THE SAXON TRANSYLVANIA
Centuries old heritage, colourful meadows and
unspoiled nature
Tour duration
6 Days / 5 Nights
Trip style
Trekking, Gravel
Start location
Sibiu
Dificulty
3/5
Starting from
1,960 euro
ABOUT SAXON TRANSYLVANIA
The story of the Transylvanian Saxons begins in medieval times, soon after Transylvania was conquered by the Hungarian Kingdom. At that time, years of fierce fighting with the Tartars left the area defenseless in the wake of future invasions, so in the 12th century king Geza II invited German colonists, to whom he granted numerous privileges, to settle here and defend the southern and eastern borders of Transylvania and of the kingdom. The industrious Saxons thrived and prospered over the course of eight centuries founding Siebenburgen, the land of seven legendary citadels and numerous other towns and villages. Nowhere else in Europe will you find such a high density of fortified churches in such a small area, than in southern Transylvania. In fact every rural settlement founded by the Saxons has a church strengthened with defensive walls.
Things took a turn for the worse for Romania and its people when the communists took over the country after the second world war. The country was in turmoil and no matter if you were Romanian, Saxon or Hungarian you were stripped off of your properties. After communism fell, the mass exodus of the Saxons followed in the 90s. The vast majority decided to pursue happiness elsewhere, move to Germany and to leave Transylvania and Romania behind. This cycling tour is about their lost world, their heritage and about the ones trying to preserve it and bring it back to life. And although most of them have left a quarter of a century ago, the mark they left over the 8 centuries of inhabitance is visible all around. It includes everything from the iconic architecture of the villages to the wonderful fortified churches and the specific cuisine and traditions.
ROUTE
DAY TO DAY
The tour begins with a 30 minutes transfer from your accommodation in Sibiu to Mârșa, a small industrial town in Sibiu county. The 2 km cycle path to Avrig will give you plenty of time to get accustomed to the bikes, and if the group wants, we can have a first refreshment or coffee break at the Orangery located in the park of Avrig’s Brukenthal Palace. The day will continue with a winding road climb, which will reveal the majestic range of the Făgăraș mountains, and with a beautiful descent as we enter the Hârtibaciu Valley area and its rolling hills, which is perhaps the last intact rural medieval landscape in Europe. We’ll ride to the village of Hosman to discover its fortified church before our lunch at 'Moara Veche', in the same village. After lunch, we'll continue our ride through the Saxon villages of the Hârtibaciu Valley, and in the late afternoon, we'll arrive at Alma Via, our host for the first two nights of this tour. You will love the lush garden where you can relax with a glass of lemonade or a beer while waiting for our first dinner together.
Guesthouse: Alma Via
TODAY'S RIDE
Approximately 66 km (41 miles) with 535 m (1,750 feet) of climbing
The day starts with a 15 km ride to Biertan and with a visit of the fortified church of which sits high on a hilltop in the center of the village. It is the most famous of all Saxon fortified churches, surrounded by three rings of walls and guarded by seven guild towers. We will then jump on the saddle again and cycle to Mosna at a bio-farm for a gourmet lunch, coffee and desert. The two or three hours spent here are among the highlights of the tour. All ingredients are sourced on the farm so think of fresh and matured cheeses, edible flowers, mouthwatering meat and vegetarian dishes, in other words a visual and culinary delight. After our visit to the bio-farm in Mosna we’ll return to Alma Vii.
Guesthouse: Alma Via
TODAY'S RIDE
Approximately 57 km (35 miles) with 648 m (2,125 feet) of climbing
Today’s ride takes us to Veseud and to our favourite accommodation of the tour. Midway through the ride, we’ll stop at the blacksmith in Apoș, another project helping to restore the built heritage of the region. Our next stop will be with our friends at the Equestrian Centre in the same village, where we’ll have lunch.
After lunch, those interested can discover how the fish-scale roof tiles, so characteristic of southern Transylvania, are handmade. We will visit the traditional tile-making workshop, which was opened by the Prince of Wales’s Foundation with the purpose of supporting traditional house restoration projects in the area.
