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ALPINE TOURING SKI IN APUSENI MOUNTAINS

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download-this-itineraryfrom PADIS KARSTIC PLATEAU to CASA DE PIATRA HAMLET

The sound of frozen snow under your skis and your harsh breath are the only things that take your attention away from the glorious sunny day. In early mornings, if you're lucky enough, you can hear a capercaillie male calling for a female. Enjoy a holiday of alpine touring ski on the wide plateaus and deep forests of Apuseni Mountains, where animal tracks might be the only signs of movement and life. In the evenings, warm your hands above the fire and your soul over a glass of ‘crampa’ (boiled plum brandy), along with a traditional meal, in the Apuseni Experience style.

 

TRIP’S HIGHLIGHTS:

  • Ski through plateaus and valley, deep fir tree forests and hidden mountain villages.
  • Explore the silence and peacefulness of the legendary Padis karst plateau.
  • Visit Cetatile Ponorului karst system, Lost World karst plateau and Casa de Piatra hamlet.  
  • Enjoy the local cuisine, prepared mainly from organic ingredients.
  • Meet warm and hospitable locals whose passionate stories and historic connections will inspire you.

TRIP DETAILS:

Start/end: Oradea or Cluj-Napoca (options to pick you up/drop you at Timisoara or Budapest airports are available too).
Trip length: 8 days/ 7 nights
Activity level: moderate
Group size: min. 2 – max. 10

Availability for 2017:

  • 09 Dec. 2017
Availability for 2018:

  • 13 Jan. 2018
  • 27 Jan. 2018
  • 10 Feb. 2018
  • 24 Feb. 2018
  • 03 Mar. 2018

Price: 1030 euros/person
Beyond alpine touring ski: wild life tracking, nature photography, mountain culture, local cuisine, 
Trip Option: customize your trip

Day 1 & 2 |  Ponor Glade & Cetatile Ponorului karst phenomena
Enjoy a short round trip to Ponor karst spring and Ponor Glade, a typical polje (large extensive closed depression draining underground). Visit one of the high-lights of the area – Cetatile Ponorului (Fortress of Ponor) karst phenomena, the most impressive karst phenomena in Eastern Europe and admire its magnificent entrance.
Day 3 & 4 | Focul Viu ice cave & Lumea Pierduta karst plateau
Explore on ski the wilderness of Lumea Pierduta (Lost World) plateau and Groapa de la Barsa (Barsa Pit). Marvel the amazing light at noon of the Focul Viu (Living Fire) ice cave. Visit the entrances of three potholes (avenul Negru, Gemanata si avenul Acoperit), gates of a huge underground network of active galleries.
Day 5 & 6 |  Casa de Piatra hamlet & Calineasa Glade
Climb on skis to the highlands of the Moti country. Enjoy the relaxing atmosphere in Casa de Piatra hamlet. Discover a summer settlement deep covered in snow on a ski trip to Calineasa Glade and delight yourself with the view of the Bihor Mountain Ridge.
Day 7 & 8 | Tauz karst spring & departure
Take a round tour along Sohodoale and Hodobana hamlets. Discover the deepest karst spring in Romania – the Tauz karst spring.

hartaDay 1 & 2 |  Ponor Glade & Cetatile Ponorului karst phenomena
Enjoy a short round trip to Ponor karst spring and Ponor Glade, a typical polje (large extensive closed depression draining underground). Visit one of the high-lights of the area – Cetatile Ponorului (Fortress of Ponor) karst phenomena, the most impressive karst phenomena in Eastern Europe and admire its magnificent entrance. 

Day 3 & 4 | Focul Viu ice cave & Lumea Pierduta karst plateau
Explore on ski the wilderness of Lumea Pierduta (Lost World) plateau and Groapa de la Barsa (Barsa Pit). Marvel the amazing light at noon of the Focul Viu (Living Fire) ice cave. Visit the entrances of three potholes (Avenul Negru, Gemanata and Avenul Acoperit), gates of a huge underground network of active galleries. 

Day 5 & 6 |  Casa de Piatra hamlet & Calineasa Glade
Climb on skis to the highlands of the Moti country. Enjoy the relaxing atmosphere in Casa de Piatra hamlet. Discover a summer settlement deep covered in snow on a ski trip to Calineasa Glade and delight yourself with the view of the Bihor Mountain Ridge.

Day 7 & 8 | Tauz karst spring & departure
Take a round tour along Sohodoale and Hodobana hamlets. Discover the deepest karst spring in Romania – the Tauz karst spring.

Trip: Alpine Touring Skiing Trip          

Availability for 2017:

  • 09 Dec. 2017
Availability for 2018:

  • 13 Jan. 2018
  • 27 Jan. 2018
  • 10 Feb. 2018
  • 24 Feb. 2018
  • 03 Mar. 2018


Price: 1030 euros/person

Group size: min. 2 – max. 10

Other Options
Don’t see a date that fits your schedule? Have a group of friends and the willing to make this trip a custom one? Contact us, let us know your ideas and wishes and we’ll come back to you with a confirmation.

