Transfăgărășan and Transalpina Grand Tour

Făgăraș and Parâng Mountains, Transylvania · Romania

Moderate5 daysEurope~£550 est.

Save ✓ I did this

Overview

Romania built two of Europe's most spectacular high roads across the Carpathians within a hundred kilometres of each other, and the only sensible response is to drive both. Base in Sibiu's pastel old town and make a five-day figure-of-eight through the Făgăraș and Parâng mountains. The Transfăgărășan (DN7C) is the headline: Ceaușescu's folly climbs through glacial scenery to 2,042 m at Bâlea Lake, and the view down the northern ramp — that impossible grey ribbon stitched into the cirque — is the one you have seen and not quite believed. Beyond the tunnel lie Vidraru dam and the 1,480 steps to Poenari citadel, the real fortress of Vlad the Impaler. The quieter Transalpina (DN67C) actually climbs higher, grazing 2,145 m at Urdele Pass on its bald ridge line. The variables: both passes open only from about late June until October, and weekend traffic on the Transfăgărășan can crawl — sleep at the Bâlea cabana and drive the ramp at dawn instead. Watch for sheepdogs at laybys and never feed the bears that beg along the lower forest sections. Around £550 per person for five days of guesthouses, fuel and papanași.