Transylvania to Danube Delta
Tour dates: July 17th - July 27th, 2025
Duration: 11 days, 10 nights
Distance: 458km
Grading: Intermediate (see below)
What’s included:
Fully guided trip with experienced guide
Bike supplied - fitted with rack, panniers and repair kit. Electric Bike also available.
10 night's accomodation
Breakfast and snacks each day
Local transfers
Detailed information pack with maps
Overview
Cycle the best that Romania has to offer, from enchanting Transylvania to the ecological wonder of the Danube Delta, this trip has it all. Transylvania is home to some of Europe's best-preserved medieval towns, old Saxon architecture, citadel ruins and ancient forests. For the first half of this adventure we’ll encounter the likes of Bran ‘Dracula’s’ Castle, the medieval town of Brasov and the beautiful Saxon villages with their fortified churches surrounded by rich pastoral landscapes. From there the diversity of this adventure will truly be experienced as we then head to Eastern Romania, travelling first class, to a completely different landscape, the UNESCO’s World Heritage listed Danube Delta. It’s one of the best preserved ecosystems in Europe consisting of hundreds of water inlets and providing a sanctuary for 300 species of birds, 160 species of fish and one of the largest single expanses of reed beds in the world. It’s no wonder it was featured on David Attenborough’s ‘7 Worlds, One Planet’. Make no mistake this is an absolutely amazing tour with huge diversity and a full but exciting travel schedule; so be sure to bring your sense of adventure for a truly memorable time.
Day 1 - Brasov
You will arrive before the first day of riding on July 17th. You can check in to the hotel from 3pm on the day. We will then all meet later in the afternoon/evening (around 5pm) at the cycle store for your bike fit out. After getting your bike we will later head to a 'Meet and Greet' drinks & dinner in the evening. All the specific details will be provided in your information pack after you book.
Day 2 - Brasov to Bran return
Today’s ride is a great circular trip, out to one of the most famous castles in the world, Bran castle, a Gothic fairy-tale structure and the inspiration for Bram Stoker's, Dracula. In the evening there will be ample opportunity to explore Brasov to see its mix of gothic, baroque and renaissance architecture and sample the tasty local cuisine.
Day 3 - Brasov to Saxon Villages
An hour’s train journey takes us high into Brasov County where you’ll find many fortified churches and wildflower meadows. As we ride further northwest the scenery becomes captivating and the pastel-coloured architecture and rural existence of Saxon life with all its history, can be experienced first hand.
Day 4 - Saxon Villages to Brasov
After a night living like a true Saxon indulging in all their traditions, we head south taking on part of the region’s best off-road cycling routes; through fields of farm animals on steep grassy banks and primeval Beech Forests. This is another excellent day’s ride taking in the sights and charm of Transylvanian. The day’s cycling ends back in Brasov before we take a longer, ‘first class’ train journey to eastern Romania, arriving in Galati for a well-deserved rest.
Day 5 - Galati to Niculitel
There’s a later start on this day giving a bit more time to freshen up the legs. As we head out on our 5-day odyssey of the incredible Danube Delta, we cross the river by ferry where you'll start to notice the vastly different scenery. We take the Danube cycle path for the entire day, completely removed from traffic and people. It's a very serene day on the saddle with almost entirely flat terrain.
Day 6 - Niculitel to Sfântu Gheorghe
A steady and relaxing day on the bike, this time we travel along back roads to our last major town Tulcea. The final 15km is a breeze - we jump off the bikes and take a boat down the river to our accommodation. There is no better way to see this amazing section of the Danube than floating down it!
Day 7 - Sfântu Gheorghe Rest Day + Delta Boat Tour
A chance to relax, enjoy the resort, swim at the beach, enjoy strolling around town and relax on this rest day. At the end of the day we have a sunset boat tour of the delta. For those bird watchers it will be a delight of bird spotting or a chance to sit back and simply enjoy being on the water before getting back to the resort for a nice cold beverage!
Day 8 - Sfântu Gheorghe to Sarinasuf
Today will be a pretty surreal experience if you like wildlife. We head further east through the Delta and Bestepe Hills Nature Reserve and it becomes more apparent why this region has the largest biodiversity in Europe. What's better is that not many people travel here so we'll pretty much have this pure wilderness to ourselves.
