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Cycling
Overview
 SelfGuided
Cycling in:
Europe
Canada
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Castles and Saxon Heritage Cycling Tour
Transylvania
Romania
This trip is to 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 verdant forests sheltering so many species of wild animals.
Transylvania, surrounded by the Carpathian Mountains, was a desired land. 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 some of the great and long heritage that you will discover during this fun and adventurous trip. In Romania, public transport is not very developed and if you want to visit the little villages or remote areas, bike is a perfect means of transportation. Biking allows you to discover the rural way of life of the country's inhabitants and also have time to admire the beautiful landscapes. Moreover you do not depend on timetables and you will make the trip with the rhythm you want. An exceptional cycling holiday you should not miss!
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Meeting:
Bucharest
Airport:
Bucharest
Transfer:
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Rates and Dates for 2009 | 2010
Rates include:
Accommodations - 3 nights in 3* small hotels with private facilities, 5 nights in guesthouses with possibly shared facilities., breakfasts, 4 picnic lunches and 5 dinners, 6.5 cycling days, all luggage transfers, train tickets, detailed maps and road book, 24 hour emergengy phone number.
| A | 2009 | 9 day cycling tour | 9d / 8n | €585 | $880 |
| Single supplement | €115 | $175 |
Transfer Option:
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2009
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Transfer from Bucharest airport (public transport) included
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Start day can be any day during the season - minimum of 2.
Rates do not include:
Meals as indicated, drinks, items of personal nature.
Day 1 We welcome your arrival in Bucharest before 12.30 and transfer by train at 3.30pm to the Saxon city of Sibiu, elected as European cultural capital in 2007. Arrival at 8.57pm. Guesthouse in Sibiu.
Day 2 Free morning to visit Sibiu, one of our highlights, known in German as Hermannstadt. 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. A warm-up ride in the afternoon will bring you in the villages around Sibiu where you will spend the night. (BD, ~25 km)
Day 3 You will cycle today forward these beautiful villages from Marginimea Sibiului, vestiges of a glorious past. Then you will continue the cycling day through oak forests till the salty lakes from Ocna Sibiului. Possible swim in a salty water pool. (BLD, ~48 km)
Day 4 You will ride forward to arrive in the medieval & pretty town of Medias, with Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque architecture. Several times you can make detours (between 5 and 18 kilometres) of a few kilometres to visit hidden fortified churches. One of them, Valea Viilor, deserves more than the others to be visited. Here the church is frequented by the only German still living in the village, Mme Műller. It will be a pleasure to show you the citadel. (BL, ~52 km)
Day 5 This cycling day will allow you to discover other treasures from Transylvania. Your first stop will be the Biertan fortified church, part of the UNESCO Heritage, which has graced the country for over a half of century. Then you move on to Sighisoara, one of the few medieval citadels in Europe that is still fully inhabited and is 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, as well as stairs, medieval streets, and the house that Vlad Dracul was born. Vlad Dracul was the father of Vlad the Impaler, who is best known by Bram Stocker’s legend as Dracula. (B, ~62 km).
Day 6 You will cycle torward the Transylvanian hills through Apold village which also has a lovely fortified church to see. Then you will arrive in Soars village, where you will spend the night, and we ride through remote country tracks where you will surly see shepherds watching over their sheep or cows. (BD, ~48 km)
Day 7 You will ride to the South, at the foot of the Fagaras Mountain, the highest from the Romanian Carpathians and also known as the 'Transylvanian Alps'. You will see on your way why we call them such, what a beautiful landscape waits for you. Night in a town at the foot of Piatra Craiului Mountains, one of the best preserved in Romania, sheltering bears, wolves and lynx.
(BLD, ~74 km).
Day 8 Our last day of cycling in Transylvania will bring you at the foot of the Bucegi’s Mountains, which represent an important place, protecting the border between Transylvania and Wallachia. We view the Bran Castle, also known as Dracula’s Castle. Even if it wasn’t the real castle of Vlad the Impaler (Dracula), it belonged later to another famous person, Queen Maria, a granddaughter of Queen Victoria and of Tsar Nicholas II. Optional ride to visit the Rasnov Castle, at around 15 kilometers away from Bran. Overnight in the same place as the night before (BLD, ~ 35 km).
Day 9 Departure for Bucharest after the breakfast. End of the trip.
B= Breakfast L=Lunch D=Dinner
Subject to changes
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Meeting:
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Bucharest
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Airport:
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Bucharest
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Train station:
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Brasov train station
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Transfer:
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Level:
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Easy to Moderate
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Medium+ level (from 35 to 74 Km / day, with some climbs).
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Participants:
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Min
2 participants
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LENGTH & LEVEL
9 days of which 6 ½ are with cycling.
