Romania Hiking Holiday

The lost world of the Apuseni Mountains: a living complex of water, limestone and wild forest. This 10-day trekking adventure will see you in Romania hiking through this unique region self-sufficiently, culminating in an ascent of Bihorul Peak, the tallest in the Apuseni.

Located in Western Romania and surrounded by the mighty Romanian Carpathians arch, part of Europe’s largest mountain chain, the Apuseni Mountains offer some of the most unspoiled natural beauty this side of Europe, as well as a culture unchanged in centuries. The Transylvanian region is arguably Europe’s last wild frontier – the mountains harbour the continent’s highest populations of lynx, wolves and browns bears, as well as over a third of its plant species – and rural life reflects this, with forestry, hay-making and livestock-rearing the major livelihood strategies. The landscape is almost unknown in Europe: meadows of wild flowers, soaring limestone cliffs, freshwater lakes and vast cave networks! More impressive still is the scale, with gently undulating hills as far as the horizon, punctuated occasionally by the odd hay wain or traditional wooden farmhouse.

This 10-day trek takes you to Romania hiking through the heart of the lost world of the Apuseni. Starting from the pleasant town of Oradea, you’ll hike along the rocky banks of the rushing Cris River, then it’s up into the mountains proper! Through pine forests, past huge bat-filled caves and cool mountain lakes, you’ll make your way to Padis, the agora of the Apuseni, where many of the region’s trekkers gather to exchange stories and trail info. This is your launch pad for exploring the myriad wild karst phenomena: Somesul Cald Gorge, Cetatile Ponorului Cave and Poiana Ponor. You’ll also hike to the beautiful Poiana Florilor (Glade of Flowers) and the underground glacier Focul Viu (The Living Fire). On the penultimate day of the tour you’ll scale Bihorul Peak (1,849 metres), the highest in the Apuseni, for a spectacular view of the wilderness that you’ve traversed! Then, on the final day, it’s back to Oradea to relax the muscles at a thermal spa before enjoying a slap-up dinner with your team.

A truly awesome adventure, but not one for the fainthearted! You’ll be walking for nine days across countless different terrains on mostly unmarked trails, camping every night, spending almost every waking hour in the company of other group members. Clearly, then, this isn’t going to be first choice for honeymooners or young families. But if you’re an experienced walker with a keen sense of adventure, this is a must-do trek! The itinerary is fairly rigid and the pace is lively (in order to make the most of your 10 days), but there’s still time to indulge other interests like photography and wildlife-watching. You’re also assured of good banter, with small groups usually consisting of between four and eight like-minded people; previous guests often tell us that they’ve stayed in touch with people they’ve met on this trek, such is the immensity of the experience!