Day 9 - Sarinasuf to Gura Portitei
Hugging the western edge of the huge Lacul Razim Lake, we'll get some great views across this vast waterway and be able to breathe in the fresh air. The tranquil lifestyle that exists in the Delta is apparent as we pass through many traditional and timeless fishing villages along the way. This is a big exploration day of the region's most impressive architecture. We will visit the likes of the medieval fortress of Enisala and then finish the day with a boat trip through the delta swamplands. We spend the evening in the secluded resort of Gura Portitei, arriving in time to watch the magnificent sunset.
Day 10 - Gura Portitei to Vadu
Quite a diverse day in the saddle. We leave the lovely isolation of Gura Portitei village and wind through some off road tracks and inland. As we head further south you will get to see typical local towns of the area. At the back end of our ride we cross elevated farmlands which have some very nice views back to Gura Portitei and down to the lake, giving you some great perspective and where we have just ridden. We will be greeted with a big smile by our hosts in Vadu and swimming pool to boot!
Day 11 - Vadu to Constanta
A much shorter day, we will be able to visit the likes of the ancient Greek-Roman excavations of Argamum and the historical towns of Ceamurlia de Jos and Baia, where the cycling for this unforgettable journey ends.
| Day | Route | Distance (Km) |
| Day 1 | Brasov | 0 |
| Day 2 | Brasov Circular | 45 |
| Day 3 | Brasov to Saxon Villages | 62 |
| Day 4 | Saxon Villages to Brasov | 53 |
| Day 5 | Galati to Niculitel | 56 |
| Day 6 | Niculitel to Sfântu Gheorghe | 31 |
| Day 7 | Sfântu Gheorghe Rest Day & Boat Tour | 0 |
| Day 8 | Sfântu Gheorghe to Sarinasuf | 60 |
| Day 9 | Sarinasuf to Gura Portitei | 60 |
| Day 10 | Gura Portitei to Vadu | 51 |
| Day 11 | Vadu to Constanta | 40 |
| Total | 458 |
Grading
Moderate adventure (3/5). Overall the cycling is very manageable with an average of around 50km per day. The first 3 days have an undulating terrain with the first day being the most challenging. The 5 days on the Danube Delta have mostly flat terrain with a slightly longer distance covered each day. Riders should have a good level of fitness and experience riding a bicycle as well as be competent with trail and loose gravel riding on both a mountain and hybrid bike.
Logistics
You can check in to the hotel from 3pm the day of July 17th. We will then all meet later in the afternoon/evening at the cycle store for your bike fit out. You will be provided with two panniers (totalling 25litres) to be fitted to your bike to carry all your belongings for all days. The panniers provide ample space, but please pack light and make sure you bring a soft foldable bag. After getting your bike we will later head to a 'Meet and Greet' drinks & dinner in the evening. The riding commences at a designated hotel in Brasov the following morning.
On the first morning we will ride out from Brasov to Bran Castle and back, before exploring Brasov's old town. On the second morning we will travel 1.5hrs out to the Carpathian Mountain region with bikes and panniers packed to commence cycling. After two days exploring this region we arrive back in Brasov where we return our bikes and take a 4.5hrs ‘first class’ train journey to Galati. The following day we collect our bikes and commence a 5-day journey of the Danube Delta. At the end of our last day, we get a shuttle bus to the beachside resort town of Mamaia near Constanta. The last Saturday night’s accommodation is not included but can be arranged as an add-on if you would like to stay for the extra night. Participants should be aware that the tour involves multiple train, van and boat transfers to allow for the best experience possible.
What to bring?
Travel light! Personal luggage will need to be carried for all but 2 of the 11 days in panniers provided. Weather is usually very good in Romania in July so generally pack for good weather but remember to bring a wet weather riding jacket and jumper for the evenings in the Carpathian Mountain region. A full list of items to bring will be provided after you book.
What to budget for?
FLIGHTS ARE NOT INCLUDED. You will need to arrange a flight to arrive in Brasov on the day of July 17th.
The closest airports are:
Start point: Bucharest
End point: Constanta or Bucharest
Other meals are not included - budget for around 30 euros per day
Traveller’s Insurance (compulsory)