Transfăgărășan Road: Wild Brown Bears

Embark on a small group day trip from Bucharest to the Transfagarasan Road, one of the highest roads in Romania. Experience breathtaking landscapes, rural life, and the country’s rich history.

Duration: 12 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Triumph Arch (Arcul de Triumf) - The journey begins early in the morning in Bucharest, heading north.

  • Vidraru Dam - Vidraru Dam is one of Romania’s largest hydroelectric dams. Located at the start of the Argeș River, it was constructed between 1960 and 1965 and stands 166 meters (545 feet) tall. The dam creates a lake with an average capacity of 465 million cubic meters (16.2 billion cubic feet) and covers an area of 22.5 square kilometers (8.7 square miles). It is used for electricity generation and regulating the flow of the Argeș River. Enjoy the stunning views of the forest, mountains, and lake.

  • Transfagarasan Highway - Experience an unforgettable drive along the scenic Transfagarasan, hailed by Top Gear as “the best road in the world.” Built high in the Fagaras Mountains, this 62-mile (100 km) road offers breathtaking vistas.

Stops will be made along the way to admire the scenery, take photos at Balea Lake, and enjoy the refreshing mountain air with fantastic aerial views before returning to Bucharest in the evening.

  • Capra Waterfall - The Capra Waterfall is a stunning sight atop the mountain, with its cascading waters plunging over the cliffs. Visitors can explore the surrounding area and enjoy the tranquil atmosphere of the waterfall.

  • Balea Lake - Reach the summit at Bâlea Lake, a glacier lake situated at an altitude of 2,034 meters in the Făgăraș Mountains, central Romania, in Sibiu County. During winter, two chalets are set up on the lake, along with a year-round meteorological station, a mountain rescue outpost, and shepherds who still traverse the mountain following traditional routes. The location is accessible by car via the Transfăgărășan road in summer and by cable car from Bâlea the rest of the year.

  • Bucharest - Return trip to Bucharest.

What's Included
  • Small-Group tour
  • Transport by air-conditioned vehicle
  • Professional English Speaking Guide
What's Not Included
  • Food and drinks
  • Gratuities
Additional Information

Enter the realm of one of Europe’s most scenic mountain roads on a day trip to Transfagarasan Road. Along the way, delve into meeting the Wild Brown Bears of Romania. Set the scene for fantastic pictures by passing Poenari fortress original Dracula’s fortress. Reach top of the Carpathians and breathe in the fresh mountain air while admiring views from Transylvania. Enjoy each stop with fantastic views and stories told by your guide.

  • From November to March bears are into hibernation state
  • From November to May access to Balea Lake Top cannot be reached due to heavy snow
  • Free carry on (40x30x20cm) or trolley bag (55x40x23cm) on board with weight up to 5kg per guest/person. Suitcases over 5kg are extra charged with 20 euros per suitcase. Company or staff involved in the activity are not responsible for any of the guests belongings
  • Not recommended for guests with motion sickness/ car sickness
  • Minimum passenger age is 12 years old. Under this is age it is prohibited.
  • Presence of wild bears alongside the main public road is subject to availability determined by factors that are beyond the control of the tour operator
Location
Hilton Garden Inn Bucharest Old Town
Strada Doamnei
Hilton Garden in Old Town on strada Doamnei 12 in front of the main door where pedestrian area starts.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.5
(26 Ratings)
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Elisa_s
Sep 25, 2024
Would recommend - We had a nice day trip and Marius was a pleasant guide. The scenery was beautiful and we even saw a bear. I would definitely recommend it.
Review provided by Viator
Mike_b
Sep 25, 2024
Paul was a very... - Paul was a very informative and knowledgable guide. He gave a history lesson with every occasion which was great know so much of country. We thoroughly enjoyed our trip and would suggest this tour group for anyone. It is a long day in the van but with frequent stops and so much to see, well worth it. Not to mention that it is very inexpensive for all you get. Mike and Monkia
Review provided by Viator
Ami7878
Sep 20, 2024
Free, not in zoo - While driving along the Transfogarasan road, it's impossible to miss the brown bear: mother, father and kids. They're coming out of the forest, waiting for food. They are so beautiful and impressive.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Gary_b
Sep 19, 2024
Bears - It was great to get out into the open to see natural beauty and bears. Pavel was great. It’s kind of sad the only reason we saw bears is because people feed them on the side of the road when they know they are not supposed to. So the bears come to the road looking for food. But if people stopped feeding them then the bears wouldn’t come out and then this tour wouldn’t exist. So it’s an interesting situation.
Review provided by Viator
Stephen_d
Sep 16, 2024
Trip up the mountain - The scenery was amazing. We looked at the countryside, the lake, a waterfall, travelled the Transfagarasan road up to Carpathian mountains and saw bears on the road side. The views and food on the mountain top were amazing (if you like meat). The roads fortunately were less busy with it being on a Sunday otherwise the traffic can be bad. Paul gave us a lot of information during the drive. Be prepared for a long day, but would recommend.
Review provided by Viator
James_b
Sep 15, 2024
Must do tour - Great day trip out , we loved every minute of it 😁 seeing the bears was amazing and the food at the top of the mountain was great ! Pavel our tour Gide was fun and friendly too 😎
Review provided by Viator
Noeliamabel_r
Sep 15, 2024
The tour was amazing, we... - The tour was amazing, we were very lucky, we saw many bears on the way there and back, our guide was excellent and very, very friendly.
Review provided by Viator
Peter_d
Sep 12, 2024
Great trip to see brown beats - Pavel was an excellent guide/driver. We saw 31 bears by count and I don’t think we were double counting.😜
Review provided by Viator
Pedrena_r
Sep 19, 2024
Disappointing - We saw 12 bears throughout the drive which was amazing, but besides that, the guide didn't seem to care much about the guest experience. The bus was so small and compact, that there's no way that everyone could see the bears, and I wish something was communicated about the restricted viewing beforehand. With each bear, we only stopped for 1 minutes or less, which again meant there was no time to even shuffle around for everyone to get a view. I thought the driver was also driving too fast so if we did see a bear there wouldn't be enough time to slow down/stop safely. You spend most of your time on the bus, which was so uncomfortable. My back was really aching by the end of the trip. There's literally no space to even turn your body without touching someone else. During the 4-5 hour journey each way, there only 1 bathroom stop at a gas station, which meant we couldn't really drink throughout the journey. We also couldn't eat or even snack on the bus which I find ridiculous since we are stuck on the bus for such a long time. Stops were short at the gas station so there was no point buying food, as you'd have to rush to finish it. It would really be nice if they used a larger bus so at least people can be more comfortable since you spend around 9 hours of the 12 hour tour on the bus. I understand not wanting to make mess, but a compromise could be no hot food, and allowing snacks at least. When we got to the lunch spot, I was so hungry, and the service in the restaurant was appalling so actually didn't end up eating anything. It was great to see the bears but I would not recommend this tour. It is crazily overpriced for the experience. I would suggest renting a vehicle for yourself as it's so cheap in Romania and driving through the Transfagarasan yourself.
Review provided by Viator
Alireza_m
Sep 29, 2024
Catastrophe - There where no beats at all then They insisted to continue And drove under heavy traffic Horrible waste of time
Review provided by Viator
Select Date and Tickets
up to 15 guests
1 Adult
October 2024
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Today