Piatra Niergeș, the site of the Szekler’s defiance

Route: Băile Tușnad/Tusnádfürdő - Historical center of Brasov/Brassó - Poiana Brasov, Postăvaru 1799 m - return home   Program description: We will have our breakfast and then we will get to know the Saxon world of Transylvania. The first stop of our day will be the small town of Prejmer, where it is part of the World Heritage, XIII. We look at the Gothic Saxon fortress church built in the 16th century. From here we travel further and spend the afternoon in Brasov, the third largest city in Transylvania, the former great center of the Saxons of Transylvania, where we visit several places during our sightseeing walk. We see the main square of the city, the Council Hall, we see the famous Black Church, the largest gothic church in Transylvania, we walk along the old city wall. During the walk we touch one of the most beautiful surviving buildings in the city, the former gate of the city wall, the Catherine's Gate, and then we reach the third narrowest street in Europe, Strada Sforii, which is barely 1 meter wide. We will then have lunch in the main square of Brasov. After lunch, we drive to the famous alpine settlement, where we climb the cable car to the Christian mountains at 1,799 meters above sea level. Within a short walk we will reach the lookout and marvel not only at the city of Brasov, but also at the entire Țara Bârsei Basin. Homecoming and dinner.  Program location: Harghita and Brasov counties Destination: Brasov/Brassó Region: Țara Bârsei/Barcasági Basin Program price: 105 RON / person, which includes: • visit to the fortress church in Prazmar: 15 RON / person, • visit to the Black Church in Brasov: RON 15 per person • cable car to the Christian mountains: approx. 70 RON / person • full day guide, group escort: 40 RON / person

Route: Băile Tușnad/Tusnádfürdő - Băile Homorod/Homoródfürdő - Harghita-Mădăraș/Madarasi-Hargita - Satu Mare/Máréfalva - return home   Program description: We will have our breakfast and then set off on an adventurous day. On this day we will visit one of the important regions of Szeklerland, Odorheiu Secuiesc/Székelyudvarhely. We are the first to taste the famous mineral water at Băile Homorod/Homoródfürdő, which even has a song written about, and which the whole area uses as drinking water. After a short rest, we set off for the “sacred mountain of the Szeklers”, which even inspired Tamási Áron (well known szekler writer). With our vehicles we climb to an altitude of 1600 meters above sea level, where we are already greeted by an unparalleled panorama. Leaving our cars, we continue our tour on foot. After a 45-minute ascent, we reach the highest peak in Central Harghita, the 1801-meter-high Harghita-Mădăraș/Madarasi-Hargita peak. The view is wonderful, we can see almost the whole of Szeklerland, beautiful mountains, valleys and rivers. On the way home we stop for a short time in Satu Mare/Máréfalva, where we get acquainted with the painted Szekler gates. These gates are among the most important symbols of the Szeklers, but here, in the Odorheiu Secuiesc/Székelyudvarhely region, they are even more characteristic, because people also paint them, so they are unique. Return to the accommodation, dinner.  Program location: Harghita county Destination: Harghita Mountains Micro-region: Odorheiu Secuiesc/Székelyudvarhely Program price: 40 RON / person

Route: Băile Tușnad/Tusnádfürdő - Șumuleu Ciuc/Csíksomlyó - Mureş/Maros River source - Matured Cheese Manufactory - Red Lake - Bicaz Gorge - return home   Program description: After breakfast we set off for our daily adventures. Touching Miercurea Ciuc/Csíkszereda, our journey leads to the famous pilgrimage site of the Catholic Szeklers, Șumuleu Ciuc/Csíksomlyó, where we take a pleasant walk and see the Franciscan Monastery, followed by a typical “Szekler bath”. Continuing our journey, in Izvoru Mureșului/Marosfő we visit the source of the longest and most important river in Transylvania, the Mureş/Maros spring, within a small walking tour in a beautiful environment. Then we arrive in Gheorgheni/Gyergyószentmiklós, where we visit a real matured cheese workshop. We can get an insight into the processing of milk, long-keeping cheese made with Swiss technology, and the production of natural yoghurt. Of course, we can taste these delicacies accompanied by a tasty Transylvanian wine, as well as take part in a real Szekler “peasant” lunch with cheese fondue. From Gheorgheni/Gyergyószentmiklós we climb the 1250 m high Pongrác Peak, from where a magnificent view opens up in front of us. We spend the afternoon in nature at the Red Lake and the Bicaz Gorge, which are among the natural wonders of Szeklerland with their many wonderful sights, we hike on the shores of the lake and among the romantic rocks. In the evening return to the accommodation and dinner.  Program location: Harghita county Micro-regions: Miercurea Ciuc/Csíkszereda and its surroundings, Gheorgheni/Gyergyószentmiklós and its surroundings Program price: 115 RON / person, which includes: • price of a visit to a matured cheese manufactory + lunch: approx. 60-70 RON / person • guided tour, group escort: 40 RON / person

