Truck Shuttle to Romania
 

For those who want to travel Romania, Transsylvania, Moldavia, the famous Transfagarasan pass, Dracula's Castle at Bran, or the Black Sea coast, but shunned the long distance to the destination, here's something that could be interesting for you.

A friend of mine operates a little trucking company in Bucharest, Romania.
We're currently considering to organize bike transports to Romania using one of his 3.5to or 7.5to trucks.

Riders would assemble at a gathering point near an airport that provides cheap-ticket flights to Bucharest.
Currently this is planned from Germany: Munich or Cologne/Bonn area; flights to Bucharest on Germanwings.
Other starting points can be arranged (it requires a mininum number of participants to make it economically viable)

Bikes would to onto the truck while riders fly to Bucharest where they spend the evening, sight-seeing the place.
The next day, the truck arrives with the bikes, and riders set off for their tours. Tours including pre-booked accommodations could be organized, but that would not be mandatory; riders could also just go on their own routes.
That guy rides in Romania since many years and knows routes and places that you probably just would not find without him...

The trucking company could also provide breakdown pickup service (if needed). The company owner has connections to bike and parts shops in the country and can also help finding parts.

The way back home (or your destination) would be similar to the way out: Riders come back to the premises of the trucking company in Bucharest (near the airport). Bikes go onto the truck which heads off; riders spend one last night in Bucharest. Flight back on the next day, where they arrive coinciding with the truck.
Riders receive bikes.

First shuttle trip is currently planned for week 25 / ca. 20. June, if the required minimum number of participants is achieved. (There is a minimum number of participants per tour of about 5 - 8 riders to make it economically worthwhile.)

Such a shuttle service can be offered at any dates, depending on demand.

Prices have not been calculated yet (but since the trucking company operates out of Romania and at their cost base, it will certainly be a very good offer)

Personally, I am trying to find those required number of riders... other than that, have NO COMMERCIAL interests here.

---> Interested? - send me a message or mail to wbethke1 (at) googlemail dot com...

Just back from a little round trip in Transylvania.

I highly recommend this, especially for those who are getting tired of doing the well known alpine passes in France, Italy Switzerland and Austria for the x-th time.
Romania is comparabily cheap to travel so that makes up for the flight and bike shuttle cost if you do that.
This combination is even more attractive because it allows to travel this interesting area even when time available is limited; travelling there on your own devices is a several-days venture depending on where you start from...