Romania: Road Biking the Transylvanian Alps

Romania is one of the most underrated cycling destinations in the world. With rugged mountains to rival the Alps, countryside to compare with the most scenic anywhere in Europe, surprisingly good roads with very little traffic, and thousands of years of history, Romania is a road biker's dream destination. Romania: Road Biking the Transylvanian Alps is both an unforgettable cycling trip and an immersion in the famed Romanian region of Transylvania, steeped in history, myth and legend, surrounded by the Carpathian Mountains. Amazing rides link together medieval cities, villages huddled around fortified churches, wooded valleys, and soaring mountain peaks. Challenging climbs will be mixed with more easygoing rides and visits to UNESCO heritage sites, making for a fulfilling experience of the very best Romania has to offer.

This is a fully-supported trip ideal for road cyclists, especially if you enjoy a good climb. We have planned the route carefully so that we have a nice balance between big climbing days and easier days. We meet in Bucharest and transfer to the village of Cincsor. Our first day includes our bike fitting, a short warm-up ride, and a welcome dinner. On the second day, we will ride the legendary Transfagarasan, cycling directly from the hotel and steadily climbing to a glacier lake, followed by a descent and return from the hotel. The next day, we will take it a little easier with rolling countryside riding into atmospheric Sighisoara, with its gothic architecture evoking the classic Transylvania. Staying in the heart of the town, we will have time to admire our surroundings this evening. The next day brings a moderate ride across the hills to Sibiu, Romania’s cultural capital with its noble Saxon history, art-nouveau facades, and gold-embossed church. There are also countless museums and dozens ofcoffee houses to relax apres-ride amid an ambience that could be compared to Girona or Tuscany. On Day 5, we ride out of Sibiu to an idyllic mountain resort where we can take in the beautiful vistas before descending to an open-air museum village, then circle back to Sibiu. The final day of cycling is the most challenging: we ascend to the Transalpina, the highest road in Romania. Ride to your heart’s content with the option of van support as we head skyward on a joyride along the twists and turns of this legendary road (as Cycling.co.uk puts it, “Romania’s highest pass combines perfect hairpins and pristine tarmac with jaw-dropping views.” At the end of the ride, descend 20 km and arrive at the manor house where we will spend the night, raising glasses of Romanian wine over a hearty dinner to celebrate our journey through Transylvania’s mountains.

Join us on this 7-day adventure that takes us to both the heart and the heights of Romania’s most beautiful region!