ROMANIA: TRANSYLVANIAN ADVENTURE – JULY 2023
A 21-day tour to Roamania, along the way taking in France, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Slovakia, Poland & the Czech Republic.
Nick Dawson and Andrew Tofts take us on the adventure.
Romania: Transylvanian Adventure Trip Report July 2023
Day 1
Slightly delayed train from Folkestone, but that doesn’t deter Magellanites from having a good time. Different routes were taken across France; however, we all arrived safely in Chalons-en-Champagne, where we enjoyed a delicious dinner. Tomorrow we cross the Rhine
Day 2
More pictures from a fabulous day across France, into Germany and another great meal at the Gasthaus Auerhahn. It was also someone’s special birthday that was celebtrated with a traditional German cheesecake.
Day 3
We started in Baden Baden and the B500, which used to be quite a racetrack, but is now simply a road with history due to all the speed cameras and limits. However, we have Terry Gove with us and he managed to take some pretty good action photos of everyone riding this morning.
We navigated down to the Austrian border through lovely German chocolate box villages to our overnight stop of Fussen.
Good riding and some very nice roads.
Everyone enjoying the local fayre including some good German 
..
Day 4
With thunderstorms forecast to arrive late afternoon and tomorrow, some decided to ride to Hitler’s Nest today as a slight detour with motorways made this possible whilst the others opted for the Magellan route to our hotel for two nights in Hinterglemm.
Some beautiful riding through the Black Forest and into Austrian Tirol, blue skies, green lush countryside and lovely mountain villages.
We arrived before the rain started with minutes to spare. We also had our second birthday and, as has now become tradition, it was celebrated with a lovely cake!
Day 5
Day off the bikes; most took cable cars and walked around the local hills. Also sampled the hotel swimming pool and relaxing areas, though abstained from the nudist sauna! Heading for Hungary tomorrow.
Day 6
Today we rode from Austria to Hungary, arriving at our fabulous hotel in Veszprem. Some rode through the day without a spot of rain, while others experienced monsoon like conditions!
A wonderful dinner was consumed, washed down with Warsteiner bier
Day 7
After riding through 36 degrees we’re finally in Timisoara, Romania; off to the pool to cool down
Day 8
Our first full day in Romania itself. What an interesting country with a mix of cultures and a complicated history. Plenty of good roads as we travelled through lots of villages being overtaken by plush BMWS and Audis which appear to be immune to any speed limits.
Visited the castle which was repudiated to be the inspiration to Bram Stoker’s Dracula and explored the citadel in Alba Iulia where we are spending the night.
Quite an adventure..
Day 9
The Trans-Alpina pass..
Great roads and scenery in deepest Transilvania…
Day 10
The Transfăgărășan pass – a stunning ride with tree lined valleys going up along with bears on the side of the road then, over the top and what looks like a Scalextric track!
Clarkson said it was the best road in the World and it is certainly up there – an epic day enjoyed by everyone.
Day 11
Day off the bikes in Brasov, Romania – our hotel and scenes from the mountains.
Day 12
We left our hotel in glorious sunshine and visited the impressive Cetatea Rupea Citadel followed by the medieval town of Sighisoara where we stopped for lunch.
Automated warnings were issued by the Romanian authorities via our cell phones advising everyone to stay indoors and not travel however, as we were riding, we missed those and soldiered on.
Everybody arrived safely at our hotel although most of us will be drying out our gear for tomorrow. The only photo taken appears to be of Richard sampling the local meat soup!
Everyone had a good day and was glad to get to the hotel – the bar was busy when I arrived!
Day 13
Some lovely riding today. Superb roads with little traffic until after the afternoon coffee stop and en-route to the city for our hotel.
Beautiful gorge and valley riding followed by a nice pass of 1200m to go over (and 12°C when I got to the top although Steve J saw 10° when he was there!).
All set for a beer and some food …
Day 14
We left Romania and entered Hungary via a new motorway infrastructure which was quite empty to begin with due to the large queue at the border post.
Once through, some lovely roads through forests and over passes which were busy with local bikers.
We all arrived safely in Budapest where we are now based for two nights.
Day 15
The beautiful and stunning architecture and scenery of Budapest; photographs from various members of the group.
Day 16
We rode from Budapest, through Slovakia and into Poland to Krakow where we are now spending two nights.
Our forecast was rain coming in from the south so effectively following us but, due to an early departure, we more or less missed it which was excellent.
Krakow is a cosmopolitan city and along with the old town, I managed to find quite a lively quarter full of restaurants and bars just behind our hotel.
Day 17
A day off to explore Auschwitz, the salt mines or simply relax in hustling, bustling, beautiful Krakow.
Day 19
Romania tour day 19 and we left our hotel, which was in a ski resort in the eastern edge of the Czech Republic, and rode the length of the country and over the border to Germany and our stop for the night.
Some good riding in the mountains and forests and, overall, a great day with lots to see as we traversed the country.
The Czech Republic is full of surprises with its culture, beautiful buildings and great roads.
Day 20
The final evening together involved a farewell dinner at our hotel near Koblenz. Some are leaving before breakfast tomorrow, others following the suggested route, while wide discussions were held as to the most appropriate way to get to Calais. The tour has been amazing (still blown away by those bears), challenging at times and a huge accomplishment for all those who took part. My advice, do this tour before those eastern countries become too commercialised!
We’re sure you will have been inspired by this trip report, so why not ask us about upcoming dates so that you can experience it first hand?