneys, one of them called the Devil Chimney, solve the problem for us. In five hours since we started we should be breathless both because of the effort and of the view from the peak of Negoiu, the last one being simply spectacular in all directions.

We return to Balea on slightly different route which follows a trail underneath the ridgeline.

We will stay at the same guesthouse, as in the previous evening.

Day 3

Again, we need to be on our way by 8.00 in the morning. But this time to change the mountain after a two hour and a half driving, back the way we came and then from Curtea de Arges to Campulung Muscel, the first capital of the medieval Romania. Nothing but an old church will remind of this though.

We start our horseback riding day in the small village of Namaiesti. The horses are prepared and off we go. All the time, you will be guided by locals who know what is doing. Actually, the horses are so well taught that you do not have to do too much, except enjoy the exercise. Yes, even if you are a total beginner.

The rural road that we take first will turn into a gravel road which winds on top of the hill with beautiful vistas all around.

The target for the day is a shepherd house from where you get to almost touch Iezer Mountains. Piatra Craiului is also not far away, but it will have to wait for another day. At the shepherd house, a local cooked late lunch is expecting you, polenta, cheese and roasted sheep.

After 5 hours of horseback riding we return in Campulung in spend the night in one of the most beautiful historical houses of the city.

Day 4

We split day 2 in 2:

The first half of the day we will do some sport climbing in the local crags near Dambovicioara village. The crags we know match all levels of skills and confidence. You may want to come to learn the sport as a beginner or to practice it using a top rope for more confidence or you may want to lead some climbs. We will bring the full gear you need for the climbing and we will set prepare the climbing routes. We will discuss first about the equipment, about techniques, about safety rules, etc. Then you climb, we belay.

The second half of the day we have in mind something truly special: a series of abseils through a wonderful canyon, called Oratii. If you did not abseil before, do not be fearful! We will ensure that everything goes in total safety going through the procedure with you and checking that all is done correctly. By the way, just relax yourself, the abseils are not vertical. And the canyon itself worth the entire experience. First, we need to hike up about forty minutes until we reach the entrance to the river bed which dug the canyon. We follow the river bed and in less than 30 minutes we will reach the first abseiling station. Then the fun starts.

For the night we will stay in Dambovicioara village.

Day 5

We start early in the morning, at 8.00 AM and drive to the Brusturet motel. It is where we leave the car(s) and start hiking. In less than an hour the entire ridge comes into view. From a shepherd house the real effort starts because the trail gets steeper and aims directly for the beginning of the ridge. We meet the ridge in about 2 to 3 hours after the beginning of the hike. This is where the word amazing fits perfectly and it will stay like this for all the time we will be on the ridge because of the ridge itself and because of the view the surrounding mountains offer. And this will be for four hours.

The ridge trail is a demanding one requiring constant focus and from time to time easy scrambling. The exposure is high and the drops are huge. We finally reach the mid-section of the mountain ridge near Grind shelter and on the highest peak of the mountain (Piscul Baciului – 2238m).

We head directly down from the peak and in about three hours we will back at the car(s) tired for sure but still under the spell of Piatra Craiului.

Day 6

First, we reach Zarnesti, a small town situated just beneath the spectacular mountain of Piatra Craiului. From there we continue along a 10 km country road up to the Magura village. We spot a place to leave the car(s) and, after preparing ourselves, we start biking. The view is magnificent and we will have it all day long. Our intention is to cross the Magura village and reach Pestera village.

This is where we leave our bikes and pay a visit to the known cave. We must, because the Romanian name of the village means exactly this – the Cave.

The point of a mountain bike tour is not necessarily to make a sport event out of it but to cover long distances while making sport as well as enjoying the landscape. This is exactly what we will do. You may want to stop often to look at the amazing views as well as to the beautiful old mountain houses which are framed by the surrounding mountains. This is where rural landscape blends most with the natural landscape.

We end the mountain biking session when you feel like ending it or there is no more daylight to see the road ahead of us.

On the way back we will stop for a fully deserved dinner. We estimate to arrive in Bucharest by 22.00, depending on the traffic.

