Private Tour
Transfăgărășan Highway & Balea Lake - Private Tour from Bucharest
Overview
Available languages
12 hours
Mobile ticket
This is a relaxing private day trip from Bucharest to the Transfagarasan area.
The Transfăgărășan is a paved mountain road crossing the Carpathian Mountains, is the second-highest paved road in the country with an altitude of 2,042 metres (6,699 ft).
The road also provides access to Bâlea Lake a glacier lake situated at 2,034 m of altitude. Here we will benefit from the fresh air and low temperature, admire the view of Trasnsilvania and have lunch.
On the way back we will admire Bâlea waterfall, we'll stop at the Vidraru Dam to refresh us.
It is very possible to meet brown bears on the route.
On our way we will be able to see on a mountaintop a fortress built by Vlad the Impaler. This is Poienari fortress.
Additional Info
Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
In the mountains area it is colder than Bucharest, dress thickly!
We will NOT visit the interior of Poenari Fortress, we will only see it from from the roadside viewpoint
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Vidraru Dam
Vidraru Dam is a dam in Romania. It was completed in 1966 on the Argeș River and creates Lake Vidraru. The arch dam was built with the primary purpose to produce hydroelectricity. The dam's height is 166 metres, the arch length 305 meters and it can store 465 million cubic metres of water. The reservoir has a total shoreline (perimeter) length of 28 km.
Transfagarasan Highway
Transfagarasan Highway is Romania’s most spectacular and best known road and, thanks to an appearance on BBC Top Gear in 2009, now one of the country’s most popular tourist attractions. Fully open only from June to October, the road’s highest point is at 2042 metres: the tunnel which links the northern and southern sides at Lake Balea (Balea Lac).
What‘s Included
WiFi on board
Professional English Speaking Guide
Private Tour
Pick-up and Drop-off from your hotel
Lunch
Gratuities
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Options
Transfăgărășan Highway & Balea Lake - Private Tour from Bucharest
Pickup included
Reviews
34 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Brown Bears Romania
877sonjan,May 10, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Sebastian was an Excellent driver and guide. We were lucky to see brown bears on side of road.
The scenery is stunning...
Kathy B,Oct 3, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00The scenery is stunning and having a driver allows everyone to relax and enjoy the experience. There is so much more flexibility on a private tour so we were able to adjust the schedule for the weather and our preference on where to spend most time and where to eat. Octavian spoke excellent English, was very knowledgeable and personable. The car was spotlessly clean and comfortable.
Early Snow Road
OnAir53329611458,Oct 1, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Tour guide has a lot of humanitarian history and natural knowledge, will explain to you the history of the Communist Party opened this road and water basin, etc. We are fortunate and unfortunately not able to witness the ecology of bears, but it is difficult to meet the fall in the snow in Blaea lake, also worth the ticket price, and I am happy to participate in this trip.
Great experience with...
Anna S,Aug 13, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Great experience with Octavia as our guide and driver. It’s a long day but we got to see all of the sights and bears along the way. We’d have a couple of providers cancel on us because it would be “too busy” being a Sunday in August but with Octavia we head straight for the lake and only sat in a very small amount of traffic waiting to exit the tunnel. It was brilliant, Octavia was really informative and a great driver too. Definitely recommend!
Great drive through the...
Geoff B,Jun 23, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Great drive through the Carpathian mountains. Bears galore & great, easy to understand commentary from our driver/guide , Alin. The views from Balea Lake area at the end of our drive ( 2000m + above sea level) were spectacular. Don’t miss this tour.
Nice drive if you had a safe driver
LuAnne T,Oct 15, 2024
- Review from Viator
2.00Most memorable was the driver not wearing a seat belt, the driver texting and talking on his phone the entire return trip. I think he forgot he was at work. We thought him texting while driving was totally unprofessional not to mention illegal, If you get a good driver the views are lovely and treehouse restaurant for lunch was excellent.
A great insight to Romania
Angela H,Oct 7, 2024
- Review from Viator
5.00This is a long day but made so much more enjoyable by the company of Vlad! We saw and learned so much about Romania and its people during the long drive. The countryside is stunning and the view over the Transfagarasan highway is spectacular! Note, you don't get to drive on it but do get a great view of it. We found the Dam stop interesting too. Great communications from both Vlad and HQ, collected and returned to our apartment with ease. Good to travel off season, as it could get busy along the single lane entrance to the mountain top in peak season. A lot of enclosed twisty turns along the road for several miles up to the summit, so take travel sickness tablets if you're so inclined. As a private tour, I was grateful to be sat in the front of the car! Thank you to Vlad and the team for a truly memorable day :)
Brilliant value for money
Dan O,Oct 3, 2024
- Review from Viator
5.00We had an absolutely amazing time on this trip, our driver alin was very friendly , funny and informative, the whole trip is breathtakingly beautiful and very good value for money, there were stops for bathroom breaks and to stretch your legs, the highway itself is stubby and the views are unbeatable, we even got to see a wild bear! A must see experience and I would highly recommend this to any traveler
Must see and do trip
Daryl y,Oct 2, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Had a wonderful experience from start to finish . We were picked up at hotel by our guide Alin who kept us entertained and informed there and back and on the attractions we visited he is an excellent knowledgeable guide . We thoroughly enjoyed the experience it is a trip you have to do whilst in Bucharest/Romania you won’t regret it.
Awesome despite the weather
Virginia D,Sep 30, 2024
- Review from Viator
5.00Comfortable ride. Great guide ☺️ The weather did not cooperate but we still see bears and were able to snap a few photos.
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Operated by Day Trip Romania