The road that touches the clouds and conquers the mountain peaks hides countless moments of pure happiness, moments when travelers arriving in this enchanted land are left speechless in front of the wild beauty. Beyond the crazy curves and steep slopes, Transalpina remains a unique travel experience, a carousel of emotions and memories. Even if perhaps not everyone has had the chance to make this exciting journey, there are few who have not at least heard of the “King’s Road” or “the highest road in Romania”. Even if it is not as famous as the Transfăgărășanul, Transalpina is quite well known outside the country, as evidenced by the dozens and hundreds of cars, motorcycles and caravans that soar to the peaks every summer. I have crossed Transalpina from one end to the other and from different directions several times, and I have explored shorter or longer sections dozens of times. Every time I discover new incredible views, routes that lead to fascinating places or amazing travel experiences. In addition to the actual driving and admiring the panoramas, the Transalpina road is also the perfect starting point to other unique destinations, places that would be much harder to discover without this road.
1. Parârg Ridge Trail
The hiking trail that follows the main ridge of the Parâng mountains is one of the most beautiful and memorable in the Romanian Carpathians. Even though it is much too long and quite demanding to complete it in its entirety, with over 40 kilometers between the Parâng resort and the Curmătura Oltețului saddle, you can discover it on the portion that starts from Transalpina towards the west. Immediately after descending from the Urdele Pass, there is a small parking lot, where the first tourist markings appear (red band). The trail first climbs steeply up the slopes to the Iezer peak (2157 m) and then passes through the Iezer saddle and bypasses the Mohoru mountain, continuing on the ridge in a gentle climb. Before the Setea Mare peak (2365 m), you can descend through the Hornul Lacurilor (red triangle) to the lakes in the Gâlcescu glacial caldera or admire them from the ridge. From Transalpina to Gâlcescu Lake you will do around 3 hours and this can be a quite demanding route for some. If you still have energy, you can choose to continue to the Parângul Mare peak (2519 m). From the intersection with the route to the lakes, you will do about 3 more hours (8 km), to Parângul Mare, in a continuous climb and descent over the highest peaks of the massif. Along the route you can admire other magnificent glacial lakes that appear in the wild valleys on the northern side of the ridge.
2. Strategica Road and Latorița Mountains
After passing Muntinu Mountain and just south of Ștefanu Sheepfold, an unpaved secondary road branches off from Transalpina that follows the ridge of the Latorița Mountains. A ridge that branches off from the Parâng massif to the northeast for a length of 30 kilometers, the Latorița Mountains are less known to travelers, being explored mainly by those passionate about off-roading. However, incredible views of the surrounding peaks and valleys are hidden here, including Parâng and Lake Vidra. If you have a tall 4×4 car, you can also dare to set off on Strategica, an old military strategic road built during the First World War. If its first section is quite accessible and does not present dangerous sections, apart from the chasm that opens to the right, after a few kilometers and beyond Puru Peak, the route becomes much more difficult, with deep ditches and rocks that appear right in the road. The most beautiful panoramas are near the peaks of Mogoșu and Frătoșteanu Mare (2053 m), especially with the mirror of Lake Vidra shining in the valley. From here, the Strategica road goes east, descending towards the Lotrului valley to Mălaia.
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3. Iezerul Latoriței Lake and Latorița Valley
If you don’t want to embark on an off-road adventure, after just 2-3 kilometers on Strategica, you can descend into the Latorița Valley, and next to some lonely buildings (probably a pumping station for the Transalpina resort above the ridge) begins a lesser-known hiking trail, but one that offers the chance to discover incredible places. Following the course of the Latorița for just a few kilometers (1 hour), you can easily reach the shores of Lake Iezerul Latorița, surrounded by a delightful landscape. Designated a nature reserve on an area of 10 hectares, it is the glacial lake located at the lowest altitude (1530 m) in the Romanian Carpathians. Together with the small Lake Violeta, located a little higher, and the Moara Dracilor Waterfall, one of the most beautiful of these places, but quite difficult to access, Iezerul Latorița is a wild and spectacular destination. You can also get here by climbing the forest road that follows the Latorița valley from the Ciungetu locality, passing by the gorgeous Petrimanu and Galbenu lakes.
