With the Bicycle in Transylvania & Bucovina from/to Sibiu in 2024 - 15 Days

Dates:

• 27.04.2024 – 11.05.2024
• 18.05.2024 – 01.06.2024
• 08.06.2024 – 22.06.2024
• 29.06.2024 – 13.07.2024
• 13.07.2024 – 27.07.2024
• 20.07.2024 – 03.08.2024
• 10.08.2024 – 24.08.2024
• 07.09.2024 – 21.09.2024
• 28.09.2024 – 12.10.2024
• 19.10.2024 – 02.11.2024
*other dates are possible for small groups of 4 or more participants

Itinerary:

Day 1. Arrival in Sibiu (D)

Arrival in Sibiu Airport (SBZ) or train station Sibiu.

Transfer to hotel in Sibiu, where you will be accommodated for 2 nights.

In the afternoon you will meet the guide and have the city tour of Sibiu.

Dinner at a local restaurant with the other participants of the tour. 

Day 2. Surroundings of Sibiu - cycling 40 km approx. 150 m altitude (B, L)

We will cycle to Cisnadie and Cisnadioara, where we will visit the fortified church. These two villages are known for their rich fruit orchards. Then we cycle to Rasinari, a typical Romanian shepherd's village. Late lunch with a Romanian peasant local family. Then we cycle back to Sibiu.

Day 3. From Sibiu to Biertan via Hartibaciu Valley - 86 km approx. 280 m altitude (B, D)

Today the road will lead us to several fortified churches. Hosman is our first stop followed by Altana. On the way to Biertan you will often see horse-drawn carts, with beers on their way to work in the fields, since agriculture is the main occupation here. The cycle path leads to Biertan via Barghis and Pelisor. One of the most important fortified churches in this region is in Biertan. Has been a bishopric for more than 300 years. In addition, this is the place where the annual Saxon meeting takes place. Dinner and accommodation for 2 nights in Biertan.

Day 4. From Biertan to Richis and Medias - 56 km approx. 280 m altitude (B, D)

Short bike tour from Biertan to Richis. From here the bike stage continues to Mosna to the fortified church with the “Bacon Tower”. Then we will cycle to Medias, another city of the Transylvanian Saxons. From Medias we cycle back to Biertan via Dupus. Dinner in the pension.

Day 5. Sighisoara and Brasov (bike off day) (B, D)

After breakfast, you will be transferred to Sighisoara. The Middle-Aged center of this town is well preserved and is registered in UNESCO as a world heritage site. A City Tour will expose the most important landmarks like the Clock Tower and the Church on the Hill. After a city tour with a city guide, we also leave Sighisoara to continue to Brasov. When you will arrive in Brasov, you can also take the city tour in order to see the most important sights of the city such as the Black Church.

Bed and breakfast for 2 nights in Bran and dinner.

Day 6. Bran Castle and Rasnov Citadel - 45 km approx. 50 m altitude (B, D)

Not far away is the well-known Dracula Castle that we can visit in the morning. From here we can cycle to the Rasnov Citadel - a "must see".

Optional we can cycle to Poiana Brasov at 1020 m, we will have a very beautiful view over Tara Barsei.

In the afternoon you will arrive back in Bran.

Day 7. Along the Southern Carpathians - 50 km approx. 460 m altitude (B, D)

Along the Carpathians, your first stop today will be in Zarnesti.

Zarnesti is very well known for the bear observation platforms. From here you can cycle from Poiana Marului to Sercaia. From here you will be transferred by bus to Sibiu. Dinner and accommodation in Sibiu.

Optional: Transfer by car on Transfagarasan Road to 2030 meters altitude; you can ride your bikes "downhill" up to 500 meters of altitude, in 30 km. (EUR 35.00 / person)

Day 8. Sibiu – Targu Mures – Bistrita - Humor (bike off day) (B ,D)

Today we drive to the north of Romania in the Bukovina. On the way we visit the cities of Targu Mures with the famous Palace of Culture and Bistrita with the highest tower in Transylvania.

