RomaniaTourStore

Private Transfagarasan and Balea Lake day trip

This Transfăgărășan and Bâlea Lake day trip from Sibiu is designed for travelers who want to enjoy one of Romania’s most spectacular mountain roads without a difficult hike

Private tour

Hotel pickup available

8 hours

English

Tour highlights

What you’ll see

  • Drive on the famous Transfăgărășan Highway, one of the most spectacular roads in Romania
  • Visit Bâlea Lake, a beautiful glacial lake in the Făgăraș Mountains
  • Admire panoramic views, sharp mountain curves and dramatic valleys
  • Discover the story of how the Transfăgărășan road was built
  • Enjoy a private day trip from Sibiu with hotel pickup and flexible stops
  • FROM

    150.00

    Select the number of people to see the final price

    Secure payment

    Licensed operator

    Total

    150.00

    I’m Ion Dima, founder of Romania Tour Store.Our goal is simple: to give you the best possible travel experience. Book any guided tour with confidence—my team and I will be by your side throughout your journey.

    Good to know

    Key facts

    DURATION
    8 hours
    ATTRACTIONS
    Transfagarasan scenic road and Balea Lake
    Travel style
    Guided tour, scenic drive
    START
    Sibiu

    Itinerary

    Timeline

    Itinerary

    Day by day

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    Full description

    A real experience

    Transfăgărășan and Bâlea Lake Day Trip from Sibiu

    Discover one of Romania’s most spectacular mountain roads on a scenic day trip from Sibiu to the Transfăgărășan Highway and Bâlea Lake. This tour is designed for travelers who want to enjoy the beauty of the Carpathian Mountains, dramatic landscapes and local stories without a difficult hike.

    The Transfăgărășan Scenic Road is usually open from 15 June to 1 November, depending on snow and weather conditions.

    From Sibiu to the Făgăraș Mountains

    Your day trip starts in Sibiu, one of the most charming medieval cities in Transylvania. After leaving the city, you drive south towards the Făgăraș Mountains, passing through villages, countryside landscapes and quiet rural areas that gradually open towards the highest mountains in Romania.

    As you approach the mountain region, the scenery becomes more dramatic. Peaceful villages are replaced by forests, steep slopes and fresh mountain air. This is where one of the most impressive scenic drives in Romania begins.

    Driving on the Transfăgărășan Highway

    The highlight of the day is the drive on the Transfăgărășan Highway, a road famous for its sharp hairpin bends, high mountain walls and wide valleys. The route climbs through an impressive alpine landscape and offers some of the most memorable views in Romania.

    Your guide will share the story of the road, built during the communist period as a strategic route across the mountains. Today, the Transfăgărășan is known not for its original military purpose, but for its scenery, mountain atmosphere and remarkable driving route.

    There will be several photo stops along the way. This is not a road to simply pass through quickly. It is a place to admire slowly, with time to enjoy the curves, valleys and mountain views.

    Bâlea Lake – A Glacial Lake in the Heart of the Mountains

    At the top of the route, you reach Bâlea Lake, one of the most beautiful glacial lakes in Romania. Surrounded by rugged peaks and alpine landscapes, Bâlea Lake is a perfect place for photography, short walks and fresh mountain air.

    Bâlea Lake has clear, icy water and is located in one of the most impressive areas of the Făgăraș Mountains. The lake is also known for the Ice Hotel, first built here in 2006. Since then, the hotel has usually been constructed every December using ice from the frozen lake.

    Because the road is closed during winter, Bâlea Lake can only be reached by cable car from the Bâlea Waterfall area when weather conditions allow. The Ice Hotel usually remains open until it melts, often around April.

    Free Time at Bâlea Lake

    At Bâlea Lake, you can enjoy free time near the water, admire the mountain views, take photos, visit the small local stalls or have lunch in one of the mountain chalets, depending on availability and season.

    Bâlea Lake is also a starting point for hiking routes in the Făgăraș Mountains. However, this day trip is designed mainly as a scenic and cultural experience, suitable for most travelers.

    Bâlea Waterfall and the Northern Side of the Road

    On the northern side of the Transfăgărășan, the road descends sharply through a series of hairpin turns. In good weather, you can see large sections of the road from above, making this one of the best areas for panoramic photos.

    Along the way to Bâlea Waterfall, you may see the cable cars moving up and down the mountain. In winter, when the road is blocked by snow, the Bâlea Waterfall area is usually the highest point that can be reached by car. There are also several good viewing points here.

