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The Bucegi Mountains
Mushroom-shaped rocks and a Sphinx on the plateau, a monastery in a cave and narrow gorges along the river Ialomița. The Bucegi Mountains lie in the Carpathians in the centre of Romania.
Mushroom rocks, a cave monastery and gorges
Most of the range is a nature park of more than 32,000 hectares in the counties of Dâmbovița, Prahova and Brașov. The highest peak is the Omu at just over 2,500 metres. On the plateau at about 2,200 metres stand the Babele: rocks in the shape of mushrooms. A few hundred metres further on stands the Sphinx. That rock looks like a human head. They were worn out of conglomerate by erosion.
High up in the Ialomița valley lies the Peștera Ialomiței cave with a monastery in its entrance. According to tradition, Prince Mihnea cel Rău founded the monastery at the beginning of the sixteenth century. It burned down a few times, most recently in 1961. The church that stands there now was built between 1993 and 1996. According to legend the apostle Andrew stayed in the cave.
The Cheile Zănoagei gorge begins at Camping Zănoaga. Just north of the campsite lies the Bolboci reservoir. At the top end of that lake the Ialomița runs through the Cheile Tătarului. That gorge is a nature reserve. Brown bears, wolves, chamois, red deer and lynx live in the park. High in the mountains edelweiss grows and from June the rhododendron blooms.
Usually from June into November
The snow has usually melted completely by June and the walking season can run into November. As of November 2026: the cable car from Bușteni to the Babele runs every day except Tuesday. The cable car from Peștera to the Babele runs only from Friday to Sunday. For the nature park you pay 10 lei (about 1.90 euros) per person aged 14 and over. That ticket is valid for 90 days.
Beautiful walks
Through the Cheile Zănoagei to Lacul Scropoasa
2.5 km one way · there and back · starts at Camping Zănoaga
A themed route of the nature park. From the campsite you follow the Ialomița through the narrow gorge to the lake Lacul Scropoasa. The path is part of the route with the blue cross marking. The park allows an hour and a half for the single journey. You walk back the same way.
From Peștera to the Babele and the Sphinx
about 3.4 km one way · about 600 metres of climbing · there and back · starts at Hotel Peștera
Following the blue cross marking you climb to the plateau. You come out at the Babele and then walk on a few hundred metres to the Sphinx. You walk back the same way or, from Friday to Sunday, take the cable car down to Peștera. The cave with the monastery is right next to the start. From May to September the cave is open from 9.00 to 17.30 and from October to April from 9.00 to 16.00. In 2026 a ticket costs 30 lei for an adult. Peștera is about 12 kilometres by road from the campsite and you drive over the Padina bridge.
Loop from Padina over Șaua Strunga
16 km · about 6 hours · circular walk · starts at Cabana Padina
This too is a themed route of the nature park. From Padina you climb to the Șaua Strunga saddle. Then you walk along the ridge via the Drumul Grănicerilor path and descend past the Doamnele waterfall to Peștera. From there you walk back to Padina. The park rates the route as moderate to hard. In winter the path over the ridge is closed. Padina is about 10 kilometres by road from the campsite.
Our campsites nearby
Camping Zănoaga lies at the start of the Cheile Zănoagei close to Lake Bolboci. The nature park calls it the only permitted campsite in the Bucegi Mountains. Pets are not allowed. For each campsite the map shows the circular walks that start close by.