Romania
Description
The dominant mountain range of Romania are the Carpathians, a geological formation which it shares with a number of neighbouring Central and Eastern European countries, and is the largest mountain system in Europe after the Alps. In fact the Carpathians consist of several interconnected mountain ranges to form a 1500km long arc. The Fagaras mountain ridge has the highest Carpathian peaks inside Romania, only surpassed in height by the High Tatra in Slovakia. Among the Fagaras is Romania's highest mountain Moldoveanu (2553). Also good for hiking are the Bucegi mountains further south, the mountains of Transylvania, the Apuseni mountains, and both Rarau and Ceahlău mountains in Moldavia towards the east.
Hiking is a popular passtime in Romania. There are marked and unmarked trails, signposts and mountain huts. However, maps and guidebooks, although existent in Romanian and German, are not easy to come by. Long distance hiking trails exist following the Fagaras ridge, and also in the Bucegi mountains. European long distance trails E3, E4, E7 and E8 are meant to cross Romania, but none of these are actually there today, nor in any foreseeable future.
Hiking season for the highest trails starts from early July. There are many mountain huts, but if you seek freedom of movement, it may be a good idea to bring your tent and camping gear.
Trails
Regions
Links
Facts
- Alpinet
Website aiming to provide full info on marked trails, huts (cabins), GPS in all Romanian mountain areas. Offers some nice maps and pictures too. Although English translations are available, knowledge of Romanian can come in handy.
Reports
- Oranginas - Walking and hiking trails Europe
Walking and hiking trails in Czech Republic, Poland, Slowakia, Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, Italy, Tuscany, Sardinia, France, Corsica, Basque Countrie, England, Ireland, Wales, Scotland, Denmark, Turkey, Portugal, Istria and Montenegro.
- Osten - hike through the Carpathian mountains (German)
Now, this is a special site: these hikers walked all of the Carpathian Mountains, including those in Romania and Ukrain. It took them 111 days, and you can read (... German) their diary (drag it through Google Translate). They note that, allthough Ukrain and Romania are difficult - no maps / trails - the landscape is worth the trouble. In Czech Republic, Slavakia, Poland, there are very good maps and trails all the way.
- Romania « Writes of Way
Pete did us a favor to venture out to this remote corner in Europe: the carpathians in Romania. Here is his blog with his pictures.
Guides and maps
- Alpinet Maps
Calibrated maps on the Alpinet website.
- Topographic maps Romania
Webshop by András Szarva, cartographer and map trader based in Budapest.
- DIMAP
Hungarian webshop for maps of Hungary and Romania.
Lodging
Organisations
Tour operators
- MountainGuide-Sibiu
Romanian Mountain Guide..Outdoor Adventures and Landscapes in the Fagaras Mountains, Transylvanian Alps.
GPS
- Alpinet GPS
GPS section of Alpinet website.
Other
- Step by Step, Iulian Cozma Adventure
Website in English, German and Romanian, by a professional Romanian mountain guide offering info and services.
Books
- Cicerone wandelgids The Mountains of Romania - Roemenië |
- Dutch, 2008
- Complete guide to exploring the Carpathian mountains.detailed descriptions of main bases and ranges. Over 40 colour maps and colour photographs. Information on language, local sights and attractions, travel issues, skiing, mountain biking and walking. 288 blz.For long isolated, Romania’s Carpathians offer some of the finest walking in Europe.... Read more
- The Mountains of Romania
- English, 2008
- A definitive guidebook to walking and trekking in Romania's Carpathian Mountains, one of the wildest parts of Eastern Europe. Covers all the main ranges in the southern Carpathians, and the Eastern Carpathians and Bucovina's monasteries. Complete information on getting to grips with Romania. Read more
- Kaufhold, Otto: DKV Auslandsführer 05. Südosteuropa
- German
- Kanuführer für Albanien, Bosnien-Herzegowina, Bulgarien, Griechenland, Kroatien, Mazedonien, Montenegro, Moldawien, Rumänien, Serbien, Slowenien, Türkei, Ungarn, die Ukraine und den Kaukasus. 4. Auflage. Read more
- Münchrath, Goly: Immer wenn der Kuckuck ruft
- German
- Wanderungen durch den Pindus, Transsilvanien und die Beskiden. 1., Aufl. Read more