Busteni, Prahova Valley, a beautiful vacation destination

Busteni, Prahova Valley,  a mountain town located almost in the center of Romania, considered the Main Gate to the Bucegi Massif of the Carpathian Mountains,  remains one of my most favorite vacation destinations.  

Bucegi Massif, Platoul Bucegi, Romania

Although Romania has a lot of gorgeous tourist destinations and the Romanian Officials launched many campaigns to promote Romania internationally as a tourism destination, unfortunately it is still not such a frequented Eastern European Country for travelers.

Picturesque fields with mountain flora, atop of Caraiman Peak, Romania

Well, of course, Bucharest, Romanian Monasteries,  Unesco World Heritage Sites  and Dracula's Castle are some popular spots, but if you are in Bucharest and want to have an amazing day trip, just rent a car or take the train to Busteni, Prahova Valley / Valea Prahovei.

Busteni view, atop of Caraiman Peak, Carpathian Mountains, Romania

I love this picturesque mountain setting boasting spectacular landscapes and tourist attractions. Every time I may choose something new from a lot of holiday activities like mountain trips, hiking, biking, skiing in the winter season, visiting Cantacuzino Palace / Palatul Cantacuzino and Caraiman Monastery / Manastirea Caraiman or listening live classical and rock music during the Music Festivals organized in the main park.

Caraiman Cabin / Cabana Caraiman, Bucegi Mountains

Once you get off at Busteni (just 135 km from Bucharest), you may take a cable car / gondola / telecabina (4350m long - the biggest Romanian cable-car line) from Busteni to the Babele, going atop of a Bucegi Mountains/ Muntii Bucegi. 

View from Gondola, Cable-Car, Telecabina Busteni Babele

There you may pass nearby Babele Cabin / Cabana Babele and climb over boulders to see " Old Ladies Rock Faces / Babe rocks / Babele" and "The Sphynx / The Sphinx / Sfinxul" - fantastic monuments carved by the wind about more than 2000 meters altitude in the Bucegi Massif / Masivul Bucegi.

Sphynx / Sphinx / Sfinx, Bucegi Plateau, Romania

Old Ladies Rock Faces / Babe rocks / Babele, Bucegi Plateau, Romania

After you reach the top, you may hike through the Bucegi National Park / Parcul National Bucegi on marked trails through the colorful fields with rare mountain flowers (rare species of wild flora and fauna, including edelweiss/ floare de colt) .

Colorful fields with rare mountain flowers, Bucegi Mountains

In July we spent few days in this area and the generous weather permitted us to take spectacular pictures of the Bucegi Mountains/ Muntii Bucegi and Baiului Mountains/ Muntii Baiului panoramas. We've wondered following the marked trails to the highest peaks in Bucegi Mountains, visiting OMU Peak / Varful OMU (2504 m altitude), climbing on unusual rocky formations alongside Costila Region / Regiunea Costila, Caraiman Mountain / Muntele Caraiman, Zamora area and alongside the second cable-car line "Babele-Piatra Arsa" (2543 m long).
 


Also we explored the peak areas, hiking for about one hour from the Babele Gondola Station to "The Heroes' Cross / Heroes Monument / Crucea Eroilor", a huge steel cross (48m high and 14m wide) to honor the World War I heroes, erected at 2291 m altitude, atop of the Caraiman Peak/ Varful Caraiman,  (is said that is unique in Europe, by its size and location).

The Heroes' Cross / Heroes Monument / Crucea Eroilor,  Caraiman Peak, Romania

Heroes Monument / Crucea Eroilor,  Caraiman Peak, close view

During the night this monument enforced on a concrete pedestal is lighted and is visible (when the sky is clear) from Busteni, Sinaia, Predeal and other SPA towns along Prahova Valley/ Valea Prahovei.





Hope the images will convince you to visiting it one day.