Dear ERA Members, dear Rambler/Hiker Friends,
it is our pleasure to invite you to the biggest tourist meeting in the Carpathian Basin!
Our organisation, the Transylvanian Carpathian Society (EKE), was founded over 125 years ago. Its goals are walking/rambling/hiking, to get familiarised with local history and the protection of the environment. EKE has branches in 16 Transylvanian cities, and each year one of the branches organises the biggest EKE event: the national itinerant camp. Each year, the participants are able to familiarise themselves with the geographic, touristic attractions, landmarks, architectural and cultural heritage, traditions of a particular region. During the past couple of years, the number of participants has reached 1,300-1,500. So far most of the participants came from Romania and Hungary, however since our organisation was granted membership in the European Ramblers’ Association, this year we would like to open our doors to international participants as well. In 2019 the EKE’s 28 th National Itinerant Camp is organised by the Tîrgu Mureș branch, the venue being Sovata (Mureș County), a resort town famous all over Europe and special due to its salt domes and its heliothermic lake that is unique in Europe and rare worldwide. First of all, we would like to invite to this meeting the members of the ERA and anybody else that would like to visit Transylvania and to get to know one of its regions and would be interested in establishing connections with the local community and its traditions.
Our tour offer is rather diverse; thus, we hope that regardless of age everyone would find something to enjoy. There are going to be difficult and moderately difficult hikes in the Eastern Carpathians (1,000-2,100 m), tours that explore the history of WW1 and WW2 and their monuments, pilgrimage- tours on the St. Mary Trail (the Transylvanian El Camino). We are also going to visit the ruins of old castles within the surrounding mountains and the landmarks of the Salt Country (Sóvidék): salt lakes of Sovata, salt mine of Praid and the Salt-pass. Our local history tours also have a wide selection: medieval castles, Transylvanian Saxon cities and fortified churches that are part of the UNESCO World Heritage (Sighișoara and Biertan). We are going to visit the castle that belonged to Prince Charles’ great-great-grandmother and a town founded by Armenians. There are also going to be cycling tours, mushroom-picking tours, as well as photo and night-time tours, riding horse-drawn carriages in Corund and getting in touch with the local trades, but also wine and palinka (traditional fruit brandy) sampling in the surrounding villages. Children and young adults, as well as those who still feel young, can choose from our creative activities, such as rope gardens, raft making, rock climbing and many other exciting challenges under the guidance of the Outward Bound personnel. The guided tours and all the programs are in Hungarian.
The festive camp opening ceremony will take place on July 30th; the hikes are organized on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Saturday, August 3rd is the day of heritage preservation, contests, and the camp closing ceremony.
The Outward Bound Youth Centre and its surroundings in Sovata, GPS coordinates 46.58677N, 25.081542E, elevation 475 m, 3 km from Sovata resort centre.
Possibility to set up your own tent on the campgrounds, simple, semi-nomadic conditions.
People with more needs may find accommodations in Sovata and its surroundings.
Since the camp is in the middle of the summer season, it’s recommended to book as early as possible.
It does not include the transportation fees for the hikes and eventual tickets, which will be paid at the registration.
