SCHEDULE MADE BY
LAURENTIU BUCUR

Our trip will be in the Southern Carpathians, which are situated between Prahova Valley and Timis-Cerna-Bistra corridors. These are the country's highest mountains.

Their peaks are shaped in: crystalline, limestone, granite, conglomerate and grit stone. We will find there different types of relief: glacial, karstic, structural and lithological.

AREA : Southern Carpathians

REQUIRED GEAR : backpack (volume: 60-80L), mountain boots (preferably with Vibram sole), Gore-tex Jacket, Polartec cloths, hat, headlamp, water bottle, water can, food and sweets, first-aid-kit.

ACCOMMODATION : mountain chalets, mountain huts and hotels.

NUMBER OF TEAM MEMBERS : 2-10

TRIP LEGHT : 8 Days

1^ST DAY SATURDAY

Transfer by mini-bus from Henri Coanda International Airport to Busteni (800m), which is situated on Prahova Valley in Bucegi Mountains . There, we'll see a great view to the peaks and the rocks of the mountains.

Objectives: Busteni Town

Accommodation at 2**: Silva Hotel

2^ND DAY SUNDAY

Hiking in Bucegi Mountains on conglomerate rocks, to see and reach great peaks ( Omu-2507m , Caraiman-2384m, Costila-2498m), lithological forms made by wind, rain and snow (The Babele and Sfinx , which are famous in Carpathians), big walls and glacial relief. Our hike will start on Caraiman Valley , and we will pass to Caraiman Cross-2291m (was built up in 1928, by Queen Mary, in memoriam of the Romanian soldiers of First World War). After that, we will reach Caraiman Peak in our way to Babele Hut (2200m), famous location in Carpathians, due to the lithological forms Babele. From Babele, our next target is the Sfinx, an impressive man-face huge rock, then Omu Peak , the highest of Bucegi Mountains , which is situated in the glacial part of these mountains. Our descent to Busteni, it will be on Cerbului Glacial Valley .

Objectives: Caraiman Cross, the Babele and Sfinx, Omu Peak

Hiking time : 7-8 hours

Hiking level rate : moderate

Accommodation at 2**: Silva Hotel

3^RD DAY MONDAY

Transfer by mini-bus in Piatra Craiului Mountains, to Plaiul Foii Chalet (852m).

In our way, we will stop to Brasov (a medieval town), situated in the heart of Romania. In the city tour, we will visit: St. Bartolomeu Church (the oldest historical monument in Brasov, built in 1223; it has a Roman arhitecture), St. Nicolae Church (the church was built in stone in 1495), The Black Church (a great gothic art monument, which was built around 1380), The Old City Hall (here, there is The History Museum of Brasov) and The Citadel of Brasov (one of the strongest defensive citadels of Transylvania, which was built on the top of a hill in 1395). After Brasov, the next stop is in Rasnov town. Here, we will visit The Rasnov Citadel, first doccumentary attested in year 1335. After that, we'll arrive at Plaiul Foii Chalet.

Objectives : Brasov City, Rasnov Citadel, Plaiul Foii Chalet

Accommodation at: Plaiul Foii Chalet

4^TH DAY TUESDAY

Hiking on limestone to reach La Om Peak (2238m), the highest, of Piatra Craiului Ridge. Our hike starts from Plaiul Foii, following the path, through a famous karstic place, called Zaplaz (huge natural windows in mounatin's limestone), and from there, we'll climb to reach the top of Piarta Craiului Ridge. After La Om Peak, we'll hike all the Northern Ridge. The hike on the limestone ridge is demanding, and very spectacular.

