Horseback Trail Ride in ROMANIA : THE CARPATHIAN FORESTS AND BEARS

HORSEBACK TRAIL RIDE IN ROMANIA
Indicative itinerary *

Day 1 - Saturday: Arrival in Bucharest in the afternoon, transfer by minibus from Bucharest to the equestrian center, night at the guesthouse, presentation of the week program and dinner.

Day 2 - Sunday: After breakfast, you visit the horse farm and the horses are introduced to you. You leave for a first 3-hour trail ride through beautiful meadows, old pastures, and beautiful beech forests. You get used to your horse, the equipment and the terrain. The hills offer a fantastic view of the region and the meadows invite you to the first trots and short canters. On the way back, after a short lunch, you climb a forest road to the famous virgin forest of the Stramba Valley (a UNESCO World Heritage Site). You ride for 2 hours in the forests of century-old giant beech and fir trees (among them the largest known tree in Romania) and discover the ecosystem of the mixed forests of the Carpathians.

Day 3 - Monday: Through the hills and into the mountains. Today you go for a full day of riding along the meadows and through the forests, at the foot of the mountains. You discover a breathtaking view, and enjoy many possibilities of galloping on the meadows. You are dazzled by the variety of wild flowers, and you may discover traces of bears or wild boars. You break for lunch on beautiful meadows with spectacular views, and return in the afternoon to the stable.

Day 4 - Tuesday: History of Transylvania. Today you let the horses rest and discover the true history of Transylvania. You leave the equestrian center by car for about two hours through peaceful villages to the north, to the medieval town of Sighisoara: one of the cultural centers of the Transylvanian Saxons. Then you continue to the village of Viscri, with its famous fortified church (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) from the time of the Turkish invasion. A dirt track brings you the last 10 kilometers to Viscri: a German colony, founded 900 years ago. In 1990 most of the villagers left for Germany, but a small number of people stayed to continue their traditional life. Prince Charles, who has visited the village several times, is a great admirer of the village. A traditional Saxon meal is served with side dishes of garden produce, house wine, and plum brandy: Then you visit the fortified church, stroll through the village, and return to your accommodation. Your guide is passionate about the history of Transylvania, and once you've spent the day there: you will be too!

Days 5 and 6 - Wednesday and Thursday: 50 km round trip through the forests of Transylvania, territory of large carnivores. You cross forests and cross beautiful mountain meadows, with the possibility of long canters. You arrive in the afternoon in a region where life has changed little since the Middle Ages. The small mountain farms are still exploited with oxen or horses, running water or electricity are rare there. A camp is set up in one of these farms with a fantastic view. You enjoy a rustic dinner cooked over the campfire and spend a long evening around the fire telling stories. If you don't feel like camping in a tent, transfer possible after dinner (20 minutes walk is necessary) to go to the guest house for the night and return the next morning. The next morning, you pack and set off on forest trails and tracks through the wild forests of Transylvania. You can enjoy the spectacular view of the Carpathian Mountains, and wolf or bear tracks are commonly found along the trails. In the afternoon, you arrive at the guest house.

Day 7 - Friday: Walk through time and visit Dracula's castle On your last ride of the week, you ride in a loop for about 3 hours around Sinca Noua, through wild forests, beautiful meadows, enjoying gallops and superb landscapes. You're back for a late lunch, to continue in the afternoon to nearby Bran Castle, commonly known as Dracula's Castle. You learn that history is much more exciting than legend... In the evening after dinner, you have the choice of watching video presentations on our hosts' conservation initiatives or spending the evening in the willow pavilion in front the open fireplace, or have a drink at the bar. One evening you have the opportunity to visit a cache in the forest not far from the equestrian center, where the chance of seeing wild brown bears is very high.

Day 8 - Saturday: After breakfast, transfer to Bucharest.

* Indicative itinerary subject to modifications if necessary.