Trip ITINERARY

Day 1 | December 21st 

Arrival in Garda.
     From Garda we will take a horse-pulled sleigh ride up to Casa de Piatra hamlet, in the fresh, mountain winter air. The hamlet is an isolated and picturesque settlement with a romantic name given by the place – a large glade surrounded by spectacular white stone walls. It is said that the whole settlement is actually a stone house.
It is a small mountain community of 16 families for whom electricity became an everyday commodity only 3 years ago! 
     Here you will discover an archaic architecture - most of the houses are wooden made many decades ago,  with high fir-tree roofs and raised in a traditional style.
     On the way, we will stop and visit Tauz karst spring. Here, what seems to be a perfect clear, green lake surrounded by white, vertical stone walls  is actually a spring, a river that has got lost through a waterfall in Coiba Mare Cave and bursts out here, 3 km downwards. The karst world is and will remain a mysterious nature beauty.

     We will be hosted at a local guesthouse owned by a family of  Motzi - the name of the population living in Apuseni Mountains.  Our time here will be a good opportunity to learn about the lifestyle these mountain people have, to hear their stories and listen to their tales.

Check-in, warm-up and  lunch. 
     After a short rest we will put on our snowshoes or alpine touring skis and will head on to to Coiba Mare cave. The impressive entrance of gthe cave is is 74 m large and 47 m high. Large halls, narrow galleries, underground stream, lakes and waterfalls – 5050 m long in total. We will explore only the first hall which is easily accesible for any visitors.
     Another cave which is part of this karst system is Coiba Mica and can be visited inside only by specialists properly equiped and only when the wether is drought. There is a connection gallery between the two caves - Coiba Mare and Coiba Mica through a stream which springs out further on.

     Return to the guesthouse. Warm up, dinner, evening programme.

Day 2 | December 22nd
Breakfast at the guesthouse.
     Today, again we will put on the snowshoes or the alpine touring skis and will take a round tour to Calineasa glade. This beautiful glade, scattered at an altitude of 1300 meters is an unpermanent summer settlement used by locals mainly for forestry and raising animals. On a clear weather one can have a great perspective upon the southern part of Apuseni Mountains as well as on their highest peak: Cucurbata Mare Peak (1848 m).
     Packed lunch will be served on the way.
     Return to the guesthouse, warm up and dinner. 

Day 3 | December 23rd 
    Relaxed, peaceful morning. Breakfast and then get ready for another (but quite light) round tour on snowshoes or alpine touring skis. This time it will take only 4-5 hours to visit in Huda Orbului Cave and return to the guesthouse.

    Return to the guesthouse, warm up, evening programme, dinner.

Day 4 | December 24th
   Have a rich breakfast and prepare for a round tour of 7 hours on snowshoes or alpine touring skis to Cetatile Ponorului. Considered to be the most impressive karst phenomena in Eastern Europe, Cetatile Ponorului (Ponorului Fortresses) are worth to visit not just for the 3 gorgeous dolinas and the surrounding wild forest but also because here there is one of the biodiversity hotspot of Apuseni Nature Park).

   Return to the guesthouse, warm up, preparation for Christmas celebration. In a specific winter atmosphere you will enjoy traditional meals based on local old recipes, century old traditions and customs. 

Day 5 | December 25th
After breakfast we will return to Garda by horse-pulled sleigh.
Farewell and see you !