9
15 024
Start Bucharest; 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 long but will be broken up with a short break en route. *Comfortable guest house*
Once we are happy and comfortable after the bike fitting, we set off for our first experience of cycling in this region. We begin on the flat, accompanied by views of the snow-covered peaks of the Bucegi Mountains. Today we also take time to visit the oldest flour mill in Romania, powered to this day by the river by which it was built. The tale of how it survived the communist period is also well worth our time. Our goal is the town of Bucium however if the weather is favourable we may take a detour to a nearby cave that served as a place of worship over 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, thought what is known is based mainly on the writings of the ancient Greek historian Herodotus. Once we are happy and comfortable after the bike fitting, we set off for our first experience of cycling in this region. We begin on the flat, accompanied by views of the snow-covered peaks of the Bucegi Mountains. Today we also take time to visit the oldest flour mill in Romania, powered to this day by the river by which it was built. The tale of how it survived the communist period is also well worth our time. Our goal is the own of Bucium however if the weather is favourable we may make a detour to what is known as a If the weather is good we will make a detour to a nearby cave that served as a place of worship over 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, thought what is known is based mainly on the writings of the ancient Greek historian Herodotus.
Distance in Km: 59
Distance in Miles: 37
Altitude Gain: 400
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 being made using old 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 back to around 1205 and like many buildings in the area it has a fascinating history. Please note that on some departures our groups stay in the town of Cartisoara and will visit the Monastery in Carta on day 4. The distances of each day would, therefore, change by 5km.
Distance in Km: 65
Distance in Miles: 40
Altitude Gain: 300
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 in Biertan, we have a tour of the UNESCO listed fortified church set up on a hill overlooking the vineyards and surrounding 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 of undesirables.
Distance in Km: 65
Distance in Miles: 40
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. This truly is a place worth visiting, as one of the few medieval citadels in Europe that is fully inhabited. Another to feature on the UNESCO list of world heritage sites, we have a free afternoon to wander the streets and immerse ourselves in place so wonderfully preserved and faithful to its origins. There is even the house where Vlad Dracul, father of Vlad the Impaler, was born.
Distance in Km: 40
Distance in Miles: 25
Today’s ride follows a lovely quiet country road through the Transylvanian hills to Apold village. After looking around the fascinating old town before we hop back on the bikes to continue our ride through small farming towns and pastures. The medieval church at Bradeni will provide the backdrop to our lunch spot. Today’s ride ends in the small town of Soars; here our accommodation will be split over four small family houses. This is a great opportunity to experience real Romanian rural life and get to know your hosts. Today’s evening meal is taken as a group at the largest guesthouse house and will be a traditional Romanian meal cooked by the family.
Distance in Km: 48
Distance in Miles: 30
After breakfast, we ride out of Soars. 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 have the opportunity to explore this lovely old town as well as visit Viscri’s well-known fortified church and meet the brickmakers and blacksmiths who helped restore the building. The church was restored with the help of the Prince of Wales Foundation in 1991 and 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 as we stay in the centre of town.
Distance in Km: 35
Distance in Miles: 22
Day 8 ‐ Free day in Bucharest After breakfast we have a private transfer to Bran Castle, situated on the border between Transylvania and Wallachia. Bran castle is promoted as Dracula castle, where will make a detour for a photo stop of thisspectacular building and hear its story. Afterwards, we will hop back in the vehicle and continue our journey to Bucharest. On the way, if time allows, we will have another stop to the scenic castle of Peles, the summer residence of the former Romanian Royal family. We will have a short walk around its spectacular gardens. The afternoon is free to explore Bucharest and we can go out for a final meal as a group. Please note: Bran Castle is an extremely popular tourist destination and can be very busy. That’s why we consider more convenient to have 2 shorter stops (Bran and Peles) and have the time to enjoy a stroll in Bucharest.
After breakfast we have most of the day to explore Bucharest; we can wonder the old streets and do some last minute shopping or visit some of the fascinating old museums and Palaces before the trip ends here.
* 6 days cycling with partial vehicle support (limited seats)
* 80% tarmac roads, 20% hard pack dirt paths
* Scenic route, some climbs to be expected
* Group normally 4 to 14 plus leader, min age 16 yrs
* 6 nights guesthouses, 2 night hotel with en suite facilities
All breakfasts, 6 picnic lunches and 6 dinners are included in the price of
the trip.
Romanian cuisine has strong influences from its surrounding countries like
Bulgaria, Serbia and Hungary.
We get to indulge in some 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 as well as a selection of locally
sourced meats, salad and tea of coffee. The picnic lunches are made by 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 which is a traditional Romanian dish made 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”) which is a spirit usually made from plums and
flavoured with herbs from their garden or the surrounding area. This is
usually drunk whilst being welcomed into the house and after dinner.
* 6 days cycling with partial vehicle support (limited seats)
* 80% tarmac roads, 20% hard pack dirt paths
* Scenic route, some climbs to be expected
* Group normally 4 to 14 plus leader, min age 16 yrs
* 6 nights guesthouses, 2 night hotel with en suite facilities
Activity Level: 3 Moderate
6 days of cycling with an average distance 50km, 80% tarmac and 20% gravel
tracks with partial vehicle support.
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 very
relaxed pace allowing you to stop and take in the surroundings, or chat with
any locals you might meet along the route. The support vehicle follows the
group and carries all essential items like 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, like
cameras and waterproofs.
Guesthouses and hotels
For the majority of the tour we stay in guesthouses and family owned B&B’s,
all the buildings are very well kept, clean, comfortable and are truly
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 need to be shared between a
maximum of two rooms. Our hotel in Bucharest is a modern building with good
facilities located in the city centre.
