Discover Transylvania's rich Saxon heritage on a scenic bike tour that takes you through picturesque villages and rolling hills, offering a glimpse into the country's fascinating history and culture. The trail begins outside of Sibiu, from where you'll continue to Hoșman, Alma Vii, Biertan, Mălâncrav and Criș, stopping at each location to learn about the area's rich history and marvel at the stunning architecture.
We'll spend a night in Sighișoara, one of Europe's best-preserved medieval citadels and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It's also the starting point of the country's best single-trail bike path, leading us south to our final destination, the charming Saxon village of Viscri. Throughout the tour, you'll have the opportunity to sample delicious local cuisine and interact with friendly locals, all while soaking in the breathtaking beauty of Transylvania's rural landscape. With its mix of history, culture, and stunning scenery, the Saxon Heritage Trail is an unforgettable biking experience.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐— Lynne N.The routes picked were great and our guide, Peter, was terrific. He provided information and history on the various sites and added in visits to some of the local small businesses. The food was very good as well as the lodging selected. Mostly in smaller villages. The scenery is lovely and the bikes functioned well. Would highly recommend this trip.
Price includes: accommodation for 5 nights in traditional 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 Brașov, Sibiu or 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).
We start our trip in Mârșa, 30-minutes away from Sibiu. We chose this village as our starting point, because it has a short 2 kilometre bike path connecting it to Avrig, which gives our participants a chance to get accustomed to your bikes. In Avrig we'll stop by the palace to learn about the Bruckenthal family history.
Leaving the valley of the Olt river behind, we'll head towards Hoșman. Make sure you look back for some imposing views of the Făgăraș mountains. Our day ends in Alma Vii, a quaint Saxon village nestled in an untravelled valley.
The highlight of our day will be in Biertan, a town famous for its 13th-century fortified church, which has been a part of the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1993. A gothic masterpiece with 3 levels of walls forming rings around it, arguably the most beautiful church in Transylvania.
We'll fill up with local delicacies before hitting more challenging gravel roads. From Nou Săsesc, we might choose to cycle around the mountain or pushbike until our home for the night, Mălâncrav.
From Mălâncrav, we'll follow wonderful valleys and quiet back roads to Criș, home to a nicely restored 15th-century renaissance castle. Hidden between the hills, it used to be the residence of the Bethlen family.
From Criș, we'll ride through hills and dense forests, including the Breite Reserve, home to spectacular centuries-old oaks and arrive in Sighișoara, our final destination for the day.
Sighișoara is perhaps the quintessential Saxon town in Transylvania, with a beautifully preserved medieval citadel. It's also the birthplace of Vlad Țepeș, ruler of Wallachia and inspiration for Bram Stoker's Count Dracula. We'll spend the rest of the day wandering the cobblestone streets of the old town, listening to mysterious stories and legends.
In the morning, we'll have some more time to spend in Sighișoara before hitting the country's best single-trail bike path. We'll follow this path south, through seemingly impenetrable forests, until our overnight stop in Criț.
Today we'll continue to follow the same single-path trail for a while more before reaching the final destination of our tour. Viscri is probably the most famous village in Transylvania, thanks to Prince (well, King now) Charles, who owns a house here.
Viscri also has a beautifully preserved fortified church, our final World Heritage List spot. While in the village, we can visit blacksmiths and artisanal shops and see the craftsmen at work.
Our time in Saxon Transylvania has unfortunately come to an end. From Viscri, you can transfer back to Sibiu or Cluj, or you can travel to Brașov, an exciting city to explore. If you need a guide, you know where to look!
