Active Trekking in Fagaras Mountains - 11 days

Starting point:

Bucharest Henri Coanda International Airport, Romania

Level of difficulty:

Challenging - Hard

Accommodation:

Hotels/ Bed and Breakfasts/Alpine Chalets/Mountain Shelters/Camping in a Tent

Description of the trip:

Fagaras Mountains can offer the most spectacular 
mountain 
views 
of
 some
 of
 Romania’s 
highest
 and
 iconic 
summits 
such as Moldoveanu Peak (2544m), Negoiu Peak (2535m) and Vistea Mare Peak (2527m). In this trip you will walk on alpine mountain paths, rocky terrain, steep climbs and uneven surfaces at an altitude ranging from 1000m to 2500m. This trip suites those that are physically active and have some background in mountainous terrain with a backpack. A head for heights is required to walk for up to 7 hours daily.

The vegetation of the Fagaras Mountains displays a pronounced zonation: the foothills are mostly covered by mixed deciduous forests, dominated by sessile oak and common oak, whilst the montane zone, between 650m and 1450m is dominated by the European beech and the Norway spruce. Mountain pine occurs at the alpine tree line and above this there is a distinct zone consisting of dense thicket of mountain pine dwarf juniper and green alder. Above this zone the mountain peaks are covered with very sparse alpine vegetation. Sharp ridges and steep rocky crags are the result of the glacier activity with a wide variety of well-preserved forms like deep U-shaped glaciers and alpine lakes. The clear water in these glacial lakes is safe to drink. Snow cover lasts from less than three months in the foothills to more than seven months in the alpine zone. There is a high risk of avalanches in the area during the times when the snow covers the mountain.

The trekking days can start the from the West border of the massif in Olt Valley to the Eastern side in Piatra Craiului. Following on the ridgeline for about 7 consecutive days (a total of 70km), the trail has a challenging level of difficulty, with some hard sections, even extreme on rainy weather. The trail is made to be crossed without any technical equipment, but for your safety it is advised to carry a harness and some rope in case you find difficult to pass the few hard sections where you need to climb up or down a crag. We can suggest some trustful professional guides who can join your trip in exchange of a daily fee.

Take enough warm clothing and rainwear as in the mountain area is typically rainy and cooler than in other parts of the country. We advise to have a backpack made of lightweight, water-repellent material to carry with you on this active trekking. If you prefer camping we advise to chose a tent that is lightweight and durable. You don’t need a sleeping bag rated for below freezing temperature in this trek, as this trip can be best organised in the summer/autumn time. A list with what equipment you will need and what we can provide is available on the Adventure Activities page.

Depending on how keen you are to learn more surviving skills in a wild environment you could choose to camp in a tent for the full period of trekking or have the option to sleep in the local mountain chalets during the trekking journey. There are options to sleep in local alpine chalets on every night of the trekking trail, but you must be aware that this will involve the physical effort to climb down an extra 800m altitude every evening and climb it up again on the next morning in order to carry on with the trail on the mountain ridgeline. We've done the trail and camped on the ridge every night to ease the trekking experience as the climbing down and up of almost 1000m altitude may be very exhausting, also can take up to an hour each way diverting you from the itinerary.

You will carry your own backpack all long way during the trekking days and you will have to carry the food provisions, your tent, sleeping mat, eating utensils (cutlery set, plate, mug).