Challenge yourself with a variety of activities, being surrounded by wild and spectacular landscapes of Apuseni Mountains:
- hiking in Rameti Gorge;
- caving in Huda lui Papara cave;
- trekking in Piatra Secuiului;
- via ferrata and hiking in Turda Gorge.
A short drive in the morning, enjoying soft rolling hills that make up the Transylvanian region. The destination is Turda Gorge, a staggering short limestone canyon, crossed by Hasdate river. The place represents one of the main rock-climbing areas in Romania. We will do a mix of hiking & via ferrata over here. We start the hike, following a shadowed path along the silent stream, flanked by the steep walls of the gorge. Several bridges are crossing the river several times giving the chances to admire the precipitous stone walls of both sides of the mountain. There is one via ferrata route in the gorge, called Sky Fly (“Hili’s Cave”). We leave the marked route that follows the river, and take this via ferrata up to the left ridge of the mountain.
Length: 350m, vertical climb: 200m, duration: 1hr, difficulty: C (medium). The route has only a few artificial holds, many of them being natural, including a difficult vertical climb at the middle section. Once getting to the top of the cliff the return is following a vast rocky plateau, then strenuous and steep dirt run through bushes and trees, back to the begging of the gorge.
Accommodation in the region. Traditional stay and local food to be provided.
The "Huda lui Papară" cave is one of the most beautiful places you must visit in the Apuseni Mountains. There you will be able to see the highest gallery, the largest waterfall, with the largest bat colony in Europe, with the longest and most numerous eccentricites (crooked stalactites) and with the largest deposit of chiropterite (bat droppings) from our country. The name of the cave has an interesting story: Huda is a regionalism, meaning narrow way, pit, hole in the ground, cave or shelter. Papara comes from the Latin "papa" which translates as religious leader. Therefore, Huda lui Papară could mean the shelter, the house of the religious leader. Local stories say that, in the time of the Dacians, the cave function as place of worship, as well as residence for people. The legends relate also the cave with Zalmoxes, the supreme Dacian god, who seems to retire here.
Next to the cave we visit the nearby church. According to the locals, this protects them from the evil forces deep inside the cave. Over time, the small place of worship was burned by the Tatars, but it was rebuilt each time. After the fall of communism, a nunnery dedicated to St. Paraschiva was built next to the church.
Accommodation at local B&B, traditional homestay.
Hiking in Rameti Gorge; absolutely delightful on a hot summer day, being surrounded by stunning scenery. The path follows the tight canyon upstream, requiring a little attention, but revealing stunning views, beneath stone arches; some parts could be accessed with the help of handholds and metallic stairs in the rocks, otherwise we just cross the water. After getting through the gorges, the return will be over one of the mountain faces, the challenging cliffs of Brana Caprei (The Goat Fringe).
Rameti Monastery, built in the vicinity of the gorge is included in the program, as well. The region is poor inhabited; while the less than six hundred inhabitants of the area survive mainly off agriculture, the place is highly attractive for visitors thanks to its beautiful monastery – as old as the village of Ramet itself – and its breathtaking landscapes, carefully preserved within five surrounding natural parks, among them we include today Rameti Gorge and Manastirii Gorge.
Accommodation at local B&B, traditional dinner included.
Piatra Secuiului. The region we travel today was inhabited by Szeklers (Hungarian speaking population) since the 11th century. Rimetea (also known as Torockó in Hungarian) is an idyllic village, is a magical place where “the sun rises twice”, a strange phenomenon that happens because of the neighboring Piatra Secuiului Ridge (Székelykő in Hungarian).
The hiking trail for Piatra Secuiului is not too technical. Most of the trail is covered in big rocks and boulders, also parts of the path also contain loose sand. Return in the village at the afternoon. Dinner and accommodation at a local guesthouse, traditional Szekler dinner included.
Highlight: Turda Salt Mine. The mine was placed by Business Insider at the top of ten “coolest underground places in the world”, once being also ranked among “the 25 hidden gems around the world that are worth the trek”. Visit the mine and lunch at the neighbor La Salina restaurant – wine tasting included.
Challenge yourself with a variety of activities, being surrounded by wild and spectacular landscapes of Apuseni Mountains:
- hiking in Rameti Gorge;
- caving in Huda lui Papara cave;
- trekking in Piatra Secuiului;
- via ferrata and hiking in Turda Gorge.
