Trekking and caving in the mythological Bucegi Mountains

One of the most beautiful nature parks from Romania, Bucegi Mountains attracts many visitors every year, mainly due to the fast connection from Bucharest or Brasov cities.

Established in 2003, the park (325sqkm in surface) represents a delightful natural experience. The hiking trails can be used to explore the diverse landscapes that include massive peaks, serene valleys, graceful waterfalls and mysterious caves and canyons. With the rough mountainous terrain on E, V and N sides, green meadows and dense forests can be found on the other side of the park. The park also provides a safe and sustainable home to various rare and protected species of flora and fauna.

Among many activities one can do here, we’ve chosen hiking and cave visit.

One of the attractions worth to mention while planning this trip represent the Jazz Festival, organized every July inside the Ialomitei cave. Make sure to reserve a ticket to the concert, though! Contact us for more info!

Day 1: Bucharest - Sinaia. Hiking

Drive a couple of hours to the Romanian Carpathians.

We reach Sinaia, named the royal resort, the former summer residence of King Carol I, whose castle is included in top 10 attractions from Romania. From here, our views go further up at the steep and craggy mountain E face of the Bucegi immense boulder which rises imposingly, almost vertically to 2500m alt.

Hiking up to 2000m plateau and descend to Ialomita river, down to 1000m altitude. The trail is well marked, time: 6-8 hrs.

Dinner and accommodation at 3* B&B.

Day 2: Up to the top - Omu peak (2507m)

Climb up to the highest point of Bucegi Mountains, Omu peak – 2507m. The trail acends progressive to the summit, then we follow the huge plateau on the way back, enjoying the 360° scenery. The region is rich in legends about the ancient local mythology, these mountains being home for the supreme God of the Dacians, Zalmoxis.  

Other highlights for today:

Heroes’ Cross from Caraiman peak (2291m) – built in Memory of Romanian Soldiers – the cross enjoys the status of being the highest summit cross in the world in 2014, as per the Guinness Book of Records. The impressive structure rises to a height of 129 feet (39.3 meters) and is also commonly referred to as the Cross on Caraiman. It is a memorial dedicated to the Romanian soldiers who lost their lives during World War I.

Babele - Mushroom Rocks - a famous mushroom type shaped rocks comprises the Babele area. These peculiar stones were formed out of erosion and fluctuating texture of the various layers of rock.

Back to the B&B in the evening.

Day 3: Horoabei Gorge and Ialomitei Cave

Early morning start to explore a hidden gem of Bucegi Mountains – Horoabei Gorge. The gorges are characterized by a spectacular and wild landscape with waterfalls, tunnels, outfalls, rocks, steep walls between which the water makes its way, but also rich vegetation. Some parts of the route are equipped with metal chains and ladders. The trail isn’t marked and special attention is required on the route, inside the gorge.

Afternoon dedicated visiting the cave – Ialomita cave: the name comes from Dacian word “jalomit” which means “to cry”. The place is known as an ancient Dacian temple where they used to celebrate the personality’s death in order to become an individual immortal being.

The cave is open for visiting on an area of 400 meters up to the area where the stalactites are positioned as if they seem to form an altar. The access is on wooden stair by electrified corridors, the cave displaying many halls and galleries. At the entrance we find Ialomita Monastery built in the 16th century by ruler Mihnea cel Rau (Mihnea the Bad). The construction is new, the monastery being burnt several times during the history.

Although it has been here for over 100 million years, carved into the Jurassic limestone rock, the cave continues to fascinate us even today with its stories about humans, with periods when the hermits retreated here and later the first rulers of Wallachia valued it, the monastery from the entrance being a reminder about it.

Day 4: Hiking to Sinaia. Back to Bucharest

Return to Sinaia following a different route than the one we came. Trekking time: 6-8 hrs. The scenery is beautiful, mountain pastures mixing with evergreen shrubs of the protected Pinus Mugo. The trail descends abruptly at its final part to Sinaia resort.

Drive back to Bucharest.

Description

One of the most beautiful nature parks from Romania, Bucegi Mountains attracts many visitors every year, mainly due to the fast connection from Bucharest or Brasov cities.

