Are there mountains in transylvania

The trail weaves north and south of an ascending ridge, from sunlight to shade, from hay meadows to wild forest, up to Magura Peak. A quick descent brings you to this dispersed typical mountain village where you'll stay in a guest house.

Overnight: Guest House In Magura. Your walk today starts by leaving Magura village and descending for half an hour to the first of the gorges. You walk through the spectacular Zarnesti Gorges, a narrow limestone passage leading up to the wooded slopes of Piatra Craiului mountains.

You then cross a patch of virgin forest opening into the meadows at the feet of the craggy eastern side of the Northern Ridge. You then ascend through green meadows to Curmatura Hut 1,m for around two hours. This is a lovely hut, nicely decorated inside and with a terrace with a great view of surrounding meadows and soaring limestone cliffs.

After a stop for tea at the Curmatura Hut and a well-earned rest, you continue to climb Piatra Mica Peak at 1,m, m above the hut. This is initially on a good trail to a viewpoint just above the Crapauturii saddle, and then there is a steeper rocky section which involves a short scramble with a fixed chain for assistance.

The summit is marked by a giant metal cross and there are fabulous views from here. It's a fine place to stop for lunch, weather permitting. It takes about hours to reach here from Magura. You then have a fairly steep, rocky descent through the forest for m until you reach Zanoaga Meadow and its old sheepfold. A steep, winding descent through the woods brings you back to the start of the gorges. You then have a short sting in the tail - a half an hour ascent to take you back to the start of your walk at Magura.

This morning you will drive to Balea Lake, a popular spot for hikers with stunning mountain scenery. In the winter it becomes a ski resort for expert skiers and snowboarders with off-piste skiing on the longest slope in the Carpathians. It's accessible by road in summer and by cable car in the winter. Here you are in the extremely impressive and dramatic Fagaras Mountains, the highest range in the Southern Carpathians.

Romania's highest mountain here is Moldoveanu Peak at 2, although this won't be your objective today. Instead, in the afternoon, you will ascend a spectacular 2,m rocky peak called Vanatarea lui Buteanu. The scenery is craggy and impressive here and there is an extensive rocky ridge.

You descend on a well-worn trail towards Balea Lake where you will stay at the simple Cabana Paltinu hotel. Overnight: Cabana Paltinu, Lake Balea. After breakfast you climb to Capra Saddle and then Iezerul Caprei Peak, walking a circuit of the upper glacial circ of Balea. You complete the tour with wonderful views of Wallachia to the south and Transylvania to the north, following the main ridge of Fagaras massif up to Paltinu peak and then down Doamna Saddle.

Here you start a 1,m descent to the tranquil Doamna Valley. Once you reach the treeline you make a short climb to swap to Balea Valley where the transport is waiting to take you to Sibiu. Those decades took their toll on Transylvania and the country, and as nearby European countries prospered, Romania stagnated. Romania joined the European Union in , and there has been some mixed progress on the political and economic fronts. But still, Transylvanian villages, as in the past, are mostly about agriculture, with many long-held local traditions such as harvest festivals and balls remaining strong.

Meanwhile, tourism to Transylvania is on the rise. It is far cheaper to travel to and around the region than other European destinations, and there is much to discover. Here is some local wisdom to get you started, from picking a strategic base to the best way to experience that superlative stew, gulyas.

Fly into Cluj-Napoca. From there, travel to the rest of Transylvania by bus, train, or car. Also, there are bears. More on that later. Transylvania was a distinct territory under various states of rule, including being a vassal state of the Ottoman Empire until the Austro-Hungarian compromise of , when it was incorporated into the Kingdom of Hungary in the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

The Kingdom of Hungary kept just 28 percent of its lands, with the rest were divided among its newly independent neighboring countries: Romania, Czechoslovakia, Slovenia, Serbia, Ukraine, Austria, and Croatia.

But of two things we are fairly certain—that it is Transylvanian, and that it is delicious. Double-check your visa needs. Romania, along with Bulgaria, joined the European Union in , but it is not yet part of the Schengen Area —the group of 26 EU states that allow free movement between their borders and visa-less travel for EU citizens, and with a Shengen Area visa for others—although it is expected to join soon. EU citizens can enter and exit Romania with their passport or national identity card without a visa.

Citizens of the U. Schengen citizens do not need a tourist visa. Travelers from other countries need to apply for a tourist visa in advance. Check your status here. Look beyond Dracula. If you want to go all-in on the vampire theme, go nuts and spend Halloween here—the only time of the year when the castle is open at night.

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Read more. Book Now. Accommodation: 3-star hotel Casa Wagner or similar. Day 3: Bran — Moieciu de Sus 18 km After breakfast, walk to the shepherd village of Simon, known for its special smoked cheese.

Day 8: Departure After breakfast, take the train to Bucharest or book your private transfer directly to the Bucharest airport. When to go This trip is available from middle May until early October. Click to view travel options By plane Our recommended airport for this tour is Bucharest. By train or bus. Excluded Airfare and connecting land transfers Lunches, 5 dinners, drinks and snacks Travel insurance required — get a quote online Personal expenses Local tourist taxes and entry fees payable on-site Any items not explicitly listed as included.

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