Current as of: September 1, 2024 - 00:30
Current as of: September 1, 2024 - 00:30
3 out of 7 - Moderate
Transylvania is one of the most emotive place names. Much of the focus is on Bram Stoker’s creation and the bloodthirsty Prince Vlad III or Vlad the Impaler, upon whom Dracula was loosely based. However, the region offers a fascinating mix of cultural influences, from the Saxons to the raiding Tatars and Ottomans. The natural diversity and beauty of the region is also key to capturing the imagination as castles and churches are framed by the imposing Carpathian and Faguras mountains. The best seat from which to view all this is that of a bicycle, allowing us to soak up the tranquillity and majesty of the landscape at a pace that means we can enjoy the hidden stories and places along the way. We finish with time in Bucharest, once the seat of communist power but still with enough left to remind visitors why it was once known as the Paris of the East.
Highlights
This trip is rated Activity Level 3 (Moderate). For more information on our trip gradings please visit our Activity Level Guidelines page. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip please do not hesitate to contact us.
Our routes follow mainly quiet backroads and paths. There are some undulating sections, but the distances are not challenging. This tour is run at a relaxed pace allowing you to stop and take in the surroundings, or chat with local people you might meet along the route. The support vehicle follows the group and carries all essential items, including food, drinks and tools. You are welcome to put any items you don’t want to carry in the vehicle and can access them at any point throughout the ride.
All hire bikes are supplied with a rear pannier rack and one large bag, this allows you to carry any small items you might need quick access too, such as cameras and waterproofs.
Usually between four and 14 people plus cycling leader and support driver.
Adult min age: 16
Min group size: 4
Max group size: 14
Upon arrival, we will be greeted by an Exodus leader and transferred out of Bucharest to the small town of Vulcan in Brasov County, Transylvania. This transfer is roughly three hours long but will be broken up with a short break en route. We should arrive in Vulcan with plenty of time for our evening meal and will have the opportunity to visit the fortified church as well as learn about the Saxon heritage of the area.
Upon arrival, we will be greeted by an Exodus 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.
After breakfast, we set up our bikes and enjoy our first cycling experience in the region. We begin with an ascent, away from traffic and into remote pine-covered hills, stopping for a view of the snow-topped Bucegi Mountains. We then tackle a 4.5mi (7km) dirt road that offers us a glimpse of life in rural Romania. Please note, we may go in the opposite direction during rain to avoid the dirt road; this adds 6mi (10km) to the cycling distance. Today we 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.
Our goal is the town of Bucium; however, if the weather is favourable, we may take a detour (adding 3mi/5km) 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.
We ride to the village of Lisa, with the ridge of the highest mountain range in Romania, the Fagaras Mountains, as our constant companion. There we 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.
We 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 our 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). We may also have time during the day to take a detour to Sambata Monastery, which will add 6mi (10km) to the day’s cycling.
Today’s ride starts with a crossing of the river Olt and continues along quiet country roads. We cycle past the fortified church of Richis as we make our way towards Biertan. Once there, we 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 we sleep in Cartisoara, 39mi (63km) if we sleep in Carta.
Today we have a beautiful ride through the countryside and remote villages of Transylvania. Following the river Tarnava Mare, we pass hop fields and set our sights on Sighisoara. One of the few fully inhabited medieval citadels in Europe, this Unesco-recognised spot is fascinating. We have a free afternoon to wander the streets and immerse ourselves in places so wonderfully preserved and faithful to the origins. There is even the house where Vlad Dracul, father of Vlad the Impaler, was born.
Today’s ride follows a lovely quiet country road through the Transylvanian hills to Apold and Bradeni village. One of these places will be our perfect stop for a snack and looking around the fascinating old church. Then we hop back on the bikes to continue our ride through small farming towns and pastures. Today’s ride ends in the small village of Cobor. Here we 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.
After breakfast, we 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 us to Viscri. Here we 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 we will tour by horse-drawn cart.
After breakfast, we take a long private transfer to Bucharest, stopping at the beautiful medieval town of Brasov en route. Here we 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.
We then hop back in the vehicle and continue towards Bucharest. If there’s time, we stop at Peles Castle, a forest-wrapped residence of the former Romanian royal family. We enjoy a short walk around the spectacular gardens before completing our journey to Bucharest, arriving at the end of the day.
