Transbucegi – The Road to Heaven

Description

As its name suggests, the Transbucegi road crosses a significant part of the Bucegi Mountains, providing access to unique tourist attractions in Romania. It is an unforgettable destination in the heart of the country thanks to its picturesque landscapes, deep valleys, dense forests, and impressive mountain peaks. Access is from DN71, the road that connects the famous mountain resort of Sinaia to Târgoviște, approximately 7 km away from DN1.

So, if you’ve ever grown tired of sitting in traffic on Valea Prahovei, you can take a detour that will definitely lift your spirits. At the entrance to DJ 713, you’ll be guided by plenty of road signs pointing to multiple destinations (Peștera Ialomiței, Colț de Rai, Cabana Dichiu, etc.), so it’s pretty hard to miss. Less than a kilometer in, you’ll come across an intersection that you can easily pass by if you stick to the main road and that’s where the fun begins. A single traffic lane, fairly wide though, so don’t worry, takes you another 7 km through Romania’s majestic forests until you reach Cabana Dichiu. Here, you’ll find an intersection and a big dilemma: which way to go?

The road on the right is actually the Transbucegi route, but before making any hasty decisions, I suggest you think twice. Most of the time, I’ve preferred to take the one on the left that goes down toward the lake, and then, at the end of the day, enjoy an unforgettable sunset on the Bucegi peaks. If you choose this detour, you should know it’s a 27 km road that circles Lake Bolboci and takes about an hour to drive, not counting the stops you might make along the way. And I’d recommend anyone to take a short break and enjoy the wonders you’ll find here. Descending toward the lake, you’ll encounter a road with poorer asphalt quality, but just as winding, and you’ll hardly notice when you reach the dam. From there, there are two options to go around the lake either from left to right or the other way around. I chose the second option and enjoyed much more the way you can take in everything around you. Here, the road narrows even more, and you need to be extra careful, whether you’re on a motorcycle, a bicycle, or in your own car. More than once, I’ve come face-to-face with a tourist coach right in a curve, and you need to be ready to stop suddenly.

On the way there, the asphalt is decent and the scenery is beautiful, but on the way back you’ll hit an unpaved road full of potholes and the Tătaru Gorge, where the Ialomița River flows into Lake Bolboci and where the view will take your breath away. Towering cliffs rise around you, and ahead lies a calm lake with a crystal-clear hue. In this area, small asphalted sections have started to appear, a sign that road improvements are planned, but as of 2022, there were still large stretches of gravel road where you need to be very careful. Not least because mobile signal is poor here, night falls quickly, and weather conditions can change from one minute to the next. From here, the road continues to the dam and then back to Cabana Dichiu, where you started. If you prefer to stick to asphalt and enjoy a shorter drive, you can turn right onto the road to Piatra Arsă to marvel at views that will leave you speechless.

Due to the sparse vegetation, vivid colors, and slight elevation differences, many times in photos everything looked like a desert. The ridges and peaks of the Bucegi Mountains seem more like sand dunes, with desolate surroundings. But don’t be fooled by appearances along the way, you’re very likely to come across sheepfolds, accompanied by dogs that eat three times more than you do. Be very careful if you’re walking, cycling, or even riding a motorcycle. The road widens a bit and is no longer as dangerous as before; it becomes straighter, and the destination feels closer and closer. Once you reach the end of the road, depending on your preferences, you can set off on foot toward Caraiman Waterfall, the Bucegi Sphinx, the Heroes’ Cross on Caraiman, or even Babele or Omu Peak.

I wouldn’t really recommend it if you’re on a motorcycle the hikes are quite long and can become very exhausting. Let’s not forget you still have to drive back home. If you ever manage to catch a sunset here and the weather is on your side, I guarantee it will be a dream come true. The surrounding colors, the way the sun hides behind the mountains, and the coolness that sets in even during summer create an unforgettable experience. And speaking of weather, I should mention that it’s quite unstable here, even if the forecast doesn’t predict anything unusual. The wind often blows strongly and can bring large masses of clouds, rain, or even hail in just a few minutes, and there are no shelters around. The good part is that, as quickly as these conditions appear, they disappear just as fast.

On the way back, you need to be very careful and remember that there might be other people who have read this blog or watched the YouTube video and want to go up, so you must give them priority. Plus, if you’re not careful, you risk overheating your brakes so don’t rush. Transbucegi is a road you can truly enjoy in spring, summer, and especially autumn, when the vibrant colors of the forests give you goosebumps. In winter, it closes, but there’s no fixed period; it depends mostly on weather conditions. Usually, from December to March, it’s nearly impossible to climb, although I’ve managed to get almost to Piatra Arsă in February. If you choose to go during the cold season, make sure the road is open or ask in the Facebook group Comunitatea MotorBike, and maybe you’ll find a road companion.

The total length of the route is 61 km, with an approximate duration of 2 hours. If you skip the detour around the lake, it’s only 34 km and about 1 hour. However, I guarantee it won’t take just that long you’ll stop to take photos, admire nature’s wonders, and enjoy the surrounding peace. It’s worth mentioning that on weekends, the chances of the road being more crowded are quite high, and due to narrow sections, traffic jams can form.