Lake Bilea is the jewel of the Fagaras Mountains, and if you're a nature lover, it's a great choice for active recreation. The lake is located next to the popular panoramic road, the Transfagarasan highway. The lake is at an altitude of 2034 metres and has a maximum depth of 11 metres.
Recommended itinerary: Lake Balea and waterfall-Fagaras-Sibiu
July: 23-30 °C
Meals in cheaper restaurants: from 3 £
domestic beer: 1 £, cappuccino: 1 £
95 £/2person/night
It is important to note that a part of the Transfogaras road is closed for most of the year due to avalanche danger. Officially, the closure is from 1 November to 1 July, but it may change depending on the weather, so if you're driving, you should definitely come in the summer months.
From the Fogaras train station, buses run to Balea waterfalls, where you can take a cable car to the lake. The cable car ride up is another unforgettable experience, with a beautiful panorama as the cable car leaves the 800 m level difference.
Lake Balea offers a wide range of attractions and activities. There are several hiking trails around the lake with beautiful views of the mountains and valleys. The mountain peaks rise to 2,400 metres above sea level and there is also a tourist chalet next to the lake where you can rest or stay. The hikes are of varying difficulty, some with some serious ascents, and it is advisable to bring suitable equipment and check the weather beforehand, as the weather in the Fagaras mountains changes frequently and rapidly.
In summer, it is also possible to swim and boat in the lake, but swimming is only recommended for the more brave traveller, as the water temperature never rises above 10°C in summer. There is a small chapel next to the lake, built in 1904, where weddings are often held.
A trip around the lake should be combined with a visit to the Balea waterfall, which falls 40 metres down from the 1234-metre-high Balea stream.
In winter, Lake Balea offers a truly special experience: every year an ice hotel is built on the shores, which opens just before Christmas and it is open from the end of December until April. The ice hotel has ten double rooms and a few more igloos. The average temperature in the rooms is between +2 and -2°C, so plenty of warm blankets are available.
If you want to see even more of Transylvania, it's worth visiting some of the nearby towns and villages.
Lake Balea and waterfall:
Comments