Wild flowers in apuseni mountains
Expand perceptions of reality (and nature) along the enchanting meadows and pastures of Western Carpathians. On the fringe of the Scarita-Belioara plateau, where the limestone meet the granite, somewhere between the real and the surreal, warm sunshine, winding walking paths, panoramic views, and local charm combine to create a truly unique vacation. From exploring altitude peatbogs to pastures blanketed by Arnica Montana, extinct in so many places in Europe, to the breathtaking views of Scarita Belioara with its rare, gentle and beautiful flowers, this Carpathian paradise offers the perfect blend of walking in nature and discovering rare wild flowers.
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
Group size: min 4 - max 12
Activity level: moderate
Availability for 2012:
- May 5th-12th ,
- May 26th-June 2nd
Price: 570 euros/person
Beyond wild flowers: mountain culture, hiking, traditional way of life.
Trip Option: customize your trip
Day 1 & 2 | Padis karst plateau
Get straight in the heart of Apuseni Nature Park: Padis karst plateau. Take a short warm up stroll to visit the entrance of Caput Cave and learn about the karst landscape of the area. Hike to Molhasurile de la Izbuce peat bogs through Ponor Glade, a place where underground waters come to light through a karst spring, pass the glade and then further on disappear in the underground. Find ice age relicts (such as Pinus mugo, Richospora alba, Empetrum nigra, Esphagnum cuspidatum, Escheuzeria palustris), some of them at the lowest altitude in Europe. Witness how shepherds look after sheep and prepare cheese and other dairy products.
Day 3 & 4 | Cetatile Ponorului karst phenomena & mountain pastures
Visit Cetatile Ponorului (Fortress of Ponor) karst phenomena, considered not only the most impressive karst phenomena in Eastern Europe but also one of biodiversity hotspots of the Apuseni Mountains. Hike to Casa de Piatra hamlet, a tiny community of only 16 families, located in a remote valley. Pack your backpacks and start walking to Ghetar Hamlet. Pass by Tauz karst spring – a little lake, surrounded by high rocky walls, with a depth of more than 80 meters and still under exploration.
Day 5 & 6 | Arnica montana & Scarita Belioara nature reserve
Spend most of the day discovering Ghetar area, one of the highest permanent settlements in Romania. Watch a woodcarving craft demonstration and listen stories about the moti people. Explore the meadows and see how centuries old traditions in land management give the places its abundance of plants. Visit the centre of the local WWF conservation project Arnica montana. Find out about the efforts of conservationists to protect this unique flower, now extinct in most parts of Europe. Enjoy the coolness of Scarisoara ice cave, the largest underground glacier in the world.
Explore Scarita Belioara nature reserve, a true paradise of wild flowers. Find here about 40 species of protected flowers, out of which 30 species are endemics for Romania.
Day 7 & 8 | Wild orchids on Bedeleu karst plateau & Departure
Dedicate your last day to explore the Bedeleu karst plateau and Vanatarile Ponorului nature reserve. Let your steps lead you through dense forests, limestone cliffs and large glades with thousand of flowers. Focus on discovering wild orchids. Enjoy a farewell dinner at your guesthouse.
Trip: Wild Flowers in Apuseni Mountains
Availability for 2012:
- May 5th-12th ,
- May 26th-June 2nd
Price: 570 euros/person
Group size: min 4 - max 12
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.
- airport transfers to and from Apuseni Mountains 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 on departure day)
- accommodation 7 nights in double rooms with shared bathrooms in guesthouses and mountain cabins rated at 2 and 3 daisies
- cave entrance fees
- guidance and all expenses related with the guide
- costs related to trip preparation
- the knowledge, support, and camaraderie of experienced guides
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.
Scarisoara guesthouse | Ghetar Hamlet | Bihor Mountains
Nestled in the tiny village of Ghetar, only a short distance from the famous Scarisoara Ice Cave lays Scarisoara guesthouse. A family run guesthouse recently extended, in which one can still feel the smell of the fir-tree largely used for construction. The owners, a Moţi family, are well known for their warm hospitality.
The guesthouse has rooms with double beds and en suite bathroom, rooms with three beds with shared bathroom and an apartment with 2 rooms with en suite bathroom. It also has a terrace, a large living-room and a room for meetings and conferences. Facilities include central heating, running cold and hot water, access to the kitchen (fridge also) and wash-house.
Close to the guesthouse there is the family’s animal’s farm and a restored old traditional house while in the large, picturesque surrounding glades you can see hayricks raised by the family during summer. Iuliana is famous for the traditional cheese and blueberry-pies she makes and most of the ingredients she uses in the meals she cooks are originally from the animals they breed.
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.
I cannot say enough good things about this trip and our guides in particular. I only wish it had lasted longer.
Robert, UK.
WOW! Anyone considering a wild flower trip to Romania should check out this people. My fondest memory will always be climbing the famous Scarita Belioara nature reserve and spot no less than 18 species of wild flowers in less than an hour!
Yvonne, France
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