Cross Country Skiing in Transylvania - Vagabond Ski

  Romania

• Other Cities in Romania: 
Turda

Dates: 4th of February 2007

Description: The cross country ski programme is all about the "white magic"! Just bring your touring ski boots and we'll wait for you with skis, ski poles and artificial seal skins. The rest is up to you! Live together the skiing fever in picturesque areas, explore traditional mountain villages, and enjoy the pine tree flavour combined with the chimney smoke of peasant houses!

Level and fitness:
The present tour is intended to tourists accustomed to mountain walking, who poses average skiing skills and are in good physical shape. The skiing routes will be of 15-25 km/day at an altitude difference of 500 800 m.

"Vagabond Ski" is a good choice for you if:
- you love adventure and your physical condition allows you to ski and walk about 8 or 9 hours/day with short breaks taken on the route, in the middle of the white nature
- you love spectacular mountain sights and enjoy picnic lunches in the middle of the nature at -5 -20°C with a cup of hot tea made of pure snow.
- you enjoy exploring rural areas, getting acquainted with the locals and share a traditional lunch with them.

You're invited to enjoy winter in the Apuseni Mountains, one of the wildest areas in Romania. For the first three days you'll stay in Baisoara Resort, located at the foot of "Muntele Mare" - the third peak in height from Apuseni Mountains; a real winter paradise: impressive pine trees loaded with snow, perfect for quiet walks, joyful skiing or sledging tracks, not to mention the warm and welcoming atmosphere of a typical Transylvanian village, old peasant houses with rich wooden architecture in an interesting contrast with modern cabanas and villas.

Your next destination is the traditional "Motzesc" village of Arieseni. Where you'll enjoy a real winter adventure a horse sledge will carry you up to the biggest ice cave in Europe! Be amazed by the biggest ground slide in Romania - Rusty Pit and conquer the highest peak of Apuseni Mountains - "Cucurbata Mare" (1847 m).

The cuisine of this area is worthy of your attention: don't miss the "balmosh" traditional Transylvanian shepherd speciality and worm yourself with some boiled wine with cinnamon. How about a lunch in a genuine peasant house? Taste the usual lunch of a "motz" your host will be more than glad to prepare something really traditional such as fresh cow cheese, "mamaliga" and bacon with onion.

A special dinner with folk show in "Vila Vank" will reveal the beauty of the Transylvanian folklore.

A carpet of pine tree branches will be at your feet, delicious dishes on your table and good music for your ears!

Isn't winter great?

Highlights:
* Scarisoara Ice Cave - the biggest ice cave in Eastern Europe
* Cucurbata Mare Peak - the highest peak of the Apuseni Mountains
* Huda lui Papara Cave - do you remember the history of Pied Piper, the magic flute singer? It is believed that "Huda lui Papara" communicates with that cave in Germany in which Pied Piper hid the children from Hameln, Germany.
* Horse sledge ride to the biggest glacier in Eastern Europe - enjoy lunch in a genuine peasant - "Motzesc" house with traditional homemade specialities.
* Discover the beauty of the Transylvanian folklore - the delicious taste of the local cuisine during a folk show dinner in a special location

Cost in US$: 1240

** Price in USD is for guidance only; balance will be paid in EURO (Euro 977/person)

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants.

Participants Travel to Romania Independently or in Groups

Typically Participants Work Independently

Application Process Involves:

• Written Application

Transylvania Live, Tour Operator and Member of American Society for Travel Agents's Mission Statement: Transylvania-Live it is simply the most spectacular way to discover Transylvania. Our aim is to introduce you to genuine Transylvania. Helping preserve beautiful traditions, thousands of years old, keeping alive the culture of different areas by introducing you to locals, assuring that Transylvania will always welcome you with pine flavor and thick forests, making sure that in a village "grandmother" waits you with a slice of traditional pie is not at all difficult. We are the only Romanian tour operator offering the possibility of enjoying Transylvanian Festivals live, both making use and preserving Transylvanian traditions and mythology! Our offer includes cultural holidays that take you to genuine Transylvanian Festivals to celebrate together our songs, dances, see the work of the shepherds, admire the mastery of our craftsmen. Transylvania Live appeals only to the help of local guides both in Romania and Hungary; we work only with local suppliers, so that money will stay where needed. We're supporting "Saint Daniel's Foundation" program which already built a house for the elderly and now is trying to build the second one for both old people and children in the program entitled - "A grandfather for a nephew - A nephew for a grandfather". Sustaining our region through involvement in civic projects is another priority for us. Transylvania Live is co initiator of the "Tourism Information Centre" in Turda, sponsor of belles-lettres national magazine "Echinox" and student's theatre festival "Alterego" as well as sustainer of "Transylvania Riders" motor club.

Year Founded: 1995