Maramures is a stunning region of Romania renowned for its traditional villages and rich cultural heritage. The area's main highlights are the wooden churches, remnants of Maramureș's famous wooden architecture. Seven of these churches are included in the UNESCO World Heritage Lista, the one in Surdesti is the tallest wooden church in the world.
Maramures is also famous for its skilled artisans, including woodcarvers and potters who produce beautiful handcrafted items. You can witness their skills firsthand on a visit to Bârsana and Săcel.
At the end of our trip, we'll ride the Mocănița, a steam-powered train that takes visitors on a scenic journey through the lush forests of the Wasser Valley. With so many highlights, Maramureș is an unforgettable experience you should not miss and enjoy from the saddle.
Price includes: accommodation for 5 nights in guesthouses; meals (5 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 5 dinners); bike rentals and helmets; luggage transportation; entrance fees; English speaking local guide.
Doesn't include: your flight, airport transfer, insurance, personal expenses.
Most convenient is to transfer from Cluj, where you can spend a couple of days before or after the trip. You can transfer on your own, or we can arrange a transfer for you (not included in the price).
Our tour starts early in the morning in Plopiș, where we'll visit the 18th-century wooden church before pedalling to the neighbouring village of Surdești, home to another wooden church. Both are part of the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Right now, we're at the edge of historical Maramureș. From here, we'll climb the Gutâi mountains on gravel roads. We will picnic by the Rooster's Ridge, a peak shaped like... well, a rooster's coxcomb. It's time to descend into the very heart of Maramureș.
Before arriving at our final destination in Breb, we'll also check out the church of Desești, famed for its restored wooden frescoes. It's going to be a tough day, but worth it for the magnificent views.
After a hearty breakfast, we'll start the day by checking out the World Heritage churches in Budești and Bârsana before visiting the world-famous woodcarver Toader Bârsan, who rediscovered the technique of sculpting a chain from a single piece of wood.
Our road takes us through Poienile Izei to our overnight destination in Botiza, where we can sample some Horincă, a traditional Maramureș double-distilled plum spirit.
In the morning, we'll have the chance to peak into the life of the monks at the orthodox monastery in Botiza. Our tour will continue into Ieud to visit yet another UNESCO-protected wooden church. It will be interesting to compare the aged frescoes here to the restored ones we saw on the first day in Desești.
We'll ride through Bogdan Vodă and Dragomirnești into Săcel. We'll visit Mecleș's water mill, used to power a weaving machine to create woollen products and wrap up the day at Mr Burnar's pottery atelier, where we can watch the master at work and maybe even get our hands dirty with clay. No Ghost scenes, please!
We start the day by picking up some supplies: freshly baked bread, local cheese and well-roasted sausages. We'll need these later, as we will picnic along the way again.
We will ride north, towards Vișeu de Sus. A sublime bike ride over the hills and through a valley along the railroad.
We'll switch our vehicles for the day, riding a train instead of our bikes. The narrow-gauge steam train, or Mocăniță as it's colloquially known, used to be the only means to carry down the logs from the mountains. Nowadays, it is one of the more famous sights in Maramureș. Deservedly so. The journey takes us through the splendid Wasser Valley, with the river billowing between towering cliffs.
Before heading back, the train will stop at a riverside meadow where we will have the chance to serve a barbecue lunch.
In the afternoon, we will transfer to Săpânța, home to the famous Merry Cemetery.
Our time in Maramureș has come to an end. We hope you enjoyed the unique culture, magnificent landscapes, zesty foods and friendly locals.
You can transfer back to Cluj, where we recommend you spend a day if you haven't done so yet.
