Transylvania Trail

Saturday: Plan on arriving in Bucharest no later than 4PM to take advantage of the transfer by minibus from Bucharest to Sinca Noua. Arrive at the farm and settle into your room. Get to know your guide and fellow riders as you learn about your upcoming adventure while you meet the horses. Afterwards a delicious welcome dinner will be served in the dining room.

Sunday: After being introduced to the horses, you will leave Şinca Nouă (pronounced Shinca Noah) and ride along the valleys and over the foothills of the Carpathian Mountains towards the plains of the Olt River valley. You pass several Romanian Villages and have your first long canters through the fields. Cross the Olt River just before you arrive at your destination in Hălmeag, where you stay in the houses of local families.

18 miles/ 29 km / 6 hour saddle time

Monday: Today you ride along the Olt River from Hălmeag to Șona. You are now in the hills of Transylvania. Ride along a beautiful ridge with marvelous views to the Fagaras Mountains and reach your destination of the day in Cobor, an old Hungarian village in the middle of the Saxon area. You start to experience the beauty of this ancient land.

In Cobor, your hosts run a conservation project, which includes the development of an organic farm with emphasis on biodiversity conservation and the traditional restoration of some of the abandoned houses. You overnight in one of these new-old guesthouses for the next two days.

16 miles / 26km / 5-6 hours saddle time

Tuesday: Today is a full day ride around Cobor with stunning views, fast canters, and rich birdlife; you are likely to see bee-eaters, hoopoes, great grey shrikes, stone chats, or lesser spotted eagles. In the late afternoon arrive back in Cobor and one can chill out in the old stables or in the cellar bar. Overnight Cobor guesthouse.

22.5 miles/ 26km / 6 hours saddle time

Wednesday: A long 7 hour day in the saddle awaits, taking you over the hills to Viscri, your destination for tonight. Viscri is probably the famous most Saxon village in Transylvania with a stunning fortified church, and the UK based Mihai Eminescu Trust (under the patronage of Prince Charles) has restored the village in its original setting. Spend the night in the old farmhouses, which have been transformed into quaint little guesthouses, and enjoy the traditional Saxon cuisine. In the evening there is time to explore the village.

24 miles/ 38km / 7 hours saddle time

Thursday: In the morning explore the fortified church in Viscri, enjoy the beautiful view and lunch before heading out in the afternoon. Ride over the hills to a log-style hunting lodge in the forest near the village of Jibert. Revel in stunning scenery and great canters along the way. Today is a rather fast but shorter ride, ca. 3 – 3,5 hours.  A feast will be served for dinner. Afterwards enjoy the relaxing atmosphere of the Transylvanian countryside.

13 miles/ 22km / 3 -3.5 hours saddle time

Friday: Today is our last day and there are again plenty of canters over the hills and through the forests. Eventually you arrive back in the Olt Valley, have a beautiful ride along the ridge through ancient oak pastures and descend from there through the forests towards Halmeag, where the ride ends. Enjoy a snack before a minibus takes you back to farm and the horses are also transported home. Surprise dinner in the evening.

21 miles/ 34km / 6 hour saddle time

Saturday: After breakfast transfer back to Bucharest. Please do not book a flight departing before 3PM.