An exceptional guided journey on foot through the wild landscapes of southern Transylvania, taking in timeless Saxon villages, ancient oak and beech forests, vibrant wildflower meadows and the distinct cultural landscape of the Székely region. Having explored the area by bike for over a decade, we're stepping away from the saddle to wander on foot.
- Duration
- 5 nights
- How We Travel
- Walking
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Activity Level
Graded between 1 (easiest) and 5 (most challenging). Click for more details
- Bike Type
- There will be no cycling on this journey.
- Price
- £2,995 per person
- Group Size
- Maximum 12
Journey Highlights
- Discover the charming architecture, and contrasting histories of two of Romania's most beautiful regions.
- Visit lovingly restored churches, mansions and village houses, and meet those keeping local crafts and traditions alive.
- Walk through magical forests and meadows, disappeared from much of Europe, but very much alive in Transylvania.
- Experience farm to table cuisine in local homes or at magical picnic tables. Always accompanied by carefully chosen Romanian wines and homemade spirits.
- Stay at King Charles III's guesthouse at Zălanpatak, hidden deep in the Székely hills, and walk the same rich meadows and forests that first drew the King to the region.
Good to Know
- We partner with small family-run guest houses and rooms are not identical. We do our very best to make room allocations fair throughout your stay.
- We walk for no more than 6 hours a day. There will always be a support vehicle on hand to offer the option to shorten sections. Routes may change depending on weather.
Welcome to The Slow Cyclist
Here is an opportunity to leave your bikes at home and travel with us on foot as we explore two of Transylvania's most charming regions. Our journey begins in the Saxon villages of southern Transylvania, home to a magnificent, unspoilt land dotted with imposing medieval castles, fortress-churches and crumbling ruins. After a few days we leave the Saxons for Szeklerland, an ethnic Hungarian enclave an hour or so down the road towards Bucharest. Traditions are perhaps better preserved in Szeklerland than in any other part of Romania and we will have the chance to witness a centuries-old way of life that unfolds amid the most beautiful remote forests and pastures. The village of Zalanpatak, and specifcally King Charles III's country estate, is our home for these few days. I do hope if you choose to join us that you have a wonderful time.
Oli BroomFounder, The Slow Cyclist
The Journey
The Saxon and Székely villages of southern Transylvania are set in a bucolic landscape in the foothills of the central Romania's Carpathian Mountains. Led by our passionate and thoughtful team of two local guides and a host, we will travel through a land that has been called an 'outpost of medieval Europe', staying in beautifully restored guest houses, eating at some of the best private tables in Romania, enjoying table picnics in remote forests and walking along quiet tracks, trails and meadows. This is an opportunity to step back in time and move at your own pace through a unique land of fascinating cultural traditions and staggering natural beauty.
Is It For Me?
Our journeys are built around friendship, exceptional hospitality and the great outdoors. Slow Cyclists are curious by nature, approaching time on foot as an opportunity to explore rather than to test fitness. That’s not to say we don’t enjoy a good day’s walking, just that we are often distracted by the food, history and people that make a place special. When we see something interesting, we tend to stop and take it in rather than hurry past. If this sounds like you, we’re pretty sure you’ll love your time exploring Transylvania with us.
When to Go?
Each season has its charm. In April and early May the forests burst into life. Around mid-May, depending on the harshness of the winter, the celebrated wildflower meadows emerge, lasting for all of June and often into July. Throughout September and October there is less rainfall than in the spring and the quality of the light gets better and better as the forests explode into oranges and reds with abundant orchards bearing ripened fruit that local people use to make palinka, wine and all manner of cakes. The climate is temperate, with daytime temperatures in April, May, June, July, September and October typically between 18 to 30°C.
The Walking
This journey is taken entirely on foot, following a wonderful mix of quiet country lanes, farm tracks, meadows and narrow forest paths. Walking days typically include routes of varying length, with shorter and longer options depending on the day the landscape and energy levels. The terrain is non-technical, but Transylvania is hilly and there are occasional steep sections, both up and downhill, so a moderate level of fitness is required. Most walks last between one and six hours, taking us through a rich mix of pastoral farmland and wild, wooded landscapes. A support vehicle is on hand throughout the trip, and most walks can be shortened if required. This journey is suitable for most people who enjoy regular walking and spending full days outdoors.
Food & Drink
While Romania may not be known for world-famous cuisine, you’ll be surprised by the depth of flavour and authenticity in the traditional meals prepared by our friends. Their methods are traditional, their produce is fresh and, although they would never call it so, the very definition of organic. Sometimes we will eat out in the open (always at a table) and at other times in private homes, traditional kitchens and small guest houses. Romanian wines are underrated and you will taste carefully chosen labels during your stay. You will also be served plenty of homemade wine, plum and pear brandies. During the day we provide local fruit and snacks. Allergies and other preferences are noted at the time of booking.
