Adventure Hiking in Romania
Scramble along the gorges and plateaus of the Apuseni Mountains on wild trails, via ferrata, hanging bridges and ladders
What's Included?
Small Like-minded Groups
Solo-friendly by design, join our small n’ sociable groups of up to 8 like-minded, active and outdoorsy people…
What's it like?
Hike the forested Padis Plateau and delve into the spectacular ‘Fortress of Ponor’ - a unique karstic cave network
Scramble and climb the rocky walls of the remote Galbena Gorge in the heart of Romania's Western Carpathians
Tackle a via ferrata up the flank of the Padurea Craiului massif - a thrilling 200m network of fixed iron rungs
Key Information
Day 1
Apuseni Nature Park
Hiking
Driving
Meet your host at Cluj-Napoca Airport and drive to the Padis karst plateau in the heart of Apuseni Nature Park, stopping for lunch on the way. If the weather allows, you can stretch your legs with a two hour warm-up hike either to a viewpoint in time for sunset, or to a mysterious, densely forested karst plateau, with many caves and sinkholes. Arrive at the mountain guesthouse, your base for the next few days, in time for dinner and a briefing on the adventure ahead.
Day 2
The Fortress of Ponor
Hiking
Lace up your boots and hike to some of the Carpathian's hidden gems. The aim is to follow the water as you hike beside creeks and streams and then see them disappear into the region’s unique underground cave system. Continue hiking to Cetatile Ponorului - the Fortress of Ponor - a cave network surrounded by a forested and mountainous landscape with hidden springs, waterfalls and tunnels. Return to the cosy cabin for a night of traditional Romanian mountain food.
Day 3
Galbena Gorge
Hiking
Tackle the challenging route to the wild and remote Galbena Gorge, including some scrambling and sections where you will use cables and chains to navigate the gorge walls (total elevation gain 1100 metres.) On the way you'll pass the Focul Viu ice cave, an underground glacier. If weather permits, hike to Galbena Rock, a viewpoint with spectacular panoramas of the Western Carpathians before returning to your cabin for a final night.
Day 4
Via Ferrata and then home
Hiking
Climbing
Time for the final adventure of the trip - a 200 metre via ferrata network up the flank of the Padurea Craiului massif - a spectacular end to your hiking adventure. After a final picnic with your team, head back to Cluj-Napoca in time for the evening flight home.
Day 1
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 2 – Day 3
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 4
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
What is the food like?
Romanian food is hearty, full of flavour and heavily influenced by its neighbouring countries. Most meals start with a soup, usually made with meat, vegetables or fish and made sour with lemon or vinegar. Sausages and other meats are also popular, as well as meat and vegetable pies, goulash, stuffed cabbage rolls and cheeses. Each hiking day includes a picnic lunch of sandwiches, snacks and fruits. The mountain cabin can accommodate vegans and vegetarians, just let your host know in advance.
What is the accommodation like?
Apuseni National Park
You'll spend each of your 3 nights at the Cetatile Ponorului mountain cabin, situated within the Apuseni National Park. The rooms here are basic but clean and comfortable and the staff super friendly and helpful. If you're travelling solo you'll stay in your own private room, or you can share a room if you are travelling as a couple or a pair. All bedding is provided, so you don't need to bring a sleeping bag.
There is a restaurant at the cabin where you'll fuel up on traditional Romanian food. You can also wind down with a drink in the bar after long days out hiking in the mountains.
The Area
Logistics
Starts
Cluj-Napoca Airport, Romania
13:45
Ends
Cluj-Napoca Airport, Romania
17:00
Transfers
Group transfers are included on arrival and departure between Cluj-Napoca Airport and your accommodation in Apuseni National Park. Please select flights that will arrive more than 30 minutes before the scheduled meet time on day one and depart any time from 19:00 on day four.
If you would like to arrive early or extend your stay, your host can arrange private airport transfers and pre/post trip accommodation - see the Optional Extras section for prices.
Enjoy 12.5% Off Outdoor Gear
In need of a few more items? All bookings receive a 12.5% discount to use at Cotswold Outdoor, Snow + Rock and Runner's Need.
What do I need to bring?