You can read the camp rules here: 28th Itinerant Camp Rules
In the name of the organizers:
Kiss Zoltán
camp commander
Nr. | Title | Route | Distance | Level Difference | Duration | Difficulty | Wed | Thu | Fri |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Mátyás (Matthias) hike 1 | Lunca Bradului - Valley of Ilva - Negoiu Unguresc peak (2081 m) - Pietrosu peak (2102 m) - Valley of Ilva - Lunca Bradului | 30 km | +/- 1500 m | 10-11 hrs | 5+ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
2 | Mátyás (Matthias) hike 2 | Little Tihu creek - Tihu saddle - Bistriciorul peak (1990 m) - and back | 17 km | +/- 1100 m | 9 hrs | 4+ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
3 | Saca Mare 1 | Cireșului-ridge - Cerepes-stone-field - Table-stone - Saca Mare peak (1776 m) - Cencio - Sebes creek | 29 km | +1400 m / -1250 m | 10-12 hrs | 5 | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
4 | Firtușu | Păuleni - Firtuşu - Cuşmed-stone - Şiclod-stone - Șiclod | 23 km | +837 m / -1021 m | 9-10 hrs | 5 | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
5 | Saca Mare 2 | Bucin - Saca Mare peak (1776 m) - Table-stone - Cerepes-stone-peak - Cerepes-stone-field - Cireșului-ridge - ski resort | 21 km | +750 m / -1100 m | 9 hrs | 4 | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
6 | God’s Chair | Bistra Mureșului - Zapodia Ursului hilltop - God’s Chair saddle - God’s Chair (1380 m) - Zapodia cu Pod creek - Valley of Bistra | 14 km | +1050 m / -880 m | 8-9 hrs | 4 | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
7 | Albert Wass hike | Sălard - Sărăcin stone - Ferigelor meadow - Sărăcin plateau - Funtinel meadow - Ferigelor creek - Funtinel creek - Lunca Bradului | 16 km | +636 m / -613 m | 8 hrs | 4 | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
8 | Repaș plateau | Camp - Juhod-creek - Sicbert-field - Repaş-plateau - Iszapos-creek - Sebes creek - Camp | 25 km | +/- 750 m | 8-9 hrs | 4 | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
9 | Becheci - war history hike | Șilea Nirajului - Becheci peak (1080 m) - Sovata | 18 km | +650 m / -750 m | 8-9 hrs | 3 | ✔ | ✔ | |
10 | Fortress of Vityál | Câmpu Cetății - Cald-creek - Fortress of Vityál - Eremitu | 20 km | +753 m / -808 m | 8-9 hrs | 3 | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
11 | Verőfény | Bucin road 11 km - Bogan plateau - Bogdan stone (1297 m) - Verőfény-top - Bucin plateau | 14 km | +800 m / -290 m | 9 hrs | 3 | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
12 | Lajos Áprily hike | Camp - Ilieși - Áprily fountain - Fortress of Rapsonné - Bucin road 5 km - Praid - Áprily Memorial House - Salt gorge | 14 km | +/- 500 m | 8 hrs | 3 | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
13 | Pilgrim hike | Camp - Șiclod stone - Hermitage - Sărățeni | 15 km | +/- 500 m | 7-8 hrs | 3 | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
14 | Family hike Sovata | Camp - Tiucas-hill - Sovata salt lakes tour - Salt Route - Belvedere tower - Ghera spring - Camp | 10 km | +/- 315 m | 4 hrs | 2 | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
15 | Family hike Câmpu Cetății | Câmpu Cetății - Lacul cu Arini (Alder-Lake) - Castle Mountain - Spring of the Fairies - Câmpu Cetății travel by Mocăniță (narrow-gauge railway) on Thursday from Sovata to Câmpu Cetății | 5,6 km | +/- 200 m | 4 hrs | 2 | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
