Transfagarasan Highway

Your journey starts in the early morning in Bucharest, from where you will head northwards passing by the former capital of the medieval Wallachian principality, Curtea de Arges. Climb your way toward the Carpathian Mountains through the Transfagarasan Road and stop by to admire the Vidraru Dam, one of the largest in Romania, followed by a memorable ride along the picturesque Transfagarasan, declared by Top Gear as the best road in the world. Be ready as bears tend to join our tour but only from the side of the road. Built high up in the Fagaras Mountains, this road stretches for 100 km, offering breathtaking views. You can make stops on the way to admire the scenery, take photos, and simply enjoy the strong and healthy mountain air before heading back to Bucharest, which you will reach in the evening. Pass Capra Waterfall and reach the very top at Balea Lake where you will enjoy free time and perfect picture views. Be ready as bears tend to join the side of the road.

Join us for an unforgettable journey through Romania’s historic and natural wonders in the beautiful Făgăraș Mountains. Begin your day with a visit to the architectural jewel of Curtea de Argeș. This 16th-century monastery is famed for its intricate stonework and fascinating legends. Discover the history and beauty of this spiritual site, the resting place of Romanian royalty, nestled in a serene setting. Continue your adventure with a stop to see (from outside) the imposing Poenari Fortress, an ancient stronghold dramatically perched on a cliffside. Although currently under renovation, you’ll get impressive views from below and learn about its history as one of the real-life strongholds of Vlad the Impaler, the inspiration for Dracula. Next, marvel at the engineering feat of Vidraru Dam, one of the highest in Europe, and the stunning Vidraru Lake it created. Take in the awe-inspiring vistas as you stroll along the dam and capture views of the mountains reflected in the sparkling lake. Venture into the heart of the Făgăraș Mountains National Park, a region of unspoiled nature, lush forests, and alpine landscapes. This area is a paradise for nature lovers, offering a glimpse of Romania's pristine wilderness and diverse wildlife. As we reach higher altitudes, enjoy a taste of winter sports and activities in a scenic snow-covered landscape at 1,700 meters. Suitable for all skill levels, this experience lets you try sledding or enjoy the fresh mountain air and snow. Conclude your adventure with a short, easy hike on a scenic mountain trail. Take in the panoramic views, breathe in the crisp alpine air, and enjoy the serenity of the surrounding nature.

The Transfăgărășan is a paved mountain road crossing the Carpathian Mountains, is the second-highest paved road in the country with an altitude of 2,042 metres (6,699 ft). The road also provides access to Bâlea Lake a glacier lake situated at 2,034 m of altitude. Here we will benefit from the fresh air and low temperature, admire the view of Trasnsilvania and have lunch. On the way back we will admire Bâlea waterfall, we'll stop at the Vidraru Dam to refresh us. It is very possible to meet brown bears on the route. On our way we will be able to see on a mountaintop a fortress built by Vlad the Impaler. This is Poienari fortress.

Hairpins, tunnels, and sweeping mountain views await on a private day trip on the Tranfagarasan Highway through the Fagaras Mountains. Enjoy having a private guide to lead your group as you visit Balea Lake, Cistercian Abbey, and Brukenthal Palace. Driving along the Transfagarasan Highway, one of the most spectacular roads in the world, your private guide will point out local landmarks. The highest road in Romania, it runs through the Fagaras Mountains and has more tunnels and viaducts than any other road in Romania. Located in the Fagaraș Mountains, Balea Lake is a spectacular landmark on your day trip from Sibiu. The lake formed after glaciers melted away, leaving a huge void carved into the rugged stones. Visit the partly-ruined Cistercian Abbey in Carta. Admire impressive architecture featuring capitals, keystones, windows, and a 15th-century western portal that still remains. Today the church is frequented by the evangelical community of Carta. Continue to The Brukenthal, a stately palace from 1788, formerly used as the summer residence of Transylvanian Baron Samuel von Brukenthal. Visitors to the historic Brukenthal Palace can enjoy the Baroque architecture and the large landscaped palace park.

