Via Transilvanica

As soon as I finished school (Gymnasium) in 2024 at the age of 18, I set out to travel around Europe. Over multiple months, the trip ended up consisting of many different things (Hiking in Switzerland, hitchhiking across the Balkans, travelling through many countries I’d never been to), but the most significant part was the month I spent walking the Via Transilvanica long-distance trail.

For my first time trying my hand at longer-term hiking, I chose to follow the little-known, yet profoundly interesting, trail cutting through 1400 kilometres of the Romanian region of Transylvania (Yes, the Dracula Transylvania). I began my journey at the very beginning of the trail in the small North Romanian town of Putna. 

For a month, I followed the path south through the Transylvanian countryside, wilderness and small villages seemingly forgotten by time. I stayed most nights in the homes of locals along the way, only occasionally opting to sleep outside for fear of the large population of bears in Romania. 

Throughout this month, I experienced stunning landscapes, ate (and drank! – I’ve found it close to impossible to turn down the homebrewed spirits that I was offered so often) with the locals and was chased time and time again by aggressive shepherd dogs. 

My first foray into the world of long-distance hiking – while being much less wild than I have otherwise found myself drawn to, both before and since – was immensely rewarding. Had it not been for my experiences on that trip, I doubt that I would later have found myself ready and confident enough to undertake my walk across Norway.