WALK&BIKE - HIKE AND RIDE TO DISCOVER TRANSYLVANIA	price from 899 €
Romania - Multi-activities - 15 days

This trip will introduce you to the Carpathian Mountains and Transylvania, known as a mysterious and spectacular land, famous through Bram Stocker’s legend of Dracula and well-known for its forests sheltering so many species of wild plants and animals. Transylvania, a land surrounded by the Carpathian Mountains, was also a much sought for area. That is how the Saxons arrived here in the 11th century to guard the Carpathian Mountains passes between Transylvania and Wallachia against the Tatars and the Ottomans. This is the heritage that you will discover during this entire trip. An exceptional holiday is awaiting for you!

Program

Day 1 Reception in Bucharest Reception in Bucharest before 3PM. Private transfer to Cisnadioara at the foot of Cindrel Mountains. Accommodation for 2 nights in a welcoming guest-house in Cisnadioara or nearby village.

Day 2 The Cindrel Mountains Walk in Cindrel Mountains through forests, pastures and beautiful villages.

Day 3 Cisnadioara Hike and visit of Cisnadioara village which shelters a Roman style church of the 13th century, which will offer you a beautiful sight on the surrounding villages.

Day 4 Sibiu, the 2007’s European capital of culture Today you will ride on one of the oldest tramways from Romania to Sibiu, the 2007’s European capital of culture. Free morning to visit Sibiu. You will discover the three historic squares, the evangelic church, the lower and the upper town, the citadel and so many other charming corners of one of the best-preserved medieval cities. Bike rental and ride to Slimnic village through the nice Transylvanian hills (~ 37 km).

Day 5 Fortified church You can visit the ruins of Slimnic citadel if you didn’t do it the day before. You will ride forward through Valea Viilor, a very nice small fortified church and arrive in the medieval pretty town of Medias, with Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque architecture (~ 65 km).

Day 6 The medieval citadels of Sighisoara Your first stop for the day will be at Biertan fortified church, listed as a UNESCO Heritage site, which has graced the country for over a half of century. Then we move on to Sighisoara, one of the few medieval citadels in Europe that is still fully inhabited and also included on the list of UNESCO World Heritage sites. Discover the old town with its famous clock tower, which initially served as the main entrance to the citadel, but also covered stairs, medieval streets. You can also visit the house where Vlad Dracul, the father of Vlad the Impaler known by Bram Stocker’s legend as Dracula, was born (~ 58 km).

Day 7 Hike in the Transylvanian hills Today you continue your ride on the Transylvanian hills through forest, small roads and villages to Soars (~58 km).

Day 8 The charming village of Viscri Easy day today from Soars to one of the Transylvanian "pearls": the Viscri’s fortified church which has just celebrated its 700 years. This beautiful village convince even Prince Charles of England to buy himself a house in the village. If you feel like riding 15 more km, you can visit Rupea ruins (~33 km).

Day 9 The southern Carpathian Mountains Private transfer (around 2h) to Magura, a scattered traditional village at the foot of Piatra Craiului Massif. Short warm-up walk to Pestera village to get used with these beautiful landscapes. Accommodation in a traditional ecotourism guest-house. (~2.5h, +/- 150m).

Day 10 Spectacular landscapes We start with a very narrow downhill path and then we walk in the Piatra Craiului mountains (Romanian for King’s Rock). From Zarnesti gorges to the lovely village where you will spend the night, you will discover the miracles of one of the wildest massifs in Europe where still live wolves, lynxes and bears. The gorges of Zarnesti, called by the local population "The Abysses" display vertical walls of 200m and offer, all the year round, colours of an extreme variety. In "Poiana Frumoasa", one of the alpine pastures where from May to September we find shepherds and their flocks, the landscape becomes even more spectacular. We arrive in a village at the south of Piatra Craiului ridge. Night in a traditional farm house. (~6h, +/- 550m).

Day 11 The Bucegi Mountains You will leave today Piatra Craiului Mountains and walk to Bucegi Mountains. You will cross Fundatica, an authentic village, well known for its smoked cheese. (~5h, -250m, +300m).

Day 12 Hike in a high natural park Climb into the Bucegi mountains. A long walk that you won’t regret: beautiful landscape and view over Piatra Craiului ridge. (~6h, +650m, -900). Shorter walk available.

Day 13 The Bran Castle Continue to climb in Bucegi mountains. Walk along Gutana sheepfold at the foot of the vertical walls of Bucegi ridge and for this last long walk, take your time and enjoy it. We descend to Bran where you will visit the open-air village museum and Bran Castle better know like "Dracula Castle". For many years the castle was home to Queen Mary, Queen Victoria of England’s grand-daughter. (~5.5h, +700m, -900m). Night in guest-house in Bran village.

Day 14 Bucharest Breakfast and private transfer to Bucharest (around 3.5 hours). You will discover the Romanian capital, it’s old city, the balcony where Ceausescu, the Romanian communist dictator, had his last speech, the "House of the People", the second biggest building in the world after the Pentagon, and so many other treasures.

Day 15 End of the journey Breakfast and transfer to the airport. End of the trip.