When we have crossed the Carpathian Mountains, we will also visit the Museum of Painted Eggs in Vama, in Bucovina. In the late afternoon, after an 8 hour journey, we arrive in Manastirea Humorului to our rural family pension. Check-in for 3 nights and dinner.

Day 9. Monastery Voronet and Humor – cycle 25 km, approx. 50 m altitude (B, D)

After visiting the Humor Monastery, we will cycle to Voronet, where we will visit the Voronet Monastery - the so-called "Sistine Chapel of the East" because of the bright blue color in the exterior paintings, built in 1488, the first of the famous monasteries on the UNESCO World Heritage List

Note: Please keep in mind that you need appropriate clothing to visit the monastery.

Long pants for both men and women. The upper body should also be covered accordingly.

Dinner will be served in our guesthouse in Manastirea Humorului.

Day 10. Humor – Cacica – Arbore – Solca - Humor – cycle 57 km, approx. 750 m altitude (B,D)

Today we will be able to see the plurality of Bucovina’s culture. First we cycle through the Polish village of Plesa to Cacica. In Cacica we can visit the salt mine and learn more about the Polish community in Romania. Then we cycle via Botosana to the Arbore Church - also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Today we will also have a few steep sections of the road, but that makes cycling nice.

Return to Manastirea Humorului where we will have dinner.

Day 11. Monastery Moldovita und Sucevita – cycle 82 km, approx. 650 m altitude (B, D)

Today we will first cycle to the Moldovita.

NB: Please note that we have to cycle 23 km on the main road; please watch out for heavy traffic!!!

Visit the Moldovita monastery, a foundation of Petru Rares; here the predominant color in the exterior frescoes is yellow, the Akathistos hymn is particularly beautiful, in the museum of the monastery there is the golden apple - a UNESCO award. Then the high “Ciumarna Pass” stands in front of you.

On a serpentine road we cross the pass to the Sucevita monastery, located in the valley of the stream of the same name, founded by the boyar Movila from the 16th century, the virtue lader is particularly well preserved in the exterior paintings. Check-in for 2 nights in the nearby guesthouse and dinner.

Day 12. Marginea – Putna – Marginea – cycle 70 km, approx. 450 m altitude (B, D)

After breakfast, we will cycle first to the black ceramic gilt from Marginea. From here we will cycle over the hilly roads to the Putna Monastery. In Putna we will also visit the monastery museum and the hermitage of Daniel Sihastru.

Then we cycle back to your guesthouse and end the day with a glass of wine and relaxing dinner.

Day 13. Margina – Radauti – Patrauti - Dragomirna – cycle 70 km, approx. 250 m altitude (B, D)

Today we will cycle to city Radauti. In the small border town, which is also the seat of the bishopric of the Orthodox Church of Moldova; we also have time for a typical market visit. In the afternoon we cycle on via Milisauti to the Patrauti Church - also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

NB: Please note that you have to cycle 8 km on the main road; please watch out for heavy traffic!!!

We cycle through the forest, on a forest road, to the Dragomirna Monastery.

Overnight and dinner near Dragomirna Monastery.

Day 14. Dragomirna – Suceava – Bicaz Gorge – Sibiu (bike off day) (B,D)

Voluntary participation in the morning mass in the monastery. After breakfast we visit Suceava where the tour guide will show you the castle and the city. Suceava was the center of political and economic power of the Moldovan princes in the Middle Ages and later. Then we drive back to Transylvania through the spectacular Bicaz Gorge.

In the late afternoon we arrive in Sibiu, where they have free time.

Farewell dinner at a local restaurant.

Overnight in Sibiu.

Day 15. Departure (B)

Depending on the departure time, transfer to Sibiu Airport (SBZ) or to the train station in Sibiu.

Please note:

* The implementation of the trip is guaranteed from 4 participants

* maximum number of participants is 12 people

* other dates are possible for small groups of 4 or more participants