From Apoș, we will cycle to the small town of Agnita and from there, after two climbs and two beautiful, long descents, we will arrive in Veseud.
Guesthouse: Veseud 11
TODAY'S RIDE
Approximately 47 km (29 miles) with 405 m (1,330 feet) of climbing
This will be the shortest day of the tour, but for a very good reason: it will leave us enough time to experience one of the most special stops of the tour, Martinsberg Transylvania.
We will start the morning from Veseud, mostly downhill, until we reach Cârța, a beautiful village on the banks of the Olt River and home to one of the most special ruins in Transylvania. Here, we will visit the only Cistercian monastery in Romania and the easternmost Cistercian site in Europe. Only parts of the old building are still standing, but they are beautifully preserved. The site is still used as an Evangelical Lutheran church by the local Saxon community.
After the visit, we will tackle the only climb of the day before arriving at Martinsberg Transylvania, our hosts for lunch and the night. This is a very special project that aims to revitalise this small village while adding a touch of luxury to both the culinary and accommodation experience.
After lunch, we will have time for an extra activity, which might be a short hike to a spectacular viewpoint over the Carpathian Mountains or a wine tasting. The day will end with another memorable dinner.
Depending on the group size and accommodation requirements, we might stop in Șomartin for lunch and finish the day at Cincșor Guesthouse.
Guesthouse: Martingsberg | Cincsor Guesthouses
TODAY'S RIDE
Approximately 40 km (25 miles) with 339 m (1,112 feet) of climbing
Today we will cross the wildest area of the whole tour, in what is a classic cycling day through unspoiled nature, colourful flower meadows and green forests. There will be no planned visits during the ride, and we’ll have three sustained climbs. We will pass through remote villages, with great views of the Carpathian range, before reaching tonight’s accommodation in the picturesque UNESCO village of Viscri.
One of the benefactors of the village is His Majesty King Charles III, who, in 2006, after buying and restoring some of the 18th-century Saxon houses in the village, became a promoter of sustainable tourism in Transylvania. After checking in and having a short rest and shower, we will visit the King’s House, which is open to the public as a museum. Here, we will learn about the close links between the royal families of Romania and the United Kingdom, the strong connection between King Charles III and Transylvania, and admire the temporary exhibitions hosted here.
Then, in the evening, you’ll be able to witness one of the most iconic scenes of rural Transylvanian life, when the cattle return to the village from grazing—a perfect ending to your day.
Guesthouse: Viscri 125
TODAY'S RIDE
Approximately 66 km (41 miles) with 768 m (2,519 feet) of climbing
After breakfast, depending on your flight or other plans for the rest of the day, we'll have the option to visit the fortified church in Viscri before transferring you by car to one of the following cities of your choice: Sibiu, Brașov or Sighișoara.
A CULINARY EXPERIENCE
Saxon Transylvania isn’t just a cycling tour. It’s a culinary journey too.
Over the years, southern Transylvania has developed a hospitality style all its own: traditional local recipes, elevated and beautifully presented. The food is rooted in the region’s old recipes and built on fresh, locally sourced ingredients, so every meal tells you something about the place you’re riding through.
The settings are part of the magic. Our lunches take place in bio-farm gardens, inside the walls of fortified churches, or at rural cultural centers steeped in history. One of the highlights is the long, unhurried lunch at a bio-farm in Moșna, where the cheeses, vegetables, and even the edible flowers on your plate come straight from the farm.
Another very special place is our latest addition to the tour. Martinsberg Transylvania adds a touch of luxury to the overall experience. Both lunch and dinner are prepared by professional chefs and served in the beautiful garden of the fortified church, or in the impressive, perfectly restored ballroom of the village’s old Saxon community hall.
In the evenings, our guesthouse hosts treat you to a three-course dinner cooked with local produce, often finished with a glass of traditional plum or sour cherry brandy, offered on the house. Vegetarian options are always available on request.
ACCOMMODATION
We keep the same high standards for our accommodation as we do for our food. The warm hospitality of our hosts will make you feel at home wherever we spend the night. It’s no exaggeration to say that southern Transylvania offers some of the most unique, and perhaps the best, rural accommodation in Romania. Old Saxon houses have been carefully restored and turned into beautiful guesthouses. They keep the spirit of their past while offering comfort, coziness, and even a touch of luxury in some places.
