Prislop Pass is the highest mountain pass in the Eastern Carpathians, sitting at 1,416 m above sea level — and that alone sets it apart from almost anywhere else in Romanian mountain country. Crossing it on national road DN18 means travelling between the Maramureș Depression to the west and the Golden Bistrita valley of Moldova to the east, with the Rodnei Mountains rising to the south and the Maramureș Mountains to the north.

The scenery here is genuinely dramatic. The western side above Borșa is steep and moody, while the eastern slope descends more gently toward Cârlibaba. In summer the high meadows are lush and alive with wildflowers, and the pass buzzes with visitors heading to the famous 'Hora de la Prislop' folk festival held every late August. Autumn turns the surrounding forests into a blaze of gold, while winter brings a raw, untouched stillness that makes the landscape feel truly remote.

• From the west — town of Borșa (approx. 20 km), road DN18 by car or bus; the ascent is steeper on this side.
• From the east — village of Șesuri, commune of Cârlibaba, road DN18; a gentler gradient makes this approach slightly easier.

• A han (traditional inn) operates at the pass — ideal for a warm meal and a rest.
• The 'Hora de la Prislop' folk festival takes place on the first Sunday after the Assumption of Mary each August — expect heavy traffic and large crowds on that weekend.
• The Prislop Monastery (built from 1999, open from 2008) is located at the pass, with a military cemetery on its grounds honouring 136 soldiers from both World Wars.
• At the foot of the pass on the eastern side, the 'Museum of Roots' displays over 100 tree roots in bizarre natural shapes, alongside wartime artefacts and a collection of Easter eggs from Maramureș and Bucovina.

History runs deep here: a monument near Preluca Tătarilor marks the spot where, in 1717, locals from Borșa repelled the last Tatar raid ever to strike Maramureș — a remarkable story carved right into the landscape.