SCHEDULE MADE BY
RADU ZOTA & MARIUS SIMINA

1^ST DAY SATURDAY

Transfer to Piatra Caiului Mountains

Welcoming you at the Otopeni Int. Airport, transfer through the mountains: Sinaia - Predeal - Zarnesti

• Hiking time: 3 hours
• Altitude difference: +700 m
• Sightseeing objectives: The first view over Piatra Craiului ridge, from Curmatura Meadow.

Accommodation in Curmatura Mountain Hut (1470 m) - no running water or electricity.

2^ND DAY, SUNDAY

Hiking on Piatra Mica Peak, in Piatra Craiului Mountains .

9:00 AM Breakfast

10:00 AM Leaving Curmatura Hut by 9 a.m., with a very easy backpack (we'll just have to carry the photo camera, some rain coat and a sandwich). We reach the Crapaturii Saddle in about 30 minutes, than another one and a half hours of easy hiking will take us to Piatra Mica (1816 m.)

• Easy hike
• Hiking time: 4 - 5 (four - five) hours
• Altitude difference : +200 m / -200 m
• Sightseeing objectives: Gorgeous view from the peak over Zarnesti town, Bârsa geographical depression, View over the surrounding Mountains: Bucegi, Iezer.

7:00 PM Dinner

Accommodation in Curmatura Mountain Hut

 

3^RD DAY, MONDAY

Hiking in Piatra Craiului Mountains, on the North Ridge

9:00 AM Breakfast

10:00 AM Going up to Crapaturii Saddle, 1660 m, reaching the saddle in about 30 minutes from the hut. Hiking up to Turnu Peak (1923 m.), after a nice climb on the rocks (no special difficulties encountered). Continue on the North Ridge of Piatra Craiului up to Padina Popii Peak (2050 m), that we reach in about 3 - 3,5 hours from our departure from Curmatura Hut (alternative shorter route reaching the ridge directly in Padina Popii in 1,5 - 2 hours of hiking) ; the landscape is wide open over the surrounding mountains as well as over the rest of the north ridge;
Descent from here to Plaiul Foii Chalet, another 4 hours.
(Optional: shorter, easier path passing over Coltii Chiliilor, where a small chapel in a cave is to be admired and a small wooden church, then going to Plaiul Foii passing by the 1000 m height meadows)

• Easy hike
• Hiking time: 4 - 5 (four - five) hours
• Altitude difference : +200 m / -200 m
• Sightseeing objectives: Gorgeous view from the peak over Zarnesti town, Bârsa geographical depression, View over the surrounding Mountains: Bucegi, Iezer.

Accommodation in Plaiul Foii Chalet

4^TH DAY, TUESDAY

Plaiul Foii chalet - Tamasul Mare Peak (1735 m) - Curmatura Foii - Plaiul Foii.

9:00 AM Breakfast

10:00 AM This circuit offers a relaxing walk as well as the possibility to admire the surrounding massifs: Iezer mountains, Fagaras, as well as the whole limestone of Piatra Craiului. Optional alternative: Plaiul Foii - Spirla Shelter - (The great Scree) - La Zaplaz - La Om Peak - Plaiul Foii (7-8 hours) Second alternative: leaving Plaiul Foii in the morning, hiking up to "The Hope's Shelter" (1,5 h), then continue for another 2,5 hours on "Padina lui Calinetz" a wild, unmarked area, then reaching Ascutit Peak, descend on Braul Cioranga Mare and back to Plaiul Foii - total 8 hours of hiking. Descend from The Hope's Shelter"also possible, with a shorter route of only 5-6 hours.

• Moderate hike
• Hiking time: 5-6 (five - six) hours
• Altitude difference : +900 m / -900 m
• Sightseeing objectives: the beautiful panorama from Tamasul Mare Peak.

5^TH DAY, WEDNESDAY

Hiking in Piatra Craiului Mountains

Plaiul Foii - Anghelide Canyon - Plaiul Foii.

• A moderate hike
• Hiking time: 5 (five) - 6 (six) hours
• Height difference: 800 m
• Sightseeing objectives: the beautiful wild limestone area: Poarta (The Gate), Turnul de la Poarta (The Gate's Tower), Canionul (The Canyon).

Accommodation in Plaiul Foii Chalet.

6^TH DAY, THURSDAY

Transfer by car from Plaiul Foii Chalet to Balea Lac Chalet, about 3 hours. Easy walk to visit Poienari Castle, the real Dracula Castle.

• a very easy hike
• Walking time: 2 hours
• Altitude difference: -50 m
• Sightseeing objectives: The Brusturet Gorge, The Dambovicioara Gorge and Cave, view over Fagaras Mountains, Balea Lake.

7 PM Dinner

Accommodation in *** Balea Lake Chalet

Day 7, FRIDAY

Hiking on Fagaras Mountains

Leaving Balea Chalet in the morning, going up to Caltun Lake (Caltun Shelter nearby). From here, depending of weather conditions a hike up through Devil's Saddle (Strunga Dracului) to reach Negoiu Peak (2535 m, the second highest peak in Romania) .

• Is a moderate hike;
• Hiking time: 5 - 6 (five to six) hours
• Altitude difference:  + 500 m  / -500 m
• Sightseeing objectives: Caltun Glacial Lake, view from Negoiu over the ridge of Fagaras Mountains.

Accommodation in *** Balea Lake Chalet

Day 8, SATURDAY

Hiking on Fagaras Mountains: Balea Lac going up to Vanatoarea lui Buteanu Peak, from where the most beautiful panorama over Fagaras is to be seen.  Then going to Capra Peak (2400 m),  descent to  Capra Lake, Curmatura Bucurei and back to the chalet Balea Lac. (Possible descent directly in Transfagarasan road, for transfer to Sighisoara).

