Cabana Podragu — Local services in Ucea

I stayed in Cabana Podragu for two nights in August 2025. I'm sharing details in this review for future visitors, because some info is not available on the cabana website.

There are two cabana hosts, one speaks Romanian and the other Romanian and English, both were very friendly.

FEATURES Drinkable running water Clean indoor sinks and toilets, but no showers Toilet paper and soap in the bathrooms Shared dormitory rooms for sleeping Each bed comes with a clean pillow and blanket. Cash only. Credit cards aren't accepted becuase there is no mobile service.

Check in time is between 16:00 and 20:00.

NOTES Sheets and towels not provided I did not have mobile reception at the cabana There are no outlets to charge phones, etc. Bring an external charger. At this time nearby Cabana Turnuri is indefinitely closed. If you stay here two nights, you can leave your extra belongings under your bed while you hike during the day.

MEAL HOURS Breakfast served 7:00 - 9:00 Lunch served 12:00 - 14:00 Dinner served 17:00 - 21:00

MEALS Dinner is soup (35 leí) or stew (50 lei). I recommend the stew because it's heartier and more filling. The soup looks very thin. Both have meat. There are no vegetarian options for dinner.

They also have slices of bread for 5 lei (1 euro) each.

The stew was tasty, but small. I brought some extra food with me, and would have needed to order two portions of stew to be satisfied after a long day of hiking. I recommend bringing extra food from home to have with your meal. Otherwise you might be hungry or pay a lot to be satisfied.

For breakfast they have 2 eggs for 20-25 lei (4-5 euros). They also have instant coffee for 13 lei (2.5 euros) and tea.

For snacks they have packaged cookies, snickers and a few other things.

I did not order lunch here.

All food and supplies are brought to the cabana by mule, which is one reason for the higher meal prices.

ACCOMMODATION One night is 150 lei (5 euros) per night for either a bunk bed or a place on a long shared bed (see photo). You do not get to choose which one you get. I was on a shared bed which was cramped and this was one of the reasons I did not sleep well.

I highly recommend bringing a lightweight sleeping bag. When I arrived it was August, and the evening was maybe 8 degrees outside. Inside the cabana it was warmer, but I would have been cold without a sleeping bag.

RESERVATIONS Highly recommend making a reservation ahead of time because they do get full. My experience was making reservations was similar to other reviewers - I called many times but didn't get an answer. This is becuase there is no mobile service at the cabana. We emailed and received a reply within 48 hours. If you know your dates, I recommend emailing them earlier.

Email address: cabanapodragu@gmail.com

OTHER FEATURES Creeking doors that may wake you up often during the night, even with ear plugs. Someone snoring in your dorm Most hikers get up around 6:30am, and the walls are thin, so if you aren't a very deep sleeper, expect to wake up then too due to creaking doors.

I am giving 4 stars instead of 5 because of the higher cost of accommodation and the lack of good sleeping conditions. I slept poorly both nights due to cramped bed and creaking doors.

That said, overall the camp hosts are very nice and it's amazing to have a warm and clean place to stay and eat in such a gorgeous place.

As a cheaper alternative you can pitch a tent and bring your own food and cooking equipment at the lake or anywhere in the Fagaras. You would need a warm...

Would recommend to avoid it, and use it as a backup if necessary.

Overnighted in October. Super nice location and very practical to take on Moldoveanu. The lady speaks English. Only 2 food options left (soup and main dish with chicken) because they're going to close soon for winter, and beers and wine, that's enough. There was cold water (only from 2 sinks on the dorm floor, therefore tricky to create privacy to wash thoroughly) and lights until 22:00. I found the dorm fairly decent and warm with my sleeping bag, even if there's not heating in the hut.

The lady is indeed special. She's always right, no matter how rude or illogical. No point in cracking a joke or asking how the reservation system works when she doesn't reply to SMSes (despite signal reception around the hut (but not enough for internet)). Otherwise she'll ask you if you prefer to sleep outside. It's not welcoming at all. You get shouted at if you trip on the carpet in front of the kitchen, if you hang your jacket on a hook that's not at your designated bed, if you put another item than your sleeping bag on your bed, etc. It seems she can only rule by abusing her authority and taking advantage that once you're there without a tent, it's unlikely you'll walk away. She makes the hut work and provides basic services, everyone follow the rules, but other huts can do it too without using fear and leaving good memories instead.

Now, the ugly. I woke up there with a stomach bug and became much weaker. I thought it could also be from the food I got at Bălea lac. But, there are other poor reviews of the food here, and shortly after my stay an Israeli hiker had to be flown by helicopter out of Podragu following nausea (multiple news articles online, 3 Oct 2023). That makes Podragu quite suspicious. If it's the cause, it could be because she doesn't bring fresh food towards the end of the tourist season.

Overall I think the lady there, is a dangerous choice to run the mountain hut. Being moody and power abusive does not only make hikers feel stuck with no alternatives, but can also lead or force them to take riskier options. If she happens to serve damaged food or keep the hygiene standards so low, it can also lead to calls for rescue. Also, instead of a generator, solar panels could work great and maybe allow visitors to use plug points.

FYI, from the Podragu saddle to the Moldoveanu summit, and back to Podragu hut, took 4 hours at a fast pace in good weather. Moldoveanu is doable in a day for a fit and fast hiker starting rather early, and camping on the...

So my friends and i went trekking on the highest peak of Romania, Vf. Moldoveanu 2544m. We planned it as a obe day trip, starting very early morning and returning by night at our car parked down at Balea Lac. We took out stuff and left papers and money in the car, so we dont lose... ||Trip was longer than we planned, we spend more time on the peak so we ended up in front of a big decision: return to our cars - a 8 hours long trekking and at least 5 hours in complete dark, knowing we are tired but most of all its VERY dangerous, there are parts with only metal chains.. or, second option just walk 4 hours to 'Cabana Podragu' the nearest and only place we could sleep that night and just continue the trip next day, on day light. ||||We decided sleeping at Podragu is the safest, so after a hard road to walk we got there, i think 11PM and realised OUR MONEY IS IN THE CAR! Just found little money in our pockets, the amount for 3 people sleeping there and we were 4. ||||The lady there when we tried to ask just pay for 3 beds and sleep 4 people in 3 beds bcuz of this unexpected situation just started SCREAMING like crazy and forced us to leave, sleep outside. There were 6-7 degrees maybe. After long begging her she is our only solution and we just need even one bed and we all share it, she took all our money and said we can sleep in the kitchen, on the floor and she will provide sleeping bags and pillows. She made us wait 2 hours to prepare our "room" and when we got there.. she gave us 4 chairs in a row/person just put together with other 4 chairs like in her oppinion this was a "double bed". 2 people had to share this "bed and only one sleeping bag and no pillow... even though she had PLENTY. ||||It was the worst experience ever, cried all night bcuz it was very cold, could not sleep.. Did not even have space to lay on 4 chairs.. Im 1,71m.... ||||She had little respect for some humans in a desperate situation, took all our money but had us sleep on the floor even though she had available free beds or just give us enough sleeping bags. ||||So my advice is TAKE MONEY with you, haha, even on the mountain and if no needed don't sleep there. The owner is a cold hearted 'human' and the place offers little...