    Return to Sibiu

    After enjoying the mountain scenery, you return to Sibiu on the same route. The descent offers different perspectives of the valleys, curves and mountain slopes, with more opportunities for photos if weather and time allow.

    You arrive back in Sibiu in the afternoon, after a day of mountain landscapes, local stories and one of the most famous scenic roads in Romania.

    Why Choose This Transfăgărășan Day Trip?

    This day trip is ideal for travelers who want to experience the Carpathian Mountains without a demanding hike. It combines nature, history, photography and comfortable private transport from Sibiu.

    The route is especially recommended for visitors who enjoy scenic drives, mountain landscapes and places that feel wild, dramatic and authentic.

    Important Information

    The full Transfăgărășan road is usually open only during the warm season, depending on snow and weather conditions. The usual opening period is from 15 June to 1 November, but access can change depending on the season.

    Outside the summer season, access to Bâlea Lake may be possible by cable car from the Bâlea Waterfall area, if weather conditions allow.

    The itinerary can be adjusted depending on road access, weather, traffic and the interests of the travelers.

    Request More Information

    If you are visiting Sibiu and want to see one of Romania’s most impressive mountain roads, this Transfăgărășan and Bâlea Lake day trip is a comfortable way to explore the Făgăraș Mountains, enjoy alpine views and learn the story behind this famous route.

    Contact us for availability, seasonal access details and private tour options from Sibiu.

    What’s included

    Key facts

    Included
    Guiding services
    Included
    Transport and fuel
    Included
    Parking, road toll, insurance
    Included
    Included
    Included

    FROM

    150.00

    Select the number of people to see the final price

    Secure payment

    Licensed operator

    Total

    150.00

    I’m Ion Dima, founder of Romania Tour Store.Our goal is simple: to give you the best possible travel experience. Book any guided tour with confidence—my team and I will be by your side throughout your journey.

