CycleTrek in Romania Experience Transylvania Outdoor life? Is something that you enjoy? Cycling, walking ... or both? We are offering this extraordinary Transylvanian experience and the opportunity to find out about its people culture and customs. The main activity in the region was agriculture and old farmers still uses horses and carts to work the land. You will discover an old world that is still alive in this area. Cycling routes are 40 miles a day in average with plenty of time to rest and take photos as well as stops to visit a few of the old fortresses, citadels or fortified churches that were built to give shelter to a hole village in case of a siege. A stop will be as well to Bran Castle, well known as Dracula's Castle. Hiking days will be in average 5 - 6 hours long, with plenty of time to take photos and study the different flower, the birds, treks of wildlife, etc. Everyday you will complete your history information while visiting medieval castles, fortresses, churches or only a normal house of a local. Optional: Watching bears from a hide in the forest.

Starting from: 1124Euro/person for minim 6 participants Optional: bikes for rent - for only 2 participants is 2024Euro/pers What's included ? UPGRADE your trip Detailed itinerary Trip dossier(*.pdf)~175k Daily altitude charts 11 days/10 nights hotels & guesthouses Grade Easy - Moderate Recommended for anyone in good health and reasonably fit. Highlights: center located hotels or guesthouses to be able to stroll evenings or mornings Bucegi Mnt - Sphinx & Biddies rock formations medieval town of Brasov / Kronstadt with Black Church fortified churches of Transylvania - UNESCO sites Sighisoara - best preserved citadel and birthplace of Vlad Dracula Sibiu - The Cultural Capital of Europe 2007 glacial Fagaras Mnt - coasting on bikes Dracula's Castle (Bran) and the story vs. myth Pearl of Carpathians - Sinaia - The Royal Summer Residence - Peles Palace Bucharest - Romanian capital EXTRAS: traditional welcoming in one of the villages horse and cart ride traditional folk and dance show time to meet and speak with the locals; get a real feeling of the local's life outdoor bar-b-que - grill, spend the evening out by a camp fire ... and much more

Detailed itinerary for the Romanian trip (land only)

Day 1: Arrive and transfer to hotel
Pick up from Bucharest Otopeni Airport and transfer north to Sinaia or Busteni, in the heart of Prahova Valley. Dinner in a beautiful hotel, the guide will present a briefing of the whole trip, together with a short introduction of Romania. Accommodation: 4**** hotel in Sinaia or Busteni.

Day 2: Short hike in Bucegi Mountains
Note: The itinerary for any particular day is subject to minor changes upon weather conditions based on group decision.
A cable car will take us up to ~2000meters (~6600 feet) high. From there we start with an easy walk to the very peak of Bucegi mountain, about 5-6 hours walk, on the Bucegi Plateau. Return with the cable car. In the evening, transfer to Brasov, dinner and short orientation tour.
Accommodation: minihotel in Brasov
Distance by bus: 20 min in the morning, 60 min in the afternoon
Distance hiking: 5-6 hours, grade: easy. Altitude gain only 500m.

Day 3: Cycling out of the Town of Brasov
Morning tour of Brasov, Black Church and The First Romanian School, transfer by car to the city limits, and visit to the medieval fortified church of Harman or Prejmer. Than start the cycling day towards another old German fortified church from the Medieval Transylvania.
Accommodation: small guesthouse in the village, people will share the same bathroom/restroom, separated for women and men.
Distance by car/minibus: 20 min in the morning, to avoid the city traffic
Distance by bike: ~70km, grade easy, flat, no major hills

Day 4: Cycle to the heart of Transylvania
Continue cycling through the Transylvanian Plateau, passing by the famous fortified churches (some listed in the UNESCO World Heritage List) up to Sighisoara, the place where Vlad Dracula was born. Is the best preserved medieval town. Afternoon/evening time to explore the place.
Accommodation: hotel in middle of old Medieval town.
Distance by bike: ~ 60 km

Day 5: A touch of culture, Sibiu
After a visit to the well known Clock Tower, short transfer to visit Biertan (car/minivan), the largest fortified church and the former bishop seat. Continue cycling to Sibiu, the largest medieval town in Transylvania. It is designated to be the European Capital of Culture in 2007.
Accommodation: Hotel in Sibiu
Distance by bus: 30 min in the morning
Distance by bike: ~ 70 km

Day 6: Up, up the mountain ...
Transfer by car/minibus to the heart of the mountains at 2000m high. Optional, the last few miles uphill can be cycled - it is a winding road, vertical drop is about 2500 feet, superb views. Medium hike around the glacier lake. If lucky, we can spot chamois running on cliffs and slopes.
Accommodation: beautiful chalet in the heart of the mountains
Distance by bus: 40 min to 1h20min in the morning
Distance by bike: optional to climb to Balea=10 km,
Distance hiking: about 3 - 4 hours.

Day 7: ... and down we go
We continue the next day with the descent on bikes - optional (the same way we came up, if not, we can take the car/minibus). Than biking at the foot of the mountains, and visiting some old villages and old tools used in the villages.
Accommodation: for the next 3 days will be in a family run guesthouse.
Distance by bike: ~ 50 km, optional descent on bikes ~ 25km

Day 8: Hike the mountain - optional outdoor activities
A very nice walk into the heart of the Piatra Craiului (King's Rock) Mountains. On the way back we walk through an impressive gorge (used as a filming set for the film "Cold Mountain"). You can get in touch with the locals.
One of the next days we will spend the evening out, by the fire.
Distance hiking: 5 - 6 hours

this day we can choose other optional activities instead of hiking:

• - water activities - canioning, kayaking, body rafting - upon group request
• - rock climbing - learn to climb rocks and clifs; avaialble also for the experienced ones on more difficult routes
• - horseback riding - spend one day out on horseback running over the surrounding hills
• - paragliding - experience the birds eye view from the hight of a paraglider

Day 9: Dracula's stories and a nice hike
Morning transfer to Bran Castle (well known as Dracula's Castle). After the visit start an extremely nice walk into the mountain villages from the area. Stopping for a break at one of the homes nicely located and with a wonderful view, we will be served a traditional Romanian dish: polenta with melted cheese made only for us, using pure organic products from the farmers.
Distance by bus: 30 min in the morning to Bran Castle
Distance hiking: 5 - 6 hours

Day 10: Transfer to Bucharest
On the way stop to visit the Pearl of The Carpathians which is The Peles Palace - The Royal Summer Residence. Continue to Bucharest for a city tour. Optional visit to the Palace of Parliament building - the second largest administrative building in the world after Pentagon, built in communism time. Accommodation in very nice hotel.
Spend the evening watching a folklore show while eating Romanian traditional food.
Accommodation: very nice 4**** stars hotel in central Bucharest
Distance by bus: 3-4 hours, but enough stops on the way

Day 11: Time to say goodbye
Day at leisure in Bucharest, transfer to airport for the flight back.
Transfer time by bus: approx 30 minutes from the hotel in Bucharest.

Optional trips described in the itinerary will be added only at request for the final price.
For a detailed itinerary and custom offer please contact us on email
Note: itinerary subject to minor changes, especially on the first and last day depending on flights arriving/departing schedule.

Number of participants: at least 2

Travel dates: Thursday - Sunday, April - October

Duration: our standard programme is eight days long, but other durations are available on request.