The way of the wolf in Apuseni Mountains

“The way of the wolf in Apuseni Mountains” (Western Carpathians-Romania) is a joint initiative between the research and conservation project “The way of the wolf" and the Responsible Travel Program Apuseni Experience.

	Trip Details
	Length: 2 modules x 1 week Start/end: Oradea Activity level: moderate Availability: 10.05-23.05.2008 Group: min 4 – max 7 Cost: 690 euros/module(week)

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“The way of the wolf” project is in fact a wildlife management project. The project contents different modules which are set-up in a way that a wide range of people can join and help.

The base goal of the project is to inform and support the coexistence of people with large carnivores and other wild animals. We, humans, behave in a way that those conflicts between humans and wild animals are on a daily order. It is not because animals are creating issues; it is because we provoke the problems with our behaviour. We are not spending enough respect to the normal behaviour of wild animals and are simply ignoring the needs of wild animals to survive.

The different modules of the project are:
     1.Public awareness and educational programs
     2.Supporting the sustainable tourism activities especially eco-tourism development
     3.Research on migration routes of wild animals and the impact of human infrastructure

The aim of this joint initiative is to create a framework for active wildlife conservation through ecotourism development, local community awareness and education in the Apuseni Mountains.

In 2007, we are going to run a two weeks exploratory trip (2 modules of one week) in order to create an ecotourism program with a strong educational component, program which will be in place starting with 2008.

Apuseni Experience is a responsible tourism program developed in Western Carpathians-Romania. At Apuseni Experience, we are committed to sharing our knowledge and love for Apuseni Mountains, for their history, culture and nature, while offering opportunities for sustainable development of their communities. Apuseni Experience offers standard and tailor made outdoor experiences such as: hiking and trekking, caving, cultural routes, nature photography, all routed in the real traditions of local people and in one of the most interesting natural areas in Romania: the Apuseni Mountains.

You are invited to attend this preparation trip of the ecotourism program, to get in the ‘backstage’ of an ecotourism program creation, to learn about local communities and their interaction with wildlife, to track wolfs and other large carnivores and actively contribute with ideas and suggestions to the itinerary.

Dates: Module 1: 10th - 16th of May 2008, Module 2: 17th - 23th of May 2008
Proposed itinerary (please bear in mind that this is a preparation trip and the itinerary is a flexible one in order to fit into the aim and specific methods of the project).

Trip ITINERARY Week 1 (10-16 of May 2008):

Day 1, 10th of May 2008:
Arriving at the airport (Budapest or Cluj Napoca) and transfer by car or train to Rachitele where we will be accommodated in a local guesthouse and have our dinner. Rachitele is one of the entrance gates for the Apuseni Nature Park, a place well know for the partisan local movement during the communism regime in Romania. Nowadays, Rachitele is trying to find a right balance between traditional agriculture and forestry and tourism development.

Day 2, 11th of May 2008:
A warming up day, presentation of 'The way of the wolf’ project as well as the Apuseni Mountains and Apuseni Nature Park. We will have then a day trip to Valul Miresei waterfall and learning about the traditional agriculture in the region and the way of life of the local people. Accommodation in a local guesthouse.

Day 3, 12th of May 2008:
In the morning we will run an educational activity about large carnivores in the local school and after that we will hike to Ic Ponor through the forest, tracking wolfs and other animals (unmarked route) and learning about the way in which
wild animals adapt to people's activity. Accommodation in tents in Ic Ponor.

Day 4, 13th of May 2008:
Ic Ponor- Magura Vanata peak day trip, tracking wolfs and other animals, learning about protected areas management and wildlife management. Accommodation in tents in Ic Ponor.

Day 5, 14th of May 2008:
Hiking from Ic Ponor through Somesului Cald Canyon to the central part of the Apuseni Nature Park, tented camping in Varasoaia Glade. Somesul cald canyon is a pristine karst nature reserve with imposing cliffs, caves and waterfalls as well as a dense forest.

Day 6, 15th of May 2008:
day hiking trip in the Padis area: Varasoaia glade- Ghetarul de la Barsa karstic plateau- Cetatile Ponorului karstic phenomena Ponor glade- camping in Varasoaia glade.The highlight of the day is Cetatile Ponorului karst phenomena, the symbol of the Apuseni Mountains.

Day 7, 16th of May 2008:
split in two groups, one is leaving to Oradea and airport; the other will have a relax day or will be able to choose a day trip at their option

Trip ITINERARY
Week 2 (17th of May-23th of May 2008):

Day 8, 17th of May 2008:
Padis- Poiana Rotunda-Calineasa glade, a day trip towards the famous land of the ‘Motzi’ population, the people who are living in the highest permanent settlements in Romania, at about 1200 m.

Day 9, 18th of May 2008:
day trip in Calineasa and in the surroundings. Calineasa glade is used by the local people called Motzi as a summer settlement, for raising animals and forestry. We will visit a local sheepfold and see how people cope with the harshest conditions up in the mountains. Our dinner will consist in a traditional shepherd meal.
We'll sleep in a basic facility owned by a local people.

Day 10, 19th of May 2008:
Calineasa- Casa de Piatra hamlet, one of the small typical hamlets of the area, without electricity till couple of years ago, where we can enjoy the natural landscape shaped by human intervention. Here we will have a chance to visit one of the caves from the area: Ghetarul de la Vartop (Vartop Ice Cave).

Day 11, 20th of May 2008:
Casa de Piatra- Hodobana, Ocoale and Ghetar hamlets, visit Scarisoara Ice cave and visit a family that had an encounter in 2006 with a bear. Learn about the way in which local people leave and interact with wildlife.

Day 12, 21st of May 2008:
Day trip in the Ghetar hamlet, learn about Arnica Montana conservation project and visit the centre of the project (www.arnica-montana.ro) , visit of the local information centre and local museum, enjoy a demonstration of wooden carving, one of the traditional crafts of the area.

Day 13, 22nd of May 2008:
We will start the day running an educational activity in the local school about wildlife and large carnivores. In the after-noon we will have a short hike to Ordancusa valley, one of the traditional places used by the locals to access the Aries valley, and we will learn about how a karstic system works, visiting a part of one of the most impressive cavein the area. Back at the guesthouse, we'll enjoy a traditional dinner and local music, and if the weather allows: a nice campfire.

Day 14, 23rd of May 2008: farewell day, departure to the airport.