Top Bucharest activities
Top Bucharest landmarks
Beyond Bucharest
Bucharest trip ideas

Transfagarasan Road & Balea Lake - Private Tour from Bucharest

8 Reviews 5.00 out of 5 stars Based on 8 traveler reviews collected by Cool Destinations and TripAdvisor | Recommended by 100% of reviewers | Bucharest, Romania

Loading Options
Don't miss out!
On average, this is booked 30 (0) days in advance.

12 hours (approx.)
Hotel pickup offered
Mobile ticket
Instant confirmation
Offered in: English

Overview

We pick you up in the morning and drive one and a half hours to the former capital of Wallachia, city of Curtea de Argeș. Here we stop for coffee .

Then we go to the real castle of Dracula - Vlad the Impaler, Poienari Fortress which stand high at the foothills of the Carpathian Mountains. Our professional guide will tell you why prince Vlad the Impaler is associated with the fictional character Dracula.
. Our next piece of road is also our destination. The Transfagarasan road, build by Ceausescu, with the help of the army is breathtaking and takes us all the way up to the summit of the mountain where we discover the astonishing glacial lake of Balea. From here we start our long but beautiful drive back home.

What's Included

  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Transport by air-conditioned cars or mini-vans
  • We offer flexibility around the pace and itinerary
  • Lunch
See 1 moreSee 1 more

Meeting and Pickup

Pickup point

What To Expect

Book Online

Our secure website provides real-time availability, instant confirmation, and free, no-hassle cancellations up to 24 hours before your tour begins.
Read more

Safe & secure • Easy breezy • Hassle-free

Poienari Castle

The ruins of Poienari Fortress stand high on a cliff overlooking the Arges River, at the foothills of the Carpathian Mountains. Built at the beginning of the 13th century by the first Walachian rulers, the castle changed names and residents a few times over the decades; eventually, it was abandoned and left in ruins. Vlad Tepes ( Vlad the Impaler) recognized the potential of the location and upon taking over the throne, he ordered that the structure be repaired and consolidated, turning it into one of his main fortresses. When the Turks attacked and captured the castle in 1462, Vlad escaped via a secret passageway leading north through the mountains. Although the castle was used for many years after Vlad's death in 1476, it was eventually abandoned again in the first half of the 16th century and left to the ravages of time and weather. In 1888, a major landslide brought down a portion of the castle which crashed into the river far below.
Read more

15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Vidraru Dam

Vidraru Lake and Dam - built between 1960 to 1966, for the production of electricity, irrigation and flood prevention, being now an excellent place also for recreation, tourism and sports, eg Bungee jumping extreme sport. The dam stood at its completion, measured at height, in 8th place in Europe and ranks 20th in the world. Thousands were drilled underground galleries of 42 km long, was excavated one million cubic meters of underground rock, was poured nearly one million cubic meters of concrete, and human sacrifices have cost over eighty lives. Between Fruntii Mountains and Ghitu Massif, in lake waters gather rivers Capra, Buda and several direct tributaries - Raul Doamnei, Cernatul and Valsan, Topologul, Valea lui Stan and Limpedea River, which have a total flow of about 5.5 m3 / s . The lake surface is 893 ha, length of 10.3 km, the maximum width is 2.2 km inValea Lupului - Călugărița zone and it has a circumference of 28 km and water depth is 155 m high near curved dam of 166 m, with a crest length of 307 meters. The volume of water is 465 million m³., the normal retention level beong of 830.00 meters above sea level.
Read more

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Transfagarasan Highway

Transfagarasan is the best road in the world or at least so said Jeremy Clarkson in a Top Gear episode. Still, it offers so much more besides the amazing driving experience. It’s, first of all, a major creation of the communist regime and its obsession with oversized infrastructure projects. The road is 90 km long and connects the south of Romania with Transylvania. 6,500 tons of dynamite were used to break the Fagaras Mountains, the tallest in Romania. It reaches its highest altitude of 2,042 meters close to Balea Lake. This makes it the second-highest road in the country after Transalpina (2,145 meters).
Read more

3 hours • Admission Ticket Free

Capra Wasserfall

ocate alongside the "Transfagarasan" mountain road (otherwise know as DN7C) , the Capra Waterfall is a landmark along a a landmark road. The view is spectacular, altitude is 1650 m, the height of the waterfall is about 35 m .
Read more

15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Show 3 more stops

Additional Info

  • Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • This tour/activity is private , only your group will participate.
  • Operated by a business

Frequently Asked Questions

(6)

Q: What is the cancellation policy for the Transfagarasan Road & Balea Lake – Private Tour from Bucharest?

A: You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund. For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (EEST). Read more Apr 2025

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.

Still have questions?

We're here to help.
Activity code: C-140542P11

Traveler Photos

Reviews

5.00
8 reviews

Average 5.00 out of 5 stars based on 8 traveler reviews collected by Cool Destinations and partner sites such as Trustpilot, Viator, and TripAdvisor

5 stars
8
4 stars
0
3 stars
0
2 stars
0
1 star
0

Loading Options
Don't miss out!
On average, this is booked 30 (0) days in advance.

Similar Tours & Activities

Tuk Tuk Bucharest Tour - Unique Experience in town!
Likely to Sell Out
Likely to Sell Out

The one & only tuk tuk tour in Bucharest. Taking this tour you'll step out of ordinary tours. There are several options to choose from:...

1 to 3 hoursHotel pickup offeredFree Cancellation
1 to 3 hoursHotel pickup offeredFree Cancellation
1 to 3 hours • Hotel pickup offered • Free Cancellation
5.0 (467)
from
$74.98

Explore Bucharest Step by Step With A Local Guide

A travel in time from the "Little Paris of the East" as Bucharest was nicknamed in the years '30s, due to the many French architectural...