4. Vidra Lake and Lotru Valley
Halfway along the Transalpina route, the road descends sharply towards the Lotru valley, where it meets DN 7A, which crosses the mountains from east to west, between the Olt valley (Brezoi) and the Jiu valley (Petroșani). At Obârșia Lotrului, the two roads split, with the Transalpina continuing north. If you continue along the Lotru valley instead, in a few kilometers you will reach the shores of Lake Vidra, one of the largest and most beautiful in the country. Arranged on the upper course of the Lotru River, at an altitude of almost 1,300 meters, Lake Vidra is located between the Lotrului and Latoritei mountains. In addition to the river’s waters, it also receives approximately 80 secondary adducts and captures, feeding the Lotru-Ciunget hydroelectric power plant. You can relax on the lake shore or continue east, passing through the Voineasa resort, then past two other smaller lakes, before reaching Brezoi. Near the town of Mălaia, you can embark on a trip of about an hour to the magnificent Scoruș waterfall, while from Voineasa, you can climb local roads that explore wild valleys to the lesser-known lakes of Balindru and Jidoaia.
5. Frumoasa Valley and Transcindrel Road
A few kilometers south of the tail of the Oașa reservoir, in the place known as Tărtărău, an unpaved road branches off from Transalpina towards the east, following the charming valley of the Frumoasa (Beautiful) river, a crystal-clear stream that flows mostly quietly through forests and meadows, collecting the waters from the western side of the Cindrel and Lotru mountains. The valley, which fully deserves its name, although less known to travelers, is more animated in the first part, being occupied by caravans and tents in the summer. But after about 10 kilometers, the road known as Transcindrel (DJ106N) becomes even more difficult, starting to climb towards the Șteflești pass. From here begins a fairly short route to Cindrel Peak and Cindrel Lakes (red cross / 1-2 hours), but the road continues on the ridge to the east for many kilometers, reaching at some point the Păltiniș resort or descending towards Negovanu Lake and the Sadului Valley (towards the village of Râu Sadului). Although practicable with any vehicle, Transcindrel also has more difficult sections, with steep slopes and quite dangerous rocks.
6. Hiking Trail to Iezerele Cindrelului
If you don’t want to brave an hour of cautious driving up the Frumoasa Valley to the Ştefleşti Saddle and want to explore more of the Cindrel Mountains, the summit trail (red band) starts on the shore of Lake Oașa, about 1 km south of the dam (right next to the Oașa chalet). The rather long and demanding trail (16 km / +1,000m / 5-7 hours) to Cindrel Peak first passes through the forest, then climbs to the summit, from where increasingly wide views of the surrounding mountains and Lake Oașa begin to appear. After the Oașa Mare Peak (1731 m), it climbs gently to the summit, passing by the Șerbota Mare (2007 m) and Frumoasa (2162 m) peaks. From here begins the most beautiful and spectacular part of the route, entering the Iezerele Cindrelului nature reserve, an incredible destination in any season, but especially in early summer, when the peak is covered in pink flowers of the mountain peony. The glacial relief of the Cindrel Mountains, even if much less developed than in Retezat, Parâng or Făgăraș, is present near the Cindrel peak, on the northern side of the ridge. Two adjacent glacial valleys shelter Iezerul Mare and Iezerul Mic, two glacial lakes surrounded by a specific spectacular landscape.