Day 1 Cluj Napoca

Bună Ziua! Welcome to Cluj Napoca, the unofficial capital of Romania’s Transylvania region. After your evening welcome meeting, you might like to explore the 2000-year-old city, hit up the famous Piezisa Street for a drink, or head out for dinner with your group to get a taste of Romania’s unique cuisine.

Day 2 Turda Salt Mines / Cluj Napoca

In the morning, visit the Turda Salt Mines, a former salt mine converted into an underground amusement park, complete with ferries wheel. You can even hire a row boat and play bowling. There is also a fascinating museum showcasing the history of salt mining in the region. Salt is a common protective tool against all sorts of evil beings; legend has it that if you pour an unbroken line of salt across the entranceways to your house, vampires and demons won’t be able to get in. After your salt mine visit, return to Cluj for a city tour with a local guide. The remainder of the day is yours to explore. In the evening, dress up for a spooky Halloween party with your group.

Day 3 Sighisoara

Travel by train through pastoral fields and untouched Saxon towns to the 12th-century town of Sighisoara (approximately 3.5 hours). Medieval Sighisoara is likely to seduce visitors more than any other place in Romania. The town is famed as the birthplace of Vlad Dracul III, better known as Vlad the Impaler, the ruler of Walachia province from 1456 to 1462 and whose name was the inspiration for Bram Stoker’s iconic Count Dracula. Walking through the town is like taking a trip back in time to the medieval age, and it’s easy to image streets crowded with vampires, evil counts, wolves, peasants riding through the untamed countryside on horse-drawn carts and crooked old men doddering along the narrow streets. Head out with your leader for a quick orientation walk, then spend the rest of your day exploring in your own time.

Day 4 Sighisoara / Viscri / Brasov

After a free morning in Sighisoara, travel to Viscri, less than an hour away (but it’ll feel like you’re entering another world). The small Transylvanian village of Viscri was originally inhabited by Saxons from the Luxembourg area, and the whole scene is picture-postcard rural. This idyllic village of red tiled roofs is a World Heritage site, virtually unchanged for 900 years. After a home cooked lunch at the house of a local family you’ll visit the town's fortified church (thought to be the oldest in Transylvania), and learn about the Sock Project, which supports the local Roma community. Continue on to the 13th-century city of Brasov in the afternoon. Also known by its German name of Kronstadt, this town flanked by mountains and city walls was once a major medieval trading centre.

Day 5 Bran Castle / Brasov

No trip to Romania would be complete without a visit to the famous Bran Castle. The castle was built by the Saxons in 1382 to defend the Bran pass against the invading Turks. With its fairy-tale turrets and whitewashed walls, it's far from menacing and spooky, but is undeniably impressive, perched on a high cliff top and surrounded by pine trees. Afterwards, return to Brasov and enjoy a guided walk around town, checking out the ornate churches, townhouses, old city walls, and squares surrounded by gingerbread-roofed merchants' houses. Visit Brasov's main attraction, the gothic Black Church (Biserica Neagra), which took its name from its blackened appearance after a fire in 1689.

Day 6 Bucharest

This morning, travel by train to Bucharest. Often called the 'Little Paris of the Balkans', Romania's capital is known for its Belle Epoch architecture, thumping nightlife and communist sites. Meet your local guide for a private tour of the city, starting with the recently restored old town of Bucharest, then some of the more significant sites of the revolution of 1989, which culminated in the ousting and execution of communist leader Ceausescu, and the end of Romania's 42-year communist rule. Bucharest likes big things – the tour will also stop by the huge Piata Unirii, one of Europe's largest squares, and continue on to the ‘Ceausima’, Bucharest's 12-storey Palace of Parliament. The palace is the second largest building in the world (after the Pentagon). The former dictator ordered the construction of this monster, a building of staggering scale and opulence that includes 1,100 rooms and 4,500 chandeliers.

Day 7 Bucharest

Your Halloween tour ends today. There are no activities planned for the final day and you can depart your accommodation at any time. If you want to stay longer in Bucharest please check about additional accommodation when you make your booking.