Grand Tour of Transylvania Join us for this exhilarating, one-of-a-kind exploration of Romania Join us in Dracula s home as we unveil our Transylvania discovery tour, where you will experience 9 (or 10, with the extension) thrilling days on the bike, including a delightful mix of culinary and cultural experiences. Transylvania s medieval heritage is one of the most valued in Romania. Southeastern Transylvania is also one of Europe s most important natural landscapes, supporting rare habitats, fauna and flora. The landscape is a mosaic of oak and beech forests, rich meadows, pastures and tiny villages. We ll glide along pastoral lanscapes inhabited by Szekler, Saxon and Romanian communities at the same time. As we spin through the gorgeous landscapes, we ll be refreshed by the mineral and thermal spring waters and cross the famous Romanian high alpine roads. This trip is sure to be packed full of pleasant surprises. Don t miss out! ITINERARY OUTLINE Trip Essence / Page 3 Daily Itinerary / Page 3-6 Arrival & Departure / Page 7 Bike Information / Page 7 Terms & Conditions / Page 8 Reserve Your Space! / Page 8 Ciclismo Classico 1-800-866-7314 info@ciclismoclassico.com www.ciclismoclassico.com 1
TRIP ESSENCE Authentic and unique inns and manor houses Biertan fortified church, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1993 Sighisoara/Schaessburg the last standing European Middle Age city, also a UNESCO World Heritage site Sibiu/Hermannstadt medieval city known as the cultural capital of Europe Old crafts performed by the locals, cheese and wine tastings experiences (optional) Brasov medieval city and famous tourism resort Astra National Museum Complex WHAT S INCLUDED Carbon bike rental (see page 6 for details) Service of local, professional guides throughout the program TRIP DETAILS 2017 Trip Dates Sep 15 Sep 23 Ability Level Intermediate Summary of Daily Distances Day 1: Arrival Day 2: 31/47 miles Day 3: 50 miles Day 4: 42 miles Day 5: 42 miles Day 6: 55 miles Day 7: 56 miles Day 8: 37 miles Day 9: Goodbye! Total: 313 miles Trip Price $5,695; single supplement $800 2-day extension: $1,895; single suppplement $200 Ciclismo jersey and water bottle All accommodations All breakfasts, all lunches and 6 dinners Cheese tasting at organic farm Wine tasting event (for the extension day) Tickets to cultural and historical sights included in the itinerary Shuttle service from Bucharest to Sibiu and back to Bucharest (or Sibiu, if traveling from there) Ciclismo Classico 1-800-866-7314 info@ciclismoclassico.com www.ciclismoclassico.com 2
DAY 1 SIBIU Hotel - Hilton Sibiu Location: Sibiu Duration: 1 night www3.hilton.com/en/hotels/ romania/hilton-sibiu-sbzhihi/ index.html Hotel - Huet Residence http://www.huet-residence. ro/ Hotel - Levoslav House www.levoslav.ro/ Guests will be arriving at noon in Sibiu for a short introduction with the local guide, welcome package and bike fitting session, accompanied by a light lunch. Arrival can be organized with the private bus from Bucharest or with a short transfer from Sibiu International Airport, provided that clients arrive in Sibiu and not in Bucharest. Dinner will follow in the old city center and a short tour of the old center will be organized for the guests. You ll stay overnight in Sibiu in one of the following beautiful boutique medieval guesthouses or hotels: Hilton Sibiu, Huet Residence, or Levoslav House. DAY 2 SIBIU TO PALTINIS Daily Mileage - 31/47 miles Riding Terrain - rolling; 1,600/3,700 ft. climb Hotel - See Day 1 DAY 3 SIBIU TO SIGHISOARA Daily Mileage - 50 miles rolling; 1,903 ft. climb Hotel - Fronius Residence Location: Sighisoara Duration: 1 night http://fronius-residence.ro/ Hotel - Casa Krauss www.casakrauss.com/ After breakfast, we will have a beautiful ride climbing the Paltinis Resort. This is a superb climb to an old mountain resort which has some challenging parts, but well worth the effort. The return will be an amazing descent until we reach the Astra National Museum Complex in Sibiu, one of the largest open-air museums in Central and Eastern Europe. Here, we can have a great meal and enjoy some historical houses and workshops of the traditional Romanian folk culture from the pre-industrial era. Over 300 houses and other buildings are situated in the forest around two artificial lakes with over six miles of walkways