Gura Diham to Cabana Diham: an easy introduction to the Bucegi
4.5 km, 400 m of ascent and about two hours on a blue triangle, from 980 m to 1320 m. Easy apart from the first twenty minutes, which has a name in Romanian.
A common first walk in the Bucegi. Cabana Gura Diham sits at 980 m, 5 km from Bușteni railway station at the foot of the massif, and the path from it up to Cabana Diham at 1320 m is short, well marked and genuinely easy.
It is also an option when the tops are in cloud, which they often are.
4.5 km · 400 m · About 2 hours · Easy
- Distance: 4.5 km
- Ascent: 400 m
- Time: About 2 hours
- Waymark: Blue triangle (triunghi albastru)
- Difficulty: Easy
- From: Cabana Gura Diham, 980 m
- To: Cabana Diham, 1320 m
Getting to the start
Gura Diham is 5 km from Bușteni railway station. The road is asphalt the whole way and there is free parking in front of the cabana, so a short taxi from the station is the simple answer if you are not driving.
The route
The fool’s slope
The path starts to the right of Cabana Gura Diham and climbs steeply straight away. This first section has a name in Romanian — panta prostului, the fool’s slope — most likely because instead of switchbacking along the contour it simply goes directly up.
Anyone who sets off cold, or straight after a large meal, will find it hard going and may consider turning round. It lasts about twenty minutes.
After the junction
Twenty minutes up you reach the fork for Cabana Poiana Izvoarelor. The Diham path continues to the right and the gradient eases immediately.
From there it is about an hour of easy climbing through forest to Șaua Baiului, where you will find two telecommunications masts and a signpost. Turn left at the signpost onto the forest road, still on the blue triangle, and follow it to the hut.
One thing to know
Cabana Poiana Izvoarelor is closed indefinitely. The clearing is still a pleasant destination and the path is unaffected, but do not plan on food, water or a bed there.
Where it leads
Cabana Diham is a junction as well as a destination. From here the paths continue to Cabana Mălăiești, or up the Take Ionescu path toward La Prepeleac and Vârful Bucșoiu. As a first day, the hut and the walk back down is enough on its own.
Part of our guide to hiking from Bușteni.
Looking for the Romanian version? This route is written up in full, with more photos and a GPS track, at greuladeal.ro.
