Taking a bicycle tour in Romania, specifically, Transylvania is like cycling in an undiscovered mysterious and ancient landscape straight from the pages of literature. This is the land of Dracula; rolling hills, beautiful valleys, and cool forests.
The villages of gingerbread houses, fortified churches, and remote cultures are not easily reached by public transportation and are best explored on two wheels! The Transylvanian Saxon Heritage Trail passes through a number of small Saxon villages that still flourish the old way, with small family farms that provide sustenance and tradition. Traditional guesthouses, local food, and old world hospitality await. Bike Romania with us and discover Transylvania’s most romantic landscape - Saxonland!
Highlights:
Fortified Churches (2 UNESCO World Heritage Sites)
Medias
Saxon Villages
Bethlen Castle Cris
Breite Ancient Oak Tree Reserve
Sighisoara (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
Farm visiting
Traditional meals with locals
Salina Turda salt mines
You can request upgrades in accommodations for this tour and custom itineraries is possible.
Closest international airport to your tour start is Cluj-Napoca International Airport
Local Travel
Included in your tour price is a transfer on tour start day from the airport to your first hotel. If you are planning on arriving early to spend a couple of days before your tour in Cluj, the airport is located close to downtown (only about 8 - 9 km). Taxis are waiting outside the airport.
Genuine taxis are marked in a clear way with the word taxi on top in a light bar as well as a car number. They’re not all necessarily yellow but a lot of them are.
Climate
Romania has a temperate-continental climate, with four distinct seasons. The spring is pleasant with cool mornings and nights and warm days. Summer is hot, especially in the south of the country, where Bucharest has an average high temperature in July of almost 30°C. Summer temperatures in Transylvania are usually a few degrees cooler than this, with the average high temperature in Cluj-Napoca around 25° C. High mountain areas in Transylvania still feel fresh in the summer months. During the summer, you might encounter an intense and violent thunderstorm, with dramatic displays of lightning and sudden bursts of torrential rain. Autumns are cool, with meadows and trees producing beautifully colored foliage, creating a pastoral painting. Please check local conditions before your arrival and pack accordingly! A good website to check regional weather including average temperatures, average rainfall, and more is weatherbase.com.
TRAVEL DOCUMENTS
Before you travel, please check your country's passport and visa requirements and the passport and visa requirements of the country/countries you plan to visit. For US citizens, the US Department of State website is a good source of information. The Country Information tab in the International Travel section provides details about passport validity, blank passport pages required, etc.
*Important note: Beginning July 1, 2021, additional documentation from the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) will be required to visit any of the 26 Schengen-member countries for tourism, business, medical, or transit. This is an additional check on security rather than a visa
Where You’ll Stay
2 - 3 star guesthouses or pensions
What’s Included
6 nights in 2 to 3-star guesthouses or pensions
6 breakfasts, 5 lunches, and 5 dinners
Bike rental with helmet and pannier (hybrid CROSS trekking bike with front shocks)
All transfers
Luggage transfer
Entrance fees
Tour guide and support van
What’s Not Included
Alcoholic beverages (at some restaurants, an alcoholic beverage is included)
Minimum of 4 to confirm a tour date. For bookings less than 4, a supplement will be required. See pricing
Special tour dates are possible based on availability. Do not hesitate to ask!
Skill Level
Moderate guided and supported bike tour with average daily distances of 24 miles/38 km.
Day-To-Day Itinerary
Day 1:Arrival and transfer to Alma Vii Day 2: Alma Vii – Richis, 22 mi. (35 km) Day 3: Richis – Malancrav, 23 mi. (37 km) Day 4: Malancrav – Sighisoara, 22 mi. (36 km) cycling tours transylvania Day 5: Sighisoara – Viscri, 25 mi. (40 km) Day 6: Viscri – Transfer to Cluj Day 7: Departure from Cluj
*All distances are approximate!
(If this itinerary does not suit you, just ask. We can customize!)
Day 1: Arrival and transfer to Alma Vii After a short walk in the Cluj historical center, there will be a transfer to the first Saxon village, Alma Vii.
Day 2: Alma Vii – Richis, 22 mi. (35 km) The day starts with a climb to the church and visiting professional charcoal producers, or cărbunari. After a short climb and descent through the forest, you will arrive in Mosna to meet a local ecological farmer and eat lunch. You'll continue through Nemsa to Richis.
Day 3: Richis – Malancrav, 23 mi. (37 km) You will start your ride with a smooth downhill to Biertan to discover the best-preserved fortified churches, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Leaving Biertan and Copsa Mare, the ride continues through pleasant countryside and into a beautiful forest. The last village for today is Malancrav, whose fortified church has beautifully preserved mural paintings. The largest Saxon community in Transylvania lives here as well.
Day 4: Malancrav – Sighisoara, 22 mi. (36 km) cycling tours transylvania First on the agenda today is the village of Floresti, from where you'll continue through the countryside to Cris, home of the Bethlen castle. This Renaissance castle is one of the most beautiful in all of Transylvania. Today, you’ll have a couple of climbs and downhills, but the surrounding beauty will carry you through. The Breite Ancient Oak Tree Reserve offers a spectacular ride among centuries–old trees. After a small, technical downhill, you will reach Sighisoara, which is considered to be one of the most beautiful and well-preserved inhabited citadels in Europe, and another UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Day 5: Sighisoara – Viscri, 25 mi. (40 km) Leaving Sighisoara, you will cross a long and scenic meadow at the base of a forest. Crossing the forest and the village, you continue via bike trail till Viscri. Here, you'll visit a blacksmith that supplies much of the iron and steel work for his village, as well as another UNESCO-protected fortified church.
Day 6: Viscri – Transfer to Cluj After a transfer back to Cluj, there is an optional visit to Salina Turda, a breathtaking salt mine. If you didn’t have a chance when you arrived, take some time to explore the "unofficial" capital of Transylvania that shares both Romanian and Hungarian traditions.
Day 7: Departure from Cluj Individual departure from Cluj.
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Most memorable part was the visit to Sighisoara and the bike trail (mostly single track through a forrest) to Viscri. Memorable cultural experience and a fantastic guide named Szabi Tyukodi.
Tour Reviews
Niemn R. 10 months ago Verified Reviewer
Most memorable part was the visit to Sighisoara and the bike trail (mostly single track through a forrest) to Viscri. Memorable cultural experience and a fantastic guide named Szabi Tyukodi.
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