Your tour will begin as you are taken from your hotel in Brasov by a professional guide. Once having departed Brasov, you will travel to the most spectacular road in Europe: Transfagarasan. You will stop first and visit the Carta Cistercian Monastery .the monastery was built at the beginning of the 13th century, in the Gothic style, by the Cistercian monks who came to Transylvania from Burgundy, France. You will then continue to the mountains which host the Transfagarasan Highway, the most spectacular and beautiful mountain road in Europe. The road has been featured on the UK motor show Top Gear, and traverses up through the mountains uniting Transylvania with Valachia. Whilst there you will experience great scenes, noisy waterfalls, and with some luck you may even see wild animals such as the brown bear or black goats. Moving onward, you will travel to the Balea Glacier Lake, where you will have lunch at the Lake Balea Chalet. You can then take a walk around the lake, and in summer can also climb up the slope near the lake. From the top of this ridge you will have wonderful pictures with the peaks of the surrounding mountains and the lake and cottage Balea. In the winter between December and March you can visit the ice hotel, as well as the neighboring ice church. You will later return to Brasov in the evening, with wonderful memories of your trip into the sky. During the winter between November and July, we will go up by van to the hotel Cascada Balea 1446m (above the road is closed due to snow), from where we will take the cable car up to Lake Balea. The price of the cable car (100 lei - 24 euros uphill) + descent) is not included in the price of the tour.

The Transfagarasan mountain road (or national road 7C) is one of the most spectacular roads in the world, according to Top Gear. Located in Romania, it runs trough the Fagaras mountains and has more tunnels and viaducts than any other road in Romania. Discover this fantastic route with a daily bus transfer service between Sibiu and the Balea area, and explore the stunningly beautiful Balea waterfall and lake on your own. This is a touristic bus and will only go on route with reservation. The duration of transfers is approximate, and the exact duration will depend on the time of day and traffic conditions.  The part of Transfagarasan road between Balea Cascada and Balea Lac is operated by the cable car. We are NOT responsible for the operating hours of the cable car, nor can we influence them. The tour will be: Sibiu (Parking Thalia Hall) – Avrig – Cartisoara - Balea Cascada (Cable Car Station)  The return route is: Balea Cascada (Cable Car Station) – Cartisoara – Avrig - Sibiu (Parking Thalia Hall)

Discover the stunning scenery of the Southern Carpathian Mountains on a guided hiking excursion. See the grandeur of the Balea Waterfall and enjoy a peaceful picnic lunch by the glacier lake Balea. Climb to the peak of the Fagaras Mountains and be enchanted by the views of Transylvania.  In the morning, meet your guide to begin your hike. After a short distance, the day's first stop will be one of the biggest waterfalls in Romania, the fan-shaped Balea Cascada. Enjoy seeing Romania’s highest mountains the rugged Fagaras Mountain range known as the “Transylvanian Alps”. Next, a walk through Balea Valley will lead up to the Balea Glacier Lake which sits at 6673 feet (2034 meters) high. Before climbing to the mountain peak at 7929 feet (2417 meters), restore your energy with lunch by the lake and enjoy some free time to explore.  Finally, enjoy the impressive view of Walachia, Transylvania and the spectacular winding Transfagarasan Road from the top of the mountain. Travel by bus or cable car back to Sibiu to complete your day trip.

Today, head west driving parallel to the Carpathians. Your first stop will be in Sibiu, where you will join to a 2-hours city tour and will discover the main cultural objectives such as the Evangelic Church, the Liar’s Bridge and the Council Tower etc. Have some free time in Sibiu. In the afternoon we will drive you to Balea Waterfall, from where you can explore the spectacular Transfagarasan Road. Optional it's worth it to take a cable care ride from Balea Waterfall to Balea Lake to have a better view. Arrive in Brasov at the hotel where you will check-in at around 19:00.

More than 150 kilometres in length, the Transfagarasan Highway is Romania’s most spectacular and best known road, and, thanks to an appearance on BBC Top Gear in 2009, now one of the country’s most popular tourist attractions. Fully open only from June to October, the road’s highest point is at 2042 metres: the tunnel which links the northern and southern sides at Lake Balea (Balea Lac). The Transfagarasan was built from 1970-1974 on the personal orders of Nicolae Ceausescu, who wanted to create a strategic route across the Fagaras Mountains to ferry troops north should Romania be invaded by the USSR (as Czechoslovakia had been in 1968). On the way back we will make several stops to enjoy the goat waterfall as well as the Vidradu dam and finally at the real Dracula's castle. which unfortunately is under renovation.

Drive to the former capital of Wallachia, Targoviste, and visit the remains of the court of Vlad the Impaler, better known as Dracula. Next stop is in Curtea de Arges where you’ll visit one of the most beautiful churches in Romania, also the burial site of the first Romanian kings. From this holy place keep on driving to the ruins of Poenari Castle, Dracula’s fortification which overlooks the Carpathian Mountains.  Experience the Transfagarasan Road, built by Ceausescu with the help of the army. It offers a breathtaking view and takes you all the way up to the summit of the mountain where you can discover the astonishing glacial lake of Balea. From here, start your long but beautiful drive back home.