I’m a nature lover, and every time I have spare time I venture in the countryside or high up in the mountains for a portion of fresh air and the chance raise the optimism level with the delightful natural scenery. And not least, is a good occasion to discover new routes, that can be transformed into new ideas for tours for my futures guests. This is how I came up with the idea of a new tour, mixing walking in nature, wildflower and birds watching, and local food.
Some domestic animals
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It is also an opportunity to meet the people of the countryside in their own environment. And it’s interesting to chat with them, as for them is a little bit weird that a stranger like me is interested in wandering like a lunatic from one village to another, when is so much work to do in the fields. After the first phrase ( and probably from the first glance), they understand that I’m from the city. And when I’m telling them and I’m organising guided tours in Transylvania their curiosity is mounting, as they want to know why a foreigner from the other corner of the world is interested to visit their land.
Wild Orchid
But is not only the interaction with the locals. As you walk outside the villages, you find yourself surrounded by a rich variety of wildflowers and birds that can be spotted by the curious eye of the nature lover.
Goldilocks buttercups and myosotis
Some wild animals ( deers, foxes, rabbits) can be seen too but is preferable not to stumble on bears or wolves. From the fauna, the easiest can be seen the birds, as their trill is revelling their position, but you need binoculars, to see them in the tiniest detail.
A Finch resting on a rosehip
Regarding vegetation, Transylvania is blessed with a wide floral variety, as some of the meadows from the plateau and mountain pastures are either used for grazing ( mostly sheep and sometimes cows and buffalos) or for hay ( which is mowed by hand with scythes).
The best moment to spot the explosion of colours and scents is late spring – early summer (May -June). I prefer to wander mostly in May, as nature has that lush green colours, and the weather is still not very hot. Bonus: nothing can be compared with a walk in the edge of a blossoming acacia tree forest. The delicate perfume of the flowers is sensuous, and it is especially searched by honey bees.
Carthusian Pink and wild thime
June has its charm as well, as the number of wildflowers is at the peak, from the low Transylvanian plateau meadows to the fresh alpine pastures. Is the moment when the hay season starts, and the landscape is adorned with perfectly arranged conical haystacks, waiting to be transported in the barn.
Haystacks
The tracks I’m usually following aren’t very long, as I want to keep a leisurely pace, giving time to admire the scenery at its maximum. So, I habitually walk between 8 to 15 km, depending also on the difference in altitude and the difficulty of the terrain. I either walk around villages or following marked trails in the mountains.
If you’re interested in guided walks in the countryside of Transylvania to admire nature and feel the vibe of the villages, you can check our tour here.
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