between them. We will later reach our hotel and we will leave you to enjoy the medieval city on your own and have a great dinner on your own. Alternatively, we can have a shorter route in the outskirts of Sibiu (this should be decided before the start of the tour). After breakfast we will leave Sibiu on the north route to Sighisoara, following a secondary scenic route. Along the way, we will stop at the most important heritage sight in Saxon Transylvania: Biertan, the first fortified church included in the UNESCO World Heritage. On the way, we can also make a stop to Bio Mosna organic cheese farm for a cheese tasting. A picnic lunch will be arranged in the forest and prepared by Jonas Schaefer, a local chef famous for his amazing cooking. You will arrive in Sighisoara in the afternoon to have a tour of the beautiful old citadel. Sighisoara is recognized as one of the best preserved medieval towns in Europe and its old citadel is included in the UNESCO World Heritage as one of the last existing medieval cities. You ll stay overnight in Sighisoara in either of these medieval luxury guesthouses: Fronius Residence or Casa Krauss. Ciclismo Classico 1-800-866-7314 info@ciclismoclassico.com www.ciclismoclassico.com 3
DAY 4 SIGHISOARA TO CINCSOR Daily Mileage - 42 miles rolling; 1,575 ft. climb Hotel - Cincsor Transylvania Guesthouses Location: Cincsor www.transilvania-cincsor.ro/ en DAY 5 CINCSOR TO TRANSFAGARASAN Daily Mileage - 42 miles rolling; 5,512 ft. climb Hotel - See Day 4 DAY 6 CINCSOR TO TALISOARA Daily Mileage - 55 miles rolling; 2,067 ft. climb After a nice medieval breakfast, we will hit the road and leave the Saxon heritage to discover the Transylvanian Highlands. We will pass Agnita city and discover a striking destination inspired by the extraordinary landscape and gourmet dinners while surrounded by the beauty of Transylvania county. Located at the foothills of the Carpathian Mountains in the center of the Brasov-Sibiu-Sighisoara triangle, the Cincsor Guesthouses offer authenticity, relaxation, nature and culture. Built in 1910 in the Art Nouveau Style and restored in 2014, the former Protestant Saxon School now turned into a guesthouse offers the perfect getaway for relaxation. You ll stay overnight there. Today, we will be rewarded with the amazing views of Transfagarasan, the world s best alpine road according to Top Gear magazine. You will start with a gentle warm-up ride for about 22 miles before starting the awaited Transfagarasan ~15 mile-climb, up to 6,562-feet altitude at Balea Lake. We will have a short stop at Balea Lake to admire the view and have a fast, healthy lunch. From there, the van awaits you or you may decide to enjoy the descent again to Cartisoara to finally reach the village of Cincsor for a leisurely dinner. We will continue our trip today in Transylvania with a beautiful ride in the Hungarian-inhabited area to reach the old restored mansion, Daniel Castle. You ll stay overnight in this beautiful building, which was recently brought back to life and enchants the visitors with its Renaissance-style atmosphere. We will propose for you a short visit at the local blacksmith and stop at the famous Rupea fortress. Hotel - Daniel Castle Location: Talisoara www.danielcastle.ro/ Ciclismo Classico 1-800-866-7314 info@ciclismoclassico.com www.ciclismoclassico.com 4
DAY 7 TALISOARA TO HADAR CHALET Daily Mileage - 56 miles rolling; 2,887 ft. climb Hotel - Hadar Chalet Location: Gura Siriului www.hadarchalet.ro/en/ DAY 8 CRASNA TO BRASOV Daily Mileage - 37 miles rolling; 1,083 ft. climb Hotel - Kronwell Hotel Location: Brasov www.kronwell.com Hotel - Bella Muzica www.bellamuzica.ro/en/ Our route today takes us through the beautiful Carpathian region. We ll see a series of traditional Transylvanian small villages along a beautiful valley at the foothills of Baraolt and Bodoc mountains to reach a hidden green area located at the foothill of Buzau Mountains: Hadar Chalet. Your experience at Hadar Chalet starts the second you leave the national road and enter the forest. In 1985, this location was especially chosen for building a hunting lodge for the Communist leader of that time. Set in the Carpathians, this location was perfect due to its population of bears. After the fall of Communism in 1989, the building continued to decay until 1998, when the property