Hiking (hard): Sinaia - Piscul Cainelui - Baiul Mare - Zamora - Busteni

The pace for this hike will be fast with potentially some running, please contact me to check all the details before you buy your train ticket.
Contact me on WhatsApp +40755044666 for any questions and to add you to the event chat group once you signed up.

Please note that the meeting time is at the North Rail Station to be in time for the 6:40am train to Sinaia (IR 11531 - Astra Trans Carpatic). We start the hike at 8:10am unless this train is late, in which case we'll wait for it.

Track
Sinaia train station (807m) - Vf Piscul Cainelui (1645m) - Vf Baiul Mare (1895m) - Culmea Zamora - Busteni train station (885m)
Start time: 8:10am at Sinaia train station
Difficulty: Hard (fast pace)
Length: 26km
Elevation gain: 1140m
Estimated time: 8-9h (or less)
Route type: One way

Planning (estimated)
6:40am leaving from Bucharest Nord - IR 11531 - Astra Trans Carpatic
8:07am arrive at Sinaia train station
8:10am beging hike
11:00am arrive at Vf Piscul Cainelui (1645m)
12:30pm arrive at Vf Baiul Mare (1895m)
12:30pm-1:00pm lunch (bring your own)
4:30pm (estimate) - arrive at train station Busteni (885m)
After the hike we can stop for dinner at Casa Ancutei where we'll experience some Romanian traditional cuisine.
This is just a rough estimate, do not plan other events in the evening.

Make sure you have a headlamp (lanternă frontală) in case we get caught by the dark on the way back.
The weather conditions in the mountains are very different from Bucharest, bring more warm layers.

Arrival
By train
București Nord
(6:40) IR 11531 (Astra Trans Carpatic) - Sinaia (8:07) we will wait for this train if there are delays
Use this website to plan and buy tickets https://mersultrenurilor.infofer.ro/en-GB/Train-itineraries/Bucuresti-Nord/Sinaia?DepartureDate=10.05.2025

There are plenty of trains to return from Busteni to Bucuresti Nord. Please do not buy a return ticket yet, as it would not be valid for another train in case we miss it.
https://mersultrenurilor.infofer.ro/en-GB/Train-itineraries/Busteni/Bucuresti-Nord?DepartureDate=10.05.2025

By car
Please plan to arrive in time by 8:00am as we start the hike at exactly 8:10am.

Packing

• Hiking backpack 20-40L
• Hiking boots or shoes
• Headlamp (lanternă frontală) in case we arrive after dark
• Rain jacket
• Warm layers: quick dry t-shirt/thermal, polar/down jacket/hoodie, avoid cotton
• Water - 2-3L (no water source on the track)
• Fruit juice (optional) as energy drink
• Snacks - fruit, energy bars, energy gels, dry fruit
• Lunch (bring your own)
• Sun protection - hat / baseball cap, sun glasses, sunscreen, lips balm

Contact me on WhatsApp +40755044666 for any questions.