Sightseeker – Scenic Tour

Our host for today, István, lives with his family at the edge of the village. While Maris prepares a traditional dinner, we have time to visit a geological phenomenon in the village: a warm spring whose temperature never drops below 4 degrees, even in the coldest days of the Harghita winter. The geologists still wonder why. 

Freshly rested and after a hearty breakfast served by our hostess Maris, you will be back on the horses. First of all, we also ride through the Romanian part of the village.

Then it goes to the meadows of the village, where the countless sheep and cows of the farmers graze during the day.

A wonderful gallop awaits us, then we go into the picturesque Ilja Gorge. We ride through this magical forest with its steep gorges for about 2 hours.

Finally we reach the Ilia Pass at 1170 meters. Up here we see many dairies and in summer (June-September) numerous shepherds who move across the wide plains with their animals.

Sometimes half-wild horses cross our path. In the summer the horses live free on the alpine pastures and are only in autumn rewatched by their owners and brought down to the villages for pulling trees out of the forests.

Again we climb high up and are rewarded by the view from the ‘Öcsem plateau’ (1707 m). If the weather allows it, we can spot the ‘Fagarasch’ mountain range on the horizon, where the highest summits of Romania are located. Before we can reach our destination and sleeping place for today (the Lonely Store Lodge), we have to manage the challenge of hiking down the steep paths of the shepherd stone. An especially adventurous and slippery task after a rainfall. Good thing we have our reliable, waterproof hiking boots with good soles. 

Aranka, our hostess for this night, awaits us at the Lonely Stone Lodge. For years she and her husband Zoli welcome tired hikers at the hut in the middle of the Hasmas national park. This scenic place can only be reached by foot or horse. Also the dinner, breakfast and the ‘after-ride-beer’ was carried up by packing horses. We will be sleeping in bunkbeds in oven-heated rooms. 

Riding duration: 6-7 hours (depending on the weather and group)

The third day of riding starts with a hike downhill to the Olt-river. We mount the horses and ride on the plain of ‘Fekete Rez’ (1568 m). Through thick spruce forests we ride down to the village Marasfö. A loving family renovated their farmhouse for guests and we are welcomed on the terrace by our hostess Katalin. The small pension has three bathrooms, and we can wash off the dirt of the last days with a hot shower. 

Riding duration: 6-7 hours (depending on the weather and group)

After releasing the horses on the meadow, you can spent the time until dinner in the Hot Pot or in the hammock, letting the experiences of the last days sink in. Maybe, at the dinner table with a glass of good wine, the conversations will inspire you to already plan a new riding vacation?