• Is a moderate hike;
• Hiking time: 4 (four)  - 5 (five) hours;
• Altitude difference: +500 m / -500 m
• Sightseeing objectives: Balea Lake, panorama view from Vanatoarea lui Buteanu peak, Capra Lake.

Transfer by car to Sighisoara (2,5 hours). If time allows, we'll stop to visit some of the medieval fortifications of Transylvania.
Accommodation in Sighisoara, *** guest-house.

Day 9, SUNDAY

Visit Sighisoara in the morning.  Leaving for Maramures, reaching Maramures in about 4,5 hours. You'll visit some of the 8 wooden churches included in world's heritage  by UNESCO.
Visit the wooden churches of Surdesti and Plopis.
The wooden church in Surdesti has been built in 1767 from oak-tree. Its tower is 54 meters height, being surrounded by four other small towers. Total tower of the church is 72 meters. The " Holy Archangels" church of Surdesti is not only the tallest oak-tree building in Europe,  but also a masterpiece of popular architectural genius.

• Traveling time: 4  (four) - 4,5 (four and a half) hours + stops;
• Sightseeing objectives: Sighisoara Medieval Town, Surdesti Church, Plopis Church .

Accommodation in Surdesti village. ** guest-house.

Day 10, MONDAY

Visit Maramures, Sapânta merry cemetery and the wooden churches here.
Visit the wooden churches from Vadu Izei,  Bârsana and Ieud, as well as Rozavlea.
The church in the monastery of Bârsana is the tallest wooden construction in world, with the tower reaching
. Travelling time: 4  (four) - 4,5 (four and a half) hours + stops.
. Sightseeing objectives: Sighisoara Medieval Town, Surdesti Church, Plopis Church .

Accommodation in Borsa, *** guest-house.

Day 11, TUESDAY

Hiking in Rodnei Mountains

Climb to Ineu peak (2303 m) and back to Borsa resort.

• Moderate to demanding hike;
• Hiking  time: 6 (six) - 8 (eight) hours;
• Sightseeing objectives:  Rodna Mountains, Ineu peak natural reservation, nice view over Maramures depression, Maramures mountains.

Accommodation in Borsa, the same *** guest-house..

Day 12, WEDNESDAY

Visit the painted monasteries of Moldova.
Leaving Borsa heading for the painted monateries. The first to visit will be Moldovita (1532) then we'll head for  Sucevita and then to  Gura  Humorului

Moldovita is a fortified monastery built in 16th century, the dominant color is red
The masters who painted its interior and exterior walls have decorated them with scenes from 16th century Moldavian daily life. But the most interesting painting is the Siege of Constantinople on the south façade, relating to the Romanians' fights against foreign invasions, especially Turks. The painting combines scenes of the siege of Constantinople from 1453 with others referring to a previous such attempt made by the Persians, in 1626.

 Sucevita monastery was built in 16th century has the dominant color blue. The monastery in fortified with thick walls guarded by towers.
Paintings at Sucevita were best preserved both on the outside and on the inside.
Frescoes are painted in purple red and blue against an emerald green background. There is plenty of gold too, taken from the art of miniature.

Accommodation in Gura  Humorului, ** guest -house

Day 13, THURSDAY

Visit the painted monasteries of Moldova

Heading for Putna monastery - Patrauti - Dragomirna - Suceva city (with it's rich historical heritage) - Voronet Monastery (famous for it's blue color, it has been surnamed the Sistine Chapel of the east) - Humor.

Situated in a valley 5 km north of Gura Humorului, Humor church was built in 1530 by Petru Rares and his High Chancellor Teodor Bubuiog, on the site of a monastic complex built before 1415. The church, consecrated to the Assumption of the Virgin, is smaller than other churches of the painted monasteries and does not have any cupolas. Humor Monastery was among the first churches to be painted. Its frescoes are due to Toma of Suceava and were performed in 1535, the dominant color is yellow.

A convent consecrated to St. George, Voronet lies at walking distance from the Gura Humorului town. An old Romanian chronicle written by Ion Neculce records that Stephen the Great founded Voronet Monastery in 1488 to fulfill a pledge to the hermit Daniil who had encouraged the ruling prince of Moldavia to chase the Turks from Wallachia. After having won the battle against the Turks, Stephen erected Voronet in three months and 21 days, on the very spot Daniil had his small wooden hermitage.
Its interior and exterior paintings were made later on, between 1534-1535, during prince Petru Rares' rule. The dominant color is the world famous Voronet blue.

Putna monastery is the resting place of Stephan the Great, one of the greatest moldavian king, a defender of Christianity in the 15 the century.

Patrauti monastery was built by Stephan the Great after one of the 45 battles he won against the Turks.

Dragomirna is one of the most beautiful monasteries in Bucovina. It is a small fort with high walls and a great stone carving on the spire.

Suceava is the capital city of Suceava county. The former capital of Moldavia, a strong castle that has never been conquered, was the capital of the Moldavian state ruled by Stephan for almost 50 years.

Accommodation in Gura Humorului, ** guest -house.

Day 14, FRIDAY

Visit the monasteries of Agapia and Varatec, Neamt fortress, (XVth century) - Neamt Monastery - Bicaz Lake - Bicaz Gorges - Red Lake - Tusnad spa - Predeal

Transfer by car to Predeal resort.

Day 15, SATURADAY

Departure Day, schedule according to the flight's departure.
If time allows, in the morning, leave Predeal heading for Rasnov fortress, XIVth century stronghold. According to your preferences, also visit Bran Castle or an easy walk in Postavaru mountains. Having lunch in Bran.

Transfer by bus to Otopeni airport.

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