Medium+ level (from 35 to 74 Km / day, with some climbs).
We supply:
-Technical description of the itinerary
-Map with itinerary traced out
-Contact listing, technical sheet and vouchers
-Our Road Book which includes: restaurants, museums, craftsmen, where to find a bank machines… -24-hour emergency phone number
Passport and Visa Requirements: Passports Passport valid for at least three months beyond length of stay required by all nationals referred to in the chart except: (a) 1. EU nationals holding a valid national ID card. Visa. more
Romania has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. Spring
and autumn are cool and pleasant, making May and June, September
and October the best months to visit. Summers are hot from July to
August and winters are harsh and very cold between December and March,
with snow falling throughout most of the country. Spring and summer are
the wettest seasons, but rain can be expected throughout the year. The climate in Romania is
continental-temperate with the average temperature in the summer of 22-
24 *C (it can sometimes get up to 35 *C especially in the South).
Annual
rainfall all over the country is 677 mm, 1000 mm in the mountains.
Due
to the continental influences from the East, the summers can be dry
although with more rain in the mountains.
The hottest month is July with an
average of 18- 19 *C (12- 16 *C in the mountains).
Strong winds and
storms are rare in the summer, they occur sometimes in the mountains
during late autumn. Bucharest, being situated in the South of the
country, is hotter.
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… this list is only a guideline
for you |
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Hidden Trails Travel Documents and
Trip Voucher (contains important local tour contact info.) |
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Flight tickets |
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Passport |
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Visa (check with your consulate) |
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Gear
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Cycling Gear |
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Rucksack/day pack |
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Warm pullover/jumper |
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Waterproofs |
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Water bottle |
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Insect repellent |
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Sunglasses |
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Sun Hat |
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Sun block/cream |
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Compass |
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Torch |
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Mobile Phone |
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Container for sandwiches |
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First Aid Kit |
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Towel and small bar of soap |
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Personal Toiletries |
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Personal medications |
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Sore cream (for an emergency) |
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Adapter for electric appliances |
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Camera and extra film or batteries |
Sorry, no video is currently available for this tour.
*Important Notice: The following ratings have been submitted by guests and do not necessarily represent the views of Hidden Trails, its partners or employees.
Every care is taken to ensure accuracy but Hidden Trails is not liable for any errors or omissions.
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LODGING
Double occupancy:
- 3 nights in 3* small hotels in Sibiu D1, Medias D4 and Sighisoara D5 w/ private facilities
- 5 nights in guesthouses, exceptionally nice shared facilities.
MEALS
8 breakfasts, 4 picnics and 5 dinners in our guesthouses. Not included - Drinks!
LENGTH & LEVEL
9 days of which 6 ½ are with cycling.
Medium+ level (from 35 to 74 Km / day, with some climbs).
We supply:
-Technical description of the itinerary
-Map with itinerary traced out
-Contact listing, technical sheet and vouchers
-Our Road Book which includes: restaurants, museums, craftsmen, where to find a bank machines… -24-hour emergency phone number
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Tack:
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Horses:
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Pace:
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Medium+ level (from 35 to 74 Km / day, with some climbs).
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Level:
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(2 to 3 out of 5)
Moderate
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Riders:
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Min 2 |
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LENGTH & LEVEL
9 days of which 6 ½ are with cycling.
Medium+ level (from 35 to 74 Km / day, with some climbs).
We supply:
-Technical description of the itinerary
-Map with itinerary traced out
-Contact listing, technical sheet and vouchers
-Our Road Book which includes: restaurants, museums, craftsmen, where to find a bank machines… -24-hour emergency phone number
Passports
Passport valid for at least three months beyond length of stay required by all nationals referred to in the chart except:
(a) 1. EU nationals holding a valid national ID card.
Visas
Not required by all nationals referred to in the chart above for the following lengths of visit:
(a) nationals of EU countries for a three-month period (those intending to stay for a longer period than three months must apply for a registration certificate issued by the Romanian Authority for Aliens);
(b) 2. nationals of Australia, Canada and the USA for touristic stays of up to three months.
Visa Note
Nationals not referred to in the chart above are advised to contact the embassy to check visa requirements
| Passport Required? |
| British |
Yes |
| Australian |
Yes |
| Canadian |
Yes |
| USA |
Yes |
| Other EU |
1 |
| Visa Required? |
| British |
No |
| Australian |
No/2 |
| Canadian |
No/2 |
| USA |
No/2 |
| Other EU |
No |
| Return Ticket Required? |
| British |
No |
| Australian |
Yes |
| Canadian |
Yes |
| USA |
Yes |
| Other EU |
No |
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Castles and Saxon Heritage Cycling Tour
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