The price includes:
  • transportation by car from the airport/place of venue to and from Garda de Sus village and transfer by horse-drawn sleigh/car to Ghetar hamlet and from Casa de Piatra hamlet
  • 3 meals per day (starting with lunch on arrival day and ending with breakfast ondeparture day)
  • accommodation 7 nights in 2 stars rated mountain cabin and guesthouse (double rooms with shared bathrooms)
  • guidance and all expenses related with the guide
  • costs related to trip preparation
  • the knowledge, support, and camaraderie of experienced guides

The price does not include: personal drinks and refreshments, insurance, souvenirs and personal items purchased during the trip, lodging before and after the trip, gratuities for Apuseni Experience guides, other personal costs  

Note:We are always open to our customer’s demands and needs.Therefore, the itinerary described above can be adjusted accordingly in what regards the period and the activities included. Please contact us for more details.

Cetatile Ponorului mountain cabin| Padis area | Bihor Mountains
The cabin, recently restored is the only place in the area to offer a comfortable accommodation and is situated close to most of the important natural highlights from Padis area.  It has rooms with 2-4-6 beds (can host up to 60 persons) with shared or en suite bathrooms, a large dinning room and all facilities such as electricity, running cold and hot water, central heating. It also has a large terrace with nice wooden benches and tables and a place for barbeque and camp fire. But if you wish to enjoy your coffee in the morning strong fresh air, just cross the road, enter the forest and follow one of the paths. You will find a log, somewhere, where you can sit, have your coffee and hear nothing but the birds’ songs and the wind’s gentle breeze. Here at the cabin you can serve cooked meals (traditionally Romanian or Hungarian recipes) or you can have your own foods.
Gligor guesthouse | Casa de Piatra | Bihor Mountains
This family owned and operated guesthouse is located in the heart of the hamlet of Casa de Piatra. The guesthouse has simple but yet comfortable rooms decorated with wood and accented by charming details. The whole area is very romantic and picturesque; a little hamlet with just few houses spread here and there, surrounded by rocky forested mountain heights.
The food is cooked by Tanti Dorica, the landlady and the soul of the whole place – a mountain woman full of joy and energy, always kind and smiling – but the kitchen can be used also by the guest for whatever cooking needs they have.
The family’s little animal farm and wood workshop will give, to those willing, the opportunity to witness and learn about a Moţi family’s everyday life in this specific environment.
cetatile_ponoruluiCetatile Ponorului mountain cabin | Padis area | Bihor Mountains
The cabin, recently restored is the only place in the area to offer a comfortable accommodation and is situated close to most of the important natural highlights from Padis area.  It has rooms with 2-4-6 beds (can host up to 60 persons) with shared or en suite bathrooms, a large dinning room and all facilities such as electricity, running cold and hot water, central heating. It also has a large terrace with nice wooden benches and tables and a place for barbeque and camp fire. But if you wish to enjoy your coffee in the morning strong fresh air, just cross the road, enter the forest and follow one of the paths. You will find a log, somewhere, where you can sit, have your coffee and hear nothing but the birds’ songs and the wind’s gentle breeze. Here at the cabin you can serve cooked meals (traditionally Romanian or Hungarian recipes) or you can have your own foods.  


casa de piatra

Gligor guesthouse | Casa de Piatra | Bihor Mountains

This family owned and operated guesthouse is located in the heart of the hamlet of Casa de Piatra. The guesthouse has simple but yet comfortable rooms decorated with wood and accented by charming details. The whole area is very romantic and picturesque; a little hamlet with just few houses spread here and there, surrounded by rocky forested mountain heights. The food is cooked by Tanti Dorica, the landlady and the soul of the whole place – a mountain woman full of joy and energy, always kind and smiling – but the kitchen can be used also by the guest for whatever cooking needs they have.The family’s little animal farm and wood workshop will give, to those willing, the opportunity to witness and learn about a Moţi family’s everyday life in this specific environment.
'Our time spent in the Apuseni Mountains this winter was unforgettable. A week’s tour skiing and hiking in beautiful scenery, meeting and staying with people who were genuinely hospitable and keen to show us their fascinating way of life. The diversity of weather only added to our experience, with heavy snow, sun, rain and, up high fog all in a week. The trip was well organised and tailored to our interests. We would like to thank everyone at Apuseni Experience, but most especially those people who we met in the mountains who made our trip so special' Peter, 30 - St Albans UK.
Explore the photo gallery for this trip:

'Our time spent in the Apuseni Mountains this winter was unforgettable. A week’s tour skiing and hiking in beautiful scenery, meeting and staying with people who were genuinely hospitable and keen to show us their fascinating way of life. The diversity of weather only added to our experience, with heavy snow, sun, rain and, up high fog all in a week. The trip was well organised and tailored to our interests. We would like to thank everyone at Apuseni Experience, but most especially those people who we met in the mountains who made our trip so special'

Peter, St Albans UK. 

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