Heliski Paradise In Romania

Skiing is not the first thing that comes to mind when you think Romania. Mountains here are slightly lower than the Alps, and due to the general throwback of the communist period, they’ve had a shorter history of slope management and a less established skiing tradition.

That’s what brought a handful of adventure-seeking people to the virgin powdery slopes of the Carpathians. Reserved for the few who are fit and wild enough to take the leap into the unknown, and the even fewer who can afford it, heliskiing has added another dimension to exclusive travel in Romania. Mainly guided by international athletes, the few that dare to take the challenge experience vast untouched snow. Were they not supported by top notch technology you could almost say it’s a way of experiencing raw nature at its best.

Fagaras Mountains drop-off. Courtesy of Epique.

The season for heliskiing is short: about a month between February and March, depending on the weather. That’s the best time to head up without disturbing the wildlife excessively while the snow is still around. The tall Fagaras (highest mountains in the country), the mysterious Bucegi (with their pensive Sphynx) or the untouched backcountry perfection of the less visited Tarcu Mountains are the go to destinations for such thrills. Accommodation would be within half an hour, and can range from traditional mountain lodges to less charming but perfectly located hotels in the vicinity of the slopes. One can only hope to mix in a night or two in the Ice Hotel on Fagaras, where you eat, sleep, live in an igloo, with nothing but ice to keep you warm.

To maintain the charm of the wilderness and stress the ecosystem minimally, heliski trips are and should continue to be a rare treat. Every chance to fly up should be with utmost gratitude and respect for the mountains receiving you. Hibernation season when the fauna is retired lower in the mountains is best. But if you do manage to book a trip, the rush of the adrenalin can only be topped by the humbling understanding of the greatness of nature at the tip. Miles and miles of white untouched slopes, no man in sight. Just the hush of your skis on the fresh snow. Total freedom.