Romania, Carpathia
Red Lake trail on lipizzaner
Join us in Székelyland, the Hungarian-speaking region of Transylvania, and experience the magnificent Carpathian mountains from horseback. Ride through deep conifer forests, across open grassy ridges and past dramatic limestone formations, while passing small, remote villages where traditional farming is still part of everyday life. You ride from place to place, with the landscape changing every day.
The ride combines spectacular nature with authentic cultural experiences. You will spend a night as guests of a local family in the remote village of Haromkut, sharing their traditional way of life and home-cooked food. You will also ride to Red Lake, Romania’s largest naturally dammed mountain lake, and experience the dramatic Bicaz Gorges and Sugau Cave.
This is genuine wilderness. The Hasmas Mountains are home to brown bears, wolves, lynx and red deer, and fresh bear tracks are not uncommon along the trail. In summer, the mountain meadows are alive with wildflowers, while spectacular views of the Carpathian mountains and valleys accompany you throughout the ride. Your guide was born in the area and knows the mountains and trails intimately, while sharing stories about the landscape, the Szekler people and the region’s history.
The ride is suitable for experienced riders in good physical condition. You will ride for around five - six hours a day, with substantial climbs, enjoyable canters where the terrain allows and a few steep sections where you will dismount and lead your horse. A genuine mountain trail for riders who want to experience the Carpathians from horseback – close to nature, local culture and these remarkable Lipizzan horses.
Accommodation & Food
Overnights are in local guesthouses, small pensions, at a local family and in a bungalow. Overall the accommodations are rustic in remote places with true immersion into the local culture an nature. Availability of single accommodation cannot be guaranteed and riders must be prepared to share. Bathroom facilities are either private or on a shared basis.
- 1st night: Guesthouse in Gheorgheni with 3 double rooms, shared bathroom
- 2nd night: Anita Pension, double rooms with private bathroom
- 3rd night: Local family in Haromkut, double rooms and shared bathroom
- 4th night: Bungalow near Red Lake, double rooms with private bathroom
- 5th night: Anita Pension, double rooms with private bathroom
- 6th night: Guesthouse in Gheorgheni with 3 double rooms, shared bathroom
All meals are included and will be of traditional Transylvanian, homemade fare. Vegetarian and gluten free options can be provided as long as we are notified in advance. Breakfast will be a buffet which may include salami, sausage, vegetables, jam, cottage cheese, eggs, mushrooms, tea and coffee. Both hot and cold options are possible. Lunch will be boxed and eaten out on the trail. For dinner, traditional Romanian and Hungarian meals which may include soup and hot entrees.
Program
The terrain is varied, with open fields and mountain ridges, scenic mountain tops, dense forests, steep climbs and descends. Daily difference in elevation varies between 300-800 m, the highest point of the tour being on Tuesday at the Great Hasmas Peak (1792 m). You ride between 4-7 hours/day. Be prepared to lead your horse in difficult paths.
Preliminary day-by-day program
Day 1: Sunday: We collect you from the airport (optional transfer) and bring you to the Guide's guesthouse outside Gheorgheni, a countryside house at the foot of the horses' pasture — from your window you can watch the herd you'll be riding with grazing beneath the chapel of Saint Anna. Over a welcome dinner of local dishes, your guide introduces the week ahead and gets to know each rider.
Day 2: Monday: The morning begins with meeting your horse. After a short warm-up ride so the guide can see everyone in the saddle, each rider is paired with their partner for the week. Then the week opens in style: a free canter across the open hay fields around Gheorgheni. The trail passes the hilltop chapel of St. Anthony and the Renaissance Lazar Castle before turning upward on a steep forest path to Pricske Peak (1,545 m), where we picnic at the summit cross with the whole Gheorgheni basin at our feet. In the afternoon we descend along a grassy ridge into the narrow valley of the Bekeny Stream and spend the night at a family-run pension, with the horses grazing beside the house.
