Scenic route: Sinaia - Cuibul Dorului - Dichiu Pass - Bolboci Lake - Ialomitei Cave

Sinaia - Cuibul Dorului Chalet - Dichiu Pass - Bolboci Lake - Ialomitei Cave scenic route passes through the south-east side of the Bucegi Mountains and enters Bucegi Natural Park, eventually arriving in the area called Padina. The nearest villages and towns to the scenic route are Glod, Moroeni and Sinaia, and the geographical location is the north of Prahova County.

The nearest asphalt roads to this scenic route towards Padina are DN 1 (Bucharest - Ploiesti - Brasov - Sibiu - Alba Iulia - Cluj-Napoca - Oradea), DN 71 (Baldana - Targoviste - Sinaia) and DJ 713 (Cuibul Dorului Chalet - Dichiu Pass - Babele Chalet - which is only part asphalt).

Car access can be achieved with any type of car following DN 1 or DN 71 towards Sinaia. If you are coming from Brasov you need to pass through Sinaia and take a right in the intersection just after the small dam lake on Prahova River which will be on your left (please see the location on Google Maps). If you are coming from Ploiesti you need to take a left in the same intersection (please see the location in Street View). The road ahead is the same regardless of where you came from. You need to continue cca. 7,0 km on DN 71, passing the area with hair pin turns, and taking a right on the asphalt road which is at a 45 degree angle with the national road (DJ 713).

If you are coming from Targoviste you need to follow DN 71 through Aninoasa, Doicesti, Pucioasa, Motaieni, Fieni, Buciumeni, Dealu Mare, Pietrosita, Moroeni, Glod, passing some hair pin turns and reaching the intersection with DJ 713, which will be on your left, in a road turn (please see the location on Google Maps).

Follow DJ 713, passing Cuibul Dorului Chalet, and continue on for cca. 9,0 km until you reach the alpine plane in an area called Dichiu Pass (please see the location on Google Maps). Dichiu Pass Chalet is situated in this intersection. The asphalt road continues towards the right in the direction of Babele Chalet and Piatra Arsa Chalet. You need to continue driving on the dirt road that is climbing down through the fir forrest (DJ 713A). The road sectiun up until now has asphalt and was upgraded 3 years ago and still offers good road conditions.

After cca. 3,0 km you will encounter an intersection with another dirt road (DJ 714) which climbes down towards DN 71 through Glod Village (please see the location on Google Maps). For Padina you need to take a right in this intersection. After another cca. 2,5 km you will encounter Bolboci Dam, in an area where two roads split: one dirt road and one asphalt road (please see the location on Google Maps).

Both roads are going towards Padina, the first going on the left side of the lake, passing near Bloboci Chalet and through Tatarului Gorges, while the second is going on the right side of the lake passing near Laptici Peat Bog and intersecting with the first after Tatarului Gorges. The travel distance on the first road is cca. 8,0 km. The travel distance on the second road is cca. 8,5 km. The road section from Dichiu Pass up until this point, regardless of the route taken, will not pose problems for any type of car.

From the spot where the two roads intersect again there are cca. 1,5 km until Padina on a dirt road accessible to any type of car. In the area you can visit the Coteanu Gorges, Ialomitei Cave and Pestera Monastery. Also you can take the cable car to Babele, the trip being cheaper and faster than the one from Busteni to Babele Chalet.

If you are hungry I can recommend Pestera Hotel or Padina Chalet if your budget is not exactly high.