Bags
- Soft overnight duffel bag or rucksack
- Daypack
- Waterproof liner (or dry bags) for kitbag or rucksack
Clothes
- Waterproof jacket
- Waterproof trousers
- Fleece jacket or similar
- Warm hat
- Buff or neckscarf
- Lightweight trousers/shorts/skirts
- T-shirts, underwear & socks
- Swimwear
- Sunglasses
- Sun hat
- Something to sleep in
- Hiking boots (worn-in)
- Sandals
Other
- Padlock for left luggage
- Universal travel adapter
- Power bank or solar charger
- Passports (and visas)
- Travel Insurance documents
- Earplugs
- Insect repellent
- Suncream
- Personal first-aid kit (inc. blister treatment)
- Personal items (biodegradable toiletries, sanitary wear etc)
- Toilet kit (toilet paper, biodegradable bags to carry out)
- Alcohol hand-gel
- Headtorch or torch
- Reusable water bottle x 2 litre
- Energy bars and snacks
- Water purification tablets/treatment system
Additional night at the Cetatile Ponorului Mountain Cabin (Single)
Payable Before Departure
Additional night at the Cetatile Ponorului Mountain Cabin (Single)
… Per Night
Additional night at the Cetatile Ponorului Mountain Cabin (Twin/Double)
Payable Before Departure
Additional night at the Cetatile Ponorului Mountain Cabin (Twin/Double)
… Per Night
Private airport transfer from Cluj to Apuseni Mountains accommodation (one way)
Payable Before Departure
Private airport transfer from Cluj to Apuseni Mountains accommodation (one way)
…
Definitley worth doing it - it's a good adventure, with great hosts and guides, all really well run. The information is accurate in terms of what you need in terms of clothing (essential!) as well as your level of fitness and a good head of heights, but nobody tells you exactly how beautiful this place is and that is a great bonus! I loved every second of it, even when it rained!
If you want a change from the norm and a real sense of adventure I'd definitely recommend this trip! A baseline level of fitness is required but having such a knowledgeable guide made everything seem possible - I'd do it all over again tomorrow if I could!
An incredible few days exploring the Apuseni mountains. Tic our guide safely coached us through via ferratas and hanging bridges, showed us ice caves and had patience with the group in all situations. I highly recommend the trip
Romania is such a beautiful place and I would have never thought to go there if it wasn't for MBA. The scenery was amazing and each day was very different. I loved the cabin surrounded by mountains and having the local dogs running around. Andrei is an amazing guide who knows so much about the environment and flora.
I loved the adventure part of this trip! Walking over water and using cable as well as scrambling. It felt really rewarding! Romania is stunning and it was such a different type of mountain/countryside. Andrei was amazing and stayed with us chatting in the evenings too with a 🍻 We took a £5 train from Budapest to get to Debrecen and it was super easy and a great way to combine city trip and hiking in the same week
BOOK. THIS. NOW! The most amazing adventure - the pictures and description doesn’t do it any justice! Each day is packed - what you see and take in is stunning. You put in the effort, and after every section you complete, the reward of accomplishment is such a high! It’s quite special that some of the paths require work to get to, such as the wall climbs and occasional scrambling, making it different from your normal hike, LOVED every minute of it. Paul made the journey memorable! He was knowledgeable about the area, and supportive throughout the hike. The effort to get to the key points is definitely worth it all.
Where to start? This was an amazing trip that packed in so much. Our guide Paul was fantastic - full of knowledge, encouraging, funny and with a clear focus on sustainability.
The hikes are incredible - you see so many different types of scenery, from ice caves to lush forests to beautiful mountain vistas. Crossing the Galbena Gorge using the via ferrata style hand-holds and platforms was one of the most exciting things I’ve ever done. The bigger via ferrata on the last day was the most exciting thing! It really got the adrenalin pumping but at all times we felt safe in the hands of Bogdan and Paul - and the sense of achievement at the top is so worth it!
The mountain hut is comfy and cosy, the food was brilliant (I was well catered for as a vegetarian) and the atmosphere was friendly and exciting at all times.
We also had a bonus warm-up hike on day one, and a city tour of Oradea on the last day. What more could anyone ask for? I’ll definitely be coming back. Thank you Paul & the MBA team!
This was a brilliant adventure: ice caves, gorges, via ferrate, mountains, craft beer - it has it all! By the end of each day we were buzzing with excitement and memories of what we have accomplished. The guides were brilliant and make the trip wonderful.
We partner with the World Land Trust to ensure this trip achieves Net-Zero emissions. We also support their Buy an Acre programme, helping local communities to buy and protect natural habitats in perpetuity.
What's the number?
It works out on average at 66kg of CO2 emissions per person, including all local transport, accommodation, food, activities, guides, staff and office operations.
