11-day Holiday
(10 nights, 8 days of riding)
"The Dacian Shepherds Trail"

In Transylvania from the mountain sheep folds, shepherds with large flocks migrated south to a milder climate and winter grazing.

The area we shall ride through, flanked by the Olt and Sebes rivers is one of the richest pastoral lands in Romania called Marginimea Sibiului. The tradition of winter migration is thousands of years old with large flocks departing from Boita, Sadu, Râu Sadului, Talmaciu, Talmacel, Rasinari, Poplaca, Gura Râului, Orlat, Fântânele, Sibiel, Vale, Saliste, Gales, Tilisca, Rod, Poiana Sibiului and Jina..

In centruries past, the flocks were driven through forrests and country roads towards the rich pastures of the lowlands in Southern Romania on both banks of the river Danube, as far as Dobrogea, the Caucasus and the Balkan Peninsula. Today they follow this same pattern but obviously do not reach as far as they did then.

This time we shall explore two of the most beautiful mountain ranges belonging to the Carpathian arch, the Cindrel and Sureanu ranges. (see the map)

Day 1: arrival, welcome cocktail, meet your hosts and discuss your holiday plan. Dinner and accommodation.

Day 2: Get acquainted with your horse, warming up in the manege, ride around the Rahau village, 3 hrs, 20 km.

Day 3: Rahau-Deal-Carpinis-Fantana lui Marga-Valea Nedeiului-Martinie. Trout fishing and traditional dinner. 4 hrs, 24 km.

On the first day of our riding adventure we shall start early in the morning and we shall ride towards the mountains. On country roads and forrest paths we shall reach Deal and Carpinis in the Cindrel mountains and then we shall change direction and head south-west towards Fantana lui Marga.

At this point we can admire from a vantage position the panorama of the Sebes Valley and see far into Sibiu County towards the villages of Jina and Poiana.

We shall pass through beech and oak forrests, home to wild boar, wolves, deer and lynx and after a steep descent towards the Sebes river we shall cross Valea Nedeiului to reach Martinie, a small mountain village where we can try our hand at trout fishing and taste the local fare our hosts have prepared from their own farm.

Day 4: Martinie - Plesi - Vf Stroia - La Cruci - Carari - Curmaturi, approx. 5 hrs, 30 km. „Outlaw” Dinner.

On the second day of this trail, we shall rise high above Martinie and continue our riding adventure on mountain ridges with spectacular views far into the distance: we shall see as far as Sebes and Alba Iulia to the North and Jina – Poaina to the East.

High above Loman and Martinie, on winding sandy roads at 1200-1400m altitude, trot becomes canter and smelling freedom, Arab horses will need a reining in if they are not to break into a head-to-head race (willing riders may do this when your group is ready). The wide open spaces alternate with stream valleys always in the shade, towards Plesi and Stroia Peak folowing the roads and passes used by shepherds to guide their flocks to alpine summer grazing.

Gradually the beech and oak forrests are replaced by spruce, pine and alpine meadows. In the villages below, for hundreds of years the yearly departure of flocks to the mountains is celebrated with a feast.

The shepherds gather the sheep from the surrounding hamlets and prepare to spend the next few months away from any civilisation. In the mountain stations, sheep are milked manually every evening and cheese is made from recipes handed down by generations. Stored in wooden barrels the cheese is transported down to the villages in the autumn and shared among the owners of the sheep.

Dinner with „outlaw” specialities is prepared by the Mihaila Family at Curmaturi chalet.

Day 5: Curmaturi - Ivanis - Piatra - Arti - Virtoape - Sugag - Dobra - Jina-Poiana Sibiului, approx. 6 hrs, 36 km.

On the 3rd day of our ride through Sureanu Mountains, still on the mountain ridge we shall descend through Ivanis, Piatra and Arti among the rare summer houses separated by miles of pasture land towards Vartoape and Sugag, again on the Sebes Valley.

Crossing the river, we rise on the eastern bank towards Dobra and the Cindrel Mountains. We shall reach Marginimea Sibiului at Jina before Poiana Sibiului ( 100 m altitude ) where we shall spend the night. Poiana is on of the richest shepherds’ villages, famous for its cheeses sold throughout Romania.

