Walking in Transylvania and the Carpathian Mountains

Spend the day exploring this rich city, with its own castle, famous Black Church, historic old town and viewpoints over the city.

If you didn’t have time when you arrived, it is worth spending a while exploring Brasov before commencing your walk. Leaving the streets of Brasov behind, you enter the forest and ascend up to a more open area of pastures. This provides a nice contrast to the first section of the walk. Easy walking takes you to the high point for the day where you re-enter the forest for a winding descent to Rasnov. The route is generally well way-marked. There is a chance to visit the grounds of Rasnov castle when you arrive.

Known locally as Calea Haiducilor, which translates as Path of the Outlaws, you follow a forested track all the way to the village of Sohodol. Gradually climbing through pine forest until you reach a clearing with views over the surrounding mountains and villages. You are getting increasingly close to the mighty Carpathian Mountains. From Sohodol you descend to the small town of Bran, with its magnificent castle.

Leaving Bran, you walk towards the mountains until well within the forest. From there, you have a climb through forest until you are rewarded with alpine views down to your destination and a magnificent panorama of mountains. Thereafter you descend steeply through pastures straight down to Moieciu de Sus.

Another varied day. Apart from fairly short sections in the forest, much of the time you will be walking past farms and through villages, but with the impressive Carpathians often in view.

There are two circular routes today, which can be undertaken as a single, figure-of-eight route, passing your accommodation part way through the day.

The first route provides ample opportunity to see rural life and farming practices whilst enjoying magnificent views of the mountains. You pass caves in limestone cliffs which are home to several bat species. It is essential to take a torch if you wish to go in.

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The second option is relatively short but involves a very steep ascent and quite a steep descent, followed by an easy walk back to Magura. You go up and behind the rocky summits visible from your accommodation and it feels quite remote up there. The views are great – you will see your routes to the south and over to Zarnesti to the north and across to Rasnov, as well as the huge ranges of the Craiului and Bucegi mountains.

This is a spectacular day to complete the trek, walking in the Piatra Craiului National Park. After a steep descent from Magura, you walk along the impressive Zarnesti gorge, carved through the limestone. A lengthy ascent then follows up to the trek’s high point with superb views. A descent through forest and pasture land takes you down to the valley and an easy walk to your accommodation.