Single supplement available on 5 nights (Days 1, 2, 5, 7, 8; limited
availability)
Usually between 4 and 14 people plus cycling leader and support driver.
All breakfasts, 6 picnic lunches and 6 dinners are included in the price of
the trip.
Romanian cuisine has strong influences from its surrounding countries like
Bulgaria, Serbia and Hungary.
We get to indulge in some 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 as well as a selection of locally
sourced meats, salad and tea of coffee. The picnic lunches are made by 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 which is a traditional Romanian dish made 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”) which is a spirit usually made from plums and
flavoured with herbs from their garden or the surrounding area. This is
usually drunk whilst being welcomed into the house and after dinner.
All transfers are on a private bus.
*Travelling flight inclusive from London: 9 days*
The group flight from London is a daytime flight departing on Day 1 of the
itinerary.
We normally use the scheduled services of Blue Air (depending on
availability). As flight timings and schedules change regularly we recommend
you call one of our specialist sales staff or your agent to confirm
up‐to‐date timings. Please note timings may change at a later date and
cannot be confirmed until approximately two weeks before departure.
/Please note: We include baggage for all clients we book on Blue Air.
Additional payment will be required if you choose to take your own bike./
*UK Regional Flights*
The Flight Inclusive price is based on a London departure, but we are happy
to tailor this to your local or regional airport. Please visit
www.exodus.co.uk/regionaldepartures [1] for a useful overview of the options
available, and contact our sales team for expert advice. If booking regional
flights other than with Exodus, you must allow a minimum connecting time (in
addition to the international check-in time) of 1 hour at Gatwick, and 1½
hours at Heathrow; this is longer than the official minimum, but baggage
handling is known to be subject to delays.
*Travelling land only: 9 days starting and ending in Bucharest *
We recommend joining the group at Bucharest Airport and taking the transfer
on day one as it is a three hour transfer to Vulcan. If you are arriving
separately to the group flight please make sure you are at Bucharest Airport
for the time of the group flight arrival. We recommend you check the details
of the group flight two weeks before departure.
[1] http://www.exodus.co.uk/regionaldepartures
Airport transfers are included for those on the group flights. Please note
that transfers are not included for clients arriving on any other flight,
even if Exodus has booked it.
If you require airport transfers, you may (by prior arrangement only) be able
to join the group transfer. Transfers are arranged to coincide with the
arrival time of the group flight ‐ please check the group flight details 2
weeks before departure. If you do not take this transfer, or miss it, you
must make your own way to the joining point at your own expense.
Spring – Cool morning and evenings, warm in the day time. Pack some warm
and waterproof clothes if traveling at this time of the year as showers
cannot be ruled out and can last all day. Daytime temperatures in spring can
vary between 7c – 17c. Summer – Warm with longer daylight hours; maximum
temperatures of 35c and an average of 23c in the lower areas. Expect to be
cycling in shorts and a t-shirt at this time of year. Autumn – Normally
cool and dry. Temperatures can vary between 20 – 10c though we recommend
packing some warm layers for early mornings and evenings if traveling at this
time of year as well as some waterproof cycling kit as showers cannot be
ruled out.
We recommend you bring the following items:
Normal daily clothes
Padded cycling shorts
Cycling gloves
Breathable cycling top
Cycling helmet (Compulsory on this tour)
A couple of warm layers
Sunglasses, sun cream and sunhat
Stiff-soled shoes suitable for cycling
Waterproofs and long cycling trouser
For earlier departures you may need some warmer layers
Wearing a helmet is mandatory for anyone taking part in any guided Exodus
cycling holiday. Group members must bring their own helmets, as they are not
available for hire, even if they are hiring a bike from Exodus.
For self-guided cycling holidays wearing a helmet is highly recommended.
Customers who choose to ignore our advice do so entirely at their own risk
and on the understanding that it may affect the validity of their travel
insurance. It should also be noted that in some countries we travel to
wearing a helmet is already a legal requirement.
Cycling of all kinds has its dangers and accidents can happen from time to
time. Please ensure that you are properly prepared for the riding you are
going to undertake.
You may like to bring your own pedals and saddle (excluding the seat post) or
gel saddle cover to fit to the hire bikes. We encourage this, if it is your
preference. However, please note that you are responsible for your own
equipment, and removing your saddle/pedals at the end of the trip. We cannot
guarantee the return of any bike parts left behind.
If you prefer the familiarity of your own bike, you may of course bring it
along. Please advise us at the time of booking and you will receive a
discount off the price of the holiday, as specified above. You will be
responsible for any extra baggage charges, please speak to our Sales team for
individual airline fees. Any clients bringing their own bike should ensure
they have adequate cover for loss, damage or theft under their travel, home
contents or a specialist insurance policy. If Exodus is confident that we
have taken all reasonable care to ensure the safety of your bike, in the rare
event of loss, damage or theft you will need to claim under your own
insurance policy.
*Discount for bringing your own bike:* £90.
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 with
this.
Although optional, a tip for the leader at the end of the trip is greatly
appreciated. As a guideline we recommend a contribution of between EUR15 and
EUR20 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 approx. EUR10-EUR15 per person per
week.
* Travel insurance
* Single accommodation (very limited availability)
* Visas or vaccinations
Ved skriftlig aksept av vårt tilbud bekrefter du/dere at våre betingelser er både lest og forstått og at evt kansellerings gebyrer kan tilkomme ved en evt. avbestilling av reisen.