SOMOGY NATURE TRAIL - HUNGARY
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Inner Somogy is extremely rich in watercourses, ponds, forests and consequently, wildlife. Some of the rarest animal species in Europe such as the Otter, the Ferruginous Duck, the Black Stork or the White-tailed Eagle, are found here in appreciable numbers. It is in this area that we ride for 6 days in a straight line from north to south, accompanied by nature guides and staying simple lodges or in basic hostels along the way. Your luggage is transported with you.
SAMPLE ITINERARY - SOMOGY NATURE TRAIL
Saturday
Pick up at the Hotel Mercure-Buda in Budapest at 4:30 pm. Arrive by 7:00 pm at the Lehner Manor or the Somogyfajsz Castle, where you will stay for the night with your hosts. Here you will have the chance to meet the staff and with the help of a slide-show, you will learn about the area you will ride through.
Sunday
After breakfast, your horse riding holiday really begins as riders are driven to the stables in Smogyfajsz 25 minutes away, where they will choose their horse for the tour. You will be able to try your horse and, with the agreement of the tour-leader, change them if necessary. You set out for a traditional cellar in the village of Somogyszentpál. The ride goes along meadows and marshes of the Fehér Víz Nature Protection Area, now part of the Balaton National Park. For lunch the riders will taste some local wines, produced on the Southern shores of Lake Balaton and will have the chance to see the Badacsony and other volcanic hills on the northern side of the lake. Total ride distance 40 km round trip or if the weather is unfavourable on this 1st day the ride may be shortened. Dinner and overnight at the Somogyfajsz Castle or the Haromhaz Hotel, Libickozma situated deep in the woods of the Boronka Regional Reserve. Facilities include a small indoor swimming pool and sauna.
Monday
Today riders are driven back to the stables and then head south through the village of Mestegnyo through the Somogyfajsz Pastures to see the Hungarian Grey Cattle herd grazing. Lunch is in the woods near the abandoned village of Kak. In the afternoon riders head to the Boronka Regional Reserve and through an ancient forest and along chains of beautiful fishponds before reaching the restored fishermen's cottages where they spend the night. The group will share one or two fishermen's houses with one bathroom. Basic accommodation. Those who have paid for a comfort supplement will be transferred after dinner to the Libickozma Hotel. Total ride distance 25-30 km.
Tuesday
The trip today takes the riders from Boronka to the otter reserve of Petesmalom, for a distance of about 30 km. There will be a lunch-stop in Kisbajom, one of the best-preserved and most typical villages in the region. Arriving at the centre of the nature reserve and to recover from this long journey, the group will be given the opportunity to visit one of the famous Hungarian thermal baths of the region. Tonight we dine on fish-soup and sleep in the newly restored thatch-roofed house. The accommodation is in 1 large dormitory with a shared bathroom. Evening programme: frog concert by the fire. Those who have paid for a comfort supplement will be transferred after dinner to a local hotel or hunting lodge.
Wednesday
After breakfast the group rides to the Mike fish ponds which were once part of a country park house belonging to Count Somssich. After lunch horses and riders are given time for a rest. The riders will have a chance to visit the thermal baths and later have a guided walk (on foot!) through the nature reserve of Petesmalom. This reserve, comprising 14 fishponds still used for fish rearing, is very rich in natural life. During the walk, an expert will be on hand to tell us about the different bird species present. Otters, one of Europe's rarest mammal species, live here in enclosures and can easily be seen while feeding. Tonight we again have dinner and sleep in Petesmalom. Again, those who have paid for a comfort supplement will be transferred after dinner to a local hotel or hunting lodge.
Thursday
Today we ride through forest and swamps of incomparable beauty to Csokonyavisonta, 25 km South of Petesmalom. Here we find an old school house on an isolated lake shore within a forest, which once served a large farm complex belonging to the Count Szechenyi. This famous family built both the ponds of Petesalom and Csokonyaviszonta. The horses spend the night here and the riders go back to Petesalom for dinner and the night. Those who have paid for a comfort supplement will be transferred after dinner to a local hotel or hunting lodge.
Friday
This is the last day of our tour and today we will push down to the Croatian border: the Drava-River, the wildest river in Central Europe. The bravest of us will have the opportunity to have a last, (but not least) long canter on the sandy river-beach. We will have lunch in the heart of the Danube-Drava National Park in Dravatamasi. In the afternoon the riders leave their horses and are driven in a Land Rover back to the Lehner Manor or Somogyfajsz Castle where the tour-closing dinner starts. Overnight here.
Saturday
Departure after breakfast.
NOTES - SOMOGY NATURE TRAIL
All the night stops during the tour are made on the shores of lakes, where the riders can swim, fish, or just relax. This does mean that mosquitoes can be present in summer so you are advised to bring mosquito repellent and your own mosquito net if wanted.
The accommodation on this ride is in beautiful areas but some have basic facilities. You will be taken to thermal baths on the nights where hot showers are not available on site. We offer single accommodations as part of a "1st class" supplement on our upcoming tours. Riders will be in single rooms on the first two and last nights. On the third night there will be single and double rooms available at the hunters lodge with private bathrooms. On the fourth, fifth and sixth night the upgraded accommodation will be in single and double rooms in hotels with private bathrooms. Riders who want the service will be driven to and and from their accommodations to where the horses, the staff and the other participants are staying. The cost of this supplement is £91 for the trip. There is, as usual on these rides, a weight limit of 95kg/15 stone.
Meals are based on Hungarian Cuisine for breakfast, lunch as well as for dinner. The food is plentiful and very good, so don't count on losing weight on this ride! A land rover brings the luggage along to every stop in time for the arrival of the participants. As the ride moves through protected natural areas the facilities are basic, on the Wednesday at the Otter Park there are only long drop toilets available. If you want to swim at the thermal pools (a great way to ease aches and pains) some of the pools insist on people wearing bathing caps. It is handy to bring plastic/rubber slippers and a towel (if not taking the comfort supplement).
There is an English, German (or French) and Hungarian-speaking guide that accompanies the group. There are also two helpers who take care of the horses.
Additional stay in Budapest: We are pleased to recommend Kalvin House which is situated in a central part of Budapest and offers lovely old style accommodation at a reasonable rate. See www.kelvinhouse.hu for further details.
GETTING TO THE RIDE
You have a choice of flying to Budapest or Balaton airports for this ride. Flights to Balaton with Ryanair go to Sarmellék airport which is about half an hour from the start of the ride.
As a fully ATOL bonded and registered agency we would be delighted to book your flights for you. If you would like to book your own flights please see our flights page for some options.
The weight limit for this ride is 15st /210 lb/95 kg, please enquire if you are an experienced rider exceeding this weight.
WHAT IS INCLUDED
All meals and drinks (including wine and beer with meals), accommodation, riding as described, guide, luggage transfer.
WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED
Flights to and from Hungary, transfers from Budapest or Balaton, comfort supplement, tips and items of a personal nature.
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