Trips in the Carpathians in Transylvania.

TRIPS IN THE CARPATHIANS

The Romanian Carpathians are included into the Alpino-Carpato-Hymalaian chain. They begin in the north of Bratislava and are ended on Timok Valley. The Carpathians includes also the Romanian Carpathians. They are formed from three independent groups: the Oriental Carpathians (the highest peak is Pietrosu Rodnei – 2,303m); the Meridional Carpathians (the highest peak is Moldoveanu – 2,544 m) and the Occidental Carpathians (the highest peak is Cucurbata Mare – 1,849m).

Almost all the mountainous massifs included in these three groups offer the best conditions for the active tourism : pedestrian randonee, alpinism and climbing, parachoutting, canyoning, alpine ski and ski fond, mountainbike.

Among the most important and interesting massifs are: Rodna Mountains (Pietrosu, 2,303 m), Caliman (Pietrosu, 2,100 m), Ceahlau (Ocolasu Mare, 1,907 m), Harghita (Harghita, 1,800 m), Ciucas (Ciucas, 1,964 m) in the Oriental Carpathians; Bucegi (Omu, 2,505 m), Piatra Craiului (La Om, 2,238 m), Fagaras (Moldoveanu, 2,544 m), Parang (Parangu Mare, 2,519 m), Retezat (Peleaga, 2,509 m) in the Meridional Carpathians; Bihor (Curcubata Mare, 1,849 m), Vladeasa (Vladeasa, 1,834 m), Trascau (Poienita, 1,437 m) in the Occidental Carpathians.

Usefull advices

It is higly recommanded to contact the janitor of the chalet or someone from the Mountain-rescuers, prior to begin a route.

The tourism signes in the mountainous area are separated in four categories (triangle, circle or point, ribbon and cross) and in three colours (red, yellow and blue). To be recognized, all the tourism signes have an white outline.

Try to avoid the routes without signes. If you chose such a route is better to be accompanied by someone who knows the area.

The daily duration of the trips varies from two to eight-ten hours, according to the difficulty degree of the massif and the area. The difficulty degree of these routes are also different, and it is advisable to have the newest info on the routes. Among the most dangerous and hard routes are considered those from Rodna, Bucegi, Piatra Craiului, Parang, Retezat. The routes in Ceahlau, Ciucas, Harghita, Trascau or Bihor Vladeasa are easier, but among them can be found some difficult routes.

All the chalets, the departure points (resorts, villages) have signs informing on the duration of the route and the mountain signes.

In the above-mentioned massifs you can go with no tent due to the large network of chalets or shelters, in Ceahlau, Harghita, Ciucas, Bucegi, Piatra Craiului, Fagaras, Retezat and Bihor Vladeasa. The tent is highly recommended if you chose the other mountains in order to be able to reach the most interesting routes. However, in both situations, the sleeping bag and a neopren mattress are usefull.

We suggest that when you chose the routes in the above-mentioned mountains to keep in mind the maint tourism objectives in the area :


Rodna Mountains – the area between Pietrosu Rodnei Peak and Ineu Peak, the lakes on the ridge (Pietrosu, Buhaescu, Lala Mare and Lala Mica lakes). Pay attention to the signes regarding the bad weather. No shelters are to be found on the ridge.
Calimani Mountains - Pietrosu and Iezeru Calimaniului area; 12 Apostles areas with erosion shapes. The same thing as in Rodna Mountains
Ceahlau Mountains – Dochia plateau with Toaca, Ocolasu Mic and Panaghia Peaks; Duruitoarea Waterfall, Polita cu crini Natural Reserve. In general, the routes are short with an average degree of difficulty.
Harghita Mountains – the central area of the mountains is located near Harghita Madaras chalet and resort.The routes are nice and easy.
Ciucas Mountains - Bratocei ridge with Ciucas and Tigaile Mari Peaks; Zaganul ridge with Muntele Rosu Craig. In Zaganul, narrow glades are to be found. Otherwise, the routes have a medium difficulty
Bucegi Mountains – the routes are more difficult to the east (the routes with departure from Busteni), spectacular on Urlatorilor, Jepilor, Cerbului valleys, to the north - to Bucsoiul Mare and Padina Crucii, and to the west, especially those with access from Bran to Omu Peak chalet.
Piatra Craiului Mountains – a limestone ridge oriented to the NE-SW; the ridge route from Plaiul Foii Cahalet to the ridge (La Lanturi), and the roads connecting Curmatura Chalet with the ridge. Those two segments of the ridge (the north and the south) include many exposed areas, making the climbing hard during a bad weather.
Fagaras Mountains – a ridge route (around seven days reaching all the peaks of the massif higher than 2,500 m); the galacial lakes area (Balea, Capra, Caltun, Avrig, Urlea); glacial valleys. The ridge route is very difficult due to its length and the openings. It is usefull to co-operate with the Mountain-rescue squads.
Parang Mountains – the ridge of the massif connects Jiu Valley with Capatana Mountains; the glacial lakes from Calcescu, Rosiile, Pasari, Vidal. The route is difficult due to its lenght.
Retezat Mountains - the central and northernarea with the highest peaks (Peleaga, Papusa), glacial lakes (Bucura, Ana, Lia, Florica, Viorica, Zanoaga, Galesu, Taul dintre Brazi, Taul Agatat, Taul Tapului). It is one of the most spectacular massifs in Romania, difficult due to the different altitudes, the lenghts of some routes or the bad weather.
Trascau Mountains – a spectacular massif not very difficult; the most interesting objectives are – the area of the gorge and defilees carved in limestone - Intregalde, Galda, Ramet, Turzii, and also the caves.
Bihor Mountains - Padis area with Cetatile Ponorului and Izbucul Ponor, Cetatile Radesei, Galbena and Izbucul Galbenei, Bortig Glacier, Meziad and Ursilor Caves, Focul Viu, Scarisoara glaciers etc. In general, the routes are not difficult, but pay attention to the lenght of some routes.
Vladeasa Mountains– Draganului Valley and the area neighbouring Vladeasa Peak


To cover the mountain routes the resorts from a higher altitude are used as departure points . Among the most famous are: Arieseni (Alba County), Stana de vale (Bihor County), Poiana Brasov, Predeal, (Brasov County), Semenic (Caras-Severin County), Durau (Neamt County), Busteni, Sinaia (Prahova County), Mogosa (Maramures County), Paltinis (Sibiu County), Vatra Dornei (Suceava County). A series of smaller resorts are also used for the mountain tourism - Bran (Brasov County), Sugas (Covasna County), Izvorul Muresului (Harghita County), Rausor (Hunedoara County), Cheia (Prahova County) etc.

More info on mountain tourism in Romania www.alpinet.org, www.pantravel.ro , www.greenmountainholidays.ro.