Trip ITINERARY

Day 1 | The Bears’ Cave and wooden church
Have a smooth approach to the mountains and start your trip with a visit to the Bears’ Cave, a famous Romanian show-cave and a 300-year old wooden church. Enjoy a glass of pălincă (a traditional home-made plum brandy) in a local museum, and discover the ancient way of life of the Apuseni Mountains people.

Day 2 | Bohodei waterfall
Enjoy a moderate day hike to the Bohodei waterfall, listen the sound of the water falling from an impressive height and let yourself delighted by one of the wildest part of this mountain.

Day 3 | Transfer to Padiş area – the core of Apuseni Nature Park
Transfer to the central part of the mountains. On the way, visit Oşelu waterfall and Groapa de la Barsa karst plateau.

Day 4 | Cetăţile Ponorului
Cetăţile Ponorului (The Ponor Citadel) is the true symbol of the Apuseni Mountains nature. Enjoy a full day hiking along them and discover the fantastic/outstanding mechanism that nature builds here.  

Day 5 | Galbena Gorge and Poiana Florilor
Trek to Poiana Florilor (The Flowers’ Glade), enjoy the view and diversity of the flowers, discover the underground glacier “Focul Viu” (The Living Fire) and dare to be a pioneer in the wilderness of Galbena Gorge. 

Day 6 | Relaxation
Have a drink on the terrace, take a sunbath or a walk in the forest - the day is all yours to relax after the demanding hikes you have taken. You will need all the energy you can save for the next days!

Day 7 | Cheile Someşului Cald
Discover another bijou of the area: Someşul Cald Gorge, with its wild rocky cliffs and waterfalls, compact forest and amazing caves.

Day 8 | Groapa Ruginoasă phenomenon
Transfer to Arieş valley, in the highlands of the Apuseni Mountains - also known as Ţara Moţilor (Country of the Moţi). It is here that you can visit Groapa Ruginoasă (the Rusty Pit), the largest natural erosion phenomenon in Romania.

Day 9 | Scărişoara Ice Cave
A 3000-year old underground glacier is not a usual thing in Europe, but to the Moţi population it has already become a normal aspect in the local geography. Located near a charming hamlet, the ice cave is a “must see”, along with the entire plateau, where you will see how a karst system works.

Day 10 | Casa de Piatră
The last day to spend in the mountains will be dedicated to a horse-cart trip to one of the most remote places in The Country of the Moţi: Casa de Piatră/ The Rocky House hamlet. Discover the traditional way of life here and explore the interactions between people and Mother Nature.

Day 11 | Oradea & Felix spa
Relax in a thermal spa near Oradea, admire the sublime architectural beauty of the city and enjoy the last evening over a traditional Romanian dinner and socialize in a local restaurant.

Accommodation

For the first two days we will stay in a private guesthouse in Chiscau area. The guesthouse, arranged in a traditional old wooden house, specific for the area, is a quiet and cozy house, with rooms arranged in a traditional manner. There are available rooms with 2 and 3 beds, with shared bathrooms and a nice dinning room.

In the central part of the mountains, Padis plateau, we are going to stay in a mountain cabin with rooms having 2, 3 and 4 beds, with shared bathrooms with warm water and a common dinning room. 

On Aries Valley you will be accommodated in 2 and 3 daisy guesthouses, in rooms with 2 or 4 beds, shared bathrooms, fully equipped kitchen, hot and cold water, central heating.