Monday 22 June 2026 - Sinaia to Padina (Chalet Alpina)

After abandoning most of our possessions for a couple of days, and an uncomfortable ride in a crowded T3 bus (we should have taken Collett's advice and got a taxi), we arrived at the Sinaia gondola station and the pleasure of a calm ride up to a welcome café at 2100 metres. 

On a cloudy day we did get some vìews from the gondola.

Up at the summit of Fernica Peak we were in a misty buttercup zone.

The hills were alive today, with the striking colour of alpenrose.

A walk along the undulating plateau followed, views coming and going whilst the cloud base fumbled with its decisions. 

We passed a sports ground where Romania's crack athletes get their altitude training, then we encountered a couple of Austrian motorcyclists on a tree lined path before we emerged from the tree line.

Up at the Babele hut we pressed on to some impressive rocks and enjoyed the picnic lunch provided by Sinaia Hotel. It was warm, but the cloud slowly enveloped us and the Sphinx rock disappeared. 

Continuing along the path towards the route to Omu, several snowfields were encountered. Progress was slow.

Looking back,  there was a good view to the Costila TV relay mast above cliffs that plunge down to the north of the plateau. 

Eventually we rounded a corner and got our first view of Omu Peak. After a tricky section of belvedere path I chose to stay on the col cleaning my fingernails while Sue nipped up the summit that lurked over 200 metres above us.

The views came and went.

Sue eventually turned up and after some faffing with the route we took a path to a water pipe beyond which we carefully and steeply descended to path number 2 that took all the way to Padina. It proved to be a lovely walk down.

Chalet Alpina took some finding. It turns out to be a smart place where the only English speaker is on the end of a phone. She's not phased by our late arrival (6:30) and reads out the English translation of the a la carte menu. We chose pork ribs followed by another version of papansi - this version being rather like profiteroles. We've no idea of the cost - that wasn't in the translation of the menu we never saw.

Today's exertions amounted to 22km with 1000+ metres ascent. Having missed out Peak Omu, I managed a mere 19km with 800 metres ascent.

Sue's hastily written diary is appended below:

Mon 22 June
7.30 wake. Breakfast. T3 bus at 9.40 to telegondola stop. Two gondolas to 1400 then cota 2000 for 10.30. Coffee. Cloud hovering. Walked to nearby summit then found the path north. Already surrounded by flowers, including swathes of pink Alpenrose. We soon lost the people who’d come up by gondola as we crossed the Bucegi plateau (skylarks). We descended a bit then rose again, before traversing across (Water pipit, linnet) to near a cablecar station. Around here were huge rocks, sculpted by wind and rain, into forms given names such as Babele, and the Sphinx. As we ate lunch overlooking them, it got suddenly colder and the cloud swirled around us. A flock of sheep below was being guarded by several large dogs, as we’d been warned.
Onwards north again, climbing slightly, with threats of rain and some rolls of thunder. One tricky snow patch to get round before we reached a junction where M stopped and I continued to Cabane Omu (closed) and a summit (2,500m). The cloud cleared and waterproofs came off.
I cut a bit off the descent, and, once I’d met up with M, after a false start (heading up again), we dropped past a water source, and a steep slope of Alpenrose, to join a descending path, marked with blue and white. This was a delightful valley, with slopes of Alpenrose, then a steep section down between rock cliffs, and then grassy slopes. Grey cloud hung around, giving some drizzle that was quite pleasant without waterproofs. A flock of sheep was uneventfully passed (no dogs) and we were now nearing Chalet Alpina. A section on tarmac road, then down a track past a small wooden church, down some steps, across a river, and along a track, and we were there! At around 6.15pm. It is a beautiful house, and staff don’t speak English so we had a telephone call followed by the menu in English on WhatsApp.
Getting out of sweaty clothes was nice and a shower.
Pork ribs with coleslaw and chips for dinner, followed by profiteroles. Very tasty but portions were large.