Objectives : Zaplaz, La Om Summit, Piatra Craiului Northern Ridge

Hiking time : 8-9 hours

Hiking level rate : demanding

Accomodation at: Plaiul Foii Chalet

5^TH DAY WEDNESDAY

Transfer by mini-bus to Balea Lake (2034m), on Balea Glacial Valley, in Fagaras Mountains. In our way to Balea we'll stop to visit Fagaras Medieval Fortress and Castle. Fagaras Fortress is the most impressive monument of the town, and is situated in the center of the town. The former fortress was built up in 1310. The fort was enlarged and rebuilt in the 15th-17th centuries in the Transylvanian Renaissance style and came to be known, as one of the strongest fortifications in Transylvania. After that, the next stop, it will be at Brancoveanu Monastery (the 17th century), situated on Sambata River, very close to Sambata de Sus Village. From The Monastery, we'll continue to Balea Lake Chalet, by following the most spectacular alpine road of Romania, called Tranfagarasan, which was built on Balea Glacial Valley in Fagaras Mountains, between 1970-1974.

Objectives : Fagaras Fortress and Castle, Brancoveanu Monastery, Balea Lake Chalet

Accommodation at: Bâlea Lake Chalet

6^TH DAY THURSDAY


Hiking on crystalline rocks on The Fagaras Ridge, the highest glacial rocky ridge of the South-Eastern Carpathians, to reach Negoiu Peak (2537m), the second after Moldoveanu, but with the most spectacular panorama in The Carpathians.

This Panorama contains: Lespezi Summit-2522m, Caltun Summit-2510 m, Negoiu Mic Peak-2485 m and Custura Ciobanului Glacial Rocky Ridge. The glacial relief contains great and unforgettable views, with: glacial lakes, saddles, chasms, rocky ridges, rubbles, great cliffs, isolated rocks, belvedere points and streams. In our way to Negoiu Summit, we'll pass next to Caltun Glacial Lake (2135m), and from there we'll climb Devil's Clough to reach Negoiu (similar route for turning back to Balea Lake Chalet).

Objectives : Caltun Glacial Lake , Devil's Clough, Negoiu Peak

Hiking time : 7-8 hours

Hiking level rate : demanding

Accommodation at: Balea Lake Chalet

7^TH DAY FRIDAY

Transfer by mini-bus to Calnic Forest Hut, in Retezat Mountains (Retezat National Park was created in 1935, to preserve the beauty of the mountains, and to protect rare and endemic plants; this is the first national park of Romania). In our way to Retezat Mountains , we'll stop to visit The Red Ravine (great geological form, with red scree and clay), which is next to Alba-Iulia town. After that, we'll go on to Carnic Forest Hut, and from there we will hike to Pietrele Hut (1480m), on The Stanisoara Glacial Valley.

Objectives: Carnic Forest Hut, Pietrele Hut

Hiking time: 2 hours

Hiking level rate: easy

Accommodation at: Pietrele Hut

8^TH DAY, SATURDAY

Hiking on granite rocks to reach Peleaga Peak (2509m), the highest of Retezat Ridge. We'll find there, a great and special glacial landscape which is particular to Retezat Mountains (glacial relief on granite rocks, and many glacial lakes). The hike will be done on The Stanisoara Glacial Valley , reaching first Bucura Summit (2439m), and after that we'll follow the glacial rocky ridge, called Custura Bucurei, and finally reach the top of Retezat Mountains , Peleaga Summit. The descend to Pietrele Hut, it will be on the homonym Glacial Valley .

Objectives: Bucura Peak , Peleaga Peak

Hiking time: 7-8 hours

Hiking level rate: moderate-demanding

Accommodation at: Pietrele Hut

9^TH DAY, SUNDAY

Descend from Pietrele Hut to Carnic Forest Hut, and transfer by mini-bus to Bucharest , the capital of Romania . In our way to Bucharest , we'll stop to Costesti , in Northern Oltenia , to see strange spherical stones, which were called trovanti . The origin and the formation of these incredible works of nature have at the base the sand, which was cemented. After we'll arrive to Bucharest , we'll visit the city.

Objectives: Carnic Forest Hut, Bucharest the Capital of Romania

Accommodation at 3*: Herastrau Hotel

Breakfast

Transfer to Bucharest International Airport .

Planning upon flight schedule.