Here we can visit the St Archangel Church on the hill, built in 1766 of timber, declared a historical and architectural monument. At Poiana we can also see the Ethnographic Museum housing agricultural and craft tools, woven goods, icons, clothing and furniture typical of shepherds dwellings.

Day 6: Poiana Sibiului - Rod - Tilisca - Gales - Saliste - Vale - Sibiel, approx. 4 hrs, 25 km.
Highlight: visit to the glass painted icons Museum.

From Poiana Sibiului we head towards Rod, Tilisca, Gales where we can visit the Ethnographic Museum Barbu Constantin. The museum has an indoor pavillion and several constructions in the garden with an inventory of 1300 pieces.

We will see tools and implements used in agriculture, sheep breeding, bee-keeping, fruit gathering and crafts: potter, hatter, carding, leather-making with illustrations of local customs. In the garden we shall see a Saliste House with specific interior and a sheep fold from the XIXth Century.

We shall pass through Saliste and Vale and shall arrive at Sibiel where we can visit the Museum of Glass Painted Icons. Set up in 1969 from public donations it houses a valuable collection of Glass Painted Icons from various centres all over Romania. The museum has also wooden icons, peasant ceramics, furniture pieces, home textiles and antique Romanian books.

Day 7. Sibiel - Fantanele - Orlat – Gura Raului – Lacul Gura Raului – Cabana Fantanele – Sibiel, approx 7 hrs, 37 km.

Starting at Sibiel we shall head toward east, passing through Fantanele and Orlat on the way to Gura Raului. From here we shell head south through the mountains toward the Gura Raului lake, an water accumulation which catches the Cibinu River and supplies with drinking water most of the inhabitants in the area.

By the end of the Lake, at the Pick, cross the Runcu Hill and we will reach Fantanele Cabana. From here we will pass through Poiana Godia to Sibiel.

Day 8: Poiana Sibiului – Varful Pietriceaua – Varful Captanu Mare – Guga Mare – Dealul Cretu – Varful lui Mihai – Rod – Poiana Sibiului, approx. 6 hrs, 30 Km.

From Poiana we shall head towards Varful Pietriceaua, over the Negru Stream, to Plaiul Muntelui. From here, we shall reach soon the Captanu Mare Peak, taking a turn southeast on the road linking Jina with Pripoane towards Guga Mare. To the north we shall cross to Delaul Cretu and Virful lui Mihai and then on to Rod and Poiana. We will have explored one of the most picturesque areas of Marginimea Sibiului.

Day 9: Poiana Sibiului – Dobarca - Garbova – Reciu – Calnic - Rahau, approx. 6 hrs, 30 Km. Highlight: cheese and wine lunch at the Garbova vineyards.

From Poiana Sibiului we will start, passing thru Dobarca, towards Garbova. Here we are going to enjoy a real gastronomy feast by testing out traditional cheeses and local wines coming out of farmers win yards of an area well known for its products.

After lunch we will head towaerd Calnic, via Reciu, where we going to have the opportunity to visit the Farmers’ Fortress. Build up by the Transylvanian Saxons in the 13th Century; the Fortress was the residence of the Saxons’ Greavs until the year 1430, when the last descendents of this noble family sold it to the farmers’ community in Calnic. From Calnic, we will be back to the Club, at Rahau, in time for dinner.

Day 10: Relaxation at the Country Club or
day-trip to Sibiu. Highlight: farewell dinner at Mesteceni.

Sibiu is one of the 7 Citadel Cities (Siebenburgen) built in the XIII-th Century by the Saxons who colonised this area to guard the mountain passes of the Carpathians.

An old mediaeval city, Sibiu or Hermannstadt by its German name is now preparing to become Europe’s Cultural Capital in 2007. Those keen on fine arts, can visit the painting collections of the Bruckental Museum and the old city.

On the outskirts of the Sibiu you will visit ASTRA, the largest open air museum in Europe with old houses, anexes and workshops from villages all over Romania depicting their ancestral way of life.

Day 11: Breakfast and Departure