Hiking in the Carpathian Mountains of Romania - self-guided

Day 1Arrival Romania

Upon arrival at the Airport in Bucharest, you will be met by a local representative who will offer a brief introduction to the trip, as well as go through practical information. Here you will also receive maps and route descriptions for the hikes over the next few days. Lunch on your own (not included).

Thereafter, the trip continues northwards toward the mountains. The drive goes through the scenery of the Rucăr–Bran Valley, an area with views of both the Piatra Craiului and Bucegi mountains. Expect the transfer to the Peștera–Măgura area to take approx. 3 h 30 min.

Your first overnight stay is at a 3*** mountain lodge in the Peștera–Măgura area, idyllically located at the foot of Piatra Craiului. From here, you have great views of the Bucegi massif on the other side of the valley.

Dinner in the evening is included, drinks are at your own expense.

Day 2First Hiking Day in Piatra Craiului

Today a great introduction to the Piatra Craiului mountains awaits. The hike serves as a warm-up for the days to come – or slightly more than that, if you choose the steeper option up to Piatra Mică.

Transfer to the starting point at Botorog Spring.
Hiking route: Botorog Spring – Zănoaga Clearing – Curmătura Hut – Vlădușca Valley – Peștera–Măgura

The name Piatra Craiului means “The King's Cliffs”, providing a good indication of what awaits higher up in the mountains. On today's stage, you first walk through forest and open meadows, where the dramatic mountain ridge above you is still well hidden.

After about two hours, you reach the Curmătura hut, beautifully situated below the impressive mountain ridge. From here, the hike continues through varied terrain before you return to your accommodation in the Peștera–Măgura area.

If you have more energy after the hike, you can optionally also take a short excursion to one of the area's most famous sights: Bran Castle, often associated with the story of Dracula. The visit takes about one hour, and the drive there and back is about half an hour each way. You arrange any transfer and admission tickets on your own (not included).

Lunch is self-made, a packed lunch brought from the accommodation (included).

Dinner in the evening is included, drinks are at your own expense.

Day 3To the Summit of La Om in Piatra Craiului

Today's hike takes you straight into the heart of the Piatra Craiului massif. The day starts gently through forest and open clearings before you gradually approach the impressive ridge.
Hiking route: Peștera–Măgura – Joaca Pass – La Table – Grind I Shelter – Grind II Shelter – La Om Peak – Grind I Shelter – La Table – Joaca Pass – Peștera–Măgura

First, you walk up towards the Joaca Pass and onwards to the area known as La Table, where you find the last water source before the summit. From here, the steady climb towards the high mountains begins. The path is clear and relatively easy to follow, but some sections can be steep and covered with gravel and loose stones.

After about 4–5 hours of hiking, you reach the highest point of the trip: La Om (2238 m) – the highest peak in Piatra Craiului. Right nearby is also the Grind II emergency shelter.

The reward at the summit is the view. On clear days you can see mountain ranges far beyond the horizon – including Făgăraș, Iezer–Păpușa, Bucegi, Postăvaru, and Leaota.

After a nice break at the top, you follow the same route back down to your accommodation in the Peștera–Măgura area.

Lunch is self-made, a packed lunch brought from the accommodation (included).

Dinner in the evening is included, drinks are at your own expense.

Day 4From Piatra Craiului to the Bucegi Mountains

Hiking route: Moieciu de Sus – Bângăleasa Valley – Bucșa Peak – Strungulița Pass – Strunga Pass – Colții Țapului Peak – Bătrâna Peak – Doamnele Valley – Padina

Transfer to the starting point in Moieciu de Sus. Luggage is transported to the next accommodation in Padina.

The hike starts gently along a gravel road up through the Bângăleasa Valley. After about an hour of hiking, the climb begins in earnest, and you go steadily upwards for about two hours until you reach the tree line and Bucșa Peak.

From here, you follow a rounded and airy mountain ridge with great views towards the impressive Strunga wall. After about an hour you reach Strunga Pass, via the higher Strungulița Pass.

Next follows a short, steeper climb before you arrive at Colții Țapului Peak. Here you actually stand on top of the rock face you previously saw from Bucșa – with a dramatic drop of about 200 meters directly below you. The hike continues with another climb and descent to Bătrâna Peak, and the mountain hut of the same name. From here, the path descends through the beautiful Doamnele Valley, featuring small waterfalls and lovely viewpoints, before you finally arrive at your accommodation in the Padina area.

Lunch is self-made, a packed lunch brought from the accommodation (included).

Dinner in the evening is included, drinks are at your own expense.

Day 5To the Summit of Omu

Today, one of the highlights of the trip is on the agenda. Although the stage is neither particularly long nor technically difficult, it takes you up to one of the highest peaks in the Romanian Carpathians.

Hiking route: Padina – Doamnele Foothill – Doamnele Peak – Omu Peak – Obârșia Pass – Ialomița Valley – Padina

The day starts with a gentle hike up along the road until you pass the tree line. From here, you follow the path further towards the foot of the Doamnele ridge, about an hour and a half from the accommodation. Then the climb begins in earnest. The path goes relatively steeply up towards Doamnele Peak, a stage that usually takes around three hours. From the top, you continue towards today's target – Omu Peak.

From Doamnele, it takes you about 1–1.5 hours to reach the summit. Along the way, you can also choose a minor detour via Bucura-Dumbravă Peak, also known as Ocolit – “the one usually avoided”. This peak is actually located a few meters higher than the base of Omu itself.

Omu (2507 m) is one of the most famous peaks in the Bucegi mountains, and the view from here is impressive.

After a well-deserved break, the hike goes back down via the Obârșia Pass and further down along the Ialomița Valley, before returning to your accommodation in the Padina area.

Lunch is self-made, a packed lunch brought from the accommodation (included).

Dinner in the evening is included, drinks are at your own expense.

Day 6Departure

After several days of wonderful hikes in the Carpathians, the trip has come to an end. You have walked through dramatic mountain landscapes, green valleys, and open high mountain areas – and hopefully experienced both the views and the tranquility that make this region so special.

After breakfast, the trip goes back to Bucharest (OTP airport), a drive of about three hours.

We hope you return home with many wonderful memories – and perhaps already begin thinking about your next mountain trip.

Lunch and Dinner on your own (not included).

The program is preliminary, changes may occur. Expa Travel AS reserves the right to make corrections for typing errors/currency changes.