Every guesthouse is different, and each has a lovely garden where you can unwind after a day of riding. The large barns that belong to every Saxon household have been transformed into bright restaurants with big windows, where we enjoy a drink before dinner.
Accommodation is in double or single rooms, all with private bathrooms. A supplement applies for single occupancy.
PRICES
FULLY GUIDED TOUR
€2,560 per person for groups of 5+ people
€2,960 per person for groups of 4 people
€3,420 per person for groups of 3 people
€4,670 per person for groups of 2 people
SUPPORTED TOUR
€1,960 per person for groups of 5+ people
€2,220 per person for groups of 4 people
€2,790 per person for groups of 3 people
€3,720 per person for groups of 2 people
Single supplement - €200
DEPOSIT - €400 (50% refundable up to 60 days before departure)
BALANCE - Full payment due 30 days prior to tour start
Learn more about the differences between FULLY GUIDED and SUPPORTED tours here.
What is included?
- All accommodation and meals
- English-speaking local guides
- Fully guided tours: Two guides – one cycling with the group and the other driving the support van
- Supported tours: One guide driving the support van
- Fully equipped bike (Trek DS) + helmet
- Fruits, nuts, snacks, and water during riding
- Assistance car
- Car transfer on the last day to Sibiu, Sighișoara or Brașov
- Tickets and donation
- A digital photo album of your trip (for fully guided tours)
Optional
- Cube Nuroad gravel bike - €100 (limited availability)
- Transylvania Cycling jersey - €50
TRANSFĂGĂRĂȘAN EXTRA DAY
For the ones wishing to add some spicy to the standard Saxon Transylvania tour, we can easily add the famous Transfăgărășan climb to our schedule. The day will follow the program of Transfăgărășan day trip and we'll sneak it between 3rd and 4th days. Depending on the group preferences, we'll do the transfer from Veseud to Cârțișoara by van, or we'll ride our bicycles.
The road is officially open between the 15th of June and the 30th of October. In most years the first snow falls at Bâlea Lake in late September, so climbing the road at the end of the season may be a matter of luck.
Including this 6th day of riding will rise the prices listed above by 20%.
SELF-GUIDED
South Transylvania is one of the most popular Romanian regions among foreigners. The routes are easy to follow, and the hosts at the guesthouses speak English, so it is accessible to those interested in experiencing Saxon Transylvania on their own. We are ready to organize this tour as a Self-Guided trip on request. The price will depend on the level of assistance you need, if you will bring your own bike, use one of our Trek DS bicycles or you want us to rent an e-bike for you, on the size of the group, etc.
Please contact us, and we will build an offer for you.
MORE INFORMATION
6 DAYS & 5 NIGHTS - 5 DAYS OF RIDING
DIFFICULTY: 3/5
AVERAGE DAILY DISTANCE
55 km (34 miles)
AVERAGE DAILY ELEVATION
539 m (1,768 feet)
TOTAL DISTANCE
276 km (171 miles)
TOTAL ELEVATION
2,695 m (8,840 feet)
TERRAIN: HILLY
Transylvania is hilly and that’s why any trip in this region implies some climbing, but the effort will be lavishly rewarded by the wonderful landscapes, colourful flower meadows and tranquil villages where life flows at a very slow pace. Every day there will be some short and rolling hills and a climb which will require more effort to conquer. But don’t worry as the descents are always beautiful and rewarding. For the elevation profile and for the number of kilometers/miles covered on a daily basis, see the day to day itinerary.
On all our tours we aim to find quite secondary roads, so that you’ll fully enjoy your vacation without the noise of big and busy roads. With few exceptions, we only cycle on asphalt, and on this particular tour, the entire route is on asphalt.
* At times, from various reasons, the routes, the activities listed in the daily breakdown or the guesthouses we sleep in may slightly change. Our guides will always try to replace them with similar or higher standard services in order to provide the same trip experience.
