8 Day Transylvania's Heritage by Bike Tour in Romania
Romania Cycling Tour
Discover Transylvania's magic with this great self-guided cycling trip! Let yourself be inspired by Transylvania's many legends, its breathtaking scenery, the kind locals, and its surprising and historic atmosphere. Have yourself an exceptional adventure that you will never forget!
Key information
- Trip type: Self-guided
- Lodging: Point to Point
- Starts in: Bucharest
- Ends in: Bucharest
- Total Distance: 187 Miles / 298 Kilometers
- Type of bike: Hybrid bike (included)
- E-bike: 290 EUR per person
Highlights
- 6 riding days
- Ride through villages, parks, and towns
- 7 nights accommodation
- Daily meals
- Airport pick-up and drop-off
- Luggage transfers
Skill level
- Beginner
Accommodation
You will stay in double rooms in guesthouses (six nights) and a small charming hotel *one night( during the tour with exceptionally shared facilities.
Program
Daily itinerary
Day 1 - Arrival in Bucharest and transfer to your guesthouse
Today your holiday will begin. Romania Active will provide you with all tickets starting with train tickets from the airport to the train station in Bucharest. Then, you will be transferred by train from the North Station in Bucharest to the Saxon city of Brasov (two and a half hours). Once you reach Brasov, you will get a regional train that will take you to Zarnesti (45 minutes) or you can book a private transfer with them. You will spend the evening and have dinner in a lovely guesthouse in this small town at the foot of the Piatra Craiului National Park. All train transfers and dinner are included.
Day 2 - Cycling to the oldest water mill in the country
Today, you will head north to a charming little authentic village at the foot of the Fagaras mountains, the highest mountains in Romania. You can make a detour of seven kilometers on a gravel road to visit the interesting bear sanctuary near Zarnesti. From here, you head to Ohaba where you will visit the country's oldest flour mill powered by water. Here you will hear his tumultuous history of the communist era. Dinner and accommodation in an authentic guest house enjoying the most beautiful mountain environment.
- Distance: 50 kilometers / 31 miles
- Elevation: +250 meters / +821 feet and -400 meters / -1313 feet
- Meals: Breakfast, packed lunch, dinner
Day 3 - Into the deep Transylvania
Today you will cycle at the foot of the Fagaras mountains over Bucium River. You will pass through the village of Lisa, where a 100-year-old machine, that tailors thick woolen blankets is waiting for you to discover it; After that, you will be passing through Sambata de Sus (the High Saturday) to experience its impressive Brancovenesc monastery which dates all the way back to 1696. Following this, the trip takes you further, over to the village of Dragus where you will see an ethnographic museum filled with information about the old crafts: carpentry, weaving, wedding customs, children's games and habits, and more.
Later on, you will cross Victoria town, an old communist worker's residence, and head to the small village of Carta, where you will visit the spectacular ruins of the local Cistercian monastery. Hopefully, you will have the opportunity to meet the pastor and listen to his insightful stories. Dinner and accommodation at an old stone mill guesthouse in Carta village.
- Distance: 60 kilometers / 38 miles
- Elevation: +300 meters / +985 feet and -450 meters / -1477 feet
- Meals: Breakfast, packed lunch and dinner
Day 4 - Hidden Citadels
Today's trip will have you enjoy pristine country roads with beautiful pastoral landscapes. The destination is Biertan, a peaceful little town where you will find an enormous fortified church with an amazing history. This too has made the Unesco World Heritage list since 1993. If you would like to make an extra little detour, there is also a second beautiful fortified church nearby to visit. Dinner and accommodation in Biertan village, with amazing views of the imposing fortified church.
- Distance: 65 kilometers / 41 miles
- Elevation: +600 meters / +1969 feet and -650 meters / -2133 feet
- Meals: Breakfast, packed lunch, dinner
Day 5 - The citadel of Sighisoara
Today you will have a magical day when you cycle on to Sighisoara, one of the few medieval citadels in Europe which is still fully inhabited and proudly included on the UNESCO list of World Heritage. Let yourself be amazed by this old town which has a most beautiful clock tower (initially purposed as the main entrance to the citadel), an interesting set of covered stairs, medieval cobbled streets, and the mysterious house where Vlad Dracul, (Dracula's father) was born.
On your way today you can also make a small detour to Dumbraveni, another lovely town that is home to an important Armenian Catholic Church, another witness of your spectacular past. Accommodation in a charming and central three-star hotel. Dinner is not included.
- Distance: 40 kilometers / 25 miles
- Elevation: +380 meters / +1247 feet and -400 meters / -1313 feet
- Meals: Breakfast and packed lunch
Day 6 - Bucolic Transylvania
Today you will have a great exercise cycling through the brilliant Transylvanian hills to Apold village, home to another gorgeous fortified church. At the end, you will arrive in the peaceful Soars village where you will spend the night. Today's ride will take you through remote and bucolic areas where you will surely meet shepherds watching over their sheep herds. Make sure you have your camera ready.
- Distance: 48 kilometers / 30 miles
- Elevation: +600 meters / +1969 feet and -500 meters / -1641 feet
- Meals: Breakfast, packed lunch, dinner
Day 7 - Following the prince
From Soars, you move further to one of the highlights of this trip, Viscri. This is a properly restored Saxon village where the Prince of Wales bought himself a house and helped the villagers bring back to life their authentic past. Viscri also has a very interesting fortified church which was also refurbished with the help of Prince’s Charles foundation. A cycling day through these old but beautiful villages will have you meditating on the passing of time and the necessary connection with nature.
