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Romania, Carpathia

Red Lake trail on lipizzaner

Explore on horseback the mountainous region of Székelyland, where a Hungarian speaking ethnic group from Transylvania live in the valleys and hills of the Eastern Carpathian mountains range. This one-week trail ride takes you to pristine mountainous landscapes with ancient pine forests, pure creeks, dramatic limestone rocks, hidden farming villages and lush meadows still cultivated traditionally by the locals. Here you can experience unspoilt nature and step back in time at least 50 years. One of the curiosities of the trail is Red Lake (Lacu Roşu), Romania’s largest naturally dammed mountain lake, which came into being in 1837 as a result of a huge landslide.The tips of the broken trunks of spruce trees can still be seen above the surface of the lake, while its deep-green waters mirror the rocks of Suhardul Mic Massif. Another highlight of the trail is the Bicaz Gorges – Hasmas Mountains National Park with its caves, dolines, sinkholes, defiles and waterfalls providing a picturesque karst scenery. You will visit also one of the most beautiful dripstone caves of the area, Sugau Cave. Your guide knows the trails inside and out in this region, meaning you are getting an insider's tour.

This ride is for travellers seeking an offbeat and authentic Carpathian experience.

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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 programDay 1: Sunday
Day 1: Sunday
-  Upon request, we will wait for you at the airport and take you to Gheorgheni with a private car. You will stay overnight in the guide’s guesthouse located outside Gheorgheni and discuss the weekend ahead at your welcome dinner.

Day 2: Monday - After a short test of the participants skills, the ride starts with a free gallop over plain hay fields in the surroundings of Gheorgheni, then continues on a really steep path until we reach Pricske Peak (1545 m). Here we have a picnic at the bottom of the cross, then slope down on a grassy ridge to the narrow valley of the Bekeny Stream. We spend our first night in a pension in the valley. Distance: 23 km, 5-6 hours of horse riding, elevation gain 950 m

Day 3:Tuesday -  After breakfast we set off for a one-hour ride on the banks of the stream, then leave the valley and climb a mountain-pass until we reach Medias peak(1445 m). From here the trail goes along the ridge of the Hasmas Mountains, through the lush green Poiana Alba (White Glade), below the highest peak of the Hasmas Mountains (1792 m) and leading to the rock towers of the Lonely Stone. The panorama is worth all the efforts, as we can see two basins (Gheorgheni and Ciuc) from here. In the east Moldova’s hills and rocky regions, while to the north Ceahlau’s enormous limestone rocks can be seen. We have a picnic at the hut at the bottom of the Lonely Stone then we descend to the isolated village of Haromkut on a steep path. In this ciangau village we spend the night at a local family. Distance: 25 km, 6-7 hours of horse riding, elevation gain 1325 m

Day 4: Wednesday -  Riding in the valley of the Little Bicaz Stream, we arrive at Red Lake. We round it and after which we leave the horses at their shelters, we walk across the dramatic Bicaz Gorges. If there is will and energy for it, we can climb up the Little Suhard Massif to enjoy the sunset view. We spend the night at Red Lake in comfortable bungalows. Distance: 17 km, 3-4 hours of horse riding, elevation gain 435 m.

Day 5: Thursday -  Leaving Red Lake on an old railway we reach Pongracz Peak, which is the highest point between Gheorgheni and Red Lake. On the old railway we descend to the valley of the Belchiei, where we spent our second night as well.
Distance: 25 km, 5 – 6 hours of horse riding , elevation gain 630 m.

Day 6: Friday - From the Bekeny Valley we ride along the Sipos ridge to the unique Sugo Cave. Here we have a picnic and visit this beautiful dripstone cave, then ride back to the guide’s guesthouse in Gheorgheni.
Distance: 25 km, 5 – 6 hours of horse riding + 1h visiting the cave, elevation gain 1260 m.

Day 7: Saturday -  Start the day with a wholesome breakfast, then it's time to say goodbye to your fellow participants and your hosts, before you depart from Gheorgheni.

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: Airport transfer return from Bucharest is 130 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:  Airport transfer (return) from Brasov is 90 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.

Horses

Locally bred Lipizzaners, with 155-165 cm heights. English saddles and bridles.

Weight limit: 90kg

Climate

Average min and max temperatures in Gheorgheni, Romania

Average monthly sunhours in Gheorgheni, Romania

Average precipitation (rain/snow) in Gheorgheni, Romania

Feedback from our travellers

Dates and prices

"Book on request" means that we cannot confirm your booking immediately, but we will get back to you as soon as possible with a booking confirmation, normally within 24 hours on weekdays.

DateDaysName of tripPrice from
11/05/20257Romania, Carpathia - Red Lake Trail RideEUR 1,155Book on request
25/05/20257Romania, Carpathia - Red Lake Trail RideEUR 1,155Book on request
08/06/20257Romania, Carpathia - Red Lake Trail RideEUR 1,155Book on request
22/06/20257Romania, Carpathia - Red Lake Trail RideEUR 1,155Book on request
06/07/20257Romania, Carpathia - Red Lake Trail RideEUR 1,155Book on request
20/07/20257Romania, Carpathia - Red Lake Trail RideEUR 1,155Book on request
03/08/20257Romania, Carpathia - Red Lake Trail RideEUR 1,155Book on request
17/08/20257Romania, Carpathia - Red Lake Trail RideEUR 1,155Book on request
31/08/20257Romania, Carpathia - Red Lake Trail RideEUR 1,155Book on request
14/09/20257Romania, Carpathia - Red Lake Trail RideEUR 1,155Book on request
28/09/20257Romania, Carpathia - Red Lake Trail RideEUR 1,155Book on request
12/10/20257Romania, Carpathia - Red Lake Trail RideEUR 1,155Book on request
26/10/20257Romania, Carpathia - Red Lake Trail RideEUR 1,155Book on request

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