OVERVIEW
If you are fond of nature, folklore and tradition, myth
and legend and want to discover one of the most romantic
and inspiring of Romania's historical provinces, we invite
you to join us for a bike tour in the Hungarian inhabited
area of Transylvania: Covasna and Harghita counties. The
towns blend the art and culture of Romanian and Hungarian
civilisations while ancient citadels, fortified churches
and castles guard over this land encircled by the wilderness
of the Carpathian Mountains, a paradise for riding, skiing,
hiking, walking or mountain biking.

The past is also still alive in the vast number and varied
types of architectural remains which make this region such
a magical place: The
Transylvanian castle from Miclosoara with the beautiful
Kalnoky guesthouse, old fortified churches from Aita Mare,
Haghig, the Dandar Castle, Praid salt mountain and The Salt
Canyon from Korund, Covasna resort, Harghita Madaras Peak,
Fintus ruins and so on.
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HIGHLIGHTS
Sfantu Gheorhe, the county town of Covasna
Odorheiu Secuiesc, the county town of Harghita
Transylvanian Castle of Count Kalnoky
Miclosoara Hungarian ethnic village
The Straw Museum from Criseni
Fortfied Churches of Aita Mare, Haghig
Harghita Madaras peak and chalet
Corund and Praid handycraft towns |
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| TOUR DETAILS |
| Duration |
11- day cycling tour
Optional: 1 additional day of cycling |
| Schedule |
17-28 May;12-22 July; 4 -14 October 2009 |
| Distance |
415 km; Medium daily length: 38 km |
| Difficulty |
moderate level |
| Terrain |
The tour includes local, village forest and
mountain roads, varying from 20 to 75 km per day. |
| Accomodation |
guesthouses and hotels with breakfast included.
|
| Group size |
The programme requires a minimum
of 5 people and a maximum of 15 participants;
One guide will be provided for a
group of up to 8 persons and 2 guides for more
than 8 participants; |
| Price |
940 EUR or 1082
EUR ( bike and equipment included)
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DAY BY DAY ITINERARY
Get
together in Sfantu Gheorghe (day
1)
After a detailed introduction of the tour from our guide
we will pay a cultural and historic visit to the city
centre of Sfantu Gheorghe. Situated on both banks of
the Olt river, at an altitude of 525 m, the county town
of Sf. Gheorghe has developed from an old medieval village.
The city is a remarkable economical centre as well as
a cultural centre. The Szekler National Museum which
we will visit includes an archaeological, a natural
science as well an ethnography museum. Other sights:
the Reformed Church, the Unitarian Church, the county
hall, Kos Karoli school and so on.
We will be having dinner in a nice restaurant in the
city centre. |
Sfantu
Gheorghe-Valcele-Araci-Haghig-Maierus-Belin-Aita Mare-Miclosoara
~ 42 km (day
2)
After
breakfast (around 9.00 am) we will begin our bike
tour through Covasna area. We will pass Valcele and
Araci villages admiring the reformed church of Araci
(Gothic, frescoes remains and Renaissance relics). From
Araci, the road follows the Olt river, one of the
largest rivers in Romania. The asphalt road to Miclosoara
is pleasant with easy ascents and descents. We will
be cycling for around four hours and we will have
some stops to admire the sights and have lunch. We
will spend the night in an
old traditional pension owned by the Count Kalnoky.
Here
we will be having a festive dinner where you will
have the chance to share experiences and make friends
in a very pleasant atmosphere of the wine cellar.
Other sights: the fortified church
from Haghig (1674), the Unitarian church from Aita
Mare, the old Transylvanian castle from Miclosoara.
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Miclosoara-Capeni-Racosu
de Sus-Varghis-Orban Balazs Cave-Meresti ~50km
(day 3)
The area of the North-Persani between the river
Olt and Hagymasi (Hasmasu) pass is called "Rika-mountain",
briefly "Rika" by the population of the
environs, named after the wife, Réka, of the
legendary Attila king, whose grave is somewhere here
according to the tradition. The beauties of the landscape
of the micro-region are offering to the tourist the
largest variety of nature's beauties, the fields covered
by wild flowers, the rocky Carpathians, the Rika mountain
and the close Harghita, the large variety of the beautiful
plants, part of them growing here from bygone days.
From Miclosoara to Varghis - we continue the road
along the Olt river, as in the previous day, for another
18 km. At Racosu de Sus we are leaving the main road
and start an easy climbing on a forester route. The
Olt-gorge from Racos is not a common sight. On both
sides of the gorge there are rocky peaks, under them
the wild and noisy river flows fast, eddying with
waves. All around there are deep forests. The region
is a real lithography museum: there you find red volcano-conglomerate,
green tufa, black basalt and limestone too.