The only thing it doesn’t include right now is flights and travel to the destination. We do make an overall estimate across all our customers separately, but as we don’t book flights, have customers from all corners of the world, and no way of reliably knowing their travel plans, we simply can’t include an individual number in the figure on display here. We’ve got a goal to fix that, so that when you book, there is a way to measure and mitigate the carbon emitted by your flight too.
But what does the number mean?
Yep, hard to picture eh? To give you an idea:
- Driving 1000miles/1609km would be approx. 281kg of CO2 in an average car (or 140.5kg per person if there was 2 of you in it).
- A return economy class flight London - New York would be approx. 1,619kg (1.66 tonnes) per person.
- 10 trees in a temperate forest are estimated to remove approx. 250kg of CO2 from the air in a period of 5-10 years.
What are we doing about it?
Our trips are relatively low-carbon by design, and we're working with all our hosts to develop long term carbon reduction plans. We partner with the World Land Trust to ensure this trip achieves Net-Zero emissions. We also support their Buy an Acre programme, helping local communities to buy and protect natural habitats in perpetuity, ensuring the protection of the reserve and its wildlife.
Want to know more?
Amazingly, no international travel company has ever publicly published their carbon measurements before, as far as we know. We believe that must change, quickly. So we’re openly sharing the method we used in the hope that other companies will be able to more easily follow suit and build on what we've done so far. You'll find it all here.
Via-ferrata routes are a popular way to access the mountains without any mountaineering experience. Essentially it's a series of iron rungs, ladders and cables fixed into a steep cliff. On this trip, you'll ascend 200m using a harness that's permanently clipped into a continuous safety cable. This, combined with expert guiding, ensures that you are in the safest hands possible, allowing you to enjoy an otherwise inaccessible environment. You don't need any previous experience, just a head for heights. You should also not suffer from vertigo.
Sure can! Over 50% of our travellers travel solo, it’s a great way to meet like-minded people.
Yes, you can safely leave your luggage at the mountain hut and just take a daypack out for each of the hikes.
We recommend checking out the country specific information here and also talking to a travel nurse.
For current advice about travelling in Romania, have a read of the UK Foreign Office pages here.
Our recommended travel insurance provider is Campbell Irvine.
Travel insurance is compulsory for all of our adventures and you are required to provide your policy information before departing.
Your insurance should include adequate protection for overseas medical treatment, evacuation/repatriation, your baggage and equipment and the specific activities involved on your adventure. We also strongly recommend it includes cancellation and curtailment insurance, should you be unable to join your trip for specific reasons such as illness.
We fully endorse Campbell Irvine as their insurance offers all of the above, so get in touch with them or call on 020 7938 1734 to get your insurance sorted. We suggest that you book travel insurance as soon as you book your adventure, just to cover you for any last-minute life changes. We know you’re an active lot and injuries do happen!
We automatically convert prices from the local currency that a host receives to your chosen currency. We update our exchange rates on a daily basis so this does mean that prices displayed on the site are subject to currency fluctuations, which is why you may see them change over time.
If you wish to change the currency you pay in, head to the bottom of the page.
All of our group adventures are specially designed for adults to enjoy (18+) as we want these adventures to bring together outdoorsy people who are truly like-minded. Children can be accommodated on some private departures.
You're always in good company on one of our adventures.
Our trips are typically made up of a mixture of solo travellers and small groups of 2 or 3 friends, with most in their 30s-50s.
Our sociable adventures are solo-friendly by design and naturally attract outdoorsy people with a shared mindset; a love for adventure, a desire to push themselves and meet awesome, like-minded people along the way.
It’s this camaraderie that has so often turned a great adventure into a life-changing one.
Don't just take our word for it:
- 95% of people rate the group dynamics on our trips 5/5
- 90% of people recommend joining a trip to make new friends
- 75% of people have met people on our trips that they would now consider friends
See here for more info about the Much Better Adventures tribe.
Interested in a more exclusive experience? Opt for a 'Private Group' through the dates and prices tab to book this adventure for just you and your chosen companions.
Our team of Adventure Hunters create exclusive adventures with highly vetted, specialist hosts. We only work with independent, local in-destination experts who know the very best places to explore and how to stay safe. Read more information about the local teams we partner with.
Much Better Adventures refer to the UK Government’s official travel advice when designing trips and monitoring trip operations. We recommend that all customers are familiar with the practical information provided on the Government’s FCDO website, where current travel advice can be found by searching for the applicable destination(s).
For customers joining this trip from other international destinations – please also read the official travel advice applicable to your country of residence/origin, as this may differ.
Got questions? We've got answers
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