Romania - Transfagarasen Update

[gavinbell]

After a couple of requests from Tossers by PM .... thought I would post an update on here:

Just checked - Transfagarasen is officially closed until 1st July - the tunnel gates are locked. The main route is apparently cleared of snow so you can get up to the top but not down other side. Though there is always risk of avalanche at this time of year. Some polish got trapped a couple of years ago in early july!! there is a FB page - https://www.facebook.com/transfagarasan

Transalpina - this is officially closed as still work in progress!!! But is open to drive at own risk and according to the TA forum cleared of snow. http://www.transalpina.biz/phpBB3/vi...0a23da82#p2894

 

[DrAlf]

Just been reading through old Romania threads - thanks for all the info Gavin

I'm looking at the possibility of a short 3 day fly/hire trip later in the year and have been looking into routes. There's a 'white' twisty road that comes off the Transalpina called the '704'. It looks super twisty and probably quite technical. Have you done this road? Would you recommend it? Is it paved or offroad? Thinking of using it to string together a rough figure of eight loop with the Transfagarasen.

Appreciate your thoughts - or indeed any other local knowledge.

Ta

 

[Dave Ford]

DJ704

Have done the 704 a couple of times - it's wonderful. Nicely surfaced and lovely scenery. This is a fabulous route:

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The highlight is this section:



The first time I rode it (bottom to top) I had my fiancée as pillion. When we arrived at the top I asked her to wait at the roadside while I did it again solo. Newly surfaced and ultra-smooth.

Transfagarașan has to be seen and done, but in my opinion, as a road for riding, Transalpina beats it hands down.

Also check out Trans-Semenic (DJ582) from Reșița to Slatina-Timiș. Recently completed and simply wonderful.

Some of my other favourites:



Obviously you can't do then all in a short break - depends where you're starting from.

Hope this helps.

 

[Dave Ford]

More on Transfagarasan

This morning I spoke to a friend who cycled the Transfagarasan at the weekend. As Gavin says, the main tunnel gates are locked. However the pedestrian access gates are open and the tunnel is passable for bikes and cycles. This guys saw bikes going through, including these two:

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Second one looks like a GS Adv. Still plenty of snow up there, but not here in Timisoara:

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