After ~10 km we will be in Varghis - a Romanian folkloric
village. One of the most important tourism sights
in the village is the reconditioned Dániel
castle, a building with renaissance (16-17th century),
than baroque and neoclassical style. The area of 800
hectares of the Varghis Stream Valley and the Meresti
Caves is declared a landscape-protection area. From
Varghis we are climbing on a forester route along
Varghis river. After 18 km we arrive and visit Orban
Balazs cave. Here remains of Neolithic time have been
discovered. Besides, the skeletons of the man from
glacial age and of the cave-bear have been founf here.
We are leaving Covasna county and enter in Harghita.
After 6 more km we are in a nice village - Meresti,
which seems to be preserved as 70 years ago.
We expect to a 7-hours bike ride, including 1 hour
cave visit, lunch and other stops.
We will be having dinner in Meresti.
Important sights: Orban Balazs cave;Varghis - a Romanian folkloric village; Daniel
castle; Olt gorge.
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Meresti-Martinis-Feliceni-Odorheiu
Secuiesc-Tibod ~30km
(day 4)
After breakfast we will travel for about 6 km from
Meresti to Martinis on a wild forest road through
the spectacular hills of Persani. We have 12 more
km up to Feliceni through a dusty road (but without
cars). From Feliceni we are reaching a main road and
from there only 3 km until we reach the nice city
of Odorheiu Secuiesc. After visiting the city and
lunch, we are leaving for Tibod, close to Odorheiu
Secuiesc and we will be spending the night there at
a Hungarian pension. The host will serve you local
“tuica” –one of the strongest in
the country and will have a traditional Hungarian
dinner.
Important Sights: Martinis - the fortified church; Odorheiu Secuiesc - the
center of Hungarian culture and tradition in Romania.
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Tibod-Sancrai-Zetea-Subcetate-Subcetate
Lake-Liban-Cicas pitch-Suseni ~ 51 km
(day 5)
Today we will be travelling for about 7 km from Tibod
to Zetea. From Zetea to Cicas pitch there is a progressive
climbing of ~28 km on a secondary road, with only
few cars. Even this part of our trip will be quite
demanding, the spectacular view will for sure give
you the strength to easily enjoy a nice biking day.
The road follows the Tarnava Mare river till Subcetate.
From Cicas pitch we are descending till Suseni, where
we will be spending the night in a nice pension house.
For those which still can cycle, we could cycle for
~10 km up to the village where we can find the source
of Mures river. We will be having lunch at Sicasau
or Liban - two nice locations along the route
with good hospitality and food.
Important sights: Subcetate Lake;
Cicas pitch (1000 m); near Suseni: the source of Mures
river (Izvorul Muresului).
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Suseni-Ciumani-Joseni-Bucin-Praid
~ 46 km (day
6)
We will leave in the morning Suseni (~900 m altitude)
and cycle to Ciumani and Joseni on a secondary road.
From Joseni we are on a main national road, and will
begin to climb for ~15 km to 1200 m altitude, up
to Bucin health resort. We will be having lunch there.
From Bucin we will cycle for around 20 km to Praid -
another resort with salt therapy. Here we have the
alternative of a secondary road. The road crosses
the forest of Gurghiului mountain, along Creanga Mare
brook. In Praid, you are invited to visit the salt
mine. We expect to spend today 8-10 hours on the way,
including breaks or lunch. We will be having dinner
in Praid.
Important sights: Bucin health resort;
Near Borzont (~2 km) - Dandar Castle; Praid salt mountain.
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| Praid-Ocna
de Jos-Atid-Criseni ~24 km
(day 7)
Today we will be having a relaxing bike ride on
the Tarnavelor plateau. Praid, Ocna de Jos, Atid and
Criseni are villages with major Hungarian population.
In Criseni we will be visiting the straw-hat museum
– a unique place with popular handicrafts. You
can experience the local people handicraft. From Criseni
we will cycle another 4 km further to Bezid, where
an artificial lake was created over a village; the
old church is still visible from the water.
We expect a maximum 5 hours trip on the road, including
breaks from Praid to Criseni. We will be having dinner
at the summer camp of the Straw hat museum.
Important sights: Criseni straw hat
museum;
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| Criseni-Atid-Inlaceni-Fintus-Corund-Fantana
Brazilor-Varsag ~ 45 km
(day 8)
After a 24 km ride on a forest road, we will be
reaching Corund - one of the most important handicraft
centres in Romania. Our guests have the possibility
to choose the perfect handicraft souvenir. After this
shopping stop we are continuing our route in the Gurghiului
mountains to Varsag. The next 15 km we are climbing
on the forest road, following the descend to Varsag
- 6 km along Tarnava Mare river. We will be having
dinner in Varsag, at a traditional pension house.
