This time, we spoke to Csilla Lange, the founder and enthusiastic leader of Csillagtúrák, thanks to whom the world of organised hikes in the Pilis Mountains is now open to families with young children.

Please tell us a bit about yourself, and let us in on a secret: how does someone end up becoming a tour guide, more or less out of the blue?

I have lived here in the Danube Bend, in Pócsmegyer, ever since I was born, and the Danube Bend has always played a central role in my life. It was in 2004 that I really became closely connected to Visegrád, when I started working at the Thermal Hotel Visegrád. It was at that time – some 19 years ago now – that my career in tourism began, following my studies in the field. Later on, my path led me to join the team at the Patak Park Hotel. This hotel, of course, is situated on the banks of the Apátkúti Patak, on the edge of the forest; this is where it all began for me in terms of cross-country running.  I’d been running for a long time back home on the island; I’ve been actively involved in sport since childhood, but after my sons were born, running was ultimately the only sport I stuck with.

Then came the job at the hotel on the edge of the forest – and did that run „change the course” of things?

Exactly. I moved my training sessions to the woods. After the change, I soon came up with various route plans, and I threw myself into the world of trail running and hiking with great enthusiasm – though, of course, just for my own enjoyment at first. My colleagues then suggested: what if I organised guided tours for guests, with pre-planned routes? So, before I knew it, I found myself in the woods with thirty people, all waiting to hear what I was going to say next – which way we should go.

So has it become a popular activity amongst hotel guests?

And quite quickly, at that. Visitors staying in Visegrád are very keen to take part in outdoor activities. Hiking, trail running, cycling – there has long been a keen interest in such activities round here. However, for all of these, it’s good and helpful to have expert guidance, so you don’t have to set off on your own, as there are already well-established routes and opportunities for guided tours.
And since I’d always been the one to organise this sort of thing for my friends and family anyway, and given that hiking and trail running are my absolute passion, I threw myself into this adventure with great enthusiasm.

And from there, it was a straight path to the Star Tours…

More and more people got in touch saying they’d love to join my walks, and then, little by little, a regular group began to form; they, in turn, brought along interested friends one after the other, and so, in the end, the Csillagtúrák really did take on a life of their own.

Who are they? Who is your target audience?

The Star Walks are aimed primarily at families with young children. In particular, they’re for those who aren’t sure where to start, where the really good spots are, how long the walks take, and which routes are more challenging and which are easier. I specifically organise activities in the woods that are perfectly suited to children aged 6 and over.  

What does a tour like this involve, broadly speaking?

We always follow signposted routes, so the children find it easy to learn their way around; we look out for the various signs and will soon have the chance to discover how to use a tourist map and a compass. We get to know the world of forest walks in a playful way. What’s particularly wonderful about all this is that parents and children alike enjoy the whole experience from start to finish.
First of all, of course, I assess the make-up of the group: how many are the younger children, how many are the older ones; how comfortable the parents are with being out in nature, and how much each person can handle.
We usually set off with 20–30 people, of whom there are often as many as 10 or 12 children. There are regular hikers who prefer to hike in a group, some who come for health reasons, and a great many who are already familiar with the Csillag hikes and join us simply for the familiar experience.
Our shorter walks last 2–3 hours, whilst the longer, more challenging walks are 4–5-hour, full-day adventures.

Is there an age limit for children?

We generally run sessions tailored for children aged 6 and over, but this March we’ve also launched a new programme which is open to little ones from the age of 3, and which is run with the help of an excellent movement therapist colleague of mine. Dóri and her colleagues have adapted a brilliant movement therapy programme specifically for a woodland setting. The little ones love it, and parents often can’t believe what their children are capable of until they come to us.
The venue is currently the wonderful Miklós Bertényi Botanical Garden in Visegrád.

If someone wants to sign up for the Star Tour, how far in advance of the tour should they let you know?

As long as there is still capacity available, those interested are still well within the deadline, 24 hours before the announced date. This means even I have time to prepare and assess the team’s composition, and applicants aren’t forced to know for certain that they’ll be there weeks before the date. We’re flexible. That’s the whole point of this.

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For more information about Csilla’s tours, please click on the link below; you’ll also find Csilla’s contact details there:

https://visitvisegrad.hu/programok/aktiv-kikapcsolodas/csillagturak