Gravel Tour in the Wilderness of Romania

Our first day is the “get together” day in the remote village of Cund. Depending on your arrival time and place, we will organize your transfer to the starting point.
For preparing our next day, we will accommodate a guesthouse with yard, so we can let part of the luggage during the journey.

Time to check our bikes, visit the local community, meet the local cuisine.

Dinner: dinner in Vale Verde Restaurant by our friend and host – a wine&food passionate.

Part of the historical Saxon community, the village of Malancrav is currently turning into a touristic area trying to promote their main values: traditional crafts, local agriculture, and history. The locals offer workshops about their activities (weaving, basket braiding, woodwork, apple juice factory, etc); they are breading water buffalo – one of the attractions in the evening is the returning of water buffalo home; the local manor is not turned into a hotel; the Lutheran fortified church is included in the UNESCO World Heritage.

Main sites on the way:

• View over Cund after first climb
• The Armenian Catholic Catedral in Dumbraveni
• Bethlem Castle in Cris – 17^th century
• Apafy Manor and the UNESCO fortified church in Malancrav

Overnight in Malancrav – in local guesthouse.

Meals: breakfast, picnic lunch and dinner.

Total cycling distance: 35 km gravel, 26 km asphalt road with low traffic

In the first part of the day we are traveling from Malancrav to Biertan (24 km) for visiting the most important fortified church in Transylvania. This church was the first UNESCO World Heritage site of Romania. We will stop her for visiting and for lunch.

Leaving Biertan, we will have 31 km to our destination, going through the Transylvanian wilderness. Only forest, sheepfolds, and rolling hills. The last 7 km will be on asphalt.

We are ending our day at the parish house of the old fortified church, now transformed into a warming guesthouse.

Main sites on the way:

• UNESCO church in Biertan
• The wilderness of Transylvania
• Village of Stejarisu

Overnight in the guesthouse near the fortified church.
Meals: breakfast, picnic lunch and dinner.
Total bike distance: 55 km, out of which 36 km on gravel roads and 19 km on asphalt road.

In the morning we are cycling for 16 km (10 km asphalt and 6 km gravel) for arriving in a curious hidden landscape, called „100 hills” due the uncommon hills in the nearby of the village. A small German community is now living and taking care about the local church, and they are happy to receive guest on bicycle.

Leaving the unique place, we are cycling another 35 km (25 km on gravel) for arriving in Cobor. The biggest conservation organization in Romania has built here an ecological farm, where we can stop for lunch.

After lunch, another 28 km cycling (5 km gravel) for arriving to our final destination – the village of Viscri. Viscri is part of the UNESCO World Heritage. It is the success story of a small village who managed to survive during the ‘90s and to develop into a touristic site. The main attraction is the fortified church, but most of the visitors are attracted by one of the houses, currently owned by Prince Charles of Wales. Despite it is a normal house, lot of visitors are arriving here only for this site. However, once you are in Viscri there are lot of other places to visit, as the locals are trying to promote the ancient activities, similar like in Malancrav. You can visit the local blacksmith, the old fashion bakery, the bricklayer and few of the local old houses transformed into guesthouses by the locals or by other small investors.

Main sites on the way:

• „100 hills” protected area
• Cobor ecological farm
• Viscri – UNESCO World Heritage and the house of King Charles

Overnight in Viscri, in a local house transformed into a warming guesthouse.

Dinner at the guesthouse.
Meals: breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Total bike distance: ~79 km, out of which 37 km on gravel.

Another route through the wilderness of Romania. A 50 km single trail route is starting from Viscri and ends before Sighiosoara – another UNESCO World Heritage site. The last 5 km is on asphalt.

The old citadel of Sighisoara – a Saxon fortified burgh built in the 13^th century – is placed on top of a hill, surrounded by forests. The „back in time” community is welcoming the guests with lot of surprises. The clock tower, the church on the hill, the „Vlad Dracu house”, the covered stairs, the main square, and other stories are just waiting to be discovered. We will be part of the story once we will finish the tour.

Main sites on the way:

• Sighisoara citadel
• The wild single trail route

Overnight in a hotel placed in the citadel. Dinner on your own.
Meals: breakfast and picnic lunch.

Total bike distance: ~55 km, out of which 50 km on gravel.

Today we will ride along „Via Transilvanica” – a longest hiking and cycling trail, with more than 1,400 km length, crossing Romania from North-East to South-West.

We will cross the centennial oaks reserve near Sighisoara and we will ride again through the Transylvanian wilderness

After 52 km (out of which 37 km on gravel), we will be back to the starting place – the beautiful village of Cund.

Picnic lunch on the way.

Main sites on the way:

• Sighisoara citadel
• The centennial oaks reserve
• Village of Prod
• Village of Cund

Overnight in Cund, same as in the first evening. Farewell dinner.
Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner.

After breakfast it is time to say goodbye.

Optional – Transfer by car to Brasov or Bucharest.
Meals: breakfast