> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://hikingbeast.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # The fastest way to Cabana Malaiesti - URL: https://hikingbeast.com/cabana-malaiesti-summer-trail/ - Published: 2021-03-13T14:43:25.000Z - Updated: 2021-03-13T14:43:25.000Z - Author: Alex - Tags: Romania, Bucegi, moderate ****The fastest way to get to Cabana Malaiesti from Bucharest** is from the town of ****Busteni**. ****In short, it’s a 5-6 hours hike from the train station in Busteni. You can save 1 hour by driving (or by taking a taxi) directly to the start of the trail at Gura Diham.** The hiking trail towards ****Cabana Malaiesti** starts near ****Cabana Gura Diham**, which is located at the base of the mountain, ****4.5 km** away from the ****train station in Busteni**. The trail from **Cabana Gura Diham** to ****Cabana Malaiesti** has a length of ****8 km** with ****a total elevation gain of 1000 meters**, so be prepared for some ****vigorous effort**. It takes around ****4 hours** to get from ****Cabana Gura Diham** to ****Cabana Malaiesti**. The trail is of ****easy to moderate difficulty**. There are some portions on the trail where you have to be extra cautious and hold on to the cables fixed in the rocks. ****Important: this trail is only open in the summer season (May to November)** The part of the trails between Poiana ****Pichetul Rosu** (Red Picked Glade) and ****Malaiesti Chalet** is also known as the ****Take Ionescu trail**. People commonly refer to it as ****Take**. It is ****closed during winter** due to high risk of avalanches. - Check out this article on [how to get to ****Cabana Malaiesti** during ****winter**](https://hikingbeast.com/cabana-malaiesti-summer-trail/#). ****If you want to spend the night at Cabana Malaiesti you will have to book in advance by calling this number: +40741074884** ## Getting to Busteni from Bucharest The hike starts from the town of ****Busteni**. #### By train The fastest way from Bucharest to Busteni is by train. There are hourly trains that depart from the ****Gara de Nord** train station in Bucharest to Busteni. ****Make sure you take an IR train** (inter-regio) because they are much faster than ****R** (regio) trains. The IR train ride from Bucharest to Busteni takes ****less than 2 hours** and costs around ****10 EUR**. You can find the ****train schedule** [here](https://www.cfrcalatori.ro/en/?ref=hikingbeast.com). If you are travelling from Bucharest enter “****Bucuresti Nord**” for departure and “****Busteni**” for arrival. #### By car The distance from ****Bucharest** to ****Busteni** is of about ****150 km** and it’s a **2-3 hour drive**, depending on the traffic. You can avoid the traffic jams that form during weekends by departing before 7 am from Bucharest. This way, you can also increase your changes of finding a parking spot near the start of the trail, at ****Cabana Gura Diham**. ## Trailhead The trail towards the ****Malaiesti Chalet** starts near ****Cabana Gura Diham** touristic complex which is located ****4.5 km** away from the ****Busteni train station**. The road to ****Cabana Gura Diham** is in good condition as it was recently paved. You can ****park your car for free** near ****Gura Diham**. A ****taxi** ride from the train station to ****Gura Diham** will cost you around 25 lei. ## Trail markings > *Red stripe (1.5 hours)* > > *Cabana Gura Diham (980 m) – Pichetul Rosu (1420 m)* --- Red Triangle (2.5 hours) Pichetul Rosu (1420 m) – La Prepeleac (1760m) – Cabana Malaiesti (1720 m) ## Getting to Cabana Malaiesti – main checkpoints and trail description #### 1\. ****Cabana Poiana Izvoarelor (1455 m)** > *Red stripe (1.5 hours)* > > *Cabana Gura Diham (980 m) – Pichetul Rosu (1420 m)* The trail starts ****at the right of the Cabana Gura Diham** chalet. Start your hike by following the ****red stripe** markings. After a 15 minute rather steep ascent you will reach a sign post where the path divides in two. Continue on ****red bar** towards ****Cabana Poiana Izvoarelor.** **The other trail – blue triangle – will take you to Cabana Diham (1320m).* From ****Gura Diham**, you should reach ****Cabana Poiana Izvoarelor** in less than ****1.5 hours**. ****Important**: At ****Cabana Poiana Izvoarelor** you will find ****the last source of water** until ****Cabana Malaiesti.** **The spring at Cabana Malaiesti has dried out. You will be able to purchase bottled water from the chalet at a price of 5 lei per half a liter.