Summits of the Transylvanian Alps

Our family-run guesthouse, and home for most of the week, is in the quaint village of Magura within Piatra Craiului National Park. It is approximately 105mi (170km) from Bucharest Airport and takes around 3hr 30min to reach by road. Therefore, we highly recommend you join the group transfer – speak to your sales representative to find out the transfer times. Due to the late arrival of the group transfer, dinner tonight is a light snack. Want more time in Bucharest? Secure extra nights through your sales representative.

Say hello to your tour leader and fellow travellers this morning, when we gather as a group to get to know each other and learn more about the adventures ahead. Over the next two days we tackle the Ascutit Peak Trail, a circular hike taking in some of the major peaks in Piatra Craiului National Park. Pack your overnight bag before we leave, which should include the essentials, such as a spare T-shirt, fleece, toiletries and a small towel. We start the hike from the front door of our guesthouse, descending to Botorog Fountain. From here, we hike mainly through forests and alpine meadows to the summit of Piatra Mica (5,958ft/1,816m), where we can take a moment to enjoy 360-degree views over unbroken forests towards Brasov. We then descend through rocky patches and scree, sometimes using ropes, to Cabana Curmatura, our home for tonight. Staying here gives us more time for tomorrow’s hike, a longer day in which we complete the trail and tackle Ascutit.

Leaving our mountain cabin after breakfast, we start our hike to the summit of Turnu Peak. It takes us through forest to a viewpoint, after which the landscape becomes rocky – during the ascent, there are some sections in which we need to scramble. There are ropes to help our climb on the first part of the rocky trail. From the top, we follow the ridge to the top of Ascutit (6,998ft/2,133m). We then descend back down to Cabana Curmatura following a different route, after which we cut through forests and across pastures to Magura.

We summit La Om today, the highest mountain in the national park at 7,343ft (2,238m). We start with a one-hour drive to Plaiul Foii. From here, we take the Deubel trail, hiking through meadows and forest up to an area of rocks and scree. From this rocky section to the peak, the trail has very exposed parts and involves lots of scrambling. However, there are several cables to secure the trail! From the top, we descend through Alpine meadows (with some rocky sections) to Grind shelter. It’s then to La Table, a meeting point for multiple trails, before hiking through forest to the village of Pestera and continuing to Magura. Please note: This trail can only be attempted in dry weather. If it rains, the tour leader provides an alternative option.

We take a one-hour drive this morning to the foot of Piatra Mare, a 6,181ft (1,884m) mountain that we can attempt to summit today. Our hike up takes us on gravel paths and forest lanes. It also takes us through the Seven Ladders Canyon, a spectacular route along a rocky path, past waterfalls, up metal ladders, and within the steep walls of the gorge. From the top of Piatra Mare, we head back to our start point on a different route through forest.

Today, we drive (one hour) to our start point, Cabana Gura Diham, on the east side of Bucegi mountain. From here, we follow a marked trail through the forests until we reach Poiana Pichetul Rosu, a meadow where multiple trails unite. Then follow the Take Ionescu Trail to Cabana Malaiesti. Our accommodation for the night has a scenic spot in the Malaiesti Valley, allowing us to relax and enjoy the wild beauty of Romania before we tackle Omu Peak tomorrow.

We start today’s hike from Cabana Malaiesti, with the goal of standing on top of Omu Peak, one of the highest mountains in Romania at 8,218ft (2,505m). The route first cuts through the Malaiesti Valley, before we take the Brana Caprelor (Goats’ Ledge), a narrow path clinging to the seemingly vertical wall of Bucsoiu mountain. After summiting Bucsoiu, we take the Bucsoiu Ridge to Omu Peak. From the top, we descend through Alpine meadows (with some rocky parts) and forest to the village of Simon, where we’re met by our transfer, and return to Magura.