Reviews

Most Inspirational Moment

The people of Romania was just so friendly and welcoming everywhere we went in the country and seeing their simple but laid back life was a true inspiration for all of us.

Thoughts on Group Leader

The 2 guides Radu and Liviu is by no doubt some of the best guides I have ever had. So experienced and laid back and nothing was too much trouble for them. Also always ready for a party and to take the group out a night so just had so much fun with these guys.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Do not expect 5 star accommodation but expect something very different every night and to get close to the real people in Romania.

Suggestions

The bikes are not fantastic on this trip but the days are relatively easy so didn't matter too much. However if you are a tall girl like me and prefer a male frame then please remember to request this - since for the first time I had to cycle on a female frame - which was not ideal for me.

Most Inspirational Moment

It was all great but maybe an impromptu visit to the home of a couple who invited us into their yard full of animals, fed us home-made cake and showed us how they continue to live a traditional Transylvanian lifestyle.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Liviu, working as a team with Redu, were brilliant. They were so knowledgeable. We learned about the history, food, architecture, politics, traditions, etc. etc.etc. They really went above and beyond to make sure we had a good time. For example, on our first night they learned there was a concert in the neighbouring village so we went there. And on our last night they gave up their first night back with their families to have dinner with us and then walked all round Bucharest with us until almost midnight showing us things that we would never have seen on our own. Thanks both!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Just go. This is up there with one of the best trips we have done.

Suggestions

Great trip. Staying in local homes was lovely. It was also nice to have most meals included. This is always so much more convenient and efficient on activity holidays.

Most Inspirational Moment

I really enjoyed meeting traditional craftspeople and learning about how close their skills came to being lost forever in the Communist era. We met quite a few entertaining characters along the way. The countryside is beautiful and the medieval town of Sighisoara is picturesque.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Raluca was a great guide - cheerful, patient, experienced and passionate about Romania. She offered lots of personal insights to bring the history of the country to life, and there was a great balance between cycling and culture. She really went out of her way to make sure that we were all enjoying ourselves. Liviu was a great helper too, keeping us fed and watered on the rides.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be prepared for mixed standards of accommodation - some excellent and some a little basic, but all with character. Hot water can be a little hit and miss. There are no hair dryers or kettles, so take your own if those things are important to you. It helps to be not too fussy about food as options can be limited if you have specific dietary requirements. We went in May and the weather was very changeable - some hot and sunny days and some cold and rainy days, so if you are going early or late in the season make sure you take clothes for all weather. But above all, go now before it changes too much!

Suggestions

You don't actually visit Bran Castle on the way back to Bucharest because it's a tourist trap and involves long ticket queues - the compromise is to take pictures from the road and visit a different (and impressive) castle instead.

Most Inspirational Moment

In Viscri we visited some local craftsman. They were really good characters and it was very interesting to see their work in action.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leader Raluka was great throughout the holiday. She looked after us extremely well. When we got to Bucharest she handed us all a nice booklet containing a map and details of local attractions. She was always there to assist us, including when we needed some extra help because BA's computer systems had a power cut.

Advice for Potential Travellers

A lot of the guest houses had Wi-Fi, though not all of them. The Bucharest underground is really straight forward and might be useful if you want to explore different areas of the city. A lot of the places we stayed were very rural, so if you're a night owl take a book, or possibly even some dominoes!

Suggestions

It was nice to only be in a coach at the start and the end of the trip.

Most Inspirational Moment

I really cannot find one thing. I would say all of it. Some of the guest houses such as the Water mill, the priest's talk, Sighisoara, the cart rides.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Outstanding (see above.)

Advice for Potential Travellers

Travel light, don't be phased by travel problems!

Suggestions

I cannot think of anything else.

Most Inspirational Moment

The man who sews the waistcoats and is a human world heritage site was a first - but he can't get a word in edgewise with his wife in full flow! Staying in guesthouses in small villages was lovely and took me out of the normal comfort zone of a standard hotel. I wouldn't have wanted to sleep with my in- laws in a drawer under me though! The Saxon churches in Transylvania being still lovingly cared for even though no Saxons remain in the community

Thoughts on Group Leader

Raluka was superb throughout. Fun, enthusiastic, efficient and picked up our group humour so quickly she held her own. Her passion, pride and hope for her country was inspirational for us jaded types. She was ably assisted by Livio who provided additional insights

Advice for Potential Travellers

Just enjoy every minute like I did

Suggestions

Leave space in your luggage there are unique big things to buy!

