Wine hills and fruit picking
Posted in Dealu Mare, Easy Level, Short tours | 1 comment
‘A land of great wines – Urlați, Ceptura, Valea Calugarească – the Northern Wallachia gathers an abundant and flavored cuisine, within the monasteries and the villages spread over the valleys, after a long bustling next to the oven, excelling in fruit sweets and fine marmalade, delicious soups and stews, unique corn bread and various sorts of cheese.’
Join Cycling Romania through the sunny vineyards of Dealu Mare, in Prahova County! This will be an easy weekend bike trip over the hills covered with wonderful forests and vine. The route is addressed to all nature and beauty lovers, requiring minimum physical fitness.
What do we do:
We taste the best wines from the region (Feteasca Neagra red wine is a must!) and visit a beautiful wine cellar, we dine in the priest house surrounded by vineyards, we visit 500 years old monasteries, we check the local architecture, we see how the rich landlords used to live centuries ago and, nevertheless, we leave the urban dusty gray of Bucharest and hide into the symphony of colors in Dealu Mare landscape. We smile and enjoy the ride. We take back good memories and new friendships.
Technical details:
- Length: 2 days
- Distance: 20km – day 1 / 15km – day 2
- Difficulty level: easy
- Ascent ↑: 156m – day 1 / 101m – day 2
- Highest / lowest point: 300m / 122m
- Terrain type: asphalt (60%), dirt road (40%)
Organizing details:
- Best time of year: April – October
- Start and end point: Urlați, 85 km away from Bucharest
- Start time: 10am, Saturday
- End time: 18pm, Sunday
- Group size: 4-10 persons
- Overnight: 1 night at 3-star pension
Tour itinerary:
- Day 1: Urlați – Valea Pietrei – Orzoaia – Valea Crângului – Urlați
- Day 2: Car transfer to Vărbila (10km), then we will bike on a forest trail
Highlights:
- Visiting Bellu Museum
- Wine tasting at a traditional wine cellar
- Traditional lunch & dinner in the courtyard, prepared by the locals
- Fruit picking in the orchard (cherries, sour cherries, peaches, apples, plums, red currants, raspberries – depending on season)
- Visiting two old monasteries: Jercălăi and Vărbila
- Bike ride through beautiful oak forest
Meet point:
View Valea Crangului Settlement in a larger map
Directions:
By car: After 55 km of driving from Bucharest to Ploieşti on E60 road, before reaching the gas station Lukoil in Bărcăneşti, turn right and follow the signs towards Buzău. After 30 km you will reach Albeşti, turn left and arrive in Urlaţi in 5 km.
By train: You can get to Tomșani (10 km away from the meet point) by taking the services of TFC – private railway company. More information about the train schedule you will find here. Bikes are allowed at 50% from the full ticket price. Check the train schedule of CFR, the national railway company here. If you choose to come by train please contact us.
The tour package includes:
- bike and helmet rental, guiding, technical assistance, activities and visits (wine tasting and visit a traditional wine cellar, visit two monasteries, visit a nicely restored manor-museum), lunch & dinner at the priest house, accommodation at a 3-star pension with breakfast included, fresh homemade sandwich for lunch, energy bars, fruits. We can arrange car transfer upon request.
For more information about this tour or for personalized inquiries please get in touch with us!
Request information
thinking of joining the trip next weekend. Do you have any spaces?