- Distance: 35 kilometers / 22 miles
- Elevation: +300 meters / +985 feet and -250 meters / -821 feet
- Meals: Breakfast, packed lunch, dinner
Day 8 - End of the trip
Leaving from Viscri after breakfast, private transfer to Brasov from where train departure to Bucharest (several trains starting at 1:30 p.m.). They highly suggest an extra night in this medieval town if you do not have the time to visit it on the first day. End of the trip.
About the tour
Embark yourself on an exceptional adventure that you will never forget. You will have great exercise thanks to the stunning Transylvanian hills, and they have prepared a lot of delightful visits for you to enjoy. So get prepared to embark on a holiday that is rich in history, culture, and very hearty food. This trip will take you to the foot of the Carpathian Mountains and across Transylvania’s hills, through a mysterious and spectacular land, famous for the legend that inspired Bram Stoker’s “Dracula”, a land that is well-known for its forests sheltering many species of wild plants and animals.
Transylvania, surrounded by the impressive Carpathians, was also a much sought-after land. That is why the Saxons settled in the 11th century as a shield ahead of the high passes between Transylvania and Wallachia, a shield against the Tatars and the Ottomans. But this is just a hint of the rich heritage that you will discover during this entire trip. An exceptional holiday is waiting for you. The trip provides a great share of diversity, as there are not only cultural sites but also several small nature reserves to observe and explore.
The nature in the region is hardly touched by chemicals so nature lovers will enjoy the rich pastoral landscapes. There are eight days overall of which six cycling days. Medium level (from 35 to 66 kilometers per day, including some climbs). For very fast riders, you can choose to do days six and seven in a single day. They check accommodation and bike availability, replying within 48 hours, Monday to Friday. They provide a hotel list and a roadbook by email, while you will find the route map and other useful materials at the first guesthouse on tour.
They also provide a technical description of the itinerary, a map with the itinerary traced out, a contact list, as well as a technical sheet and vouchers if or where needed. Their roadbook includes, apart from the route information: restaurants, museums, craftsmen, different pieces of advice and recommendations, as well as a 24-hour emergency phone number. They send all documents by e-mail (hotel list, roadbook, and train tickets), while all printed materials are delivered to your first accommodation on tour. The luggage will be transferred from one guesthouse to the other by Romania Active.
Bikes
Hybrid bikes
It costs 95 EUR per person for a trek hybrid bike with front suspension, disk brakes, and a bottle holder and 80 EUR per person for an arcade hybrid bike with no suspensions, v-brakes, and bottle holder, men frame only. Both have 21 gears, a light aluminum frame, and a Shimano derailleur. Rental prices include a repair kit, a pump, a lock, one side, a back pannier, and a map holder.
Trek e-bikes
It costs 290 EUR per person.
- Frame: Alpha aluminum, specially designed for the Bosch Active Line system, luggage rack, and mudguard
- Rigid tires: Schwalbe Big Apple, 700x50C, K-Guard puncture protection
- Brakes: Shimano hydraulic disc brakes
- Cassette: Shimano nine-speed Crankset Miranda Delta
- Battery: Bosch PowerPack (diagonal tube), 500Wh
- Engine: Bosch Active +, 250 Watt, 50 Nm
Not included with bikes
Handlebar bag, speedometer, gloves, and helmet. They provide helmets only on request as it is always safer and more comfortable to bring your own helmet.
Transfers
Transfers are private, done by local buses or trains, as mentioned in the description.
- Days 1 and 8: Trains between Bucharest and Brasov (about three hours each)
- Day 1: Train from Brasov to Zarnesti (about 40 minutes)
- Day 8: Private transfer from Viscri to Brasov (about one hour 30 minutes)
Difficulty levels
Medium level: from 35 to 74 kilometers per day, with some climbs.
Carrying
Luggage will be transferred from one guest house to the other.
Location
The tour will take place in Romania.
Food
You will be served seven breakfasts, six picnic lunches, and six dinners provided by the guesthouses on tour included in the price. Drinks and other meals are at your own expense.
The following meals are included:
- Breakfast
The following drinks are included:
- Water
The following dietary requirement(s) are served and/or catered for:
- Regular (typically includes meat and fish)
Things to do (optional)
Here Romania Active recommends extra nights in Carta to make the most of your stay:
1. The first one is for the visit to Sibiu, one of the most beautiful medieval towns in Romania. Also worth knowing is that Sibiu was chosen as « the cultural capital of Europe in 2007 ». This beautiful place was developed by the Saxons on the remains of a Roman village and it became the residence of the Austrian government in Transylvania. Nowadays Sibiu impresses with its small streets, picturesque courtyards, and ancient rock stairs which create a most romantic atmosphere.
2. The second suggested option is to let you discover the Transfagaras road by bike, which is a 100-kilometer long wonder that crosses the Carpathian Mountains, being the highest bitumen-coated road in Romania at just under 2000 m altitude. More details below
What's included
- 6 cycling days
- 7 nights accommodation
- 7 breakfasts
- 6 picnic lunches
- 6 dinners
- Train transfers from and to the airport
- Luggage transfers
- Transportation between locations
- Road-book
- Maps
- 24/24 local assistance available
What's not included
- Airfare
- Drinks
- Bike rental
- Meals not indicated as included
- Extra panniers
- Items of personal use
- Extra activities
- Transfers to the meeting point and from the drop-off point
- Insurances
- Welcome and briefing in Bucharest north station or departure (35 EUR)
- Single supplement fee (price per person for minimum 2 participants - 150 EUR)
- Single traveler supplement fee, if you are traveling on your own (400 EUR)
- Extra nights
How to get there
Recommended Airports
Henri Coandă International Airport
125 km
Transfer included
Cancellation Policy
- A reservation requires a deposit of 14% of the total price.
- The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
- The rest of the payment should be paid 30 days before arrival.
For this organizer you can guarantee your booking through Tripaneer.com. All major credit cards supported.