Mountainbiking
Romania is slowly but steadily finding its identity as a mountain biking destination. More and more specialized equipment is on sale in the local mtb shops, local cycling communities are constantly growing, each new year more mountain biking marathons are organized than the year before. More and more bikes are taken on car roof top carriers towards the mountains during weekend days. In the big cities the bikes are more and more used a simpler, more effective and healthier way to bypass the traffic jams.
Things are rolling on the right direction, and the potential is spectacular. Romaina is mostly hills and mountains with plenty of dirt roads, mountain treks, trails that go through amazing forests and pastures all the way up to two thousands meters. The climate is mild, with long and warm autumns that provide good cycling conditions till November.
Still, things are far from perfect. There isn’t a network of “official” mountain biking tracks with proper signaling as in the Alps. No printed mountain biking guides or maps about Romania are available for the self organized tourists. Local roads are usually crowded with traffic because there isn’t a network of motorways or express roads, and the local drivers attitude towards cyclers isn’t as friendly as we would all like it to be.
By combining Iulian Cozma’s more than ten years of experience in dealing with groups of tourist from all over the world with our extensive knowledge of mountain biking roads and trails in the central part of Romania, we can provide you all the ingredients for an unforgettable mountain biking vacation: smooth dirt roads or tricky single trails through majestic forests; mountain trails with breathtaking views over the Carpathians; opportunities to meet the unspoiled way of life that a lot of the locals still enjoy, with home grown vegetables and home made fresh milk, with horse drawn carts and the mowing of the hay still done with the help of a scythe.
We organize mostly cross country tours: both climbing and downhills with various degrees of difficulty. From 4-500 meters level difference to over two thousands meter difference. Three-four hours rides or full day marathons. We mainly address the mountain bikers who bring their own equipment (there is no better saddle as your own), but in specific cases we can provide bikes. From single day to full week programs we offer organized tours in the mountains around Brasov (Bucegi, Piatra Craiului, Postavaru, Piatra Mare) and Sibiu (Paltinis – Cindrel, Marginimea Sibiului). Special programs covering other areas of Romania can be arranged also.
We are looking forward to see you (and your bike) here!
Here is a short video (3 minutes) made by our partners at www.mtbtours.ro that might give you a taste of what mountain-biking in Romania could be like:
Route 1: Prahova Valley, Bucegi Mountains – Six days of mountain-biking in the Prahova Valley area, reaching the Baiului ridge and the upper section of the Bucegi Mountains, all the way up to Omu peak, at 2500 meters. Great views over the East rocky face of Bucegi. Lodging in pensions and mountain chalet. One rest day includes visits to Peles Castle in Sinaia and Bran Castle.
Day 1: Arrival at airport, bus transfer to Predeal
Day 2: Warming up route around Predeal: Azuga – Cioplea – Predeal: dirt road, optional single trail sections
Day 3: A closer look to Bucegi: Diham, Poiana Izvoarelor area, descent to Râşnov: dirt road and single trail, short steep climbing and downhills, short push bike sectors
Day 4: Route in Baiului, breathtaking views over Bucegi: some dirt road, long single trail; long uphill & downhill sections
Day 5: Rest day, visits to Peleş Castle in Sinaia, Bran Castle
Day 6: Climbing on top of Bucegi Mountains, Omu Peak: dirt road for most of the route, rocky single trail in the last part. Almost exclusively uphill
Day 7: Downhill westwards from Bucegi Mountains to the village of Şimon: long, rocky single trail downhill route, forest in the second part, dirt road at the end
Day 8: Transfer to airport
Details:
- best time: July to October
- medium to high level or effort, medium to high biking skills
- accommodation in pensions and mountain chalets
- a licensed mountain guide for every 8 persons in the group
- price may vary depending on the specifics of each group; please contact us for a personalized offer
- mtb equipment rental upon requests
Route 2: Bucegi Mountains and Piatra Craiului Mountains – This route includes Baiului ridge – with its gorgeous view over Bucegi – the Bugeci Mountains and the Piatra Craiului area. We’ll reach the Omu Peak in Bucegi, at 2500 meters and we’ll cycle across gorgeous landscapes with breath taking views over the rocky limestone main ridge of the Piatra Craiului Mountains. One rest day includes visits to Peles Castle in Sinaia and Bran Castle.
Day 1: Arrival at airport, bus transfer to Predeal
Day 2: A closer look to Bucegi: Diham, Poiana Izvoarelor area, descent to Râşnov: dirt road and single-trail, short steep climbing and downhills, short push bike sectors
Day 3: Route in Baiului, breathtaking views over Bucegi: some dirt road, long single trail; long uphill & downhill sections
Day 4: Cablecar from Buşteni to Babele, to Omu Peak, downhill to Şimon: rocky single trail uphill and downhill sections, forest single trail in the second part and dirt road near Şimon
Day 5: Rest day, visits to Peleş Castle in Sinaia, Bran Castle
Day 6: From Şimon to Peştera Village, across Zarnesti gorges: easy, scenic dirt road through pastures, forests and gorges, single trail sections at the end
Day 7: Beneath Piatra Craiului, through scenic rural areas: uphill and downhill on dirt roads through villages, forests and gorges, tarmac road climbing and downhill section at the end
Day 8: Transfer to airport
Details:
- best time: July to October.
- medium to high level or effort, medium to high biking skills
- accommodation in pensions and mountain chalets
- a licensed mountain guide for every 5 persons in the group.
- price may vary depending on the specifics of each group; please contact us for a personalized offer
- mtb equipment rental upon requests
Route 3: Cindrel Mountains – Near the city of Sibiu (European Capital of Culture in 2007) we designed this six days cycling fiesta with trails through the woods of Magura Cisnadiei, across some old and picturesque mountain villages and up to the Paltinis mountain resort and the Cindrel Mountains, above 2000 meters altitude. One day is reserved for visiting Sibiu and the amazing Village Museum in the Dumbrava Forest.
Day 1: Arrival in Sibiu Airport
Day 2: Dumbrava Forest, Răşinar villagei, back to Sibiu along Măgura Cisnădiei: forest single trail, dirt road and tarmac road at the end
Day 3: Through the woods of Măgura Cisnădiei: Forrest single-trail steep climbing and tough downhill
Day 4: To Păltiniş through Răşinari village, back to Sibiu: tarmac road for warming up followed by dirt road uphill section, singletrail through forests and pastures downhill, dirt road and tarmac at the end
Day 5: Rest day, visits in Sibiu and around (Village Museum)
Day 6: To Păltiniş through Gura Raului, up to Cindrel peak and down to Sibiel: long dirt and rocky road uphill, single-trail uphill and downhill, push bike sections, long dirt road section at the end
Day 7: Sălişte, Crinţ, back to Sibiel via Fântânele Chalet: dirt road and singletrail uphill through scenic views over mountain pastures, forest single-trail downhill section, dirt road at the end
Day 8: Transfer to airport
Details:
- best time: June to November
- medium to high level or effort, medium to high biking skills
- accommodation in pensions and mountain chalets
- a licensed mountain guide for every 5 persons in the group
- price may vary depending on the specifics of each group; please contact us for a personalized offer
- mtb equipment rental upon requests
Any other tours available on request, so feel free to contact us for more options!
