Self-Launched Romania: Transylvania, Apuseni, Maramures & Bucovina in 11 Days
11 days · Romania
Transylvania Discovery Tours charges £3,670
No-markup version: ~£790 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
An independent, budget-friendly version of a private 11-day loop from Bucharest covering Transylvania's castles and medieval towns, the Apuseni Mountains' ice caves, Maramures' wooden churches and village life, and Bucovina's painted monasteries — before looping back via Bicaz Gorges and Sighisoara. Where the original uses a private driver-guide, you'll use Romania's cheap intercity trains, maxitaxis and local buses, basing yourself in family guesthouses and hostels. Costs are backpacker estimates; having your own wheels (or joining a small day tour in the Apuseni) makes the mountain sections far easier.
Day-by-day
Bucharest to Sibiel via Curtea de Arges & Transfagarasan
Sibiel / Sibiu
Start early from Bucharest. Take a CFR train or a maxitaxi from Gara de Nord / Autogara Militari to Curtea de Arges (train ~£5, 2.5-3 hrs; buses similar). Visit Curtea de Arges Monastery (£2), then, in summer only (roughly late June-October), catch a local bus up the Transfagarasan to Balea Lac for the waterfall and glacial lake — Poienari Castle and Vidraru Dam are best reached by taxi from Arefu or as a combined local day trip (~£25-35). In shoulder season skip the pass and continue by bus/train to Sibiu, then local bus or taxi to Sibiel (~£3). Overnight in a family guesthouse.
🚌CFR train/maxitaxi Bucharest-Curtea de Arges ~£5; local bus/taxi to Sibiu & Sibiel ~£6
🛏Family-run guesthouse in Sibiel (~£20)
- →Curtea de Arges Monastery
- →Transfagarasan Road & Balea Lake (seasonal, local bus)
Sibiu medieval town & Astra Museum
Sibiu
Take the local bus from Sibiel into Sibiu (~£1.50). Join a free walking tour of the medieval old town (tip ~£5) covering the Big and Small Squares, Bridge of Lies, Lutheran Church and Orthodox Cathedral. In the afternoon take trolleybus 13 to Dumbrava Forest for the open-air Astra Ethnographic Museum (£4). Sample ciorba and mititei at a local cantina. Overnight Sibiu hostel or guesthouse.
🚌Local bus Sibiel-Sibiu ~£1.50 each way
🛏Central Sibiu hostel (~£18)
- →Free walking tour of Sibiu old town
- →Astra Ethnographic Museum
- →Lutheran Church tower climb
Hunedoara Castle & Alba Iulia Citadel to Garda de Sus
Garda de Sus
Take an early train from Sibiu to Simeria/Hunedoara (~£5, 2 hrs) or a direct bus, and visit Corvin/Hunyadi Castle (£5). Continue by train to Alba Iulia (~£4) and walk the star-shaped Vauban citadel and changing-of-the-guard. Then take a bus towards Campeni/Arieseni; from Campeni there are infrequent buses or a shared taxi to Garda de Sus (~£4-6). Base yourself in a pension in Garda de Sus, the gateway to the Apuseni.
🚌Sibiu-Simeria-Hunedoara-Alba Iulia trains ~£9; bus to Campeni/Garda de Sus ~£6
🛏Pension in Garda de Sus (~£20)
- →Hunyadi Castle, Hunedoara
- →Alba Iulia star citadel
Scarisoara Ice Cave, Tauz Spring & Poarta lui Ionele
Garda de Sus
The Apuseni's sights are spread out and public transport is thin here — the practical indie option is a private driver for the day (~£70-90 per vehicle, shared between 2-3 people) or a pre-booked cave day tour from Arieseni/Campeni. Visit Scarisoara Ice Cave with its glacier (£3), the Coiba Mare and Poarta lui Ionele caves, Tauz Spring and the rock village of Casa de Piatra. Bring cash, layers and a headtorch. Second night in Garda de Sus.
🚌Shared private driver day (~£20-30 pp)
🛏Pension in Garda de Sus (~£20)
- →Scarisoara Ice Cave
- →Poarta lui Ionele Cave
- →Casa de Piatra village and Tauz Spring
Turda Salt Mine on the way to Maramures
Sighetu Marmatiei / Breb
Transfer via Campeni to Turda by bus (~£6), then spend 2-3 hours underground at Salina Turda (£6) — the Ferris wheel, lake and salt galleries. From Turda take a train via Cluj-Napoca towards Sighetu Marmatiei or Baia Mare (overnight or late train ~£10-14). A long travel day, so book accommodation in advance in Breb or Sighet.
