Riding a horse to see a million-year-old volcano.

Amidst the vast green meadow stretching to the horizon, a graceful black horse with a glossy coat grazes peacefully. This horse is carefully trained and cared for by Mr. Gưh, a member of the Chư Đang Ya Tourism and Agriculture Cooperative.

He's not just a horse trainer, but also a "guide" leading visitors on horseback rides through flower gardens, fields of vibrant purple reeds, and meadows rustling in the mountain breeze. Occasionally, he subtly signals his black horse to strike a pose, helping tourists capture beautiful horseback riding photos that make them feel like nomads in the steppe.

Tourists are guided to get acquainted with their "four-legged friends" before embarking on a leisurely horseback ride across the green slopes. **Photo: Minh Chau**

Mr. Guh said that caring for horses isn't difficult, but it requires understanding their habits. Besides feeding them grass and rice and bathing them daily, he also frequently strokes, pets, and even talks to them. "Horses are very intelligent and loyal. If you care for them and treat them like friends, they will understand and obey. Even with strangers riding on their backs, as long as I'm nearby, the horse will behave," Mr. Guh shared.

Last year, many visitors to the Chư Đang Ya Volcano Wild Sunflower Festival visited the cooperative to experience its services. Among them, the horseback riding service around the flower gardens and meadows was very popular.

The atmosphere here evokes a nomadic lifestyle: leisurely riding on horseback, admiring the majestic and romantic mountains, breathing in the fresh breeze carrying the scent of red earth and herbs. As the sun sets, the reed fields glow in the afternoon sun, and the rhythm of the horses' hooves seems to slow down, allowing visitors to fully appreciate the beautiful final moments of the day.

From atop their horses, tourists leisurely admire the million-year-old volcano. **Photo: Minh Chau**

Besides horseback riding, the area also offers garden tours, rental of traditional costumes and accessories such as baskets, hats, and umbrellas, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in the local culture and capture memorable moments.

Although there are no homestays yet, the cooperative rents out tents for overnight stays to those who want to sleep under the stars and watch the sunrise by the volcano's crater. Early in the morning, from the tent entrance, visitors can sip coffee or a hot cup of tea, admire the beauty of one of the most beautiful volcanoes, and let the morning mist and clouds swirl around them.

Mr. Tran Nguyen Huy Son Duong, Director of the Chu Dang Ya Tourism and Agriculture Cooperative, said: "This destination covers 3.3 hectares, situated between two mountain ranges, one side being Chu Nam and the other Chu Dang Ya, surrounded by Jrai villages rich in local cultural flavor. With this natural setting, the cooperative is planned to harmonize with the natural landscape, with absolutely no concrete construction."

The horse slowly carries tourists across the field of vibrant purple reeds. **Photo: Minh Chau**

The current services are still quite new, having been tested during the 2024 Chư Đang Ya Volcano Wild Sunflower Festival and the Lunar New Year, before being temporarily suspended for infrastructure improvements. “We want each experience to be connected to nature and local identity, so that tourists stay longer and truly live in the refreshing atmosphere of the plateau. We are planting more types of flowers and opening beverage and coffee stalls to prepare for the peak tourist season,” Mr. Dương said.

Chu Dang Ya is not only a famous scenic spot associated with the wild sunflower festival, but also an integral part of the Jrai people's lives. They live clustered at the foot of the mountain, cultivating the land and being connected to it for generations. The harmonious blend of majestic nature and a free-spirited lifestyle creates a unique charm, making those who have visited want to return.

The Chu Dang Ya Tourism and Agriculture Cooperative is nestled at the foot of the majestic Chu Nam mountain range. **Photo: Minh Chau**

Despite the existing shortage of accommodation services, the emergence of the Chu Dang Ya Tourism and Agriculture Cooperative has opened up opportunities to encourage tourists to stay longer in this region. Visitors from afar can immerse themselves in the local culture, experiencing a different way of life: horseback riding, mountain climbing, sleeping in tents… Each experience is imbued with a spirit of freedom, so that upon departure, everyone carries with them the lingering echoes of the wind, the grass, and the sound of horse hooves echoing across the plateau.

Source: https://baogialai.com.vn/cuoi-ngua-ngam-nui-lua-trieu-nam-post563730.html