Established in 2003, the park (325sqkm in surface) represents a delightful natural experience. The hiking trails can be used to explore the diverse landscapes that include massive peaks, serene valleys, graceful waterfalls and mysterious caves and canyons. With the rough mountainous terrain on E, V and N sides, green meadows and dense forests can be found on the other side of the park. The park also provides a safe and sustainable home to various rare and protected species of flora and fauna.

Among many activities one can do here, we’ve chosen hiking and cave visit.

One of the attractions worth to mention while planning this trip represent the Jazz Festival, organized every July inside the Ialomitei cave. Make sure to reserve a ticket to the concert, though! Contact us for more info!

Day 1: Bucharest - Sinaia. Hiking

Drive a couple of hours to the Romanian Carpathians.

We reach Sinaia, named the royal resort, the former summer residence of King Carol I, whose castle is included in top 10 attractions from Romania. From here, our views go further up at the steep and craggy mountain E face of the Bucegi immense boulder which rises imposingly, almost vertically to 2500m alt.

Hiking up to 2000m plateau and descend to Ialomita river, down to 1000m altitude. The trail is well marked, time: 6-8 hrs.

Dinner and accommodation at 3* B&B.

Day 2: Up to the top - Omu peak (2507m)

Climb up to the highest point of Bucegi Mountains, Omu peak – 2507m. The trail acends progressive to the summit, then we follow the huge plateau on the way back, enjoying the 360° scenery. The region is rich in legends about the ancient local mythology, these mountains being home for the supreme God of the Dacians, Zalmoxis.  

Other highlights for today:

Heroes’ Cross from Caraiman peak (2291m) – built in Memory of Romanian Soldiers – the cross enjoys the status of being the highest summit cross in the world in 2014, as per the Guinness Book of Records. The impressive structure rises to a height of 129 feet (39.3 meters) and is also commonly referred to as the Cross on Caraiman. It is a memorial dedicated to the Romanian soldiers who lost their lives during World War I.

Babele - Mushroom Rocks - a famous mushroom type shaped rocks comprises the Babele area. These peculiar stones were formed out of erosion and fluctuating texture of the various layers of rock.

Back to the B&B in the evening.

Day 3: Horoabei Gorge and Ialomitei Cave

Early morning start to explore a hidden gem of Bucegi Mountains – Horoabei Gorge. The gorges are characterized by a spectacular and wild landscape with waterfalls, tunnels, outfalls, rocks, steep walls between which the water makes its way, but also rich vegetation. Some parts of the route are equipped with metal chains and ladders. The trail isn’t marked and special attention is required on the route, inside the gorge.

Afternoon dedicated visiting the cave – Ialomita cave: the name comes from Dacian word “jalomit” which means “to cry”. The place is known as an ancient Dacian temple where they used to celebrate the personality’s death in order to become an individual immortal being.

The cave is open for visiting on an area of 400 meters up to the area where the stalactites are positioned as if they seem to form an altar. The access is on wooden stair by electrified corridors, the cave displaying many halls and galleries. At the entrance we find Ialomita Monastery built in the 16th century by ruler Mihnea cel Rau (Mihnea the Bad). The construction is new, the monastery being burnt several times during the history.

Although it has been here for over 100 million years, carved into the Jurassic limestone rock, the cave continues to fascinate us even today with its stories about humans, with periods when the hermits retreated here and later the first rulers of Wallachia valued it, the monastery from the entrance being a reminder about it.

Day 4: Hiking to Sinaia. Back to Bucharest

Return to Sinaia following a different route than the one we came. Trekking time: 6-8 hrs. The scenery is beautiful, mountain pastures mixing with evergreen shrubs of the protected Pinus Mugo. The trail descends abruptly at its final part to Sinaia resort.

Drive back to Bucharest.

PRICE

Ask for price

 

Included:

- 3 nights accommodation in double room 

- half-board - local specialties

- return car transport by car from Bucharest

- English speaking mountain guide assistance

- caving equipment

 

 

Not included:

- other meals

- entrance fees

- optional local activities.

Map
Tour costs
Ask the price