Carpathian Mountains

I was attracted to this trip in large part because it promised a fair bit of scrambling, and it did not disappoint (see other reviewers comments). Great fun. The expectation of minimal crowds was also an attraction, and that did not disappoint either. Other highlights including seeing a bear in the wild and the food and hospitality at Villa Hermani. Finally, our guide, Sebi, was outstanding — a capable guy who was also great company.

Bruce Bongarten Summits of the Transylvanian Alps

Transylvania is a fantastic destination for hiking with stunning scenery, fabulous views, and so many wildflowers.
The areas we hiked in felt remote and unspoilt. We saw very few hikers on the routes we took and even had one of the mountain huts to ourselves.
As some of the other reviews say, this is a challenging week and requires a good head for heights (some parts are very exposed) and a good level of fitness. The days are long (8-10 hours of walking on the first three days, 6 hours on the last three days as the walks were cut short to avoid afternoon storms) which means little ‘down time’. The terrain is varied (rocks and scree, pastures, meadows, forests).
A significant amount of scrambling is required the first three days, and in particular the third when heading up to La Om. The other days don’t require scrambling but are still demanding in terms of the terrain and elevation gain/loss.
Two nights are spent in simple huts, with basic facilities (outside drop toilets), but the location of Cabana Malaiesti is spectacular as well worth it.

victoria glendinning Summits of the Transylvanian Alps

This was my first back pack trip ever. It was challenging but exciting and memorable!

Darinka Shaw Carpathian Walking & Bears