- Clear sustainable travel policy
- Social / Environmental Impact
- Tourism Dispersal
- Behavioral Awareness Education
- Small Group Travel
- Listen to Community Feedback
Take a self-guided cycling trip through the hills of Transylvania, known as a mysterious and spectacular land with a rich heritage.
This trip will take you into the Carpathian Mountains and Transylvania’s hills. Transylvania is famous thanks to Bram Stoker’s legend of Dracula, and well-known for its forests which provide shelter for many species of wild plants and animals. Surrounded by the Carpathian Mountains, Transylvania was a much sought-for land. The Saxons arrived here in the 11th century to guard the Carpathian Mountain passes between Transylvania and Wallachia against the Tatars and the Ottomans. This is just a hint of the rich heritage that you will discover during this entire trip. An exceptional holiday is waiting for you!
Cycling through this region provides diversity in terms of taking you through cultural sites as well as several small nature reserves. Further, the nature in the region is hardly touched by chemicals which draws nature lovers seeking to enjoy the beautiful pastoral landscapes.
Seasonal Notes: We recommend taking this trip anywhere from the end of April to the beginning of October.
Features
📋 Itinerary
This itinerary is customizable. Contact Yūgen Earthside for more information.
Day 1: Bucharest [Romania] (arrival day)
Day 2: Bike near the Fagaras Mountains, Zarnesti, & Ohaba (~50km | ~31 miles | +250 meter elevation gain | -400 meter elevation descent)
Day 3: Bike by Sambata de Sus, Dragus, Cartisoara, & Carta (~60km | 37 miles | +300 m | -450 m)
Day 4: Bike through villages of Biertan and Richis (~65km | ~40 miles | +600 m | -650 m)
Day 5: Bike through Sighisoara & Dumbraveni (~40km | ~25 miles | +380 m | -400 m)
Day 6: Bike through Apold & Soars (~48km | ~30 miles | +600 m | -500 m)
Day 7: Bike through Viscri & Soars (~35km | ~22 miles | +300 m | -250 m)
Day 8: Leave from Viscri, transfer to Brasov, train to Bucharest (departure day)
🌱 Sustainability
We are a certified partner of the Association of Ecotourism in Romania. Our philosophy has always been to encourage traveling as much as possible by non-motorized means and mostly off the beaten path, to try and avoid the mainstream and bring out the authenticity.
This cycling tour is a low carbon impact activity that connects you with our nature.
You will take a train from Bucharest to the cycling starting point.
We constantly highlight the need for recycling, the use of biodegradable or reusable objects (food boxes, water bottles, etc.), and local food supply in particular.
All our partners are Romanians who work independently for the development of their country, the type of circuit that we carry gives work on average to about fifteen local providers/region. We help you travel on less-popular roads where your presence will support local communities more.
We are committed to promoting and explaining the cultural and artisanal productions of the regions we visit. Furthermore, we only work with independent artisans & craftsmen whose respect for traditional know-how is wildly recognized.
Accommodations: You'll be staying primarily in guesthouses run by local families we've worked with for years, and eating homemade dishes. Tourism truly helps their families and communities to thrive. You'll also spend 1 night at a cozy 3-star hotel.
- Conserve Ecosystems/Preserve Biodiversity
- Use Environmentally Friendly Products
- Green Transportation
- Local/Organic Restaurants
- Focused on Minimizing Waste
- Responsible Waste Management
- Solar Thermal Panels
- Use Water Flow Reducers
- Provide Local Employment
- Supports Local Businesses
- Tours Benefit Local Community
📌 Location
Use the Google map to orient yourself about where in the world this trip is. The location indicates the starting point for this trip.
A specific route map is included in the downloadable detailed itinerary.
🏷️ Pricing
Prices exclude flights to/from the destination.
See the full list of price inclusions and exclusions in the downloadable detailed itinerary.
Deposits
Deposit for solo travelers
20% of trip price, non-refundable
$ 200Deposit for travelers in shared rooms
20% of trip price, non-refundable
$ 170Deposit for travelers with a single room supplement
20% of trip price, non-refundable
$ 191
Bike Tour
Solo traveler
(excl. flights)
$ 10002 travelers in a shared room
price per person (excl. flights)
$ 850Single room supplement
price per person (excl. flights)
$ 955
Bike Rentals
Arcade Hybrid Bike
price per person; see Detailed Itinerary for more info
$ 95Trek Hybrid Bike
price per person; see Detailed Itinerary for more info
$ 115Electric Bike
price per person; see Detailed Itinerary for more info
$ 307
ℹ️ Other Info
If you're ready to book this trip, or if you still have some questions, contact us to let us know!
To reserve your spot on a tour, a non-refundable deposit equal to 20% of the trip price will be required.
If you need to cancel, your deposit will be kept as a credit which can be used on a future trip.
This trip has a variable start date, so you can plan a departure date that suits you.
Be sure you have traveler's insurance.
Please be fully vaccinated and boosted before traveling. You may also need proof of a negative Covid test before arrival to the country. Keep a mask and hand sanitizer with you at all times.
Special precautions:
As this trip is bookable for 1+ traveler(s) and is an outdoor cycling tour, you can book this by yourself or with your family, pod, or "Quaranteam" to enjoy a safe, socially-distant escape outdoors.
Clients have their separate rooms with bathrooms and eat at a safe distance. Usually, the guesthouses we work with are small and there aren’t many people there at the same time. Of course, there’s hand sanitizer available and masks must be worn at all times while inside.
Q: What does the Physical Rating of "Average" mean?
A: You need an intermediate level of fitness - you do not need to be an advanced, highly sportive, or expert cycler.
You'll be cycling most days of the trip and going 22 to 46 miles/day (35 to 74 km/day), with some climbs.
Q: What do I need to bring?
A: Please bring the following for your bike trip:
- Your own bike helmet
- Sunglasses and sunscreen
- Gloves
- Refillable water bottle (bikes are equipped with water bottle holders)
- Headlamp (some rooms are not equipped with lamps close to the bed)
- Snacks & energy bars for the day
- Credit card & a small amount of cash
Q: What about my luggage?
A: Luggage will be transferred from one guest-house to the other.
Q: What is a self-guided tour?
A: On a self-guided tour, you navigate the route yourself with the aid of the documents we give you. We usually have a welcome meeting with clients to hand out the roadbooks, maps with the traced itineraries, and any other documents you might need. Clients can also ask us any questions they still have at this time, too. Our self-guided tours are a complete and affordable holiday, tailored specifically for independent travelers.
Q: How do I prepare for a cycling holiday?
A: Getting fitter doesn’t have to mean an arduous and serious training plan. For most cycling holidays specific training isn’t necessary however ensuring the daily distances are well within your capabilities will mean that you remain fresh enough to enjoy the stunning scenery and interesting culture around you. The first step is as simple as spending a bit more time on your bike.
If you rent the bikes from us, we’ll have them ready at the first guesthouse with side panniers, locks, and a set of repairing tools.
Q: What are the accommodations like?
A: Accommodations include a 3-star hotel for one night and guesthouses run by local families for the other nights. Bathrooms are private unless there's an exceptional case needed for two rooms to share one bathroom based on group size and guesthouse availability.
Duration: The cycling tour lasts for 8 days (7 nights), with departures on request every day from April 20th to October 15th.
Total Distance: 298 km (185 miles).