16 | Family hike Praid | Praid Salt mine | 3 km | 3 hrs | 2 | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
17 | Family hike Corund | Corund aragonite museum, snail hill, local craftsmen | 2 km | +/- 100 m | 1 hr | 2 | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
18 | Photography-hike | Abud - Eremieni - Torba | 10 km | +/- 150 m | 2 | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
19 | Mushroom hunting | Câmpu Cetății - Valley of Niraj | 6 km | +/- 200 m | 4 hrs | 2 | ✔ | ||
20 | Night hike | Camp - Mill-creek - Sebes creek - Small field - Tiucas-hill - Camp | 6 km | +/- 250 m | 3 hrs | 2 | ✔ | ||
21 | Bike tour 1 - Fortress of Rapsonné | Camp - Juhod-creek - Áprily fountain - Fortress of Rapsonné - Áprily-fountain - Bucin road 5 km - Praid - camp | 23 km bike, 4 km hike | +/- 390 m bike, +/- 120 m hike | 5-6 hrs bike, 1 hr hike | 🚲 | ✔ | ||
22 | Bike tour 2 - Becheci hill | Camp - Stâna de Vale - Sovata - Săcădat - Written-stone - Becheci peak (1080 m) - Great Becheci meadow - Reștad - Sovata - camp | 34 km | +/- 780 m | 6-8 hrs | 🚲 | ✔ | ||
23 | Bike tour 3 - Saca Mare mountain | Camp - Stâna de Vale - Sebes creek - Repaș plateau - Cencio-plateau - Saca Mare - Nirajului-valley - Câmpu Cetății - Săcădat - Sovata - camp | 60 km | +/- 1350 m | 10-12 hrs | 🚲 | ✔ | ||
24 | Local history tour - Valley of Târnava Mică | Ghindari - Sângeorgiu de Pădure - Bezidu Nou - Crișeni - Vețca | 125 km by bus | 8-10 hrs | 🚌 | ✔ | ✔ | ||
25 | Local history tour - Valley of Niraj | Eremitu - Călugăreni - Sâmbriaș - Miercurea Nirajului - Sânvăsii - Bâra | 100 km by bus | 9-10 hrs | 🚌 | ✔ | ✔ | ||
26 | Local history tour - Sándor Petőfi | Călimănești - Sighișoara - Albești - Ispán well - Cristuru Secuiesc | 170 km by bus | 11 hrs | 🚌 | ✔ | ✔ | ||
27 | Local history tour - Castles | Gurghiu - Brâncovenești - Gornești | 4 km hike, 140 km by bus | 9 hrs | 🚌 | ✔ | ✔ | ||
28 | Local history tour - Valley of Târnava Mare | Bălăușeri - Sighișoara - Criș - Mălâncrav - Biertan - Dumbrăveni | 240 km by bus | 10 hrs | 🚌 | ✔ | ✔ | ||
29 | Local history tour - Saint Ladislaus | Reghin - Herina - Bistrița - Chiraleș - Arcalia - Țigău | 250 km by bus | 11 hrs | 🚌 | ✔ | ✔ | ||
30 | Horse-drawn carriage tour | Sărățeni - Chibed | 1 km hike, 10 km by carriage, 20 km by bus | 8 hrs | 🐴 | ✔ | ✔ | ||
31 | Horse-drawn carriage gastro-tour | Corund - Valea lui Pavel - Fântâna Brazilor, turf bog - Corund feast at a homestead | 22 km by carriage, 25 km by bus | 6 hrs | 🐴/🍽 | ✔ | |||
32 | Programs for youth (above 15 years) | Raft building, hike, rappel | 15 km hike, 4 km on raft | +/- 500 m | 9-10 hrs | 🏕 | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
33 | Programs for kids (10-14 years) | Raft builiding, climbing wall, tyrolean | 2 km | 5 hrs | 🏕 | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
34 | Wine tasting | Călimănești, Simén Mansion, wine tasting with cold buffet, between 18-22 h (6-10 PM) | 72 km by bus | 4 hrs | 🍷 | ✔ | ✔ | ||
35 | Palinka tasting | Chibed, Erdélyi palinka distillery, between 18-21 h (6-9 PM) | 24 km by bus | 3 hrs | 🥛 | ✔ | |||
Nr. | Difficulty |
---|---|
5+ | Very difficult hike |
5 | Difficult hike |
4 | Moderately difficult hike |
3 | Moderate hike |
2 | Easy hike |
🚌 | Local history tour |
🚲 | Bike tour |
🐴 | Horse-drawn carriage |
🍽/🍷/🥛 | Food and drink tasting |
🏕 | Kids and youth programs |
E-mail: info.vt@ekemvh.ro
Phone: +40 765-669639
Outward Bound Youth Center,
1 Mai street,
Sovata
545500