Compare 3 Mountains, 4 Adventures by Alpine Adventure Romania vs East European Discovery Northbound - Romania, Moldova, Ukraine and Belarus by Penguin Travel

Day 1

We take the highway towards Pitesti and then Curtea de Arges lovely city. In half an hour we will be then at the beginning of the Transfagarasan road. We will leave the car at a bend in the road and start our hiking tour. We slowly gain height following the river until the trail forces us to the steep banks and then it all starts: the first waterfalls and ladders and bridges come into view. Be prepared with the camera while paying attention where you put your feet on. You will want to take pictures at every corner.

And it goes like this, for about more than an hour. We might even need to pass through the water at some points along the route.

Finally, we feel sorry for actually finishing the canyon route. The remaining route takes us back in an arch to the most impressive dam lake. We must stop to see it, the vertical drop is huge. Then, by following the road, we descend to the cars.

We head then north following the “most beautiful road in the world”. We will spend the night at one of the guesthouses on this road.

Day 2

In the morning, as early as we can but no later than 8.00, we continue on this road (opened only from June to September) getting dizzy from time to time because of the sudden steep bends of the road and passing through 1Km tunnel we end up on the North side of the mountain at Balea Glacier Lake. Now you should be cold and the only way to warm up is to start the hike.

We are now in Fagaras. This is the biggest, highest and probably most sought mountain massif in Romania in the summer months, while in winter it becomes a challenge. The range it is not called for nothing the Transylvanian Alps. And we are going to have a go for its second highest peak, Negoiu – 2535, following the ridge trail.

The first hour is tough. The second is a pleasure following the ridge. The end of the third one will find us having a short meal just beside Caltun Glacier Lake. At this point Negoiu is overpowering us and you must wonder which the way through these vertical walls is. But some chimneys, one of them called the Devil Chimney, solve the problem for us. In five hours since we started we should be breathless both because of the effort and of the view from the peak of Negoiu, the last one being simply spectacular in all directions.

We return to Balea on slightly different route which follows a trail underneath the ridgeline.

We will stay at the same guesthouse, as in the previous evening.

Day 3

Again, we need to be on our way by 8.00 in the morning. But this time to change the mountain after a two hour and a half driving, back the way we came and then from Curtea de Arges to Campulung Muscel, the first capital of the medieval Romania. Nothing but an old church will remind of this though.

We start our horseback riding day in the small village of Namaiesti. The horses are prepared and off we go. All the time, you will be guided by locals who know what is doing. Actually, the horses are so well taught that you do not have to do too much, except enjoy the exercise. Yes, even if you are a total beginner.

The rural road that we take first will turn into a gravel road which winds on top of the hill with beautiful vistas all around.

The target for the day is a shepherd house from where you get to almost touch Iezer Mountains. Piatra Craiului is also not far away, but it will have to wait for another day. At the shepherd house, a local cooked late lunch is expecting you, polenta, cheese and roasted sheep.

After 5 hours of horseback riding we return in Campulung in spend the night in one of the most beautiful historical houses of the city.

Day 4

We split day 2 in 2:

The first half of the day we will do some sport climbing in the local crags near Dambovicioara village. The crags we know match all levels of skills and confidence. You may want to come to learn the sport as a beginner or to practice it using a top rope for more confidence or you may want to lead some climbs. We will bring the full gear you need for the climbing and we will set prepare the climbing routes. We will discuss first about the equipment, about techniques, about safety rules, etc. Then you climb, we belay.

The second half of the day we have in mind something truly special: a series of abseils through a wonderful canyon, called Oratii. If you did not abseil before, do not be fearful! We will ensure that everything goes in total safety going through the procedure with you and checking that all is done correctly. By the way, just relax yourself, the abseils are not vertical. And the canyon itself worth the entire experience. First, we need to hike up about forty minutes until we reach the entrance to the river bed which dug the canyon. We follow the river bed and in less than 30 minutes we will reach the first abseiling station. Then the fun starts.

For the night we will stay in Dambovicioara village.

Day 5

We start early in the morning, at 8.00 AM and drive to the Brusturet motel. It is where we leave the car(s) and start hiking. In less than an hour the entire ridge comes into view. From a shepherd house the real effort starts because the trail gets steeper and aims directly for the beginning of the ridge. We meet the ridge in about 2 to 3 hours after the beginning of the hike. This is where the word amazing fits perfectly and it will stay like this for all the time we will be on the ridge because of the ridge itself and because of the view the surrounding mountains offer. And this will be for four hours.