Distance: 23 km, 5-6 hours of horse riding, elevation gain 950 m
Day 3: Tuesday: We ride an easy hour along the stream before climbing the Medias pass (1,445 m). The trail then follows the main ridge of the Hasmas Mountains — through the lush White Glade (Poiana Alba), beneath the range's highest peak (1,792 m), to the rock towers of the Lonely Stone. The panorama repays every metre of the climb: two great basins below, Moldova's hills to the east, the immense limestone walls of Ceahlau to the north. After a picnic at the hut below the Lonely Stone, a steep descent — partly on foot, leading the horses — brings us to Haromkut, an isolated village reachable by no paved road. We spend the evening as guests of a local family, sharing their table and a way of life that has all but vanished elsewhere in Europe.
Distance: 25 km, 6-7 hours of horse riding, elevation gain 1325 m
Day 4: Wednesday: A gentler day. We follow the valley of the Little Bicaz Stream down to Red Lake and ride around its shore, past the drowned forest rising from the water. After leaving the horses at their paddock, the afternoon is yours: take an optional walk through the Bicaz Gorges, where the road squeezes between sheer cliffs over a hundred metres high, climb the Little Suhard for a sunset view over the lake, drift in a rowing boat among the spruce trunks, or simply enjoy coffee on the terrace. We overnight in comfortable double rooms by the lake.
Distance: 17 km, 3-4 hours of horse riding, elevation gain 435 m
Day 5: Thursday: We leave Red Lake on the trace of a long-abandoned mountain railway, climbing steadily to Pongracz Peak (1,255 m), the highest point between Gheorgheni and the lake. We descend into the familiar Bekeny valley for a second night at the pension, greeted like returning friends.
Distance: 25 km, 5 – 6 hours of horse riding , elevation gain 630 m
Day 6: Friday: From the Bekeny valley the trail follows the Sipos ridge to Sugau Cave, where after a picnic we join a guided walk among its dripstone formations (about one hour). Then comes the homeward ride — and as we near the farm, the pace lifts: the horses know these last kilometres well, and long, flowing canters carry us back to Gheorgheni in the late-afternoon light. Listen as we approach: the herd will whinny a welcome to their returning stablemates.
Distance: 25 km, 5 – 6 hours of horse riding + 1h visiting the cave, elevation gain 1260 m
Day 7: Saturday: A wholesome farmhouse breakfast, a last visit to the paddock to say goodbye to your horse — and departure from Gheorgheni.
Horses
There are 11 locally bred energetic and well trained trail horses from which 8 Lipizzaners, 1 local breed and 2 Sagya Arab with 147-165 cm heights and age between 4-20 years old.
English saddles and bridles.
Personal belongings are carried in the saddle bag of your horse, while your luggage is transferred from accommodation to accommodation by car.
Weight limit: 90kg
Travel Information
Riding ability: Trail ride level 2-3
Included in the price: 6 nights, 5 days riding, full board, coffee and tea at breakfast, 1 bottle of water per day, riding and guided cave tour.
Not included: Flight, beverages, transfer, bear hide (35 EUR pay on spot).
Travel: Fly to Bucharest Otopeni airport (approx 4.5 h) or Brasov airport (approx 2.5 h):
Transfer: Book with HorseXplore before departure and pay on site in cash to the guide.
Bucharest Otopeni airport Between 11.30pm and 4.30pm in the arrivalhall at the Café by the Exit. Book a flight that arrive at 4 pm at the latest and depart after 1pm.
Price 2025: Airport transfer return from Bucharest is 130 euro per person.
Price 2026: Airport transfer return from Bucharest is 140 euro per person.
Brasov airport Between 11.30am and 6.00pm. Book a flight that arrive at 6pm at the latest and depart after 10.30am.
Price 2025: Airport transfer (return) from Brasov is 90 euro per person.
Price 2026: Airport transfer (return) from Brasov is 110 euro per person.
Arrival-/departure day: Sunday afternoon, depart following Saturday after breakfast.
Season: May - October
Single room: No. Riders must be prepared to share room.
Pool: No
Group size: Min. 1 and max 6 riders.
Age limit: Min 16 years. 12 year with an adult.
Currency: Lei (RON). They do not accept credit cards. It is also possible to pay with EUR in some places, but exchange is recouped in LEI.
Wifi: You will have access to free WiFi at your accommodation only on Monday and Thursday and during dinner at the restaurant on Wednesday. On the rest of the days you can use the local 3&4G cell network when it is available.