After breakfast, we transfer to the airport and fly home.
After breakfast, we have most of the day to explore Bucharest; we can wander the old streets and do last-minute shopping or visit some of the fascinating old museums and palaces before the trip ends. Either make your way home or speak to your sales representative to extend your stay in this fascinating city.
For most of the tour, we stay in guesthouses and family-owned B&Bs. All the buildings are very well kept, clean and one-off places to stay. These old buildings were never designed to be hotels, this means that a very limited number of single rooms are available and only on some nights. In some locations, bathrooms will be shared between a maximum of two rooms. Our hotel in Bucharest is a modern building with good facilities in the city centre.
Worth knowing
Single supplement from £ 160
All breakfasts, five lunches and six dinners are included in the price of the trip.
Romanian cuisine has strong influences from the surrounding countries including Bulgaria, Serbia and Hungary.
We will try fantastic home-cooked meals on this trip as we spend most nights staying with local families and in guesthouses.
Breakfasts will consist of homemade bread and cheeses plus a selection of locally sourced meats, salad, and tea or coffee.
There are five picnic lunches, two at a local family home and three enjoyed al fresco. They are made by the staff at our guesthouses and will usually be sandwiches, salad, fruit and more of their homemade cheese. Some days we will have a traditional vegetable soup for lunch with homemade crème fraiche and bread.
Dinners are usually centred around pork or beef. Lots of guesthouses will prepare sarmale cu mamaliguta, a traditional Romanian dish of minced pork wrapped in pickled cabbage leaves and served with polenta and a chilli.
It’s not all about the food though; every household makes their own tuica (pronounced tsweeka), a spirit usually made from plums and flavoured with herbs from their garden or the surrounding area. This is usually drunk while being welcomed into the house and after dinner.
All transfers are on a private bus.
Recommended arrival time: 6pm at the start hotel to catch the welcome briefing. If this is not possible for you, the leader will happily bring you up to speed later
Airport: Henri Coandă International Airport (OTP)
The start hotel is approximately three hours’ drive from the airport. Your options for this journey are:
Take an Exodus transfer
Exodus provides one group arrival transfer from the airport, which is timed to coincide with the arrival of a chosen flight from London, UK. You may join this transfer at no extra cost, provided you can be at the airport before the transfer leaves. Speak to your sales representative for the group arrival transfer times or to arrange a private transfer.
Make your own way
It’s difficult to reach the start hotel by public transport or taxi as it is 200km away from the airport. We therefore highly recommend joining the group transfer where possible.
If you would like further information on joining this trip, please speak to your sales representative.
There’s a group departure transfer to the airport for customers who Exodus booked onto a chosen flight to London, UK. Please speak to your sales representative if you wish to join. If the group departure transfer does not suit your flight time, speak to your sales representative to arrange an alternative transfer.
Full joining instructions including local emergency numbers will be sent to you as part of our Final Joining Instructions. If you do not receive these at least a week before departure, or require them earlier please contact our office or your travel agent.
Location start: Bucharest
Location end: Bucharest
We recommend you bring the following items:
Included standard bike
The standard bikes for this trip are Trek Dual Sports 1 and 2. We will take your height at the time of booking to reserve equipment. If you have a preferred bike size, please request when booking.
E-bike upgrade
Electric bikes are available on this trip; prices from £285/US$400/545 Canadian dollars. Speak to your sales representative for more information.
Bringing your own bike
If you’d prefer to bring your own bike, please advise us at the time of booking and you will receive a discount on the price of the trip. However, you will be responsible for any extra baggage charges; assembling and disassembling your bike; and bringing along spare parts and any tools specific to it. You should also ensure you have adequate insurance to cover loss, damage or theft.
Bringing equipment from home
You’re welcome to bring your own equipment, such as SPD pedals or clipless pedals, your own saddle (excluding the seat post), or gel saddle cover for the hire bikes. Your leader will help you fit these when bikes are distributed.
Helmets
Helmets are mandatory for everyone on a guided Exodus cycling trip. You must bring your own as, following best safety practice, they are not available for hire.
Cycling clothing
For all cycling trips we recommend:
Remember to check the expiration date of your passport if travelling internationally. Many countries require your passport to be valid for at least six months after the date of your scheduled return.
Travellers from the UK, US and EU normally do not need a visa to enter Romania. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.
Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.
