Cycle Romania

Itinerary Details

1. Day 1Start Bucharest

   Upon arrival, you will be greeted by the tour leader and transferred out of Bucharest to the small town of Vulcan in Brasov Country, Transylvania. This transfer is roughly three hours but will be broken with a short stop.
   
   
   
   

   • Guesthouse or B&B
   • Dinner
2. Day 2Ride to Bucium, stopping at Ohaba flour mill en route

   After breakfast, the bikes are set up and you'll enjoy the first cycling experience in the region. You'll begin with an ascent, away from traffic and into remote pine-covered hills, stopping for a view of the snow-topped Bucegi Mountains. You'll then tackle a 4.5mi (7km) dirt road that offers us a glimpse of life in rural Romania. Please note, you may go in the opposite direction during rain to avoid the dirt road; this adds 6mi (10km) to the cycling distance. Today you'll also visit the oldest flour mill in Fagaras county, which is powered by the neighbouring river. The tale of how it survived the Communist period is fascinating.
   
   The goal is the town of Bucium; however, if the weather is favourable, there may be a detour (+5 km) to a nearby cave that served as a place of worship more than two centuries ago. At that time, the local people – the Dacians – would have prayed to Zalmoxis, a popular deity in the lower Danube region. Little is known about Zalmoxis, though what is known is based mainly on the writings of the ancient Greek historian Herodotus.
   
   
   
   Ascent: 984ft (300m)
   
   
   
   

   • 31.1 miles
   • Guesthouse or B&B
   • Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
3. Day 3Cycle to Carta at the foot of the Fagaras Mountains

   You'll ride to the village of Lisa, with the ridge of the highest mountain range in Romania, the Fagaras Mountains, as your constant companion. There you'll visit a wool mill to see how woollen blankets and clothes are still made using traditional methods. There is even a 100-year-old machine still in operation.
   
   You'll then cycle to the village of Cartisoara and on to Carta itself and visit the Cistercian monastery. The oldest buildings on the site date to around 1205 and, like many buildings in the area, have a fascinating history.
   
   Please note, on some departures, groups stay in Cartisoara and will visit the monastery in Carta on Day 4. The distances of each day would, therefore, change by 3mi (5km). There may also be time during the day to take a detour to Sambata Monastery, which will add 6mi (10km) to the day’s cycling.
   
   
   
   
   
   

   • 40.4 miles
   • 984.3 ft
     984.3 ft
   • Guesthouse or B&B
   • Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
4. Day 4Cycle to Biertan; visit the Unesco-listed church

   Today’s ride starts with a crossing of the river Olt and continues along quiet country roads. You'll cycle past the fortified church of Richis as you make your way towards Biertan. Once there, you'll tour a Unesco-listed fortified church, which stands on a hill overlooking vineyards and fields. Building began in 1486 by the German-Transylvanian Saxon community when the area was part of the Kingdom of Hungary.
   
   As a late-Gothic church, it stands out thanks to the concentric ringed walls and huge towers and is often considered one of the most impressive of its kind in Romania. It achieved Unesco status in 1993 and has numerous interesting buildings in the complex. The church contains some beautiful Renaissance pieces, while there are also three bastions, six towers and three rows of walls to ward off undesirables.
   
   Please note, the cycling today will be approximately 42mi (68km) if you stay in Cartisoara, 39mi (63km) if you stay in Carta.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

   • 42.3 miles
   • 1,640.4 ft
     1,640.4 ft
   • Guesthouse or B&B
   • Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
5. Day 5Visit the medieval citadel of Sighisoara

   Today you'll have a beautiful ride through the countryside and remote villages of Transylvania. Following the river Tarnava Mare, you'll pass hop fields and set your sights on Sighisoara. One of the few fully inhabited medieval citadels in Europe, this Unesco-recognised spot is fascinating. You'll have a free afternoon to wander the streets and immerse yourself in places so wonderfully preserved. There is even the house where Vlad Dracul, father of Vlad the Impaler, was born.
   
   
   
   
   

   • 24.9 miles
   • 1,148.3 ft
     1,148.3 ft
   • Guesthouse or B&B
   • Breakfast and Lunch
6. Day 6Cycle to Cobor Farm

   Today’s ride follows a lovely quiet country road through the Transylvanian hills to Apold and Bradeni village. One of these places will be the perfect stop for a snack and looking around the fascinating old church. Then you'll hop back on the bikes to continue your ride through small farming towns and pastures. Today’s ride ends in the small village of Cobor. Here you will discover the beautiful story of an old abandoned house to a farm and guesthouse with organic vegetables cultivated in their own garden and involved in animal protection projects. The seeds originate in old varieties that produce less, but higher quality.
   
   
   

   • 37.3 miles
   • 1,640.4 ft
     1,640.4 ft
   • Guesthouse or B&B
   • Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
7. Day 7Cycle to Viscri; explore the town and fortified church

   After breakfast, you'll ride out of Cobor. The day starts with a short climb through the forest before a lovely stretch of road through several small towns takes you to Viscri. Here you can explore this pretty old town and visit a well-known fortified church and meet the brickmakers and blacksmiths who helped restore the building in 1991. It is now regarded as one of the best examples of a fortified church anywhere in the world. There will be plenty of time to fully explore Viscri, which you will tour by horse-drawn cart.
   
   
   

   • 15.5 miles
   • 820.2 ft
     820.2 ft
   • Guesthouse or B&B
   • Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
8. Day 8Transfer to Bucharest; visit Brasov and, time permitting, Peles Castle on the way

   After breakfast, you'll take a long private transfer to Bucharest, stopping at the beautiful medieval town of Brasov en route. Here you'll climb the towers of the old fort for views over the town centre and 14th-century Black Church, before returning to street level for a short stroll on the cobbled pedestrian roads.
   
   You'll then hop back in the vehicle and continue towards Bucharest. If there’s time, you'll stop at Peles Castle, a forest-wrapped residence of the former Romanian royal family. You can enjoy a short walk around the spectacular gardens before completing your journey to Bucharest, arriving at the end of the day.
   
   
   
   

   • Guesthouse or B&B
   • Breakfast
9. Day 9The tour ends in Bucharest

   After breakfast, you'll have most of the day to explore Bucharest; you can wander the old streets and do last-minute shopping or visit some of the fascinating old museums and palaces before the trip ends.
   
   
   

   • Breakfast