Day 1 - Meeting the tourists at the airport and transfer by car to the Padis karstic plateau. Presentation of the area, its genesis and specificity. Checking in at the Cetatile Ponorului chalet, meeting the hosts. Dinner.
Day 2 - Breakfast. We visit the Caput Cave then climb a short way to Poiana Ponor with its marvelous view and horses roaming freely. Here we will take some time to train and accommodate with climbing and abseiling. Depending on the time of the year we can enjoy the wild berries and various wild flowers that grow here. Return at the chalet, dinner.
Day 3 - Breakfast. We follow the trail to Varasoaia area and we pass nearby the Varasoaia Lake, formed on the bottom of a dolina. We reach the Big Swallet in Varasoaia Clearing where we leave the trail and follow a path through the wild forest up to the impressive 40 m high entrance of the Cetatea Radesei cave. After a short break we continue downstream to the wild canyon through which we emerge in the Somesul Cald Gorges. We admire the marvelous Radesei Waterfall then we take the path above the cave to see the openings from a different perspective. We return to the chalet and have dinner.
Day 4 - After breakfast we go towards the Magura Vanata Mountain and cross the virgin forests that cover it, then descend on the other side of it on the rough Hidden Valley. We see the 80m high Corner Rock then follow upstream the picturesque valley of Somesul Cald passing by some nice waterfalls. On our way to the gorges we can visit the Pepii Cave. There is a panorama site where we can see the Moloh Canyon and Waterfall. Continuing on the path we go to the Sources of Somesul Cald where there is an interesting karstic swamp with many swallets. This is the end of the circuit and we head back to the chalet. Dinner.
Day 5 - Breakfast. We will take the road upstream on the Bear’s Valley and we will visit the Izbucul Mic peaty deposit. It has an interesting fauna and flora with carnivorous plants and a marvelous landscape. Then we follow the trail to Izbucul mic spring and climb to the karstic plateau Calineasa-Batrana where there are numerous vertical caves, the most famous being the one on Batrana Mountain with a 120 m vertical. We can visit the shepherd’s settlements, take pictures, have lunch with the sheperds then return to the chalet on a different trail. Dinner.
Day 6 - After breakfast we follow the trail up to Piatra Galbenei then we enter the Galbenei Gorges, biggest in Romania. It’s a pretty demanding thing to do so we will make many stops for photos, lunch and catching our breaths. We follow the river upstream through specially equipped passages that will test our endurance, strength and skills. From the highest point we will admire the spectacular Galbenei River that forms many wild waterfalls. Return to the chalet on another path. Dinner.
Day 7 - Breakfast. We start our journey heading to Cetatile Ponorului. We go down in the biggest dolina and we stop to the secondary entry of the cave, where we will prepare our gear and descend to the big underground river. Once arrived there, we follow the river upstream and, passing underneath a window that opens 100m above us, we go towards the main entrance of the cave. Before leaving the cave, we can visit another dolina with vertical walls of 100m and higher. We exit the cave and we follow Cetatilor River upstream, back to the chalet. Dinner.
Day 8 - Breakfast. Today we will take the tour of Barsa Hollow, a fascinating and mysterious place that will remind us of Jurassic Park. After presenting the karstic system, we will see the Black Cave and descend the active vertical gallery using the abseiling techniques we practiced before. Returning to the daylight, we will take the path to the Barsa glacier, the third in size in the country after Scarisoara and Focul Viu. In August and September the blueberries will be tempting us from the sides of the path. We will return to the chalet through Balileasa. Dinner.
Day 9 - After breakfast we will go partly by car partly by foot to a nearby karstic area, Poiana Onceasa, a blossoming clearing surrounded by swallets and springs. In our way there we will pass by the Alunul Mare karstic spring, emerging from the cave nearby, and following a dry valley we reach the 250 m deep and 7 km long Avenul cu Vaca (The Hole with a Cow). From Poiana Onceasa we climb to the Dragons’ Cave. This one is an amazing graveyard for Ursus Spelaeus. It has been estimated that bears came to die in here for more than 40 000 years. The cave has been subject to extensive thefts and therefore will be closed soon. We will make our way back to the car through some picturesque karstic plateaus and nearby Alunului Rock. Dinner.
Day 10 - Breakfast. We go by car to Balileasa area. Then we will go down the wild Bulbuci Valley. The river is forming small waterfalls and lakes. We pass nearby The Bulbuci Spring and then the 12 m Bulbuci waterfall. We reach The Boga Valley and we start to climb up the canyon to the bottom of Boga Rock. We can choose to climb back the 700 m we descended or to take the car from here back to the chalet. Dinner.
Day 11 - Climbing day. After breakfast we head to Poiana Ponor where we will do some rock climbing. We can also watch the free horses that make the landscape look lik ethousands of years ago and the sheeps that enrich the landscape. In the evening, after we return to the chalet, we will start a fire and gather around it to enjoy a traditional dinner. We can even prepare our own dinner at the fire.
Day 12 - Breakfast. Get ready for the peak adrenaline shot of this holiday…We will take the trail on Gardisoara Valley to Coiba Mare cave. We enter through the 42 m high fossil swallet and follow the fossil galleries till we reach the river. There is everything there: waterfalls, abseiling passages where we will use our gear and technique, lakes that we will cross by boat. After going the same way back we will enjoy a warm meal like never before…
Day 13 - After breakfast and boarding we will go by car to Garda de Sus, a village with strong traditions where we will spend our last night. We leave our luggage at the guesthouse and have lunch. Then we will visit the karstic plateau Ocoale, Scarisoara Glacier cave, and the local museum. After returning we will go to see Poarta lui Ionele cave and taking the picturesque way back we return to the guesthouse and have dinner.
Day 14 - Breakfast and return to Cluj. Recovering day: visiting the city, the Botanical Garden, historical buildings and statues, museums. Transfer to the airport. Exchange of email addresses.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
All inclusive
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Europe
Romania
Caving
Mountain/Rock Climbing
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