- Clear sustainable travel policy
- Social / Environmental Impact
- Tourism Dispersal
- Behavioral Awareness Education
- Small Group Travel
- Listen to Community Feedback
Romania’s breathtaking landscapes await you on this 8-day self-guided walking trip through the Carpathian Mountains. Reconnect with nature and encounter rare local flora and fauna. Trek to see gorges, clearings, and woods. A visit to “Dracula’s Castle”, laden with a long and storied past, also adds to the uniqueness of this trip.
Walking around traditional villages, where time seems to have stopped, and exploring the 14th-century Bran Castle, the castle that inspired the story of Dracula, you will go back in time and learn about Romania’s rich past. Multiple hikes will unveil the natural beauty of this pastoral country, present in its mountains, gorges, meadows, and cliffs.
Highlights:
Your trip will be an immersive cultural experience emphasizing both the nature and food of Romania. Relish an exquisite home-cooked soup and pie at the authentic mountain hut of Curmatura. Pass through villages boasting a long-standing tradition of cheese making (and if you encounter shepherds, ask them to try their cheese!) Stay in a guesthouse and enjoy the opportunity to experience local traditions up close.
This self-guided walking holiday through the Carpathian Mountains is perfect for independent travelers. If you’d like to have a guide or join a small group of other travelers, check out our Related Trips below.
Related Trips:
[8 days] Carpathian Mountains, Villages, & Castles
[9 days] Villages of Bucovina & Maramures
Seasonal Notes:
The country’s rich history and stunning landscapes are much enjoyed if traveling in spring and summer. Mild temperatures allow pleasant walks around the villages and hikes along breathtaking settings.
This trip is available from April to October. Sometimes snow lingers through April or May, and it can arrive as early as October. This may affect the last day of hiking on this itinerary. If that is the case, we will replace this activity with a transfer to Brasov for an overnight in the city.
Day 1: Bucharest [Romania] (arrival day)
Day 2: Piatra Craiului Mountains (~5.5 hours | 15 km | ~9 miles | +800 meter elevation gain | -800 meter elevation descent)
Day 3: Walk to Bran Castle (~4.5 hours | 12 km | ~7 miles | +300m | -600m)
Day 4: Piatra Craiului National Park (~5.5 hours | 16 km | ~10 miles | +750m | -750m)
Day 5: Bucegi Mountains (~5.5 hours | 16 km | ~10 miles | +750m | -750m)
Day 6: Trek to Strunga Wall (~6h | 18km | ~11 miles | +900m | -900m)
Day 7: Hike to Gutanu Clearing (~6h | 18 km | ~11 miles | +750m | -850m)
Day 8: End of trip in Bucharest (departure day)
We are a certified partner of the Association of Ecotourism in Romania. Our philosophy has always been to encourage traveling as much as possible by non-motorized means and mostly off the beaten path, to try and avoid the mainstream and bring out the authenticity.
We constantly highlight the need for recycling, the use of biodegradable or reusable objects (food boxes, water bottles, etc.), and local food supply in particular.
This walking tour is a low-carbon impact activity that connects you with our nature.
You will take a train from Bucharest to get closer to your starting point for the walk.
All our partners are Romanians who work independently for the development of their country, the type of circuit that we carry gives work on average to about fifteen local providers in the region. We help you travel on less-popular roads where your presence will support local communities more.
We are committed to promoting and explaining the cultural and artisanal productions of the regions we visit. Furthermore, we only work with independent artisans & craftsmen whose respect for traditional know-how is wildly recognized.
Accommodations: You'll be staying primarily in guesthouses run by local families we've worked with for years, and eating homemade dishes. Tourism truly helps their families and communities to thrive.
Use the Google map to orient yourself about where in the world this trip is. The location indicates the starting point for this trip.
A specific route map is included in the downloadable detailed itinerary.
Prices exclude flights to/from the destination.
See the full list of price inclusions and exclusions in the downloadable detailed itinerary.
Optional Add-ons:
If you're ready to book this trip, or if you still have some questions, contact us to let us know!
To reserve your spot on a tour, a non-refundable deposit equal to 30% of the trip price will be required if the reservation takes place more than 60 days before the departure. The balance must be paid two months before the beginning of the holiday.
If the reservation takes place less than 60 days before departure, we require the total amount of the holiday.
In case of cancellation on your part, the cancellation fee will be kept as followed:
This trip has a variable start date, so you can plan a departure date that suits you.
Be sure you have traveler's insurance.
Please be fully vaccinated and boosted before traveling. You may also need proof of a negative Covid test before arrival to the country. Keep a mask and hand sanitizer with you at all times.
Special precautions:
Clients have their separate rooms with bathrooms and eat at a safe distance. Usually, the guesthouses we work with are small and there aren’t many people there at the same time. Of course, there’s hand sanitizer available and masks must be worn at all times while inside.
Q: What does the Physical Rating of "Average" mean?
A: A medium level of fitness is required, with the longest walking day lasting up to 6 hours.
Q: What do I need to bring?
A: Please bring the following for your hiking trip:
Q: What about my luggage?
A: Luggage will be transferred from one guest house to the other.
Q: What is a Self-Guided trip?
A: Read more about Self-Guided trips.
Q: What are the accommodations like?
A: Accommodations include 7 nights in guest houses run by local families in traditional mountain villages. Bathrooms are private unless there's an exceptional case needed for two rooms to share one bathroom based on group size and guest house availability.
Q: Can I do this trip as a solo traveler?
A: It is only available for very experienced hikers. Contact us for more information.