Cycling in Tusnad Region

Traveling from Brasov to Miercurea Ciuc, along the Olt river, you will enter the “mineral water land”, a place where you find “probably the best water in the world”. Between two mountains massive with old woods – Baraolt and Ciuc – you pass places naming mineral water well known brands: Zizin, Bodoc, Tusnad, Sancraieni, Ozun, Malnas, Covasna, Harghita.
As you leave Brasov city towards Miercurea Ciuc, you pass the beautiful Sfantu Gheorge city; here, the Olt valley is becoming less spacious, the mountains are approaching, the villages are replacing cities, the woods are coming closer to the road. Finally, Baraolt and Ciuc mountains are meeting in a single point, the same where our car route ends: Tusnad Bai resort.
A salt lake, a volcano lake (the unique in Romania), sulfa caves, natural springs and cascades, old fortresses, kurtoskalad, forest roads, goulash, forest path: all of these are common in the Tusnad Bai area. But you need to travel a bit to find all of them.
We know the routes to each of them, and we prepared a two days cycling program to help you discover them.

OVERVIEW

• 90 Km by bike from Tusnad Bai to St. Ana Lake and Balvanyos
• 15 hours of cycling
• Full board and accommodation
• Support, guiding and assistance
• Bike rental and transport

HIGHLIGHTS

• Bixad – Mohos, ~500m climbing
• St. Ana Lake and St. Ana natural park
• Mohos plateau
• The mineral water cascade in Tusnad Bai
• Apor Tower, to be visited by bike or by hiking • Telega and Harmanu Mare peaks
• Balvanyos resort
• Balvanyos fortress
• “Puturosu” cave
• Ciucas Lake

TOUR DETAILS

Duration: 2 days cycling tour, from Friday to Sunday
Schedule: 28-30 March, 6-8 June, 5-7 September, 26-28 September 2014
Distance: around 90 km by bike, to be decided by each participant
Difficulty: moderate to challenging
Elevation: 1200 m in total
Terrain: The tour includes national, local, village and forestry roads.
Accommodation: accommodation is 3 star hotel and pensions in Tusnad area
Group size: • The program requires a minimum of 5 people and a maximum of 15 participants;
• one guide will be provided for a group of up to 8 persons and 2 guides for more than 8 participants;
Price: from 238 or 325 EUR, plus 45 EUR (bike rental) and 40 EUR (single supplement)

DAY-BY-DAY ITINERARY

Day 1: to St. Ana Lake
Leaving Tusnad Bai towards Sfantu Gheorge on DN12, we reach Bixad after 12 km. From Bixad we are going to St. Ana Lake on the local road. The route to St. Ana Lake is a 10 km climbing ashpalt road, up to the Mohos plateau.
St. Ana Lake is the unique volcano lake in Romania, where we can stop for lunch, a photo session and even a bath, if the weather affords.Back to Tusnad Bai, we will follow a 7 km forest path.

Sights on the way:
- Bixad – Mohos, ~500m climbing
- St. Ana Lake and St. Ana natural park
- Mohos plateau
- The mineral water cascade in Tusnad Bai
- Apor Tower, to be visited by bike or by hiking

Day 2: to Balvanyos and around Tusnad Bai
From Tusnad Bai we are following the forestry road to Harmanu Mare peak and then toward Balvanyos. After ~7 km we are following the path to Tusnadul Nou, then heading North to Lazaresti village. From Lazaresti we are climbing again to Telega peak, heading south. From Telega, we are following the road to St. Ana Lake until we will meet the Bixad – Mohos road (already made one day before).
We will visit Balvanyos resort (7 km forestry road) and the different sights in the area: Balvanyos fortress and “Puturosu” cave.
From Balvanyos we can go directly to Tusnad Bai on the asphalt road or we can climb again to St. Ana Lake and go down on the forest path, similar with the first day.

Sights:
- Telega and Harmanu Mare peaks
- Balvanyos resort
- Balvanyos fortress
- “Puturosu” cave
- Ciucas Lake

WHAT IS INCLUDED

• two nights accommodation
• Full board for all period - Breakfasts, Dinners and Picnic Lunches
• All tickets to sights included in the itinerary
• Luggage transportation
• Vehicle Assistance (whenever roads allow it to pass)
• Bike transport (on request)
• Energizers & refreshment drinks
• Trip plan, GPS
• Branded T-shirts
• Souvenirs
• English/ French/ German speaking accompanying bike guide

NOT INCLUDED

• Alcoholic drinks
• Transfer cost from Bucharest to Tusnad and back to Bucharest
• Individual travel Insurance or insurance waiver form (compulsory in order to be accepted for the tour, for foreign tourists)
• All the other conditions are presented in the “Terms and conditions” document