The limestone kingdom of Piatra Craiului from Bucharest

Highlights

• Piatra Craiului, or "Kings’ Rock" is the most spectacular ridge of the Romanian mountains
• Enter limestone rock kingdom and experience true Romanian nature

All about the trip

Piatra Craiului in English translation means the Kings’ Rock. Why this name? Because this mountain is truly special. It has the most spectacular ridge of the Romanian mountains, huge vertical walls, is always full of mountain goats and is simply beautiful. You should know that the mountain rises steeply on every side, but especially on its West side where one can see a most impressive vertical wall. It seems almost unbelievable that tourist mountain paths can be found on this wall. And from this side, we are going to climb up the wall, exit into the ridge and then come back on another fascinating trail.

We start early from Bucharest so as to buy as much time for the hike as possible. We need contingency time because this one is a long and physically difficult route. We head out North, passing on the way Valea Prahovei while admiring the towering walls of Bucegi Mountain. But this is not our destination. After driving for 3 hours we enter the town of Zarnesti at the foot of Piatra Craiului and have our first glimpse of this impressive mountain. We take a Western country road which follows the river Barsa. After about 10 km we will be at the start of our hiking route. Almost all the West side of Piatra Craiului is visible from this spot offering a sight of a continuous unbroken vertical wall of more than 1000 m. It is breathtaking! And we shall go right at it. Our trail of choice for climbing up is called Braul Cioranga Mare. As with all the other Western side routes of Piatra Craiului, we first need to reach the base of the wall through the steep path leading the forest. In one and a half hour, we will reach the shelter called Hope which is strategically positioned at the foot of several climbing routes.

Just behind the shelter, we will start to Braul itself. An ascending trail which goes parallel with the North-South direction of the mountain below the ridge. For more than two hours we will hike just beneath the huge amazing walls and, if we are lucky, we will see some wild mountain goats. The exit on the ridge is just on Varful Ascutit (the Sharpe Peak) which, contrary to its name, is not at all sharpen but rather round. Once on the ridge, the view is magnificent: Zarnesti at our feet and mountains all around us. But the true image that lingers long after we will be back in Bucharest is the long sharpen ridge of Piatra Craiului. And yes, there is a trail following it.

We are actually going to cover a little of the ridge itself. We head East following the ridge path up to another peak, called Padina Popii. From here we start to descend on a trail called Brana Caprei. It is as magnificent as the one we climbed up, but more direct and steeper.

We reach the cars after an exhausting but rewarding day and take the high road again stopping on the way to eat and make a toast for such a beautiful mountain.

What is included in the price

• Transport from and to Bucharest by car
• Dinner
• Professional mountain guide

What is not included in the price

• Other meals
• Pieces of individual equipment
• Insurance

Instructions

Water is a problem along the route so each participant needs to carry enough of it.