Phone signal: Your daily ride goes through the mountains during most of the tour therefore you may have no phone signal for a few hours during the daily ride between Tuesday and Friday, and no phone signal at all at your accommodation on Tuesday.
Climate
Feedback from our travellers
An Unforgettable Journey – Can’t Wait to Do It Again!
"The soups were especially delicious! The food was often simple but well-cooked and flavorful. Wine, water, and a welcome drink were always included with the meals! The scenery was breathtaking. My horse was fantastic – skilled, responsive, and reliable. If I wanted to work with him, he responded immediately, but if I just wanted to let him go, he did so without any issues. The staff did everything to ensure we had an amazing experience and took great care of us. This is one of the best trips I have ever taken, and I truly want to do it again!"
— Karin Denbratt
Fantastic Service and Beautiful Riding Trails
"The rooms were nice, and the hotel was in an incredibly beautiful setting. It was a bit noisy in the house, but the staff was lovely! The food at the hotel was excellent, and the lunches during the day tours were both tasty and varied. The scenery was stunning, with forests, open fields, and charming small villages. It was unusual not to care for the horse myself, but the staff took care of everything. There were many horses on the farm, and switching to a different one was easy if needed. When our return flight was canceled, the hotel managed to arrange an extra night for us, despite being fully booked – fantastic service!"
— Christina (Kicki) Johansson
Safe Horses and Beautiful Accommodations
"We stayed at several different places during the trip, and all the accommodations were nice with comfortable rooms. The horses were in excellent condition, well-cared for, and highly experienced. Those carrying less experienced riders behaved impeccably – steady, fearless, and reliable. Lanzo truly takes great care of his horses. A truly amazing experience!"
— Therese Winell
A Fun and Educational Trip in a Fairytale Landscape
"Cozy, clean, and with excellent staff! The nature was incredibly beautiful and diverse. The horses were safe and perfectly suited for the ride. Our group was fantastic – we had so much fun together, learning about each other’s countries. The visit to the bear hide was a real highlight!"
— Anna Törnlöv
The Best Riding Trip So Far – A Perfect Score!
"Charming accommodations, some simpler but still fully functional, and always comfortable beds. The food was amazing at every meal – real Romanian cuisine, especially the soups! Three-course dinners every evening, always kicked off with a schnapps ;). The riding was absolutely outstanding! Long and sometimes challenging days with lots of climbing, but the views were spectacular! Fast gallops over the hills, and we even rode up into the snow at 1,700 meters. The horses were solid and steady. My horse was a true heroine – she never put a foot wrong all week! Laszlo made sure everyone got a horse that suited them and was incredibly helpful with everything. We learned so much about Romania. This was without a doubt the best riding trip I’ve done – the most fun, exciting, and challenging. A perfect score!"
— Birgitta Lindholm
An Adventurous and Well-Organized Experience
"We were picked up at our hotel – perfect since we arrived in Bucharest the day before! Our driver was friendly and told us a lot about the country. The accommodations varied in standard, but overall, they were really good. We were served plenty of delicious food. The terrain was diverse, with steep climbs and descents, offering breathtaking views of the alpine meadows. Cows, sheep, dogs, and horses along the way made the ride a real adventure! We spotted bear tracks every day. The horses were amazing – calm, steady, yet energetic. Our guide Laszlo was highly competent and kind, planning the entire ride down to the smallest detail. Everything was perfect! An adventure in stunning nature that I will never forget!"
— Susanne Hansson
Nature Experiences Beyond Compare
"The accommodations were clean and comfortable, with nice beds. At Laszlo’s place, in the farm village, and at Rita’s, both the food and lodging exceeded expectations. The food was often homemade with local ingredients, and it was absolutely wonderful! The horses were strong, well-cared for, and felt very healthy – which was reassuring! The nature experiences were absolutely incredible! We saw bears with cubs climbing trees at Bear Watch, just 25 meters away – an unforgettable moment! The untouched wilderness, the blooming 'Sound of Music' hills (perfect for galloping!), the majestic mountains, and the old-fashioned way of life are probably what I will remember most!"
— Anna-Jeanette Larnelius Löw
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