The ridge trail is a demanding one requiring constant focus and from time to time easy scrambling. The exposure is high and the drops are huge. We finally reach the mid-section of the mountain ridge near Grind shelter and on the highest peak of the mountain (Piscul Baciului – 2238m).

We head directly down from the peak and in about three hours we will back at the car(s) tired for sure but still under the spell of Piatra Craiului.

Day 6

First, we reach Zarnesti, a small town situated just beneath the spectacular mountain of Piatra Craiului. From there we continue along a 10 km country road up to the Magura village. We spot a place to leave the car(s) and, after preparing ourselves, we start biking. The view is magnificent and we will have it all day long. Our intention is to cross the Magura village and reach Pestera village.

This is where we leave our bikes and pay a visit to the known cave. We must, because the Romanian name of the village means exactly this – the Cave.

The point of a mountain bike tour is not necessarily to make a sport event out of it but to cover long distances while making sport as well as enjoying the landscape. This is exactly what we will do. You may want to stop often to look at the amazing views as well as to the beautiful old mountain houses which are framed by the surrounding mountains. This is where rural landscape blends most with the natural landscape.

We end the mountain biking session when you feel like ending it or there is no more daylight to see the road ahead of us.

On the way back we will stop for a fully deserved dinner. We estimate to arrive in Bucharest by 22.00, depending on the traffic.

1 Bucharest-Sinaia-Brasov

Meeting our guide in the lobby of our hotel in Bucharest at 09.00 am and drive to Sinaia. We cross the Carpathians toward Sinaia where we visit the fabulous Peles Castle, an exquisite piece of architecture and one of the most spectacular castles in Europe, with its arm and armoury collection, unique for its richness and diversity. The Castle served as the summer residence of the Romanian Royal family. Continue to Brasov. Arrival at Brasov, formerly Kronstadt, founded by the Saxon colonists, as the South gate of Transylvania. Walking tour through the old town centre, including the Black Church – the biggest church between Istanbul and Vienna; the Council Square, the Hirscher House/16century, - the baroque style buildings from the Austro-Hungarian time and Ekaterina Gate of the Old Citadel. It is also worth mentioning one of the oldest Orthodox Churches in Transylvania, where you can admire the beautiful frescoes of the chapel. Hotel in Brasov.

2 Brasov-Bran-Lacu Rosu

Lunch in a local restaurant in Bran and visit to the famous medieval castle (the "Dracula's" Castle) built as a fortress for the citizens of Brasov in 1377, as a defence to the city. Prince Vlad used the Castle as a general headquarters during his incursions in Transylvania. In 1922, Queen Mary of Romania changed the castle into Royal residence, the best known castle in Romania. Stop at Prejmer for visit to the fortified church, also included in the UNESCO World Heritage.

3 Lacu Rosu-Voronet

We visit the jewels of Bucovina: Voronet also called “the Sistine Chapel of the East” Drive through the Moldavian villages, visiting Tarpesti – the home of the delightful “Neculai Popa” Museum, unique in the world, where colourful masks and folk costumes are displayed.

4 Voronet-Suceava-Iasi

Drive to Bucovina –the “upper land” with the unique painted monasteries, belonging to the UNESCO World Heritage. We include a visit to Sucevita monastery, the largest of the monasteries in the Bucovina region, with massive towers and stone walls protecting the inner buildings, which are decorated with portraits of historical legends and biblical scenes. Arrive Iasi, walking tour to Roznoveanu Palace, Vasile Alecsandri National Theatre, Saint Nicholas Church (built by Stephen the Great), Metropolitan Cathedral and Church of the Three Hierarchs.

5 Crossing Moldova border to Chisinau (Moldova)

Drive to the border with Moldova, and continue to Chisinau. If time permits you can enjoy a walking tour of the city's main sights including the Orthodox Cathedral of Christ's Nativity, Presidential Palace, Parliament building and the Holy Gates, which are known as Moldova's 'Arc de Triomphe'. Excursion and wine tasting at Milesti Mici - the largest wine "underground city" in Europe (length - 200 km), which is listed in Guinness World Records. It has more than 200 km of limestone tunnels, 55 km of which are used for storing wine. Overnight hotel in Chisinau.

