3 Days Holiday on Horseback in the Lotru Mountains, Romania

The routes

Pripor (4 to 5 hours)

Nedeea Valceana’s favorite mountain above the treeline - more than 1000-meters high, it is easy to reach even for novice riders. It offers the most impressive sight: the Făgăraş Mountains (the main ridge), the Cozia Massif, the Loviştea Land and Naratu Mountain which belong to the Parâng group. This ride is a wonderful experience whatever the weather - misty or sunny.

Odăile by The Lake and Chilie (3 to 4 hours)

Old huts spread here and there in the clearings. Each of them is a special place with its history and people. You can ride in trot or gallop on the forest path of Călineşti Valley.

The Odăi of Radea and Richiti (5 to 6 hours)

You can find some of these Odăi hidden in the bushes, broken up, forgotten by the people, by time. Different stories, different perspectives beyond the Căpățâna Mountains, Buila and Lotru Mountains. It is a strenuous route for both the rider and the horse.

Proieni pasture to Aninoasa (5 to 6 hours)

It is a long route of continuous riding. As far as the eye can reach, there’s nothing but forest. You’ll reach Paltineiul Proienilor where you’ll find some decayed, putrefied beams of the former sheepfold. In the summer, neither rider nor horse can be seen as they disappear in the ferns. Instead, the Lotru Valley, Buila, Căpățâna Mountain appear in unforgettable splendor.

Sulița Hill - Glod - Aninoasa (5 to 6 hours)

You’ll climb Sulița Valley, reach Glod and Sulița Peak. The Olt Canyon shows itself up to beyond Călimănești with Cozia on the left and Naratu Mountain on the right. You’ll then return to Călimănești Valley passing by the Odaia: sheepfold on the hill.

Odăi by the lake - the peaks of Pripor, Ragla - Izvorul Frumos (the beautiful source) (1 day)

It’s a summer day’s route along three mountains. You’ll leave with the sun ahead and return with it behind. You’ll cross woodland, alpine landscape and reach Odăi - your Odăi - exhausted and happy.

The Acme’s Valley - Paltineiul Călineştiului - the peak of Măgura (1 day)

It is difficult, especially when going downhills (not on horseback). You’ll have plenty of time - The Olt Valley, Loviştea Land, the mountains beyond Lotru Valley, and Căpățâna Mountains are a feast for the eyes. It’s worth every step.

Cozia (2 to 3 days)

You’ll start in the Lotru Mountains and trot across half of Loviştea passing through Perişani. The first day’s destination is Surdoiu where you’ll stay overnight. The next day, you’ll mount the horses and start on the forest path which leads to Samniceanu Mountain where you will sleep at the Mocirle sheepfold. What follows could be called “the shoemakers’ ordeal” - it is a 3 to 4-hour descent from 1200 meters to the river Olt, the holsters in your hands. The difficulty of this route being given, Nedeea Vâlceană only plan it with ‘Odăi professionals.

The Academy

Finally, the place where everything starts. It is the clearing next to your Odaia where you start learning how to handle climbing aids, holsters, how to ride off, to mount a horse and descend from a horse’s back.

All the routes are circular. Nothing is glued, everything can be modified according to the participants’ abilities. Being fit can be useful sometimes.

The horses

Murgu (leader without dispute)

Murgu is the unchallenged leader of Needea Valcena’s small stud. Boss of multinational - nobody and nothing stands in his way -, his ears up, swelling his rocker mane and stamping his leg, he is begging for a piece of sugar or bread. He is Needea Valcena’s speed maniac, fond of obstacle jumping of any kind. Murgu likes girls and is never moody but if you take a closer look, you'll know it: he only has eyes for his mistress, Alexandra.

Sasha

Sasha is the absolute mother. She only brings forth mares who in their turn also give birth to only mares. Vizir was a surprize, even for her. She loves her riders the way she loves her foals. Docile and well-behaved, she often benefits when not being stimulated as she is a rather lazy, cozy creature. Always walking behind Murgu, she pays very much attention at not unbalancing her riders.

Fulger (pampered one)

He is playing the boss, which is silently accepted by his elder brother Murgu - a gentleman's agreement. Endowed with a poet's character, he is fond of admiring a flower for half an hour ignoring his rider's begging: 'walk, Fulger.' Being well-built, two riders can sit on his back if the guide, for whatever reason, has to walk.

Breazu

The newcomer in the stud (actually, not: this spring will mark two years since the friendship starts). Vigorous, he likes being at a gallop. Beautiful, well-tempered and gentle, he prefers apples as having grown up at a sheepfold without sugar cubelets.

Dochia

One of Sasha's foals. She is a small reddish one, beautiful and vivacious. An alpha female, she would like to be the leader but due to the competition within the stud, this is rather impossible.

Dochia is the only horse from whose back there has never ever fallen anyone. She loves children and is crazy about being in the highlights.

Paco

Her real name is - for obvious reasons - Pasqualina. She’s grey, just like her father Murgu, she is very submissive, likes learning, and easily responds to commands. Needea Valcena hopes that she'll become a wonderful leisure horse.

Sumi

Called and The Unicorn - the white foal that meanwhile has developed into a marelet. Needea Valcena are sparing her a bit as she is still learning. That's why she is the guide's horse. Very vivacious, she only obeys a good rider.

Lina

Also called Salamior - she has almost become one if Rareş hadn't redeemed her for one RON and lots of working days.

As she resembles Breazu very much, it is assumed that she is his daughter. Anyway, she will stay with you and after some months, you will for sure meet her with a saddle on her back!

Bobi

He is an adult horse bought from gypsies. He is black and beautiful. Bobi is an expert in human nature - sad enough as he suffered a lot because of them. A very strong and good horse, Bobi needs and looks for getting affection.

This holiday will take place at Brezoi and Lotru Mountains in Romania.

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• Day ride
• Transport from the valley to the venue (20 minutes 4x4 vehicle needed)
• 2 nights' accommodation
• Meals

• A reservation requires a deposit of 20% of the total price.
• The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
• The rest of the payment should be paid 7 days before arrival.