King Charles III's House
On this journey, we will stay in King Charles III's house, nestled in the meadows and hills of the Zalán Valley. The king's ancestral connections to the area date back to the 15th century, but he fell in love with the region when he first visited in the 90s, returning each year to walk through its timeless landscape. He owns several properties in the area, including the house we will call home for two nights. The buildings have been lovingly restored to into a Romanian home furnished with traditional textiles and antiques. Its setting, among rolling foothills and meadows bursting with wildflowers, quickly reminds us why King Charles considers this his home away from home.
Itinerary
Day 1 - Wednesday 3 June - Arrival
Transfer 2.5 hours
A member of the team will meet you at the airport and drive you to Copșa Mare, a tiny village in the heart of Saxon Transylvania. There we will stay in a beautifully restored series of houses throughout the village. In the main house, a traditional dinner will be prepared for us by our friend Giovanna, the owner.
Day 2 - Thursday 4 June - Copșa Mare to Richiș Loop
Walking 22 kms, 6 hours
Today we set off on a superb circular walk through some of the loveliest countryside in the region. Our route leads us through open pasture and woodland to the UNESCO-listed fortified church of Biertan, where we pause for a coffee in the village square. From here we continue to Richiș for lunch in the parish house, before returning towards Copșa Mare. Depending on how we feel, we'll either walk the final stretch back to the village or take a short transfer. Dinner tonight is at Giovanna’s guesthouse.
Day 3 - Friday 5 June - Malancrav and Sighisoara
Walking 21 kms, 6 hours
We walk out of Copșa Mare across rolling farmland and oak forest to the village of Mălâncrav, where we pause for a relaxed lunch in the gardens of the village's manor house. In the afternoon we continue to Criș and transfer to Sighisoara’s celebrated citadel, the alleged birthplace of Vlad the Impaler. Supper is close to the citadel and we will stay at an elegantly restored Gothic townhouse.
Day 4 - Saturday 6 June - Sighișoara to Zălanpatak
Walking 11 kms, 3 hours - Transfer 1.5 hours
After a gentle morning walk in Sighișoara, we transfer into the Székely homeland. Lunch will be prepared by our friend Atilla in his garden. In the afternoon we take a beautiful walk into the secluded valley where the King’s House sits - one of King Charles’s restored retreats in Transylvania. Dinner tonight is a relaxed barbecue.
Day 5 - Sunday 7 June - The King's Walk
Walking 18 kms, 6 hours
Today we explore the forests and wildflower meadows surrounding Zălanpatak on the King’s Walk, a wonderfully tranquil and varied day hike. Lunch will be a picnic in a meadow or woodland clearing. In the late afternoon we return to the King’s House for a traditional chimney-cake workshop, learning how to make a Transylvanian speciality baked over open coals. Supper will be at the King's House.
Day 6 - Monday 8 June - Departure
Transfer 1.5 hours
We enjoy a short morning walk before returning to the King’s House to pack and shower. A farewell lunch rounds off the trip before we transfer to the airport and say our goodbyes.
Extensions
If you would like to extend your time with us, contact us and we'll be happy to help.
Practical Information
Guiding & Support
Our attention to detail sets us apart. You will be accompanied by a member of The Slow Cyclist team from the UK who will act as your host. In addition, you will be looked after by two of our local guides throughout. We've developed a fantastic line-up in Transylvania over the years, each guide a local, fluent in English and with skills and interests ranging from European history to anthropology. We’re sure you will become firm friends by the time you leave. Finally, your bags will be driven ahead each day and a support vehicle will be on hand (although never too close) in case you need a lift.
Accommodation
We avoid big, soulless hotels, preferring intimate guest houses and homes that offer charm, comfort and a beautiful location. Most will be exclusively ours, but in one or two there may be other guests. To help you get a good night's sleep we provide luxury pillows in addition to those provided by the guest houses. Rooms are en-suite where possible and although hot water and water pressure is generally reliable, we are occasionally let down (these are medieval properties, and tourism is still in its infancy). Wi-Fi or a good 4G or 5G connection is available each night. If accommodation is listed in this itinerary it is as a guide; where required any substitutes will be of similar quality. Lodging is based on twin or double sharing although a single supplement is available.
Packing & Reading
Well in advance of your travels we will send you an online Information Pack including various details you need to know in advance. This will include a suggested packing list. You may also wish to start reading about Transylvania and Romania. While the country has a notable and rich literary tradition stretching back centuries, we have chosen this selection of books as providing a varied insight into Romania before, during and after communism. It is a list that includes Romanian, Hungarian and foreign authors. Should you wish to buy any, we recommend buying from Daunt Books.
We partner with Trust My Travel so that, in accordance with travel industry regulations, your funds are 100% protected.