6 Chisinau-Tiraspol (Transnistria)

Drive to Transnistrian “capital” – Tiraspol. Stop at Bender Fortress on the way. Continue to Tiraspol where you will have the opportunity to travel back in time to USSR. Transnistria is a thin strip of land wedged between Moldova and Ukraine. It is home to more than 500,000 people and has a parliamentary government, a standing army, and its own currency. It has all the trappings of an independent nation—but isn't. you won't find it on many maps, and not a single member of the United Nations recognizes its existence. You will start by visiting the Lenin monument and tanks left from the Second World War. The city seems to be a ghost of the Soviet past.

7 Tiraspol - Odessa (Ukraine)

Today we head Northeast to Odessa which is just 105 km away from Tiraspol. Odessa is a port city in Ukraine, which is the fifth largest in the country. It is situated on the Black Sea coast. Its population is 1 012 500 people. Officially the city was founded in 1794 as a Russian naval fortress. The name Odessa is borrowed from the Greco-Roman colony of Odessos in Thrace, at the request of Empress Catherine the Great. In the modern city you can see examples of Mediterranean architecture under the influence of French and Italian masters. The palace, owned by Lev Tolstoy's family, is one of the typical representatives of this school. Most buildings are built of white limestone, a deposit from which is close to the city. Charming examples of architecture are the Opera and Ballet Theater, the National Marine University, the Palace of Chess and the Archaeological Museum. If you come to Odessa, you should not miss the Seaside Boulevard, Suvorov Street, Tschichin Bridge, the French Boulevard and the Museum of Maritime History.

8 Odessa

Free time to explore the city. Optionall tour to Odessa Catacombs. Abandoned mines have been expanded by local smugglers and used by them as hiding places and warehouses. Today's so-called "catacombs" are a very popular tourist attraction.

9 Odessa - Kiev

Early departure from Odessa as we have a long day driving in front of us - 470 km to Kiev. Stop near the city of Pervomaysk, where we will visit the Strategic Missile Force Museum, which in the past was an actual nuclear weapon launch site. We will see the most powerful Cold War Soviet missile - the R-36M2 'governor' bomb, which was nicknamed 'Satan' by the Americans. Arrive Kiev in the evening.

10 Kiev

Free day or optional tour to Chernobyl. The large restricted area where the tragic event of the Chernobil nuclear disaster took place in 1986 is enigmatic and indeed one of a kind place to explorer. This excursion will give you a glipse towards abandoned city of Pripyat, where nature has already started conquering back what once used to be streets, hotels, schools etc. With your Geiger counter in hand, you'll have the chance see the new dome of the exploded nuclear reactor from only a few meters distance.

11 Kiev - Lviv

Sightseeing tour of Kiev in the morning before we continue to Lviv. Some of the most famous Kiev attractions include: the Kiev-Pecherska Lavra Monastery, the Monastery of St. Michael with his gold domes, the churches of St. Sofia and St. Andrew and many others. In addition, the National Opera, the Kiev Youth Theater, the Golden Gate, the Independence Square. In the early afternoon we take off to Lviv. The journey will take about 5 hours in comfortable train and we will arrive in Lviv in the evening for an overnight.

12 Lviv

We will start the day with a walking tour in the city of Lviv (Lemberg - German, Lwów - Polish) Lviv - the city known as the most beautiful in Ukraine. it's architectural layout is a collection of numerous styles and epochs. East of the modern part of the city is the Old Town. The points of interest are: Renox Square; the Ivan Franco National Theater - one of the masterpieces of world architecture; the Roman Catholic Cathedral - one of the most remarkable Gothic buildings dating back to the end of the 14th century; the Baroque Cathedral. Currently Lviv is a city buzzling with life and culture. Literally every cafe or restaurant is like a small interactive museum full of curiosities to discover.

13 Lviv - Minsk (Belarus)

Free time in Lviv in the morning, before we continue our journey to Minsk. Flight to Minsk.

14 Minsk. Nesvizh and Mir Castles

Short sightseeing tour of Minsk in the morning before we continue to Nesvizh and Mir Castles. First we visit the impressive UNESCO World Heritage Site of Nesvizh Castle, which has been home to the Radswill Family for over 400 years. The fortresses construction began in 1584, but it's been extended and changed over the years and now features a mix of Renaissance, Baroque, Rococo, Classicism and Neo-Gothic architecture. The estate also contains the largest landscape gardens in Europe and a number of ornamental lakes. After some free time to have lunch and explore Nesvizh we drive on to the beautiful Mir Castle, which is also UNESCO-Listed. Creation of the fort began at the end of the 15th century and again a number of different architectural styles can be seen. The castle is one of the most splendid in Europe and was reopened to the public in 2010 after being extensively restored to its former glories. Back to Misk for overnight.

15 Departure