Important sights: Fintus - old fortress
ruin; Corund - handicraft center; Varsag -Tarnava
Mare river source.
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Varsag-Subcetate-Harghita
Madaras chalet ~30 km (day
9)
This day takes us to the beautiful chalet Harghita
Madaras and the highest peak from Harghita mountains.
We will start our bike ride with a descent up to Subcetate
Lake along Varsag brook. From Subcetate village we
will be climbing for about 18 km on secondary and
forest roads. We will be having lunch at Izvoare.
From Madaras peak we have a spectacular view on Tarnava
and Olt river valley. We are expecting a 5-6 hours
to go, including breaks and lunch. Dinner in Harghita Madaras chalet.
Important sights: Subcetate; Harghita Madaras peak
(1800m); Madaras chalet.
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Harghita
Madaras-Vlahita-Vlahita pitch-Miercurea Ciuc-Sancraieni-Santimbru-San Simion- Tusnad~62 km (day 10)
From Harghita Madaras chalet we are descending to
Vlahita on a forest road for 16 km. From Vlahita we
follow a national road to Miercurea Ciuc for 26 km,
out of which 8 km of climbing to Vlahita pitch (985
m). After a break in Miercurea Ciuc for lunch and
city visit, we are continuing our route to Tusnad
health resort for another 30 km in a descending road,
along Olt river. We will be having dinner in Tusnad.
Today we will be cycling for about 10 to 14 hours,
including breaks and lunch. Be prepared for the longest
day of the program.
Important sights: Vlahita pitch (985m);
Miercurea Ciuc city; Sancraieni mineral water source;
Tusnad health resort.
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Tusnad-Baile
Tusnad-Bixad-Micfalau-Zalan-Valea Crisului-Sfantu
Gheorghe ~38 km (day
11)
Fort the last day of our tour we will be cycling along
the Olt valley and come back to our starting point.
This is an easy day, passing between Baraolt and Bodoc
mountains.
In Arcus we can visit the ruin of an old palace. Sfantu
Gheorghe will be the final destination where we will
say good-bye to each other.
Expected cycling time: 4 hours
You have the possibility for an extra night in Sfantu
Gheorghe but please let us know in your reservation
form.
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Tusnad-Cozmeni-Casinu
Nou-Catrosa-Sanzieni -Targu Secuiesc-Turia-Baile Balvanyos
~61 km (one extra
day)
For those riders wishing to have an extra cycling
day, we are proposing a 61 km bike ride in Bodoc mountains.
Targu Secuiesc is a representative city for the Hungarian
population in Romania. From Balvanyos you have the
possibility to visit St. Ana Lake –the only
volcanic lake in Romania. We will be having dinner
in Balvanyos.
Expected time on road: 8-12 hours.
Important sights: Nerghes pitch (878 m); Sanzieni
- fortified fortress; Targu Secuiesc; Turia - fortified
church and the old fortress; Balvanyos spa
The 11th day will start in Balvanyos and finish in
Sfantu Gheorghe.
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| WHAT IS INCLUDED |
| 10 nights accommodation |
| Full board for all period - breakfasts,
dinners (including one special festive dinner)
and lunches |
| All entrances to museums and other
sights included in the itinerary |
| Energizers & refreshment drinks |
| Luggage transportation |
| Vehicle Assistance (whenever roads
allow it to pass) |
| English speaking
accompanying bike guide (Note: We may organize
also German or French Speaking guides, pls. inquire) |
| Local Taxes |
| branded Tshirt |
| souvenir |
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| NOT INCLUDED |
| Airfare |
| Alcoholic drinks |
| Extra charges for laundry telephone
or fax charges, room service etc. |
| Insurance |
| Bike, accessories
and equipment rental |
| Transport from the airport or station
to Sfantu Gheorghe and back to the airport or
train station. |
| Participants should reach the meeting
point at the proposed time. If necessary, CarpatBike
will provide assistance for the guests in terms
of transportation support (from airport or to
another destination point), ticket reservation,
renting of equipment etc. |
| Additional local guides |
| Single room supplement
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OTHER SPECIFICATIONS
On arrival, the participants will be informed on the programme
and other necessary information, they will be familiarised
with the local customs and will receive the travel kit (map,
equipment, bike and so on). Our guides will make sure that
the participants fulfil all terms and conditions.
In case one or more participants did not reach the meeting
date and point as scheduled, it is the responsibility of
the participant to reach the group during the trip, according
to CarpatBike terms and conditions. They will receive the
support of our team in finding the group as soon as possible.
Due to the long distance for the first day and the organisational
matters, the first day will not include cycling or it will
only include short local rides, a visit in the city and
local sights.
Register for one of our
tours / Request information!
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