Pricing & Booking
Price
£2,995 per person
Extras |
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|---|---|
| Single occupancy supplement | £425 |
We are often told how nice it is that almost everything is paid for up front. So, while you are with us you can forget about your wallet, relax and enjoy yourselves. Included are:
- Group airport transfers (1 x arrival, 1 x departure)
- Support vehicle and luggage transfers
- TSC host & 2 x English-speaking local guides
- All accommodation, meals, snacks & drinks
- All activities
- 100% financial security
- Donation to local cause/s that is aligned with our values
- Flights
- Personal costs
- Tips (optional, of course)
- Travel insurance
- Visas (if required)
For private groups a 30% non-refundable deposit is required from the group leader and, thereafter, from each member of the party. A minimum of 50% of the party are required to book and pay their deposit within one month of the group leader. The balance is due 10 weeks before the departure date.
If you are travelling on one of our Scheduled Journeys, we require a 30% non-refundable deposit on the core trip price (i.e. not on any extras) at the time of booking. The balance is due 10 weeks before the departure date.
Please make sure you are familiar with our Standard Terms & Conditions before booking.
You will receive two emails shortly after booking. First, a payment receipt, then a second email explaining next steps. Within two working days you will then be contacted by a member of our Guest Services team who will look after and advise you in the lead up to your travels.
We partner with Trust My Travel so that, in accordance with travel industry regulations, your funds are 100% protected.
Flights
You are responsible for booking your own flights. They are not included in the cost of the trip. We usually recommend arriving into Cluj Napoca on a Wizz Air flight from London Luton, although sometimes we are able to recommend flights into and/or out of Sibiu or Targu Mures, which are closer. We will let you know when the flight schedule is released. If you would like help researching and booking your flights we recommend contacting Liz Rees, who helps many of our guests with their supplementary transport requirements. Please let her know your departure dates and preferred airport.
Transfers
We will provide one transfer for the group on arrival and another on departure. If you require alternative transport options because you are arriving or leaving earlier or later please contact our team on +44 1865 587 994 and we can arrange this for you at an additional cost. If you're interested in planning an onward journey, we recommend contacting Liz Rees who can help with flight and train arrangements.
Protect the Planet
We are thrilled that increasing numbers of our guests are choosing to travel to Transylvania by train, often for environmental reasons. We understand that this may not be practical, but urge you to consider doing so if you can make it work. The most popular route is London - Brussels - Frankfurt - Vienna - Budapest - Blaj - Cluj Napoca - Sighisoara, but there are others and bahn.com is the best place to begin your research. Alternatively Liz Rees can organise your journey for you.
Transylvania formed the eastern-most reaches of the Austro-Hungarian Empire until 1918, when it became part of modern Romania. It may be famous as the home of Bram Stoker’s Dracula, but we suggest leaving any fanged preconceptions at home. This walking journey leads through both the Saxon and Székely regions, revealing some of Europe’s most beguiling and wild landscapes. The Saxon villages of Țarnava Mare (many of which you will visit) were settled by German colonists from the 12th century, invited by King Géza II of Hungary to help defend the frontier. They fortified their towns and, in smaller settlements, their churches. Up to a quarter of a million Saxons lived here for over 800 years, preserving their language and traditions, though numbers declined sharply after the Second World War and under Ceausescu. Today, around 35,000 remain, still speaking a distinct German dialect and maintaining many of their ancestral customs. To the east lies the Székely region, a historic Hungarian-speaking community with equally deep roots. Traditionally guardians of the eastern border of the medieval Kingdom of Hungary, the Székelys developed a rich cultural identity, expressed in carved wooden gates, painted furniture, distinctive churches and a long pastoral tradition. Their villages and landscapes lend this part of Transylvania a character all of its own. Across both regions, ancestral Saxon and Székely villages are now shared with Romanian, Hungarian and Roma neighbours who are breathing new life into old houses, fields and vineyards. The result is a vibrant fusion of cultures—an area of architectural, cultural and natural riches, where traditions endure, food and family are celebrated, and visitors are welcomed with genuine warmth.
Unique Experiences
Travel is so often commoditised and unimaginative. We are the antidote, taking time to create beautifully crafted, one-of-a-kind experiences to places that excite us.
Community & Connection
We cherish personal relationships and friendships and seek to strengthen cross-cultural bonds, respecting and supporting those who enter our orbit. All must feel our impact is positive.
Dedication to Excellence
We design experiences with passion, flair and innovation. We seek continual improvement, to offer the best experience possible.
Care for the Planet
We travel with a light footprint and we seek ways to protect and celebrate Earth’s biodiversity and ecosystems.
Charitable Giving
Each year, we donate 1% of our revenue to a variety of causes across our destinations and in the UK, each aligning with our values.
Where It All Began...
It all began with a 28,000km cycle to Australia. Founder Oli Broom fell in love with watching the world roll by under his wheels and wanted to share that joy with others. Read more.