TOURIST ATTRACTIONS
Spectacular nature, right on your doorstep
The Ic Ponor – Padiș Holiday Village is surrounded by some of the most impressive natural attractions in the Apuseni Mountains. Within a few kilometres you can explore unique caves, spectacular gorges, waterfalls, nature reserves and heritage sites.
All the sights in the area
Distances are measured from the village.
Spectacular caves
3 km
7 km
21 km
28 km
23 km
Gorges and nature reserves
Meadows, springs, waterfalls
Lakes and heritage sites
6 km
Giurcuța de Sus Orthodox Church
12 km
SPECTACULAR CAVES
Alunului Cave
The closest cave to the village, just 3 km away — a short trip, suited even to a free camp afternoon.
Zmeilor Cave (Onceasa)
Hidden in a rock face in Poiana Onceasa, in the Bihor Mountains, the cave is reached on the trail that passes through the Someșul Cald Gorge — one of the best known in the area.
Humpleului Cave
On the Fira Valley, at the foot of Humpleului Hill, lies one of the longest caves in Romania — with surveyed galleries totalling over 35 km.
Focul Viu Cave
An underground glacier with the third-largest block of fossil ice in the country, visible through a natural window in the cave ceiling, through which snow and leaves fall in year after year.
Bears' Cave
Discovered by chance in 1975, in a marble quarry, and opened to visitors in 1980 — today one of the most visited show caves in the Apuseni Mountains.
Scărișoara Ice Cave
Unique in Europe: a 48 m shaft drops down to the Great Hall, almost 50 m across, which shelters a block of ice thousands of years old.
GORGES AND NATURE RESERVES
Cetățile Ponorului
Romania's grandest karst phenomenon — three huge rock amphitheatres, 300 m deep, guarded by a portal over 70 m tall.
Someșul Cald Gorge
At the source of the Someșul Cald, the water has carved a unique 212 m tunnel through the rock — Cetățile Rădesei — with natural windows piercing the ceiling up to the surface.
Galbenei Gorge
A narrow corridor with vertical walls and numerous waterfalls, difficult to cross — the upstream section, between Izbucul Galbenei and the confluence, is the most spectacular.
MEADOWS, SPRINGS, WATERFALLS
Poiana Florilor
A true summer paradise, with hundreds of species of wildflowers colouring the sunny slopes below Piatra Galbenei.
Vălul Miresei Waterfall (Răchițele)
The most iconic waterfall in the Apuseni Mountains, 50 m tall — its name comes from a legend about a bride who fell from the cliffs on her wedding day.
LAKES AND HERITAGE SITES
Lake Beliș–Fântânele
A reservoir lake built on the Someșul Cald, with a surface of nearly 10 km² — the tail of the lake lies just 6 km from the village.