Day 2: Exploration day
This day is dedicated to the discovery of the local area of Ghetar-Hanasesti hamlets. A walk through this two traditional villages and the visit of a traditional household will provide us with a learning experience about the way these firm mountain people live their life for centuries. At the Information Centre in Ghetar hamlet we will attend a wood carving demonstration and have a briefing on other traditional customs and handicrafts. We will end our first full day in the area with a warm and delicious dinner in the guesthouse.

Day 3:Arnica Montana Conservation Project & Scarisoara Ice Cave
The day will begin with an introduction to centuries-old traditional hay meadow management in Apuseni Mountains, including an easy 1-2 hour meadow walk. We will then find out more about the WWF Arnica Montana Project, which involves education and support of local community in sustainable Arnica harvesting practices. At the Arnica Centre we will watch a presentation about this conservation project, will have a picnic lunch and will visit the flower’s drier. The impressive Scarisoara Ice Cave (containing the second largest cave glacier in Europe) will be our final stop of the day.  

Day 4: Calineasa Glade
Will leave for a while the Ghetar hamlet area and for about 4 hours we will take a walk (moderate level) to Calineasa Glade. Located in the centre of the mountains, Calineasa is used as a summer settlement by locals for raising animals and forestry. We will visit a small mountain cottage and see how local people cope with the harshest conditions up there in the mountains. A dinner cooked in a traditional shepherd meal and a sleep in a basic facility owned by locals will end another unique experience in the Apuseni.

Day 5: Casa de Piatra hamlet
From Calineasa will walk to Casa de Piatra (The Rocky House), a small and iconic hamlet, located in one of Apuseni’s scenic wilderness areas. Here we will visit the impressive entrance of Coiba Cave system and later on, the Tauz karstic spring, where we will have our picnic lunch. From there we will continue to Ghetar hamlet, back to our guesthouse, on a horse cart provided by one of the locals.

Day 6: Ordancusa Valley
The day is dedicated to the discovery of another part of the Apuseni Highlands. We’ll walk to Ordancusa Valley - one of the traditional places used by locals to access the Aries Valley and will continue our trip over beautiful meadows with many wild flowers. Finally, we’ll reach a viewpoint from where we’ll be able to get a large picture of the entire central part of the mountains, the Valley of Aries and the highest peak of the Apuseni. Back at the guesthouse, we’ll enjoy a free afternoon and prepare ourselves for the traditional dinner and a local music performance.  If the weather will take our side, a nice campfire will bring us all together around.

Day 7: Patrahaitesti local museum
The last day we will go by car to Patrahaitesti hamlet, where we will learn about the role of the wood in local people’s life, about carving and weaving and we’ll visit a local museum with traditional hand made objects. Here we will have a chance to see how local people used to communicate in the past, from a mountain to another by using specific wooden made instruments and see a practical demonstration of this local custom.

Day 8: Farewell
Time to say good-bye! Take you back to the airport and the flight back home.