was bought by a private investor. In time, Hadar was rebuilt into what you see today and in 2013, the villa was integrated into the touristic circuit as Cabana Hadar Nature Resort. After a refreshing breakfast, we will depart for a pleasant and easy ride to the famous Brasov medieval city and learn about its rich history. We ll also have plenty of time to explore it before enjoying our dinner in the old city center. Brasov/Kronstadt is probably the most visited medieval city in Romania and is part of the 7 Fortified Cities in Transylvania network. The Saxon architecture and the monuments are attracting more and more visitors each year. You ll stay overnight in Brasov in one of the following hotels: Kronwell Hotel, Bella Muzica, Villa Prato, Teleferic Grand Hotel, or Conacul Bratescu in Bran (within the County of Brasov). Hotel - Teleferic Grand Hotel http://telefericgrandhotel.ro/ en DAY 9 GOODBYE! Today, it s time to say goodbye. After a nice breakfast, the shuttle will be ready to take you back to Sibiu or Bucharest aiports for your return trip back home. Alternatively, you may enjoy an additional day in Bucharest and explore the city on your own before leaving Romania. Ciclismo Classico 1-800-866-7314 info@ciclismoclassico.com www.ciclismoclassico.com 5
DAY 9 (Extension) BRASOV TO NOVACI (WITH A TRANSFER TO HOREZU) Daily Mileage - 65/85 miles rolling; 9,514/10,663 ft. climb Hotel - Conacul lui Maldar Location: Horezu www.conaculmaldar.ro/ DAY 10 (Extension) DRAGASANI (WITH A TRANSFER TO BUCHAREST) Today, we are going to have our most challenging climb to Transalpina. From Saliste to Sibiu (~25 miles), the route is almost flat and sometimes crowded, so a car transfer will be available from Sibiu to Saliste/Dobra/Jina, depending on your decision. After a short transfer to the village of Saliste, we will have a moderate climb to Sugag (20 miles). Cyclists will be reaching the peaks of Jina (3,218 feet), Sugag, Tartau (5,623 feet), and Udrele (7,037 feet), followed by a 16-mile descent to Novaci (5,151 feet). You can also start the climb in Dobra area if the climb seems too difficult. Once we arrive in Novaci, we will load the bikes and have a short, 25-mile transfer to a beautiful area passing the pottery center in Horezu and local monasteries. You ll stay overnight in an old, 4-star beautiful manor house (old cula), which was recently renovated and provides the highest level of comfort and a great food experience. It also has an outdoor pool, park, and restaurant. After breakfast around 9 a.m., we will hop on the shuttle for a one-hour transfer to the wine-making area of Dragasani (Avincis Winery). We will enjoy lunch and a visit to the winery and then transfer for another two hours to Bucharest airport (OTP) to catch your next connection. You also have the option of staying an additional day in Bucharest capital city. We will meet in the morning to have a complimentary Bucharest by bike tour in the city before your departure. Ciclismo Classico 1-800-866-7314 info@ciclismoclassico.com www.ciclismoclassico.com 6
ARRIVAL & DEPARTURE GETTING TO SIBIU Arrival can be organized with the private bus from Bucharest airport (OTP) or with a short transfer from Sibiu International Airport (SBZ). DEPARTING FROM SIBIU OR BUCHAREST You ll have a shuttle service to Sibiu International Airport or Bucharest airport. For the extension departure, you will have one-hour transfer to the wine-making area of Dragasani, where you ll enjoy lunch and a visit to Avincis Winery. Afterwards, you ll have a two-hour transfer to Bucharest airport to catch your next connection or spend additional time in the city. For Sibiu International Airport connection information, go to http://www.sibiuairport.ro/flights/destinatii. BIKE INFORMATION Bianchi Via Nirone 7 Bianchi carbon fork, Shimano 105 triple groupset, an adjustable stem, and a wheel set laced with 32 spokes and 25mm tires. Included on all tours. Aluminum Hybrid More relaxed riding at a look-around-you pace, this is our custom-built, highperformance aluminum hybrid bicycles with straight handlebars. We also have a woman-specific frame. Included on all tours. Bianchi Intenso and Vertigo The carbon frame guarantees maximum performance with minimum stress for the riders, thanks to Bianchi s special C2C (Coast to Coast) frame design/ geometry and different