🚌Buses and trains Campeni-Turda-Cluj-Sighet ~£16
🛏Rural guesthouse in Breb (~£20)
- →Turda Salt Mine
Maramures villages: Merry Cemetery, Breb & Sarbi
Breb
Hitch, take a local bus or a short taxi to Sapanta for the Merry Cemetery (£2). Spend the rest of the day walking between Breb and Sarbi — wooden gates, haystacks, a working water mill — and eat a home-cooked lunch or dinner with your host. Bicycle hire from your guesthouse is cheap (~£5) and the best way to cover the lanes.
🚌Local bus/taxi Sapanta ~£5; bike hire ~£5
🛏Rural guesthouse in Breb (~£20)
- →Merry Cemetery, Sapanta
- →Village walk Breb-Sarbi
- →Traditional mill visit
Borgo Pass & Barsana to Gura Humorului
Gura Humorului
Travel from Sighet/Breb towards Borsa and over the Borgo Pass (Pasul Prislop) by local bus (~£4). Stop at Barsana Monastery with its tall wooden church, then continue by bus to Viseu de Sus and on to Iasi or directly to Campulung Moldovenesc/Gura Humorului (~£8-10, a full day of connections). Check the timetable locally the day before. Overnight Gura Humorului guesthouse.
🚌Local buses via Borsa/Pass ~£13
🛏Guesthouse in Gura Humorului (~£20)
- →Barsana Monastery
- →Borgo Pass scenery
Bucovina painted monasteries loop
Gura Humorului
Base in Gura Humorului and use local buses, hitchhiking or a hired driver (~£50-60 per car) to reach Voronet (£2), Humor (£2), Moldovita (£2) and Sucevita (£2) monasteries. Add the Painted Egg Museum at Vama (~£2) and Marginea's black pottery workshops. A day tour via GetYourGuide from Gura Humorului or Suceava (~£50) is a low-stress alternative.
🚌Shared local transport/driver ~£15
🛏Guesthouse in Gura Humorului (~£20)
- →Voronet, Humor, Moldovita & Sucevita monasteries
- →Painted Egg Museum Vama
- →Marginea pottery
Bicaz Gorges & Lacu Rosu to Sighisoara
Sighisoara
Bus to Piatra Neamt (~£6), then a local bus or shared taxi through the Bicaz Gorges to Lacu Rosu (£4) — walk the gorge and the lakeside trail. Onward by bus to Gheorgheni or Miercurea Ciuc, then train to Sighisoara (~£8). Long day; if timings fail, overnight at Lacu Rosu and continue in the morning. Eat in Sighisoara's old town.
🚌Buses Piatra Neamt-Bicaz-Lacu Rosu, train to Sighisoara ~£18
🛏Hostel or pension in Sighisoara citadel (~£18)
- →Bicaz Gorges
- →Lacu Rosu (Red Lake)
Sighisoara, Viscri & Bran Castle to Brasov
Brasov
Morning walking tour of the citadel and Clock Tower, the Church on the Hill and the Vlad the Impaler birthhouse (£4 combined ticket). Bus or hitch to Viscri to see the fortified church and village (£2), then a bus/short taxi to Bran Castle (£8) and a frequent bus from Bran to Brasov (~£2). Overnight in Brasov's old town.
🚌Buses Sighisoara-Viscri-Bran-Brasov ~£10
🛏Brasov hostel (~£18)
- →Sighisoara Clock Tower & citadel
- →Viscri fortified church
- →Bran Castle
Bear Sanctuary, Rasnov & Peles, back to Bucharest
Bucharest
Take bus 20 or a taxi to Zarnesti for the Libearty Bear Sanctuary (book ahead, ~£15 with transport). Optional: Rasnov fortress by bus from Brasov (£3) and Peles Castle in Sinaia (£8) on the way. Return to Bucharest by train from Brasov (~£8-10, 2.5-3 hrs) or from Sinaia (~£5). Trip ends at Bucharest Gara de Nord or OTP airport by bus 783 (~£1.50).
🚌Bus to Zarnesti ~£3; train Brasov/Sinaia-Bucharest ~£9; airport bus ~£1.50
🛏Not included — own arrangements in Bucharest
- →Libearty Bear Sanctuary Zarnesti
- →Rasnov Fortress (optional)
- →Peles Castle, Sinaia (optional)
Self-launched vs. Transylvania Discovery Tours
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Transylvania Discovery Tours | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£790 | £3,670 |
| Duration | 11 days | 11 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £2,880 per person (78%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Transylvania Discovery Tours-style trips? Check them out here.~£790
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Self-Launched Romania: Transylvania, Apuseni, Maramures & Bucovina in 11 Days cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £790 per person for 11 days in Romania. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Transylvania Discovery Tours?+
Yes — Transylvania Discovery Tours charges around £3,670 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £790 — a saving of roughly £2,880 (78%) per person.
How long is the Romania trip?+
This itinerary runs 11 days, covering 11 day-by-day stops through Romania.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a culture, adventure, hiking trip through Romania, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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