Where The Bears Go 2027

After breakfast, we will explore the equestrian centre and meet the horses. The centre has its own organic farm, where vegetables and fruit are grown and animals are raised. Thanks to this, some of the food we enjoy during our stay comes directly from the farm. Then we will set off for our first ride, which will take around 3 hours. The trail leads through meadows, former pastures and old beech forests. The hills offer beautiful views, while the open meadows are perfect for our first trots and canters. Along the way, we will also keep an eye out for tracks of wild boars and bears. After returning to the centre, we will have lunch and then drive to the famous forest in Strâmba Valley, part of the Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We will take a 3-hour hike through forests of centuries-old beech and fir trees, including the tallest known tree in Romania. We will also learn about the ecosystem of the Carpathian mountain forests. In the evening, we will return to the centre for dinner. We can spend the rest of the evening by the fire or in the cosy lounge, while our hosts tell us more about the wildlife conservation projects in the Southern Carpathians that they are involved in.

Today we will set off for a full-day ride through the meadows and forests at the foot of the Southern Carpathians. We will spend most of the day out on the trail, until late afternoon. There will be plenty of opportunities for canters across blooming meadows, and along the way we will keep an eye out for tracks of bears and wild boars. The variety of wildflowers will accompany us for much of the route. We will have lunch surrounded by nature, with beautiful mountain views all around us. Upon returning to the farm we’ll refresh, have dinner and spend the rest of the evening chatting and relaxing.

On this day, the horses rest and the group set off on a car tour of Transylvania. The drive will take about 2 hours, we will travel along local roads leading through sleepy Romanian villages. Our first destination is Sighișoara, a fairytale town from the Transylvanian Saxon era. Today it is home to one of the best-preserved medieval town complexes, and one of the main attractions there is the home of the (in)famous Count Dracula. We then continue our journey to the Viscri, one of the seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Transylvania. The village was founded some 900 years ago and inhabited by German minority. Most of the people left for Germany in 1990, although a handful of inhabitants decided to stay. We will visit the legendary fortified church from the 12th century and then have lunch consisting of traditional Saxon dishes, largely made with ingredients coming from local gardens and farms, with wine and plum brandy to top it. The guides are passionate about Transylvania’s history, so it’s a perfect occasion to learn a bit about the region. In the evening, we return to Șinca Nouă.

After breakfast, we leave Șinca Nouă and set off on horseback into the wild mountains. Over the next two days, we will ride around 50 kilometres in total, travelling there and back through the forests of Transylvania. There will be plenty of opportunities for long canters, and along the way we will also look out for tracks of wolves and bears. In the afternoon, we will reach small mountain farms where people still live in a traditional way. The locals still work the fields with horses and oxen, and some farms do not even have running water or electricity. We will have a chance to see their everyday life up close – a way of living that has changed very little over the last few decades. For the night, we will set up camp near one of these farms, in a beautiful spot with views of the mountains. Dinner will be prepared over the campfire, followed by a long evening around the fire under the stars. We will sleep in tents. If you prefer to return to the guesthouse for the night, the hosts can arrange transport after dinner. You will need to walk for about 20 minutes to reach the road where the car can pick you up. The next morning, we will return to the horses and continue our journey back through the forests along roads and trails.

* The two-day trip with an overnight stay in the mountains depends on the weather. If the weather forecast is not good, we will replace the overnight camping trip with two day rides and accommodation at the equestrian centre.

After a night in nature, we will pack our things, take down the camp and saddle up our horses to set off on our way back. We will continue through the forests of Transylvania along forest roads and trails, with the Southern Carpathians all around us. Along the way, we will enjoy beautiful views of the mountains and keep an eye out for tracks of wolves and bears. Gradually, the trail will lead us towards Șinca Nouă, which we will reach in the afternoon. As usual, we will have dinner together and spend the rest of the evening relaxing and enjoying the evening.

This is the last day of horse riding. There will be lots of cantering through meadows and mountain glades. In the middle of the day we will return to the center, say goodbyes to our horses and have a delicious lunch. Then we set off by car to the Bran Castle, known as Dracula’s castle! As you will find out during the tour, the legend doesn’t quite coincide with the historical facts, but… a legend is a legend. 🙂 In the late afternoon we will return to the center and hold a farewell dinner together.

It’s time to say goodbye to Transylvania. After breakfast, we will pack our luggage and take a minibus back to Bucharest Airport. Due to the travel time from Șinca Nouă, please plan your departure flight no earlier than 15:00.