There are no required vaccinations. However, you may want to consider vaccinations for tetanus, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, rabies, tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) and tuberculosis (TB). Please confirm with your doctor or travel clinic.
The Travel Health Pro website recommends to have a rabies vaccination on this trip, as cycling is considered a higher risk activity.
If you’re a UK citizen, please note that your UK-issued European Health Insurance Cards (EHIC) are still valid and offer the same cover as the Global Health Insurance Cards (GHIC) in the EU. This gives you medical care at a reduced cost, and in some cases for free, in many European countries, but should not be considered a substitute for adequate insurance. Once your EHIC has expired, replace it with a GHIC.
Romania's time zone: Europe/Bucharest (UTC +03:00)
Romania's electricity: Plug types C (two round pins) and F (two round pins) – 230V, 50Hz
Romania's currency: Romanian leu (RON)
ATMs and banks are available in the larger towns and cities, including Bucharest and Sighisoara. You can use credit cards in many shops and restaurants in Bucharest, but take plenty of cash for shopping in the smaller villages.
It is best to change your money on arrival as the exchange rates are fair. There are places to change money at Bucharest airport. Some small towns will have places to change money during the trip; the guide will be able help.
Although optional, a tip for the leader at the end of the trip is greatly appreciated. As a guideline we recommend a contribution of 75-100 Romanian lei (€15-€20) per client per week. It is also customary to leave a tip for any additional local staff who support your holiday – for example drivers, cooks and hotel staff. This can be handed in to your leader at the end of the week to distribute accordingly. In total for the leader to distribute to all relevant staff, we recommend to budget approximately 50-75 lei (€10-€15) per person per week.
We work hard to create trips that have a positive impact on the people and places we visit and look after the planet we explore. Learn more about our sustainable travel ethos and practice here and find out about the work of the Exodus Travels Foundation here.
Some sustainable travel highlights of this trip include:
People
How this trip helps improve life for local communities.
Places
How this trip helps protect and conserve local landscapes and nature.
Planet
How we seek to keep the carbon footprint of this trip low.
Tips for sustainable travel on this trip
Your safe participation
When booking this trip, you should be confident in your ability to participate in all activities described in these Trip Notes. If you have any doubt about your suitability, please call the Exodus office and ask to speak to one of the experts on this itinerary.
Although our leaders are well trained to deal with different capabilities, if they have any concerns about someone’s ability to safely take part in an activity, or their impact on other people’s enjoyment, we authorise them to take necessary action which, in some circumstances, may involve asking someone to miss that activity.
By booking this trip you agree to our Booking Conditions which clearly state that our leaders have the authority to do this. In these rare instances we will ensure anyone sitting out is safely provided for and offered alternative options where possible. Refunds will not be provided for activities missed and customers may be liable for additional costs incurred.
When you’re ready to book, go to our website for online bookings, book over the phone or you can complete a booking form (available online or on request by calling us). We accept all major credit and debit cards, or you can pay be cheque.
After booking
You will receive your booking confirmation letter and invoice, which includes extra information and guidance about your travel arrangements.
Full joining instructions, including local emergency numbers and details of how to reach the start point, will be sent to you approximately two to three weeks prior to departure. If you do not receive these at least a week before departure, or require them earlier, please contact our office or your travel agent.
Trip Note validity
These Trip Notes are valid from the “Current as” date on page one. They will occasionally be updated after booking and before departure; if there are any updates that significantly impact the inclusions or itinerary, customers will be written to separately. They will also receive a link to the most up-to-date Trip Notes with their Final Joining Instructions before travelling.
The information in these Trip Notes is given in good faith. Where differences exist between the Trip Notes and our current brochure or website, the Trip Notes supersede the brochure and website. All holidays can be subject to unexpected changes; to enjoy them you should be prepared to be flexible where necessary. Occasionally, it may not be possible to follow the itinerary as planned. This may be for a variety of reasons – climatic, political, physical or other. In these circumstances we will make the best-possible alternative arrangements that maintain the integrity of the original itinerary.
Licensing
Exodus is fully licensed and bonded as a tour operator. We hold Air Traffic Organisers Licence (ATOL) number 2582, issued and bonded with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). We are also bonded to the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and we are members of the Federation of Tour Operators (FTO) and ABTA – The Travel Association. This means you can book your Exodus holiday with confidence, as all money paid to us for your trip is fully protected.