Cycle Romania

Thoroughly enjoyable 6 days of cycling in great company, final day sightseeing of Bran Castle and Peles. Cycling never difficult, mainly rural farmland scenery and rolling hills. A few uncomfortable dirt,rutted tracks but bikes good enough to cope. Stop off activities all worthwhile apart from Bran Castle - a congested tourist zoo which is best avoided. Peles fabulous, beautiful setting Social evenings with food, drink and great companionship.

This is a super trip if you are up for 'moderate' level cycling, want to visit a new country and are interested in seeing a village lifestyle that may well soon disappear. It is full of small but magical moments - overtaking horses and carts, waves from villagers, passing hi-fives with children and visits to the baker. the blacksmith, the mill, and being shown round a fortified church and a ruined abbey by the local priest. The scenery is great - for the first couple of days we would be cycling alongside snow-capped mountains. That then turns into the lush green hills of Transylvania. The first three days have the longest routes and we were glad that we'd done some hill training before the trip but we coped - although we were usually last we weren't far behind! The routes are well planned and there is less traffic in Transylvania than on our previous cycle trips in western Europe. Some of the dirt roads are being tarmacked and will soon be smoother rides. The dinners in the small hotels / guests houses were very good as were our picnics and snacks during the day. The fortified churches are really interesting and, as a keen photographer, there were plenty of opportunities for good photos along the way. Btw, the bikes were fine!

I have been on a number of Exodus cycling holidays but this was one of the best. The cycling was just right with a number of modest climbs but the countryside is so beautiful and unspoilt with so much to see. Mountains, wild flowers, wildlife, forests, herds of sheep and cattle. Also a lot to learn about the history of Romania which explains the fortified churches, the hilltop citadels, the extraordinary palaces, the legacy of the Soviet era. A brilliant holiday.

This trip gives you the ability to time travel. Starting in modern Bucharest, which has architecture and a street plan that made it worthy of the nickname 'the little Paris', then blighted by a communist period but is now gradually recovering. But the time travel really begins as the cycle tour winds its way on quiet country roads through peaceful villages which have some modern conveniences but otherwise haven't changed much in a hundred years. At times it is hard to get used to the quiet, but then the silence is broken by a chorus of barking dogs in the distance and roosters crowing in the next farmyard. Much history is covered during this week, with daily sessions to explain the progression of the various peoples that have struggled over this strategically useful territory. We visited many Saxon fortified churches from the 14th century.

An amazing adventure into a unspoilt landscape. This well organised trip had so much to offer, the scenery, the welcoming local people, the traditional cuisine and the wildlife.

This was my first trip with Exodus and bike tour - but not my last. And I can only recommend it to anyone: a well organised trip, with great guides (Tudor and Liviu - both are always smiling and relaxed but well prepared). Tudor informed us very well of what is ahead and what to expect and Liviu took care of nice coffee and tea brakes (and nuts, chocolate, bananas etc.) waiting for us always in great mood. With both I would go on any trip as I felt well taken care of. And the group itself was nice too. Though I've seen more impressive landscapes n other journeys it was still unique - all the untouched lovely wild meadows everywhere - and the most impressive pottholes I have ever seen :-) ! With the bike the impression is uncomparable: the rustic land life, horses pulling carts and the little villages with old men and women sitting on benches in front of their houses waving with a cheerfull smile. very friendly people and hosts. Though there was a lot of meat it was not only meat - but don't expect to lose weight as you get a lot to eat, and I liked the Romanian Radler, nearly at every guest house you get free wifi. Don't take too much change - everything is cheap and even with tips I ended up with enough change, but as I will come back no problem. By the way: they have new bikes, so well equipped for the tour. But bring your gel saddle and enough sun screen and some mosquito repellent and your camera for lovely photos. I think the trip was more challenging than expected, less due to some gravel roads but with some climbs (e.g. 4 k) in the hot summer heat without any shade (I would recommend going in May or June).

A brilliant holiday. The tour guide Raluca Teodor was outstanding. She was passionate about her country with all its history which she conveyed simply so that I remember so much. She was also very kind and always aware of our needs. Her co helper Liviu was also extremely helpful and they both made a good team. In Bucharest at the end of the holiday with the BA flight problems Raluca organised a new hotel for us to cater for our extra stay before our flight home via Turkish Airlines. The whole group gelled very well and this will always be an Exodus holiday to remember.

really truly surprising place quiet unspoilt clean friendly , good wi fi , mobile phone and yet really untouched by 2oth centuary cars a variety , and then the fortified churches we all yawn ,but with this trip each and everyone has its own special charm . Good varied acheivable ride in deepest quiet untouched country side

Really good holiday and guides. Superbly organised by Exodus. Bikes were in good condition and the accommodation ranged from rustic to very comfortable. For us, the cycling could have been more challenging and at a quicker pace but the guides did really well to manage the different levels in the group. The main negative point was the hotel in Sighisoara which really let us and Exodus down, and also that we were both sick at different times.

Very good trip. The rides were through a variety of terrain and landscapes. On the first few days there were views of groups of local people working in the fields with only the occasional item of usually soviet era farm machinery to help. There were visits to interesting sights including many fortified churches the like of which we had not seen before. In the context of local overnight stays with which we are very familiar on Exodus trips, those on this trip were all good. The only slight downside for some was the local high fat diet (sausages, salami, fatty pork and pickled cabbage featured prominently ) and hardly any fresh vegetables for nearly all meals. But that was the local diet and was therefore the authentic experience we expected. It was interesting to see the contrast between rural Romania with its horses and carts and modern Bucharest which we explored at the end of the trip. The trip lived up to our expectations of seeing a rural way of life which might have been similar to the UK several hundred years ago.