Our trips

Cycle the Apuseni Heartland

“La belle vie” spills over on this Apuseni Mountains bike tour. The textured landscape of the karstic plateaus of Zece Hotare or Runcuri capture a diversity and charisma that eludes description. Biking in this area is about discovering the slower pace of life, from savouring each flavour you create at our special barbecue evening to chatting with the locals as you bike through the villages. Pedal through quaint villages and picturesque valleys, explore mysterious caves and old traditions, relax in authentic guesthouses and relish delicious local cuisine. This biking trip offers the opportunity to indulge in all things at the perfect pace in the perfect place.

Overview

TRIP’S HIGHLIGHTS:

discover by bike wide karst plateaus, hamlets scattered over the hills and wide forests
explore the history of the area, and get a glimpse of the local traditions such as: woodwork, lime making, hay cutting and forestry
discover ancient caves, once the shelter of prehistoric man
meet local people who still work the land by hand and listen to their tales

TRIP DETAILS:

Start/end: Oradea or Cluj-Napoca (options to pick you up/drop you at Timisoara or Budapest airports are available too).
Trip length: 8 days/7 nights.
Activity level: moderate
Group size : min 2 - max.14
Price: 1030 euros/person

Availability for 2018:

24 Mar. 2018
14 Apr. 2018
28 Apr. 2018
12 May 2018
26 May 2018
09 Jun. 2018
23 Jun. 2018
07 Jul. 2018
21 Jul. 2018
04 Aug. 2018
18 Aug. 2018
01 Sep. 2018
15 Sep. 2018
29 Sep. 2018
13 Oct. 2018

Beyond biking: local cuisine, cave visits, traditional way of life

Trip Option: customize your trip

Itinerary

Day 1 & 2 | Rosia village

Enjoy a dinner by the campfire, with mainly organic products and relax in an old wooden house. Explore by bike Rosia village: Albioara gorges, a horn violin workshop, a 200 years old water mill.

Day 3 & 4 |Vida Valley & Cutilor Gorges

Cycle towards Vida Valley, with its 10 km long gorges that shelters several caves and rocky cliffs. Explore by bike Cutilor Gorges, an iconic valley with many caves and rocky cliffs.

Day 5 & 6 | Zece Hotare karst plateau & Meziad cave

Discover Zece Hotare karst plateau, punctured by many sinkholes and caves, and animated by the presence of 10 hamlets. Pedal through the Remetea village and discover its 800 years old church, the local museum and the mixture of Romanian and Hungarian cuisine. Bike to Meziad cave, shelter for large colonies of bats and home of Homo sapiens in the past.

Day 7 & 8 | Dragoteni village & Departure

Take your bikes and explore Dragoteni village, where old crafts are still practiced. Visit an old wooden church and discover its history.

Day 1 & 2 | Rosia village
Enjoy a dinner by the campfire, with mainly organic products and relax in an old wooden house. Explore by bike Rosia village: Albioara gorges, a horn violin workshop, a 200 years old water mill.

Day 3 & 4 |Vida Valley & Cutilor Gorges
Cycle towards Vida Valley, with its 10 km long gorges that shelters several caves and rocky cliffs. Explore by bike Cutilor Gorges, an iconic valley with many caves and rocky cliffs.

Day 5 & 6 | Zece Hotare karst plateau & Meziad cave
Discover Zece Hotare karst plateau, punctured by many sinkholes and caves, and animated by the presence of 10 hamlets. Pedal through the Remetea village and discover its 800 years old church, the local museum and the mixture of Romanian and Hungarian cuisine. Bike to Meziad cave, shelter for large colonies of bats and home of Homo sapiens in the past.

Day 7 & 8 | Dragoteni village & Departure
Take your bikes and explore Dragoteni village, where old crafts are still practiced. Visit an old wooden church and discover its history.

Dates & pricing

Trip: Cycle the Apuseni Heartland

Availability for 2017:

24 Mar. 2018
14 Apr. 2018
28 Apr. 2018
12 May 2018
26 May 2018
09 Jun. 2018
23 Jun. 2018
07 Jul. 2018
21 Jul. 2018
04 Aug. 2018
18 Aug. 2018
01 Sep. 2018
15 Sep. 2018
29 Sep. 2018
13 Oct. 2018

Price: 1030 euros/person

Group size : min 2 - max.14

Other Options
Don’t see a date that fits your schedule? Have a group of friends and the willing to make this trip a custom one? Contact us, let us know your ideas and wishes and we’ll come back to you with a confirmation.

