When translated into Hungarian, wire donkey or drótszamár is a playful term for a bicycle, used mainly in the Székelyföld region of Transylvania. The Szeklers, the people living in Székelyföld, are known to be especially witty and authentic. We find that this wittiness and authenticity represent the style of our bike tours perfectly. Hence the name, Wiredonkey.
Let me introduce myself. My name is Peter Illés, and I am the founder and guide at Wiredonkey Cycling Tours. Working as the head of strategy at a digital product agency, I felt the need to do something that is not "digital". Something that would take me far away from the desk and my laptop.
During our travels with friends and family, I always came up with lists of places to visit, foods to try and experiences to have. I am also an avid cyclist who grasps every moment to get out for a ride. Wiredonkey is the combination of my passion for travelling and cycling. I started Wiredonkey Cycling Tours to help riders experience these areas as they should be: on fully supported, small-group trips, not big, anonymous bus tours.
I was born in Timișoara and had been living in Budapest since 2014. Every tour on this page visits places that are close to my heart. Southern Banat was where we had our family weekend getaways when I was a child. Maramureș and Saxon Transylvania were my first longer trips with my wife. Etyek is basically in my backyard.
I know each of these places inside-out. I have ridden these trails multiple times. I have tried the foods, met the people and heard all the stories. And now I am ready to share it with you!
At Wiredonkey Cycling Tours, we focus on authentic, small-group adventures. The kind of cycling holiday where every meal, road, and guesthouse tells a story.
Each tour is guided and fully supported, so you can ride at your own pace while we handle the logistics: luggage transfers, vehicle backup, and local recommendations. We stay in family-run guesthouses and rural pensions, enjoy traditional Hungarian and Romanian meals, and take time to meet the locals who shape these landscapes.
Our goal isn't just to get from A to B. It's to experience these lands slowly and meaningfully: cycling through medieval towns, stopping for homemade cheese or plum brandy, sailing across Lake Balaton, or sharing stories over a BBQ in a Transylvanian village.
Wiredonkey Cycling Tours isn't a big tour company. It's a passion project. Guided by people who know these places inside-out, love the ride, and believe travel should feel personal, local, and real.