Route: Băile Tușnad/Tusnádfürdő - Krausz homemade chocolate manufactory - Csíki Beer Manufactory with lunch - Șumuleu Ciuc/Csíksomlyó - Nyírfürdő in Lăzărești/Lázárfalva - return home   Program description: After breakfast, as the first program of the day, we will drive to Sântimbru/Csíkszentimre, where we will visit a real Szekler homemade chocolate manufactory, the Krausz handmade chocolate. We get an insight into the home-made chocolate making special recipe. Of course, we taste the different flavored chocolates, but we can also make our own homemade chocolates as a souvenir. After the sweets, our journey leads to the neighboring village of Sânsimion/Csíkszentsimon. The village is very clean and rich in deep wells with good water, so the Csíki Beer Manufactory may have opened one of the prides of the area a few years ago. We visit the buildings of the manufactory, taste beers, gain insight into the technology of brewing and taste the ingredients. We will also have our lunch there, trotters baked in bread, accompanied by Csíki Beer. After lunch, we head halfway to Miercurea Ciuc/Csíkszereda and visit Șumuleu Ciuc/Csíksomlyó, the largest pilgrimage site in Central and Eastern Europe. In the church, we can say our prayers to Our Lady and we can also get an insight into the history of the pilgrimage. Then we continue our journey and in the last part of the day we visit a traditional bath, where we can refresh our feet in the small mineral water pools or mofettas. We do all this in Nyírfürdő, Lăzărești/Lázárfalva. Homecoming and dinner. Program location: Harghita county Destination: Ciucul de Jos/Alcsík Program price: 135 RON / person, of which: - Krausz homemade chocolate manufactory: 30 RON / person - Csíki Beer Manufactory + lunch: 65 RON / person - Guided tours, group escorts 40 RON / person

Program route: Băile Tușnad/Tusnádfürdő - Tușnadu-Nou/Újtusnád - horse-drawn carriage ride to Harghita - return home   Program description: After breakfast, on this day we try to explore and get to know the surroundings of our accommodation. For the first time we will get acquainted with the location of our accommodation in the spa resort of Tușnad/Tusnád. We walk around the city, see the main buildings, baths, and, depending on the time, visit the Apor Bastion, which rises above the city and offers an unparalleled view of the city and the surrounding mountains. Then we drive to the neighboring settlement, Tușnadu-Nou/Újtusnád, where we can try home-baking bread or the most famous Szekler delicacy, chimney cake (kürtőskalács) baking. Afterwards, we board horse-drawn carriages and hike to the picturesque surroundings of the Harghita Mountains, trying out the local gastronomic delicacies. We bake homemade bacon, miccs and ribs, which we rinse with Csíki Beer. We can walk among the pine forests, relax, admire the pine forests of the Harghita Mountains, sing and have fun. Return to the accommodation, dinner. Program location: Harghita county Micro-region: Băile Tușnad/Tusnádfürdő and surroundings Program price: 230 RON / person, of which • horse-drawn carriage + lunch + baking: 200 RON / person • guided tours, group accompanying all day 40 RON / person

