Bikepacking from Cârţişoara to Arefu

Looking for a cycling adventure? Try riding from Cârţişoara to Arefu, a spectacular route that takes you right through Romania’s wild heart. Starting from the foothills near Cârţişoara—famous as the gateway to the Transfăgărășan Highway—you’ll climb into the Făgăraș Mountains. The route is long (over 180 km!) and seriously challenging, with big climbs and descents (at one point you’ll top out at over 2,100 meters).

Most of your ride winds along unpaved tracks and gravel roads, so a sturdy bike is a must. You’ll cross remote forests and open meadows, sometimes sharing the road with sheep and their wandering shepherds. This is the legendary Transfăgărășan zone, called “the world’s best road” by Top Gear, and it’s easy to see why with all the hairpins and epic views.

You’ll finish up in Arefu, a charming Carpathian village, famous for its Dracula legends and dramatic scenery. This ride is for the adventurous, but it’s one you’ll never forget!