A short drive in the morning, enjoying soft rolling hills that make up the Transylvanian region. The destination is Turda Gorge, a staggering short limestone canyon, crossed by Hasdate river. The place represents one of the main rock-climbing areas in Romania. We will do a mix of hiking & via ferrata over here. We start the hike, following a shadowed path along the silent stream, flanked by the steep walls of the gorge. Several bridges are crossing the river several times giving the chances to admire the precipitous stone walls of both sides of the mountain. There is one via ferrata route in the gorge, called Sky Fly (“Hili’s Cave”). We leave the marked route that follows the river, and take this via ferrata up to the left ridge of the mountain.
Length: 350m, vertical climb: 200m, duration: 1hr, difficulty: C (medium). The route has only a few artificial holds, many of them being natural, including a difficult vertical climb at the middle section. Once getting to the top of the cliff the return is following a vast rocky plateau, then strenuous and steep dirt run through bushes and trees, back to the begging of the gorge.
Accommodation in the region. Traditional stay and local food to be provided.
The "Huda lui Papară" cave is one of the most beautiful places you must visit in the Apuseni Mountains. There you will be able to see the highest gallery, the largest waterfall, with the largest bat colony in Europe, with the longest and most numerous eccentricites (crooked stalactites) and with the largest deposit of chiropterite (bat droppings) from our country. The name of the cave has an interesting story: Huda is a regionalism, meaning narrow way, pit, hole in the ground, cave or shelter. Papara comes from the Latin "papa" which translates as religious leader. Therefore, Huda lui Papară could mean the shelter, the house of the religious leader. Local stories say that, in the time of the Dacians, the cave function as place of worship, as well as residence for people. The legends relate also the cave with Zalmoxes, the supreme Dacian god, who seems to retire here.
Next to the cave we visit the nearby church. According to the locals, this protects them from the evil forces deep inside the cave. Over time, the small place of worship was burned by the Tatars, but it was rebuilt each time. After the fall of communism, a nunnery dedicated to St. Paraschiva was built next to the church.
Accommodation at local B&B, traditional homestay.
Hiking in Rameti Gorge; absolutely delightful on a hot summer day, being surrounded by stunning scenery. The path follows the tight canyon upstream, requiring a little attention, but revealing stunning views, beneath stone arches; some parts could be accessed with the help of handholds and metallic stairs in the rocks, otherwise we just cross the water. After getting through the gorges, the return will be over one of the mountain faces, the challenging cliffs of Brana Caprei (The Goat Fringe).
Rameti Monastery, built in the vicinity of the gorge is included in the program, as well. The region is poor inhabited; while the less than six hundred inhabitants of the area survive mainly off agriculture, the place is highly attractive for visitors thanks to its beautiful monastery – as old as the village of Ramet itself – and its breathtaking landscapes, carefully preserved within five surrounding natural parks, among them we include today Rameti Gorge and Manastirii Gorge.
Accommodation at local B&B, traditional dinner included.
Piatra Secuiului. The region we travel today was inhabited by Szeklers (Hungarian speaking population) since the 11th century. Rimetea (also known as Torockó in Hungarian) is an idyllic village, is a magical place where “the sun rises twice”, a strange phenomenon that happens because of the neighboring Piatra Secuiului Ridge (Székelykő in Hungarian).
The hiking trail for Piatra Secuiului is not too technical. Most of the trail is covered in big rocks and boulders, also parts of the path also contain loose sand. Return in the village at the afternoon. Dinner and accommodation at a local guesthouse, traditional Szekler dinner included.
Highlight: Turda Salt Mine. The mine was placed by Business Insider at the top of ten “coolest underground places in the world”, once being also ranked among “the 25 hidden gems around the world that are worth the trek”. Visit the mine and lunch at the neighbor La Salina restaurant – wine tasting included.
Ask for price
Included:
- 4 nights accommodation in double room
- half-board - local specialties
- return car transport by car from Cluj-Napoca
- English speaking mountain guide assistance
- caving equipment
- via ferrata climbing kit
Not included:
- other meals
- entrance fees, if applicable
- optional local activities.