material combination. Carbon bikes are equipped with compact crank and 11/32 cassette. Available for $250. Bianchi Intenso or Vertigo with Shimano included on all intermediate and advanced tours at no extra charge. Tandems Cannondale road or hybrid: racing posture with 700c wheels, or a more straight up position and 26 inch wheels. Co-motion Periscope: accommodates smaller team or even children. Available for $400. Honey tandem: light and responsive and perfect for experienced tandem riders. Available for $400. ebikes Available on all easy and athletic beginner tours, some intermediate and advanced tours. Please contact us for more information. Available for $400. Bike type outside of Europe may vary, please contact us at 800-866-7314 for more information. OTHER INFORMATION For Flight Reservations Valerie Wilson Travel Call: 1-855-780-2022 or E-mail: ciclismoair@vwti.com Travel Insurance MH Ross Call: 1-800-423-3632 http://bit.ly/mhross_insurance Transportation Rome2rio http://www.rome2rio.com ON THE BIKE Included Ciclismo Classico water bottle Two water bottle holders Map holder on handlebars (or Garmin Edge GPS) Handlebar bag Tire pump Combination bike lock Gel-padded saddle Choice of pedals Card with your tour leaders mobile phone numbers Garmin Edge GPS Included on all carbon bikes and premium tandems (Comotion and Honey) $30 rental fee for other bikes Pedal Options Flat pedals Half-toe pedals (without straps) Toe cage pedals Things to Bring Helmet Optional: clipless pedals with shoes Optional: your own saddle Ciclismo Classico 1-800-866-7314 info@ciclismoclassico.com www.ciclismoclassico.com 7
INSURANCE, TERMS & CONDITIONS Insurance Ciclismo Classico will not assume responsibility or liability for any loss or damage of personal effects or for any injury or loss during the duration of the tour. Therefore, we highly recommend that you obtain travel insurance. Information on travel insurance will be sent to you via email once trip deposit is received. We recommend MH Ross, but travelers may choose the insurance carrier of their choice. Cancellations and Refunds All requests for refunds must be submitted in writing as soon as possible to Ciclismo Classico. Exceptions to their cancellation policy cannot be made for any reason, including weather or personal emergencies. There is no refund for unexpectedly leaving a trip early or arriving late. The purchase of short-term travel insurance policy is strongly recommended. Cancellation fees are determined as followed: Days before departure Cancellation fee 121+ days - 50% of the deposit* 91-120 days - 100% of the deposit* 61-90 days - 30% of the trip price 31-60 days - 60% of the trip price 31-44 days - 100% of the trip price *You may transfer your trip deposit to another departure in the same tour season up to 90 days before your original departure with payment of a $100 per person transfer fee. Prices quoted are subject to adjustment without prior notification. OR your deposit (currently $600) may be carried forward to the following year as a credit toward the final balance of a tour. At the time of booking, we will ask for another $600 deposit to secure your spot. Carried-forward credits expire at the end of the year to which they are applied. Alterations to the tour itinerary Sometimes modifications may be made to the itinerary. We will notify you of any changes that may affect your arrival, departure or lodging. Any changes to the program are made in the best interest and safety of the group. To review our policies, please visit http://www.ciclismoclassico.com/plan-your-trip/policies/ RESERVE YOUR SPACE! To reserve a space, call Ciclismo Classico at 800-866-7314. Or, mail your deposit and contact information to: Ciclismo Classico attn: Rosa 30 Marathon St Arlington, MA 02474 At the time of registration, a deposit of $600 per person is due, payable by Visa, MasterCard, American Express or check, made payable to Ciclismo Classico, along with your full name, mailing address, phone number(s) and email address. We cannot confirm reservations without a deposit. Final payment is due 90 days before departure payable by check, credit card, wire transfer or money order. All travelers must review and sign a terms and conditions statement and a waiver form. Ciclismo Classico 1-800-866-7314 info@ciclismoclassico.com www.ciclismoclassico.com 8