Horse Riding through the Calimani Mountains of Bucovina
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Tour ID:
1020 Tour Theme: Active, Adventure and Wildlife Tours Regions: Northern Romania, Bucovina Duration: 8 Days / 7 Nights |
Introduction:
Equestrian travel is a way to practice a fascinating sport and at the same time a way to interact with the locals and with the local nature and culture. Our equestrian tours, which can be from one up to six days long, are tailored for small groups (2 to 8 persons), both for beginners and for good riders. The group should be homogenous and decide from the beginning the desired level of difficulty.
All tours take place in a National Park in the North-East of the country (Călimani Mountains), characterized by wilderness and untouched nature. Some of the routes go up to more than 2000 m of altitude, through wild sceneries and unbeaten tracks.
If you add the accommodation in tents and the local food prepared every day by your guides at the fireplace, you will get a real adventure. So, get ready!
Calimani National Park â“ Calimani Mountains are the highest massif in the Romanian volcanic chain (2100 m Pietrosu Călimanului Peak), the main type of rock is andesite; and the traces of the old craters are still visible. This mountain chain used to be the border of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
The tour includes 8 days horseback riding in Calimani National Park (in the North-East of the country) with accommodation in tents and all necessary equipment for horseback riding and 2 days with transfers and some visits and accommodation in 3*** hotels.A Real Equestrian Adventure, Get Ready!!!
Day by Day Itinerary:
Day 1:
ROUTING: BUCHAREST â“ VATRA DORNEI (BUCOVINA)
- Upon arrival to Bucharest international airport meet with your English-Speaking specialist tour guide
- We then depart for Northern Romania, Bucovina
- Vatra Dornei, a mountain resort situated in a tectonic depression rich in mineral water springs.
- Dinner
- Overnight in Vatra Dornei
ACCOMMODATION: Hotel 3*** (mountain resort rich in mineral waters)
D
Day 2:
ROUTING: VATRA DORNEI - GURA HAITII
- Breakfast
- In the morning, transfer to Gura Haitii village. Here we start our first day of horse trekking in Calimani National Park. First, we get acquainted to our horses, who are âœHutulâ�, an aboriginal race, robust and very good for trekking in the mountains.
- From Gura Haitii we start our adventure, on an easy village route, which becomes little by little a mountain path. After a few hours of horse trekking we reach the strange rock formations Pietrele Rosii â“ The Red Stones, at 1619 m altitude. This is an important historic point, as it is here that, until 1918, the frontiers of three states, Romania, Austria and Hungary, lied.
- Our guides prepare a tasteful meal and, after lunch and a little time to rest, we continue towards The Springsâ™ Meadow, which will be our camping place for the night.
- Dinner by the fire and accommodation in tents.
- Overnight in Calimani National Park
ACCOMMODATION: Camping
B, L, D
Day 3:
ROUTING: GURA HAITII - PIETROSU - NEGOIUL - NICOVALA - RETITIS
- Breakfast
- We leave The Springsâ™ Meadow and reach the route of Maria Theresa -the famous reigning Archduchess of Austria, the Queen of Hungary and Bohemia.
- After a good lunch prepared by our guides, we pass at the feet of Pietrosu Peak (2102 m altitude) the highest peak of Calimani Mountains.
- We continue through Negoiul Saddle (1705 m altitude), quickly gaining altitude to Nicovala Saddle (1910 m altitude). We are now on the alpine plateau.
- In the evening we reach the meteorological station situated right near Retitis Peak (2021 m) which will be our resting place for the night.
- Dinner and accommodation.
- Overnight in Calimani National Park
ACCOMMODATION: Camping
B, L, D
Day 4:
ROUTING: RETITIS - IEZER NATURAL RESERVE - CALIMANI IZOR - PALTINIS VILLAGE
- Breakfast
- In the morning we take a forestry road towards Iezer Natural Reserve â“ situated at about 1800 m altitude, a natural dam lake, of 1300 sqm and 3, 5 m depth. It is the only lake that is to be found in Calimani Mountains.
- We continue via Calimani Izvor and start descending towards Paltinis village, at about 1150 m altitude.
- Tonight we have dinner and sleep in a pension.
- Overnight in Paltinis village
ACCOMMODATION: Pension
B, L, D
Day 5:
ROUTING: PALTINIS VILLAGE - DRAGOIASA - GLODU
- Breakfast
- Today we have the possibility to observe life in traditional, small villages. In the morning we head on a country road to Dragoiasa village.
- After a good lunch and some time to rest we continue and reach in late afternoon Glodu (The Mud) village.
- Dinner by the fire and accommodation in tents.
- Overnight in Glodu
ACCOMMODATION: Camping
B, L, D
Day 6:
ROUTING: GLODU - NEAGRA BROSTENILOR - PASUL LUPULUI - BROSTENI - PIATRA-NEAMT
- Breakfast
- We are already in Bistritei Mountains. They are not high mountains, but very wild, with hardly any tourist route. We pass through Neagra Brostenilor area and stop at Pasul Lupului (The Wolfâ™s Pass) chalet.
- Lunch.
- From here we have about 15 km transfer to Brosteni town, then, following the shores of Bicaz Lake, the largest mountain reservoir in Romania, to Piatra-Neamt for dinner and accommodation
- Overnight in Piatra-Neamt
ACCOMMODATION: Pension
B, L, D
Day 7:
ROUTING: PIATRA-NEAMT - BICAZ GORGES - SIGHISOARA - BRASOV
- Breakfast
- In the morning we leave towards Bicaz Gorges â“ some of the most spectacular gorges in Romania, due to their limestone walls as high as 300 m. We climb the gorges by foot following the national road for about half an hour.
- From here we enter Transylvania region, and pass through the Saxon and Szekely lands â“ the two strongest minorities in Romania.
- Lunch in the medieval town of Sighisoara, one of the few fortresses in Europe inhabited since its beginning till the present times.
- In the evening we reach Brasov city (Kronstadt by its German name) â“ one of Romaniaâ™s tourist hotspots.
- Dinner in a restaurant
- Overnight in Brasov
ACCOMMODATION: Pension
B, L, D
Day 8:
ROUTING: BRASOV - BRAN - SINAIA - BUCHAREST
- Breakfast
- In the morning, if time allows, we visit Bran castle, also known as Dracula`s castle.
- After that we leave towards Bucharest. Passing the impressive South Carpathians, we encounter at the foot of Bucegi Mountains one of Romaniaâ™s tourist tresures -the royal resort of Sinaia.
- Transfer to the airport for the flight back home
B
End of tour services
Prices, Dates & What's Included:
Prices available upon request...
The Tour Includes:
- 2 nights accommodation in tents, 2 nights in pensions and 3 nights in 3*** hotels
- (B, D, L) Breakfasts, Dinners and Lunches as described in the itinerary
- Transfers specified in itinerary
- Horse and harness gear
- 2 equestrian guides â“ for the horse trekking days, 1 English speaking
- 1 English speaking guide for days 1, 7, 8
- Tents for camping for 2 people
- All visits included in the program
- Local Taxes
Not Included:
- Airfare
- Alcoholic drinks
- Gratuities
- Extra charges of hotel, eg. Laundry, telephone or fax charges, room service, etc..
- Insurance
**IMPORTANT NOTES**
- Participants should be equipped with waterproof boots and raincoats
- It is advisable to bring your own sleeping bag
- Upon request we can provide equestrian lessons
Dates and space for this tour are limited. To see if departures are available for your dates please fill out the Inquire/Book It form which you can access from the button below.
