Weekend tip: ascend to paradise in the Southern Carpathians via the Transalpina road.

A Day in the Mountains

It is said that a day spent in the midst of the mountains and nature gives you energy for the entire year, and you can't help but feel this as soon as you step onto the Transalpina trail. The road that traverses the Parâng Mountains from one end to the other sometimes takes you to altitudes of over 2,100 meters, but each bend you navigate through this landscape increasingly justifies why this road is also known as *"The Devil's Path."*

Starting the Excursion

The excursion on Transalpina can be started either from the Sebeș end in Alba County or from Novaci in Gorj County. Regardless of where you start, it is important to begin the journey in the early hours of the morning. The route is challenging, so the driver must remain vigilant, as the average time to cover the 148-kilometer stretch is approximately three hours.

Journey Highlights

We set off from Sebeș but make our first stop in Jina. The village is located at an altitude of 900 meters, and here we find an impressive ethnographic museum set up in the Morariu family's house ([link](http://www.turistintransilvania.com/muzeul-etnografic-al-familiei-morariu-de-la-jina-749/)). Although we would love to stay longer, the road is long, and we must move on.

Scenic Stops

We arrive at Șugag, and before us, the road begins to rise towards paradise in the Southern Carpathians. The Tau Dam and Oasa Dam await us with stunning views. In the area around Oasa Dam, there are several points worth visiting:

• Luncile Prigoanei
• Șureanu
• Valea Frumoasă

After another 60 kilometers, during which Transalpina shows us why it is also called the King's Road, we reach Obârșia Lotrului. We begin to lose our phone signal, and the road becomes increasingly steep. The images of the mountains are etched in our minds, and we can only gaze silently at the paradise we have reached.

The Final Stretch

We continue on towards Novaci, where the hairpin turns start to crowd together. We arrive at Urdele Pass, near Rânca, the highest point on Transalpina. The world seen from 2,145 meters is entirely different. For several kilometers, only mountain peaks, forests, and waters stretch out before us, with the occasional shepherd's hut. We don't want to leave, but we continue our journey towards Novaci, where the Royal Road comes to an end.