Ski touring in the Romanian Mountains: Explore the Carpathians - 9 days

by Super User
Hits: 10616

MountainGuide-Sibiu suggests you a complex ski tour in the most important mountains in the Romanian Carpathians, through the wonderful Transylvania, the land at the bottom of the Carpathians.  We have chosen for you some tours in the Făgăraş mountains, the highest and most astonishing mountains in the Romanian Carpathians, also known as the “Transylvanian Alps”; we propose you also some tours in the Cindrel Mountains, perfect for ski touring, the Bucegi mountains with their wonderful valleys perfect for climbing down through the powdery snow and the hilly areas at the bottom of the Piatra Craiului mountains.

Technical details:

- Level of difficulty: Active – for experienced skiers
- Duration: 8 nights / 9 days
- Routes difficulty: Medium-Hard
- Length of the ski tours: 5-7 hours/ day
- Suggested period: February-April
- Group: 4-10 pax

Day 1. Welcome in Romania
Arrival on the International Airport in Sibiu
Transfer to Sibiu, European city, former Saxon fortress and European Capital of Culture in 2007. Transfer to the hotel; cultural guided tour in the historic area of the city.
We shall end the day with a delicious traditional dinner.

Day 2: Ski touring in the Cindrel Mountains
Transfer to Răşinari where we shall start the tour on the snowy paths of the Cindrel Mountains climbing through a pine forest till we reach the alpine plateau used during the summer by the shepherds and their flocks of sheep. On our way towards the Păltiniş mountain resort (1450m) – the highest ski resort in Romania – we shall cross some peaks of about 1200-1300m.
Dinner and accommodation in a 3* hotel in Păltiniş
Length: about 6 hours
Level difference: + 830 m.

Day 3: Towards the highest peaks in Cindrel
Păltiniş ski resort - Găujoara Glade – Şaua Bătrâna – Rozdeşti Peak (1954m) – Cânaia refuge
Today we leave towards the highest part of these mountain chains through the Găujoara Glade, Saua Bătrâna and then, stop for a short break at the bottom of the Rozdeşti Peak (1954 m). It’ll be a well-deserved break! We’ll continue our tour while admiring the snowy peaks: Şerbănei, Cânaia and Cindrel (2244 m), the latter being the highest and most impressive.
We’ll end our tour at the Cânaia refuge, our resting place for the following two nights.
Length: about 5 hours
Level difference: + 504 m / - 183 m

Day 4: Up on the Cindrel Peak
Cânaia Refuge – Cindrel Peak (2244 m) – Iezerul Mare Lake – Şaua Cânaia –Cânaia Refuge
 From the refuge we’ll climb up on the Saua Cânaia. From here we’ll go west and climb the Cindrel Peak (2244 m), “the Roof” of these mountain chains. While coming back we’ll climb down close to the Iezerul Mare Lake, covered in snow and ice.
Length:  about 5 hours
Level difference: + / - 473 m.

Day 5:  Back to Păltiniş
Cânaia Refuge – Şaua Şerbănei – Rozdeşti Peak - Şaua Bătrâna – Păltinis
Today we’ll go back to Păltiniş, mainly on the same route but in front of the Rozdesti Peak, following then the route till Saua Bătrâna, from where we’ll take the last climbing down before reaching Păltiniş
Length: about 6 hours
Level difference: + 183 m / - 504 m
Transfer to the Bâlea cabin, in the Făgăraş Mountains. Here, we’ll take the gondola to get to Bâlea Lake.
 Dinner and accommodation at the Paltinu Chalet (former hunting cabin for the Communist leader, Nicolae Ceauşescu).

Day  6: Făgăraş, the Carpathian giant
Today we’ll skiing down in the Bâlea Valley till the lower part of the valley at the Bâlea Waterfall Hotel. Amazing view…While coming back we can either choose the gondola or a ski touring up, climbing on the Doamnei Valley till Curmatura Balii (2250 m), from where we’ll continue our tour until we reach the Paltinu cabin.
Dinner and accommodation at the Paltinu Chalet.

Day 7: Skiing down the Doamnei Valley, one of the “Pearls in Făgăraş”
Waken up by the fresh mountain air we’ll have a short visit at the only ice-hotel in Eastern Europe and then start another tiring tour at about 2250 m in the Curmătura Bâlii, from where we’ll admire the Doamnei Valley, one of the “Pearls in Făgăraş”. Climbing down this valley is a real adventure in the snow. Arrived back at Bâlea we’ll make the transfer to the tourist area in Bran.  
Here, we’ll visit the castle of the famous Dracula, the “vampire” in the Carpathians and end the day with a traditional dinner.
Accommodation in a 3 or 4* guest-house.
Length: about 5 hours
Level difference: + 210 m / 1015 m

Day 8: Good-bye Carpathians!
Today we’ll have a tour on the paths that cross the picturesque villages at the bottom of the Piatra Craiului Mountains: Măgura. Peştera.
We’ll end the tour by climbing in the ”Zărneşti Chasm”, a breathtaking area formed by some tall limestone quay walls…
Length:  about 5 hours
Level difference: + / - 460 m.
Transfer to Braşov. Short cultural tour in the historic part of the city
Traditional dinner in a Romanian restaurant
Accommodation in a 3* hotel

Day 9: Good-bye Romania
On our way back to Sibiu we’ll stop for a short visit of the Făgăraş fortress and the Cistercian Abbey in Cârţa.
Transfer to the International Airport in Sibiu

Necessary equipment:

-- Touring skies--Proper boots--Sealskin boots--Ski poles--Ski Crampons
-- Sunglasses-- Authorized equipment for detecting the avalanches (Pieps, Arva or Ortovox)-- Avalanche tube         
-- Avalanche shovel--Rucksack 30 l--Helmet--Ski mask--Windstopper or Gore-Tex Jacket-- Gore-Tex  Trousers     
-- Gloves--Cap–-Suncream –-Thermos bottle -- Lantern

For any further details about this tour, please don’t hesitate to contact us!     

MountainGuide-Sibiu

BOOK THIS TOUR