A day in Ghimes/Gyimes

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

Hot air balloon flights around Odorheiu Secuiesc/Székelyudvarhely. The total duration of the free flight is 3-4 hours, but the flight takes approx. 1 hour. Many people think that hot air ballooning is an adrenaline rush activity, but it is not. In fact, hot air ballooning is a pleasure flight, and is an endlessly calm, breathtaking sport. The flight take place on the mornings or late afternoons only in weak/slow windy conditions. During our trip, we fly with the winds low speed at lower and higher altitudes, where you can admire the wonderful panorama. We wave to the people below us, and try to tear leaves from the top of the trees. We fly with 2-3 passenger. Tethered balloon ride: At different events we can provide tethered hot air balloon lifting, where we can lift about 30 people in 1 hour up to a maximum height of 30-40 meters. Book a winter flight! • The winter flight is more spectacular: the cold air is clearer and we have a clearer view over the fairytale landscape of Harghita, all the way to the Southern Mountains. • We manage to soar higher than in summer • It's warmer up high than on the ground • A video gift of your flight • Surprise at the end of the programme Booking required! The standard price is 850 RON per person. For a personalised offer please contact us on 0740 680 632 WatsApp or phone. Children get 50% discount.

Dear visitors! We are glad to guide you through the road of fruit transformation from the fruit tree to the glass. Our goal is to achieve the highest quality palinka, using the latest technology. You can find out the secrets of handcrafted fruit distillates in the category of base fruits : plum, cherry, Muscat grape, black grape, apple, sour cherry, apricot, Williams pear, quince, black currant, in the category of forest fruits: cornelian cherry, elderberry, blackthorn, Blue berry, Aronia, Raspberry and also mandarin.  Our products are 100% natural fruit distillates, we won several awards from World most appreciated spirit contests such as Destillata from Austria.  During the visit we share our experiences and you can find out how sommeliers review the fruit spirits. For programming a visit to the distillery please feel free to call us on +40 744 795162 phone number, English tourist guidance is available on site. Our e-mail address: palincajamy@gmail.com . Come and feel the spirit!

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.

Learn the secrets of Miercurea Ciuc's beloved brew at this factory tour, 12km south of Miercurea Ciuc, through tastings and traditional Hungarian beer snacks. After a few sips, you too will be singing the praises of the Harghita Mountains' spring water and quality hops. Offer: 1 h | 45 Ron / person  • tour, explanation of the technology used • Csík Chips tasting (100 g) • unlimited beer consumption 2 h | 85 Ron / person  • tour, explanation of the technology used • local cuisine tasting • unlimited beer consumption 2 h | 99 Ron / person  • tour, explanation of the technology used  • oven-baked trotters in handmade bread with horseradish and garlic sauce • unlimited beer consumption Booking: +40755 030 895, latogatokozpont@csikisor.hu IMPORTANT! Registration is considered a definite booking after confirmation by phone or e-mail.   We want your visit to be a lasting memory, so you have the opportunity to purchase souvenirs related to Csíki Beer and Csíki Chips in our gift shop. We offer also: • Visiting and tasting tour at "Csíki Csipsz"

This tour is recommended for those who are interested in the history and battles of World War I and II. Your guide, knowledgeable in the history of the Arpad Line, will show you the remains of the trenches and machine gun mounts in the Ghimes Valley, revive the course of the bloody battles and fights with the help of detailed maps and old photos. At the end of the tour you will visit the warriors tomb where you may show your respect to them. Program duration: 4-5 hours Equipment: hiking boots, layered clothing, camera

We invite you to travel in time in the only European photography studio that works by only using natural light. Ancient cameras, backgrounds, decors and other antique accessories can be seen. You could look inside cameras that are a hundred years old; you could witness the magic of black-and-white film developing in dark rooms.  Visit the Kováts Photography in Odorheiu Secuiesc. Advance reservation: 0746665797