* ![](https://hikingbeast.com/content/images/2021/03/IMG_20180922_093914--1-.png) At Cabana Poiana Izvoarelor #### 2\. ****Pichetul Rosu (1420 m)** > *Red stripe (15 minutes)* > > *Cabana Poiana Izvoarelor (1455 m) – Pichetul Rosu (1420 m)* From ****Cabana Poiana Izvoarelor** continue on the ****red stripe** markings for about ****15 minutes** until you reach to the signpost at ****Pichetul Rosu**. ![](https://hikingbeast.com/content/images/2021/03/IMG_20180922_100151.png) The sign post at Pichetul Rosu #### ****3\. La Prepeleac (1760 m)** > *Red triangle (1.5 hours)* > > *Pichetul Rosu (1420 m) – La Prepeleac (1760 m)* The part of the trail between ****Pichetul Rosu** and the ****Malaiesti Chalet** is also known as ****Take Ionescu trail** or simply “Take”. ****It is closed during the winter season (start of November to end of April) due to avalanche risk.** **Take Ionescu was the prime minster of Romania between 1921-1922 and sponsored the building of this trail.* From ****Pichetul Rosu** start following the **red triangle** markings all the way to ****Cabana Malaiesti**. After a ****1 hour** hike from ****Pichetul Rosu** you will reach the intersection called ****La Prepeleac** where the red triangle and red bar paths separate. Continue on ****red triangle** towards ****Cabana Malaiesti**. **The other trail – red bar – is heading towards Bucsoiu ridge and Omu Peak.* ![](https://hikingbeast.com/content/images/2021/03/IMG_20180922_110309.png) Some parts of the trail require increased attention #### ****Cabana Malaiesti (1720 m)** > *Red triangle (1 hour)* > > *La Prepeleac (1760 m) – Cabana Malaiesti (1720 m)* From ****La Prepeleac** continue the ascent on ****red triangle** and you should reach ****Cabana Malaiesti** in about ****1 hour**. On the way to the ****Malaiesti Chalet**, You will pass through **some exposed areas** where you will have to use the chains embedded in the rock. ![](https://hikingbeast.com/content/images/2021/03/IMG_5518.png) Cabana Malaiesti ## Going back to Gura Diham from Cabana Malaiesti ### An easier route to Gura Diham You can go back to ****Cabana Gura Diham** on a less exposed trail, a 4-hour walk in the forest. From ****Cabana Malaiesti** follow the ****blue stripe** markings towards ****Cabana Diham**. This path is open all year round. The trail descends for about 1.5 hours until you reach a river. After you cross the river you will have to ****ascend for 50 minutes** until you get to ****Cabana Diham**. From ****Cabana Diham** you will descent to ****Cabana Gura Diham** in 1.5 hours. ### Ascend to Omu Peak From Cabana Malaiesti Taking any of the trails described below will take around 5-7 hours to complete if you are in good shape. #### 1 .****Cabana Malaiesti – Hornul Mare – Omu Peak – Valea Cerbului – Gura Diham** From ****Cabana Malaiesti** follow the ****blue stripe markings** all the way to ****Omu Peak** and from there descend via **Valea Cerbului** on ****yellow bar** for about ****5 hours**. This trail will leave you 1.3 km away from ****Cabana Gura Diham** at the asphalt road (Valea Cerbului street). #### ****Cabana Malaiesti – Saua Brana Caprelor – Bucsoiu Peak – Omu Peak – Valea Cerbului – Gura Diham** From ****Cabana Malaiesti** follow the ****blue stripe markings** until you reach the signpost that points towards ****Brana Caprelor**. From there follow the ****blue triangle markings**. ****Brana Caprelor** is one of our favorite trails because it offers some breathtaking views. [Read more about this trail](https://hikingbeast.com/brana-caprelor-bucegi/). If you don’t want to go all the way to ****Omu Peak**, from ****Saua Brana Caprelor** you can descent directly to ****La Prepeleac** and from there to ****Gura Diham** (basically the same way you went up to ****Cabana Malaiesti**) ## Some photos from the trail – Cabana Gura Diham to Cabana Malaiesti ![Hiking to Cabana Malaiesti](https://hikingbeast.com/content/images/2021/03/IMG_20180922_090650.png) The trails starts with a steep ascent ![Hiking to Cabana Malaiesti](https://hikingbeast.com/content/images/2021/03/IMG_5055.png) One of the many steep climbing sections of the trail ![Hiking to Cabana Malaiesti](https://hikingbeast.com/content/images/2021/03/IMG_5068.png) Rich vegetation during the summer ![Hiking to Cabana Malaiesti](https://hikingbeast.com/content/images/2021/03/IMG_5542.png) ![Hiking to Cabana Malaiesti](https://hikingbeast.com/content/images/2021/03/IMG_5488.png) View from Cabana Malaiesti