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Transylvania cycling holidays

country:Romania
location:Transylvania
trip type:Adventurous cycling holidays
departures:2008: 2 Aug, 16 Aug
price:From €1499 (7 days) excluding flights. Price based on two people sharing, includes professionally trained English speaking guide, accommodation, breakfasts, transfers, bicycle hire and entry fees
 
the amazing things you'll be doing
A 7 day guided cycling tour in the incredible Transylvanian Mountain landscape combining exhilarating rides across the traditional Transylvanian villages, far from the crowded cycling routes, with a great cultural adventure: the royal Peles Castle in Sinaia, the pearl of mountain resorts in Romania, the medieval Saxon city of Brasov, the mysterious Bran Castle, the largest peasant fortification in South Eastern Europe – Rasnov Peasant Citadel and a UNESCO World Heritage Site – Sighisoara Medieval Citadel.

Our bicycle tour suits beginners as well as moderate and experienced cyclists. The riding trails cover distances between 30 to 80 kilometres per day on flat terrain, unpaved country trails, up and downhill trails.

We provide Altrix Mountain Bike, aluminium frames, Shimano fully equipped, telescopic forks, in various sizes, suitable for both female and male participants. Knee and elbow pads are not provided. We recommend you bring your own helmet for best fitting. Helmets are available on request at no extra cost.
day-by-day itinerary
Day 1:Bucharest – Sinaia - Brasov.Transfer from the airport to the medieval Saxon City of Brasov, the starting point of your biking adventure in Transylvania. On the way stop in Sinaia, the pearl of mountain resorts in Romania to visit the royal Peles Castle. The most famous landmark of Brasov is the Black Church, the largest gothic edifice in Southern Europe. For a unique view of Brasov, take the cable car up to the top of Tampa Hill. Accommodation in a centrally located 2* hotel.
Day 2:Brasov – Rasnov – Bran – Brasov. Morning drive to visit Rasnov Peasant Citadel, the largest peasant fortification built in Eastern Europe, standing on a hill top. Continue with the mysterious Bran Castle, unrightfully called Dracula’s castle. The castle owes its fame both to its unique charm and to the myth Bram Stoker created around Dracula. In the evening return to Brasov.
Day 3:Zarnesti – Poiana Marului – Sinaca Veche – Bucium – Lisa – Sambata de Sus. About 80 kilometres of riding downhill. Transfer by bus from Brasov to Zarnesti. From here start riding, enjoying the beautiful scenery of the Transylvanian villages and the incredible landscapes offered by the Fagaras Mountains. Picnic lunch on the route. On your itinerary today is Brancoveanu Monastery, located in Sambata de Sus. The museum displays an interesting glass painting collection. Accommodation in the hotel run by the monastery.
Day 4:Complex Sambata - Sambata de Sus – Voivodeni – Voila – Cincsor – Soars. About 40 kilometres of riding. Continue your riding adventure exploring the treasures of the country side. What better way to discover the essence of Transylvania than to explore the treasures of the country side and meet its many friendly people whose life styles have changes so little over the centuries. Picnic lunch on the route. To better immerge in the rustic atmosphere accommodation is in a welcoming guest houses.
Day 5:Soars – Fagaras – Calbor – Rotbav – Soars. 30 kilometres of riding. Beautiful Saxon villages, fresh air and incredible landscapes will be the scenery of your riding itinerary today. Around lunch time you’ll reach Fagaras Citadel. In the evening return to accommodation in Soars village.
Day 6:Soaras – Barcut – Retis – Bradeni – Apold – Saes – Sighisoara Medieval Citadel. About 38 kilometres of riding. In addition to enjoying an excellent riding route, the highlights of the day are the medieval Citadel of Sighisoara, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the oak forest of Barcut. Dinner can be served in Dracula’s House the very place where Vlad the Impaler was borne, turned today into a cosy restaurant. Accommodation in a lovely 3* hotel of an outstanding medieval charm located in the heart of the citadel.
Day 7:Sighisoara – Bucharest. Depart for the capital city of Bucharest for the flight back home.
how this holiday makes a difference
An excellent way to explore the country side, cycling enables the tourist to fully enjoy the beautiful Transylvanian mountain landscape without damaging the environment. To minimise the negative impact, group sizes are kept small adhering in this way to the carrying capacity of the visited regions. Group sizes vary from 2 to 14 travellers, usually operating with groups of 7.

We always make sure that our tourists have a recyclable garbage bag and that the waste will be disposed only on the special arranged areas. Our guide, a nature enthusiast, has intricate knowledge of the routes involved and provides our guests with the best suggestions: keep to tracks, not disturb the wildlife, use bio-degradable hygiene products and inform the tourist on the fragility of the mountain ecosystem. The Romanian guide will also advise you on local customs as well as help you to break down language barriers

Most of the accommodations are placed in rural areas, guesthouses (in Soars village ) and country-inns (like the one run by Sambata de Sus monastery), small local businesses, some of which are family run. Massive depopulation of rural areas occurred in Romania after 1989 so choosing to stay in accommodations in rural areas truly is of great importance and visibly makes a difference in this respect. This is also an ideal opportunity to spend more time with the locals but also ensure that the financial benefits of your visit reach the people of the area and not some large companies based outside the region.

Besides the economic aspect – we use only local suppliers; your visit is of great importance for the small rural communities as you’ll be able to purchase locally goods starting with food and ending with souvenirs & handicrafts.

The entry fees will help maintain and even restore the precious tourist attractions visited through out the tour: Peles Castle, Bran Castle, Rasnov Peasant Citadel. We’re also making financial contributions of £1 for every person who books one of our tours, to support Saint Daniel’s Foundation programme entitled 'A grandfather for a nephew – A nephew for a grandfather', helping elderly and orphans, people most in need.

We encourage our guests do a little reading before coming to find out more about their host communities and the environment so that they would connect better with the locals. We provide suggestions on how best to support the local economies and communities, as well as the surrounding environment. Guests will receive a pre-trip information pack via e-mail, to minimise the use of paper, which will inform them about issues relating to the place they will travel, some language tips and general advice. Furthermore, our tour guides are well-educated multilingual people who can offer guests their skills as an interpreter and offer up-to-date details on current national and regional issues.

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