Most Inspirational Moment

The warmness and friendliness in which we were greeted in people's homes. Our hosts could not do enough to help us, it was lovely to experience and feel the welcome of the local people. We often sat out after arriving from a days cycling with cakes and drinks whilst chatting to the hosts in a lovely relaxed environment. Life in the villages was hard but the children always waved and looked happy as we passed through.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Raluca and Liveu worked together superbly to give us a faultless, interesting holiday constantly surprising us with visits along the way. Any problems were dealt with efficiently and promptly. Raluca had a vast knowledge of her country and she passed that on to us during the week with a history lesson most evenings before we had our meal. She was passionate about her country and her enthusiasm was infectious.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Make sure you have enough local currency to last the first few days as apart from the airport there is no where to exchange money in the villages . It was day 5 before we entered a large town with exchange facilities. Beware the roads generally are in poor condition so you have to keep an eye out for the numerous potholes, some of which are quite a size and depth.

Suggestions

An excellent , cultural and historical holiday. You find yourself totally immersed in a very diverse and different country. Raluca's passion was infectious and contributed to a fantastic experience/holiday.

Most Inspirational Moment

Cycling into the UNESCO sites of Sighisoara and Viscri and learning/understanding the history of the region.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Raluca is energetic, organised, knowledgeable and above all very passionate about her country. It is no surprise she has taken up some form of 'councillor role' in Bucharest. As well as a superb Leader Raluca would make a good history teacher as she was able to retain my interest which can sometimes be limited.

Advice for Potential Travellers

This category has used the correct terminology 'potential travellers' - It is for travellers not tourists because there is a need to be flexible to and appreciate some of the accommodation used and amenities available. Go now because whilst some of the villages/towns are protected it will change as more people find this 'hidden gem' of an area.

Suggestions

Like a lot of countries around the world they meaning Rumania have a image problem. This adventure will possibly change your perception of the country.

Most Inspirational Moment

Visiting the UNESCO world heritage sites of Sighisoara and Viscri - not the cycling, which I saw as the least intrusive way to explore Transylvania. Sighisoara is a well-preserved and still inhabited medieval citadel. Definitely visit the unpretentious museum within the ancient clocktower (it looks like something out of Disney’s “Cinderella”), ascend to the top and enjoy the view of the town over the profusion of roof tiles…. and stay for the old clock to sound the hour. Our hotel was charming and right on the central square. Our night in the village of Viscri was such fun. The road through Viscri was not paved, there were horses and carts everywhere and a horse and cart took us to the beautifully preserved Saxon church and also to see how they make (by hand) the bricks and tiles used to restore the village. Then in the evening after enjoying a sociable beer or two at the local store which doubled up as the pub, we enjoyed dinner in the garden of the cottage where we were staying and witnessed the procession of cows returning to their homes to be milked, only to leave for the pastures at dawn.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Raluca Teodor was an angel. It was she who had planned the trip – we even squeezed in a delicious water mill lunch and a tour of a water powered woollen blanket business - and she looked after 8 of us on her own. Raluca has her own adventure travel business and is passionate about her country. Most nights we had a Romanian history lesson, but night by night the history became more and more confusing, especially as Transylvania, Wallachia and Moldavia only united to form Romania in 1881 under King Carol 1. She was considerate and sociable, could repair bikes and had planned well, but not for the terrible rain storm on our first full day! But we landed up at a great little hotel in the middle of nowhere, welcomed at the door by Mirella, who seemed to do everything except cook. There was a lady cook though, who was fantastic and the breakfast was the best of many good breakfasts on the holiday.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Some may miss WIFI – it wasn’t always available. So what! If you are particularly concerned about the quality of the accommodation, be sure to read Trip Notes. We stayed in guest houses, most of which were charming. We spent our last night in Bucharest in the beautiful “fin de siècle” Capitol Hotel. Probably not a holiday for very keen cyclists, but personally I would visit Transylvania ASAP before the Idyll is destroyed by “Progress”.

Most Inspirational Moment

It's hard to choose just one. It's impossible to master all of Romania's complex history in just a week, but at the end of the trip I felt as though I had really seen the country. In addition to beautiful scenery, we experienced life in the villages, visited a flour mill and a family-run wool factory, met Saxon priests, and even squeezed in some sightseeing in a couple of cities.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Raluca is an outstanding guide. She is competent, attentive, organized, personable, and passionate and knowledgeable about her country. From the guesthouse stays to the daily history lessons, she did everything to ensure that we experienced the real Romania. The fact that she clearly has strong personal relationships with everyone we encountered testifies to her commitment to her job.