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    Posted on Tripadvisor Tripadvisor
    Glosdude R profile picture
    Glosdude R
    Tripadvisor star 1Tripadvisor star 2Tripadvisor star 3Tripadvisor star 4Tripadvisor star 5Verified
    Excellent tour around Romania visiting Transylvania and the painted monasteries in Bucovina I had a great time on a private tour during November, which was booked at extremely short notice. Ion did an amazing job putting together the tour within 24 hours, and we started the trip only a couple of days after enquiring which was amazing! His communication was really fast, clear and helpful, and our driver/guide Florin was great - both ensured we had a wonderful time in Romania. The choice of accommodation was brilliant, varying from modern hotels to centuries-old period properties. I would thoroughly recommend contacting Romania Tour Store for anyone looking to travel in Romania with a friendly, reliable and trustworthy local company.
    Posted on Tripadvisor Tripadvisor
    Romy16205 profile picture
    Romy16205
    Tripadvisor star 1Tripadvisor star 2Tripadvisor star 3Tripadvisor star 4Tripadvisor star 5Verified
    What an amazing trip! From beginning to end, Ion was absolutely fantastic. We spent 11 days with him traveling Bulgaria and Romania, and I have to say—he covered every single detail. He was incredibly accommodating, taking into account our preferences, offering helpful suggestions, and always finding the best dining spots.Before the trip even began, Ion was efficient and thorough, providing us with several itinerary options to ensure we could visit all the places we were interested in. Believe me when I say, my husband is a very difficult traveler—but Ion made everything so easy and fun that, by the end, they were like best friends!We had a passport mishap, leaving them behind in Bulgaria, and as soon as we arrived in Romania and realized, Ion immediately jumped into action. He contacted the hotel and made sure the issue was resolved quickly and smoothly.One of the highlights of the trip was being welcomed into Ion and his wife’s home, where they prepared a delicious homemade meal for us. It was a fantastic evening, full of authenticity and warmth—we truly felt like family.Ion also helped us find the best hotels for our stay and coordinated the entire trip from start to finish. At every attraction we visited, he was knowledgeable and provided detailed explanations, adding so much value to the experience.I highly recommend Romania Tour Store if you're planning a trip to Romania and Bulgaria. And if you’re not already planning to visit these two beautiful countries—please reconsider! They’re full of charm, culture, and unforgettable experiences.Thank you, Ion and Romania Tour Store, for making this one of our best vacations ever.
    Posted on Tripadvisor Tripadvisor
    Adrian H profile picture
    Adrian H
    Tripadvisor star 1Tripadvisor star 2Tripadvisor star 3Tripadvisor star 4Tripadvisor star 5Verified
    It very nice tour, we started 08:00 in Sibiu and drove towards Sarmizegetusa, afterwards there was a lot of interesting information about Dacia. Afterwards we went towards Hunedoara to visit the very beautiful castle there. Finally to Alba Iulia to see the citadel (star), including the churches and the history behind it. Also very interesting the story of Hunyadi. Highly recommended, the guide was very nice and everything was relaxed. VG
    Posted on Tripadvisor Tripadvisor
    Tammy C profile picture
    Tammy C
    Tripadvisor star 1Tripadvisor star 2Tripadvisor star 3Tripadvisor star 4Tripadvisor star 5Verified
    IMPRESSIVE TRIP in ROMANIA with PASSIONATED Guide Excellent services provided with Ion’s passion!His outgoing personality brought laughing and fun to the group. His knowledge and presentation of each visiting places were impressive and full of historical information.
    Posted on Tripadvisor Tripadvisor
    Lalit Jha profile picture
    Lalit Jha
    Tripadvisor star 1Tripadvisor star 2Tripadvisor star 3Tripadvisor star 4Tripadvisor star 5Verified
    Fantastic and simply the best! Ion Dima/the guide is the best one till date I cam across in Europe as I explored most of the countries in Europe.Ion Dima of Romania Tour Store is very knowledgeable guy and simply the best! He designed our itinerary to suit our interest, weather and available time. He is very friendly to kids and adult as well. He has highest level of patient and at the same time he is professional.I would say if someone want to explore Romania then Ion is the best guy and you can believe him for any and everything.He has suggested the Hotels and Restaurants during our tours which was the best as per our budget and interest. During the complete tour he was as our family member and friend.Salut and thank you Ion for everything!
    Posted on Tripadvisor Tripadvisor
    Mary A profile picture
    Mary A
    Tripadvisor star 1Tripadvisor star 2Tripadvisor star 3Tripadvisor star 4Tripadvisor star 5Verified
    Tour with Ion Ion was terrific, a very kind guy, and he was very patient with us; he took us to incredible places. He changed the plan for us because it was Christmas's second day, and most of the tourist places were closed, so he suggested places for us, and we had so much fun together.
    Posted on Tripadvisor Tripadvisor
    Ardelean M profile picture
    Ardelean M
    Tripadvisor star 1Tripadvisor star 2Tripadvisor star 3Tripadvisor star 4Tripadvisor star 5Verified
    Excellent tour guide Ion Dima is an excellent tour guide. Well organised and ready to help his group in any situation. I recommend him 100%.
    Posted on Tripadvisor Tripadvisor
    JIT_12 profile picture
    JIT_12
    Tripadvisor star 1Tripadvisor star 2Tripadvisor star 3Tripadvisor star 4Tripadvisor star 5Verified
    Ion Dima...a great tour guide! This review is very tardy due to the situation in the world from January 2020 until now. I was so fortunate to have found Ion Dima during my planning of a visit to Romania which was during the summer of 2019.( I had to enter 12/21 in the description since that was the oldest date available.) I had several days to fill in with a visit to important points of interest in Romania before I joined a group in Bucharest. The group and I were heading into Moldova, Transnistria, and Ukraine. We were only doing the Danube Delta down on the Black Sea and I didn't want to miss seeing something of Romania. Well, Ion designed a terrific tour for me that was very complete! He speaks perfect English and was very considerate and great fun to be around. I highly reccommend arranging a tour with Ion...he's the best!!
    Posted on Tripadvisor Tripadvisor
    DollyBirdScotland profile picture
    DollyBirdScotland
    Tripadvisor star 1Tripadvisor star 2Tripadvisor star 3Tripadvisor star 4Tripadvisor star 5Verified
    Bespoke service We are just back from an extended tour of Romania with Romania Tour Stores. It's a bespoke travel company which specialises in private tours for culture vultures. From Bucharest's Belle Epoq architecture we travelled to the cultural centre of Iasi, the painted monasteries of Moldavia, and through the fortified Saxon churches and towns of Transylvania. Finally, we arrived in the stunning city of Brasov in the Carpathians where the Austro-Hungarian influence sits on the edge of Wallachia and Byzantium. Grand hotels and traditional wooden cabins. Each day felt like being in a different age or country. A superbly organised tour of this fascinating country. We are planning a return visit next year.
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