Explore the Carpathians' Gate - self guided tour

Accommodation and dinner at a 3* local guesthouse for 2 nights. Meet our guide who provide you all the info about the tour.

From the guesthouse you continue the trek to the next mountain village Pestera, about 2 km. You reach to a junction and from here you turn to the right and continue the trekking to (ur on the red cross sign, about 1 – 1 ½ hour, to the "La table" point (this is a cross point where 8 trekking routes meet). From here you follow the same sign, red cross, follow nice and large meadows, hardwood and pine forest to the bottom of the Piatra Craiului Mountain ("Rock of the King" or "King's Stone") for about 30 minutes. The road now is a forest one. You reach to a junction in about 30 minutes, you turn to the left and follow the forest road that climbs into the forest. After 20 minutes with no signs, you see 2 signs, red and yellow triangle which go to the Curmatura chalet (about 1 hour). So, from the guesthouse to Curmatura chalet you supposed to walk between 3 and 4 hours on a medium route. You can have lunch to the chalet and then you continue the trek to Zarnesti town, the main gate to the National Park, following the yellow dot (2 hours of descending – easy). At some point you reach to a small metal bridge (on your right), you cross the spring and walk up about 30  minutes to the guesthouse in Magura village. (6-7 hours, medium effort, uphill/downhill walk: 500 m/ 700 m, appr. 16 km).

Breakfast. Walk crossing the most authentic and beautiful mountain villages from the bottom of the National Park Piatra Craiului - Magura - Pestera - Sirnea (the first touristic village of Romania) - Fundata, meeting the locals (4-6 hours; easy to medium, uphill/ downhill walk: 200 m/ 200 m). At the end of the tour you walk about 1.500 m on national road to the guesthouse (no other way). Accommodation and dinner at a 3* guesthouse for 3 nights.

About Sirnea village: in order to develop the village and attract as many tourists as possible, Professor Nicolae Fruntes initiated two feasts: "The measure of milk and the meeting of the village sons" held every June and "Winter at Sirnea", aimed at presenting the customs of the villagers, both during summer and winter. Launched in 1969, the feast "Winter at Sirnea" entails a skiing race with torches in hands, sleigh rides and parties organized at the Cultural Centre.

 Breakfast. Have an enjoyable walk one of the ecotrails from Fundata village (3 - 4 hours, easy to medium, uphill/downhill walk: 300 m/300 m).

Surrounded by the Bucegi Mountains and the Piatra Craiului Mountains, Fundata's altitude of 1360 m makes it the highest commune in Romania. In August 1916, when troops from the Romanian Old Kingdom entered Austria-Hungary, the first village they took was Fundata, also capturing their first prisoners there and suffering their first battle death.

Breakfast. Head to Moieciu de Sus mountain village following one of the most beautiful ecotrail from this area, crossing meadows separated by fences, with breathtaking views over the Bucegi Natural Park. The walking route is starting from the guesthouse crossing Fundata village and reaching nearby the local church. From here you follow one of the ecotrail (T3) down to center of Moieciu de Sus village. Continue on the ecotrail T8, which starts from the Community Center, by a steep climb. The climb becomes smoother and reaches on a small plateau where is a rocky formation called "The Top of the Church" - "Varful Bisericutei". All the way you have in front of you the astonishing views over the Bucegi Natural Park. If you turn back, you see all the main ridge of Piatra Craiului National Park (4-5 hours, medium effort, uphill/downhill walk: 400 m/ 400 m, appr. 14 km). Transfer back to the guesthouse in Fundata (about 40 minutes).

Moeciu de Sus is located 35 km from Brasov, in the beautiful and wild Bucegi mountain area, at the edge of the Bucegi National Park. The village is appreciated for its amazing nature and its tradition in preparing delicious cheeses and sheep wool products.

Breakfast. Transfer from the guesthouse to the starting point of the trekking tour in Bucegi Natural Park (about 40 minutes of driving). Follow the yellow triangle sign, on a wide forest road, for about 1 – 1 ½ hour. After that you cross a small river and start to climb a steep part, with forest, for about 20 minutes, and you reach in a nice meadow. Stop for a rest and then continue the route, now much easier, till in a big meadow with a former sheep farm on the right side. Optional: from this point in about 1 hour, round trip, you can visit, following the red cross sign, the "Devil mill waterfall". Back in the meadow you follow the metal poles with blue triangle sign, crossing the meadow from left to the right, in diagonal, uphill. You go mainly up from here and in about 1 hour you reach to a forest road and then to a sheep farm. You can make a stop and taste the cheese made here (from June to September) for a small extra cost or cigarettes. From the sheep farm you follow the red triangle sign from the rocks or metal poles. At some point, after 1 km from the sheep farm, you see a big rock with the sign on it. You follow the sign, pass nearby a former Hunting house, now in ruin, and in about 1-1 ½ hours you reach to the main forest road, for the meeting point. Transfer to Brasov city (about 40 minutes). (5-6 hours, medium effort, uphill/downhill walk: 800 m/ 800 m, appr. 14 km). Today, in the morning, you can visit Bran Castle (Monday is opened at 12:00). Accommodation at a 3* hotel/guesthouse located nearby the city center for 2 nights.

Breakfast. Short transfer Brasov to starting point the last trekking day: Piatra Mare Mountain (10 km). Head to the Seven Ladders Canyon (Canionul Sapte Scari) - an interesting karstic phenomenon - in the Piatra Mare range, part of the Southern Carpathian Mountains. Once there was a cave here, whose roof collapsed to show the steep and close walls of the canyon. This stunning gorge is famed for its steep ladders that take you up the rock walls past a series of rushing waterfalls. On arrival, set off along meadow and forest paths, reaching the canyon after a 45-minute hike. Head inside, and spend the next 15 minutes or so crossing the bridges and climbing each of the near-vertical metal ladders that make up the gorge. As you go, enjoy thrilling close-up views of the tumbling waters and the towering rock walls around you. After your trek, choose between a 1.5-hour return route or a longer 2 to 3 hour trail, walking back through forests and glades to your meeting point. After your hike, your tour ends back at your Brasov hotel.

Breakfast. Transfer to the Bucharest airport (about 3 hours) or to the Brasov airport (about 20-30 minutes).