3 hoursFree Cancellation
3 hoursFree Cancellation
3 hours • Free Cancellation
4.9 (19)
from
$18.33

6-Day Private Tour in Romania from Bucharest

An adventure of a lifetime, for this 6-day tour of Romania we have chosen an assortment of rich sensory experiences, from medieval sites to a...

6 daysHotel pickup offeredFree Cancellation
6 daysHotel pickup offeredFree Cancellation
6 days • Hotel pickup offered • Free Cancellation
from
$2,619.26

Transfagarasan Road Private Day Trip from Bucharest / The Best Road in the World

Transfagarasan Private Tour – Great Experience in one single day! Explore The BEST Road in The World with Nicolas Experience Tours in 12 hour! Here...

10 to 12 hoursHotel pickup offeredFree Cancellation
10 to 12 hoursHotel pickup offeredFree Cancellation
10 to 12 hours • Hotel pickup offered • Free Cancellation
5.0 (7)
from
$381.09

Travelers Who Bought This Tour Also Bought

Bucharest Pub Crawl in the Old Town

The most popular pub crawl in Bucharest and a great way to discover the amazing nightlife of Romania along with many other people! A unique...

4 to 5 hoursFree Cancellation
4 to 5 hoursFree Cancellation
4 to 5 hours • Free Cancellation
4.9 (471)
from
$28

The Real tour of Communism

The Real Tour of Communism will take you through all of the major aspects regarding the life under communist rule in Romania which lasted officially...

3 hoursFree Cancellation
3 hoursFree Cancellation
3 hours • Free Cancellation
5.0 (712)
from
$33.49

Dracula's Castle, Peles Castle and Brasov Day Trip from Bucharest

Transylvania is perhaps one of the most popular places in the world for the legends and mysteries surrounding his paths. On this tour you will...

12 hoursFree Cancellation
12 hoursFree Cancellation
12 hours • Free Cancellation
4.6 (1,391)
from
$28.11

Bucharest Highlights Walking Tour

Discover, interact and finally learn what other things you can explore in the city. It is a tour that will help you shape a first...

2 hours 30 minutesFree Cancellation
2 hours 30 minutesFree Cancellation
2 hours 30 minutes • Free Cancellation
5.0 (670)
from
$24.16

What's Included

Activity name

  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Transport by air-conditioned cars or mini-vans
  • We offer flexibility around the pace and itinerary
  • Pick-up and drop-off from your accommodation
  • Lunch

Additional Info

Activity name

  • Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • This tour/activity is private , only your group will participate.
  • Operated by a business

Protecting you

Activity name

For your protection and stress-free bookings, use our secure platform to pay for bookings. Day Trip Romania

Report Product Issue

Activity name

Language
Currency

Site Settings

Activity name

Currency

Activity name

Activity name

Free Cancellation

100% refund
No refund

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.

  • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.
  • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
  • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.
  • Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (EEST).

Sorting, ranking, and search results

Activity name

Cool Destinations wants to make your searches as relevant as possible. That's why we offer many ways to help you find the right experiences for you.

On some pages, you can select how to sort the results we display and also use filter options to see only those search results that meet your chosen preferences. You'll see explanations of what those sort options mean when you select them.

If you see a Badge of Excellence label, the award is based on average review ratings, share of bookings with a review, and number of bookings through Cool Destinations over a 12-month period.

The importance of any one factor over any other in a sort order varies, and the balance is constantly being reviewed and adjusted. We're always updating our systems and testing new ways to refine and improve your results to make them as relevant as possible to meet your needs.

Choose an option

Activity name

or

Cool Rewards Terms & Conditions

Activity name

Cool Rewards

  • Cool Rewards is a loyalty program operated by Cool Destinations. Rewards may be earned by any eligible person holding a Cool Destinations account, subject to the Cool Destinations customer Terms of Use.

Earning rewards

  • Rewards can be earned by making bookings on the Cool Destinations website. You will be able to see the value of the rewards you can earn during the booking process.
  • Earned rewards will be issued in a pending state and will move to a confirmed state 24 hours after the start time of the experience.
  • Earned rewards will be available to redeem once they are no longer in a pending state.
  • For bookings that are moved to a different travel date, the rewards will be redeemable after the amended travel date.
  • If a booking where rewards were issued is canceled, the earned rewards will not be redeemable and will be moved to a canceled state.

Redeeming rewards

  • To redeem rewards, you must be logged into your Cool Destinations account.
  • Any available rewards will be automatically applied the next time you make a booking, and their value will be deducted from your order at checkout, unless you choose not to apply them, which requires you to indicate this via the toggle switch. Bookings made using rewards are subject to the standard Cool Destinations Customer Terms of Use.
  • You will not be able to redeem only a portion of your available rewards at checkout. It is only possible to redeem all or none of your available rewards.
  • There is no minimum order value required to redeem your rewards. This means that you can pay for 100% of your order with rewards.
  • Rewards are non-transferable and cannot be redeemed for cash.
  • If rewards are redeemed against a booking that is canceled or refunded, the rewards will be reissued to your account.

Miscellaneous

  • You can check your Cool Destinations account to see the rewards you have collected at any time. You are responsible for ensuring that your rewards balance is correct.
  • We reserve the right to modify these Cool Rewards Terms and Conditions at any time, with or without notice, including the rules for earning and redeeming rewards. Any changes will be reflected in the updated Terms and Conditions.
  • We reserve the right to terminate the Cool Rewards program and cease issuing any further rewards on future bookings. All pending and available rewards balances will be honored.
  • By earning and redeeming rewards, you agree to these Terms and Conditions, as well as any subsequent changes made to them.