7. Iezerul Șureanu Lake and Șureanu Peak
While most people who reach Oașa Lake admire the impressive dam and visit the charming monastery on the northern shore, few venture on the road that passes beyond the monastery and climbs to the summit of the Şureanu Mountains. Although it is not paved and has some more difficult sections, the road is practicable and worth the effort for the unique places and views from above. After passing through two meadows where real tourist resorts with villas and chalets have developed (Luncile Prigoanei and Poarta Raiului), the road continues to the Şureanu resort, which in winter is quite popular with winter sports enthusiasts, even if it is more difficult to access. From Curmătura Şureanu, located between the peaks of Şureanu (2059 m) and Vârful lui Pătru (2130 m), you can start on several fairly short but very attractive hiking trails. One of these can take you in just 30 minutes to Iezerul Şureanu, considered among the most beautiful in the Carpathians. Also known as the “Bottomless Lake”, it is located at an altitude of 1737 meters, in the glacial cirque on the eastern slope of Şureanu peak and is part of a complex natural reserve, which also includes rare plant species.
8. Land of Shepherds
In the northern part of the Transalpina road, on the gentler slopes of the Cindrel and Șureanu mountains, a shepherds’ civilization has existed for millennia, with villages and sheepfolds spread over the peaks and among the pastures. To the east are the Cindrel mountains and the village of Jina, which belongs to the Sibiu Borderland and extends over 318 square kilometers, about the size of Bucharest. If the village is gathered on a few narrow streets at over 900 meters altitude, the sheepfolds, pastures and hayfields of the people here extend over all the surrounding peaks. To the west, the valley and peaks of the Șureanu mountains belong to the Șugag commune and Alba county. In addition to the villages crowded down in the Sebeș valley, along the Transalpina, several villages are spread above (Jidoștina, Arti, Bârsana), where pastoral traditions are just as alive, and the authentic rustic landscapes are worth the effort of climbing. Also in this area you can admire the Bistra Gorge and several interesting geological reserves (Jidovului Table, Grund Rock, and the Jina Coast Spurs).
9. Jieț Gorges
From Obârșia Lotrului, if you follow the national road 7A westward, after a short climb and descent over a few gentler peaks, you will reach the enchanted land of the Jieț Gorges. Although they are more famous for the impressive ice waterfalls that form here during the winter, the gorges are a delightful destination in any season. With high and precipitous walls that often come within a few meters of the road, with the few waterfalls that sometimes tumble over the rocks and with the frequent appearance of black goats, the Jieț Gorges offer a unique experience. With an area of 10 hectares and a total length of over 10 kilometers, the gorges have been declared a protected natural area.
Other Interesting Experiences
Just before you start climbing the Transalpina in the town of Novaci, you can explore a charming, but little-known valley. The Gilort Valley offers a wild natural setting, hiding some spectacular waterfalls and cataracts. Even though there is a forest road that follows the valley, it is closed to public traffic and it is more pleasant to explore the area on foot. At the other end of the Transalpina road, on a hill south of the village of Căpâlna, are the ruins of the former Dacian fortress of Căpâlna, part of the defense system of the capital of the Dacian kingdom. A short trail (red cross / 2 km / 40 minutes) can lead you to the archaeological site and even though there are not many traces of the fortifications left, the view over the valley is worth the effort. Other interesting places you could discover from Transalpina include the Țeț Monastery, Poiana Muierii, Miru-Bora Reserve, Măgura Monastery and more!
Accommodation Recommendations
Rating 9.4 from 484 reviews!
Located on Transalpina, in the northern area of Rânca resort, this chalet offers superior accommodation in spacious rooms with a view, a restaurant, a playground and easy access to the slopes!
Rânca Resort
Rating 9.0 from 394 reviews!
Located in Obârșia Lotrului, just a few kilometers from the Transalpina ski resort, this inn offers accommodation in comfortable rooms and has an acclaimed restaurant!
Obârșia Lotrului / Transalpina
Rating 9.3 from 401 reviews!
Located on the Transalpina road, next to Lake Tău Bistra, this hotel offers spacious and comfortable rooms, a restaurant, sauna, garden, terrace, bar and private parking!
DN67C Transalpina / Tău Bistra