Program path: Băile Tușnad/ Tusnádfürdő – St. Anne's Lake – Mohos Peat Bog – lunch in nature – Tórja Stinking Cave - foot soaking in the Apor Girls' Baths or Csiszárfürdő – return home (this day can be done even by off-road vehicle)   Program description: After breakfast, we invite the dear passenger to an experience-rich program. In the first part of the day, we will climb the Ciomatu/Csomád Mountains in a short time. First we reach St. Anne's Lake, 946 meters high, which is considered to be one of the clearest water lakes in the world and the only volcanic crater lake in the Carpathian Basin. We get acquainted with the formation and operation of volcanoes at the time, we take a pleasant walk on the shores of the lake. After that, we also walk into the Mohos Peat Bog, which reveals a wonderful world in front of the dear traveler, with its own unique history, plants, pond eyes and unparalleled surroundings. After visiting the beauties of nature and the volcanic twin craters, we invite our dear visitors to a lunch in nature. We clink our glasses filled with Szekler sparks (pálinka), and enjoy the bacon, the miccs, the onion, the delicious homemade bread, and we rinse it all off with a delicious Csíki Beer. In the afternoon we will also visit the eastern part of the Ciomatu/Csomád Mountains, where we will discover the present traces of former volcanoes. First, we try the mofetta at the largest hydrogen sulphide cave in Europe, the Stinking Cave in Torja, then we soak our tired legs in the wooden pools of the Apor Girls' Baths and of Csiszárfürdő. We will have an unparalleled experience. Return to the accommodation in the evening, dinner. Program location: Harghita and Covasna counties Micro-region: Tusnad Bai/Tusnádfördő and surroundings Program price: 280 RON / person, which includes: • off-roading to St. Anne's Lake + lunch: 220 RON / person • visit to St. Anne's Lake and Mohos Peat Bog + parking: 20 RON / person • guided tours, group escorts for the whole day: 40 RON / person

Challenge your inner explorer with a day trip to the Transylvanian countryside to an off-the-beaten-path location where you can meet talented craftsmen, visit locals in their homes, learn about the local lifestyle, then join a bear watching tour in the wild at dusk. Life in the dispersed mountainous village of Varsag is fascinating and harsh in the same time. People still live like 50 years ago, earning a living from subsistence agriculture and forestry. Many houses are scattered in the heart of nature kilometers away from any facility like a school, a shop or a church. Neighboring houses can be separated from each other by a forest or by a field or meadow. The landscape is breathtaking with numerous mineral spings, crystal clear streams rich in trouts, pastures covered by wild flowers, glimmering waterfalls and dense forests rich in game. Step back in time and experience the greatness and simplicity of the locals living in Varsag, then see wild brown bears in their natural habitat from the security of one of the many wildlife hides operating in the area. Highlights of the tour:  Explore the dispersed mountainous village of Varsag (79 km from Sighisoara)  Get acquainted with the old craft of shingle-roof making and other traditional crafts  Ride on a horse-drawn cart to absorb the local atmosphere  Visit the picturesque 7 m high Csurgoko waterfall  3-hour close encounter with native wildlife in their natural environment  Spot brown bears and possibly other species like deer, wild boar, fox, badger or game birds  Enjoy the Carpathian forests silence and the excitement of waiting for bears to come  Informative, friendly and professional guide  Small group ensures personal service  Flexibility to customize your itinerary to your own preferences  Meet your guide in Odorheiu Secuiesc (47 km from Sighisoara) and ride almost an hour to one of the most dispersed villages of the Eastern Carpathians, to Varsag, where 60% of the area is woody and the inhabitants live kilometers away from each other. Along the way you will ride through colorful Szekler villages by the Tarnava Mare River, pass by the picturesque Zetea dam lake, then wind through a narrow road leading among dense forests until you arrive to Varsag. Here a horse drawn cart will await you to start your discovery tour. Visit a local pub and spend some time interacting with the locals. This isolated community with its friendly and welcoming locals will fascinate you. Enjoy some snacks and local brandy while they tell you about their daily lives and amuse you with some funny stories. According to local legends, the village covers an area comparable in size to the territory of the Romanian capital with only 1500 inhabitants living there. Ride the cart and visit traditional craftsmen like the blacksmith, the shingle-roof maker and a wood carver, watch them at work and listen to their stories. Taste delicious local produce, visit a 100 year old still-functioning watermill, capture the 7 m high Csurgoko waterfall and climb up on a 3 m high look-out tower which offers panoramic views of the dispersed houses and farms and of the surrounding Carpathian Mountains in the distance.  One-hour before dusk an experienced local ranger, will take you with his 4wd car deep into the forests of the Eastern Carpathians which have one of the largest population concentration of brown bears in Romania. Occupy your place in the hide, stay quiet, listen to the forest wildlife sounds and enjoy the excitement of waiting for bears to come. Usually we are successful in seeing bears, but as there are wild animals involved, nothing is guaranteed. If you are lucky, you may observe bears feeding themselves, playing together, courting and mating, and even other species like wild boars, roe deer and red deer, fox, badger and some game birds. After approximately 3 hours watching, head back to the car accompanied by your guide and ride back to Odorheiu Secuiesc. The entire trip takes 9 to 10 hours. Be prepared and wear hiking boots, weatherproof clothing and bring binoculars, camera, extra battery and memory card to record this unique experience.