Included & notes

The price includes:

transfers from airport to Apuseni Mountains and back,
7 nights accommodation in double rooms with ensuite bathrooms in local guesthouses rated at 3 daisies,
3 meals per day, starting with dinner in the first day and ending with lunch (packed lunch) in the last day,
cave entrance fees,
guiding and all the expenses related with guide,
mountain bike rentals (you should also have your personal bike equipments such as: biking clothes, helmet, pack, gloves and goggles).
craft demonstration fees.
the knowledge, support, and camaraderie of experienced guides

The price does not include: personal drinks and refreshments, insurance, souvenirs and personal items purchased during the trip, lodging before and after the trip, gratuities for Apuseni Experience guides, other personal costs.

Note: We are always open to our customer’s demands and needs. Therefore, the itinerary described above can be adjusted accordingly in what regards the period and the activities included. Please contact us for more details.

Accommodation

Accommodation:

The Traditional Casa Complex | Runcuri | Padurea Craiului Mountains

Situated in the heart of Runcuri karst plateau, in Runcuri village, a picturesque village perched on a hill, one of the most desired locations, Traditional Casa offers you calm, freshness and relaxation, in a rustic location, enriched by a magnificent view over the west side of Apuseni Mountains.

This complex is the dream come true of a man fond speleology, who wanted to give travelers the opportunity to return to a picturesque and rustic but comfortable, way of living, close to the heart of the nature.

Turul guesthouse | Remetea| Padurea Craiului Mountains

Priding itself with its old traditions and excellent hospitality; the Turul Guesthouse is a treat to stay in. Located in the center of Remetea village (still, far of the crowds), the guesthouse offers a charming ambience with great attention to detail and comfort. Enjoy the silence on the back of a large courtyard with fruit-trees and flowers, pick some vegetables from the garden, lay down on the green grass and sip from a cup of herbal tea. When comes to food, Teri cooks absolutely fantastic while Istvan, her husband will always be glad to share their experience in developing, through the years, this rustic, peaceful holiday resort. Rooms are comfortable, with en suite bathrooms and two, three of four beds. There are also several “wooden houses” (bungalows) with single and double beds and en suite bathrooms. The large terrace with a traditional bread baking oven (the bread you will have on your table is made right here, by the hosts) is always preferred for enjoying the delicious traditional meals cooked mainly from organic ingredients.

The Traditional Casa Complex | Runcuri | Padurea Craiului Mountains
Situated in the heart of Runcuri karst plateau, in Runcuri village, a picturesque village perched on a hill, one of the most desired locations, Traditional Casa offers you calm, freshness and relaxation, in a rustic location, enriched by a magnificent view over the west side of Apuseni Mountains.This complex is the dream come true of a man fond speleology, who wanted to give travelers the opportunity to return to a picturesque and rustic but comfortable, way of living, close to the heart of the nature.

Turul guesthouse | Remetea| Padurea Craiului Mountains
Priding itself with its old traditions and excellent hospitality; the Turul Guesthouse is a treat to stay in. Located in the center of Remetea village (still, far of the crowds), the guesthouse offers a charming ambience with great attention to detail and comfort. Enjoy the silence on the back of a large courtyard with fruit-trees and flowers, pick some vegetables from the garden, lay down on the green grass and sip from a cup of herbal tea. When comes to food, Teri cooks absolutely fantastic while Istvan, her husband will always be glad to share their experience in developing, through the years, this rustic, peaceful holiday resort. Rooms are comfortable, with en suite bathrooms and two, three of four beds. There are also several “wooden houses” (bungalows) with single and double beds and en suite bathrooms. The large terrace with a traditional bread baking oven (the bread you will have on your table is made right here, by the hosts) is always preferred for enjoying the delicious traditional meals cooked mainly from organic ingredients.

Testimonials

“We had a fantastic week of biking, with many peaceful routes, great scenery and outstanding local people. The accommodation and the food were out of the ordinary and we’ll forever remember the evenings by the campfire, with stories and great sunsets”. Mark, 43, France.

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