Activities

Monday

Walk to the forest.   This walk leads through less used tracks in the forest. Sometimes you can meet deer or other inhabitants of the woods.  Lunch at the house. In the afternoon you will learn how to bake the traditional pipe cake over scorching ambers for your desert.

Tuesday

In the King’s steps. Following one of King Charles’s favourite walking itineraries through the hills and forests around Zalanpatak. You will follow his route, encounter many rare flowers which you can easily identify with the help of our guide. Piknik lunch.

Wednesday

The Pied Piper’s cave and canyon. Excursion through a canyon leading to the cave from where, according to legend as quoted in Robert Browning’s classic poem, the Pied Piper re-emerged with the abducted children of Hamelin, thus founding the Saxon population of Transylvania. Excursion by car with piknik.

Thursday

Walk to Prince George’s meadow. Walk through medieval cultural landscape still displaying traditional farming. Strip farming allows to grow a large variety of different crops in confined spaces on the village’s south-facing slopes. Magnificent sceneries, including Prince Georges own fieldmof wild flowers. Piknik lunch. 

Friday

Lake Saint Ana and surroundings

Drive through mountainous scenery to reach the summit of Mount Csomad. Here you will discover St. Ann’s lake, the only intact volcanic crater-lake in Europe. A small chapel is situated close to the lake. Our guide will explain the legend of St. Ann and its association with the lake.

The unique Mohos peat bog can also be found at this site (situated in a secondary crater, with glacial relics such as sundews, insectivorous plants). A local guide will accompany you to explain the unique flora and fauna which is found in the area during your walk. There is also the possibility to visit the  Apor girls bath, with numerous bubbling springs and gas erruptions, as a clear sign of the still active volcano.

Picnic lunch.

Saturday

Discovering the village. We take a short walk and stop at the volcanic gas exhaust called moffeta and the small public mineral water bath with fresh spring water. Even today, every household has at least one beautifully crafted glass or medicine bottle. These products were made at the former glass factory of the village. A young local resident has collected these unique objects and created a small museum along with other tools of traditional Szekler households. The visit of the exhibition is a real journey through time. Lunch at the guesthouse.

Sunday

Day-long cartride. Our horses led by Karcsi the coach will take you on a ride in a very basic village cart (or sleigh in winter) through the scenic landscape. You can try your hand at driving yourself if you wish. Barbecue lunch in the hills.

Rainy Days

If the weather is too wet, you can try your skills at simple traditional crafts or prepare a special local cake under the shelter of the barns and covered terraces.

• Carving walking sticks from hazel branches
• Baking the traditional Szekler pipe (or chimney) cake 'Kürtős Kalács'

You can keep and take home the results of your skills, and the cake will be served for desert at dinner!

Winter Activities

In case of snow (altitude approx. 800m), instead of our regular activities we can also offer:

• Cross country skiing with our guide (please bring your own equipment!)
• Snow-shoeing. Follow the tracks of wild animals including bears and wolves without sinking into the snow. We have 3 pairs of snow-shoes on site including 1 for the guide.
• Horse-drawn sleigh ride. In winter we swap the cart for a sleigh, and provide blankets and mulled wine for the journey. An experience reminiscent of Dr. Zhivago...
• Sledges. The hills on the property are an ideal playground for sledging. We have 2 sledges for 4 persons at the estate.