Following a 2 1/2 hour car transfer from Timisoara, we arrive at the spa town Baile Herculane known since the Roman period for its natural healing waters and hot springs. The town dominated on both sides by steep rock walls unveils a uniquely picturesque landscape created by the Cerna river. In the afternoon we head towards our accommodation for the next 2 days passing by the Prisaca dam and a series of sulfurous natural hot springs at the Cerna river bed. After lunch, we have cam choose to relax preparing for the next more physically challenging days or take a 3 hour trip to an impressive waterfall unveiling over the rocky Cerna gorges.

Today we take a hiking roundtrip in one of Europe's most secluded inhabited rural landscapes, accessible only by foot. We will climb on actual wooden lathers and rocky mountain pats in order to rise above the Cerna gorges and discover the breathtaking landscape displayed from the scattered mountain farms. We'll visit the churches and schools once filled with local mountain inhabitants, slowly being abandoned by continuous depopulation. After a typical local lunch accompanied by stories and astonishing views, we continue our hike and descend to our accommodation.

The first of our cycling days. Following a short car transfer, we start our tour following the Via Transilvanica discovering the story behind it. The first part of the day will pass from the Cerna to the Motru river valley on a picturesque and wild gravel road continuing on tarmac thru small villages and hilly landscapes. We immerse in the typical architecture and rural way of life finishing the day in a family-run agro touristic farm waiting for us with local dishes made out of self-produced ingredients.

After gaining ourselves a late breakfast we spend a relaxed, easy cycling day visiting the Tismana Monastery and the mountainous surroundings of the oldest Romanian Orthodox monastery. The monastery's museum gives a glance at the history of Valachia and the Christian sacred art of the past 6 centuries. In the afternoon we can choose to take a scenic 5km hike to the small hermitage of Ciclovina de Sus or unwind with wine tasting afternoon with a selection of Romanian wines and cheeses.

We continue our cycling journey thru hilly landscapes and mountain villages heading towards the mighty Sohodol gorges. After a hearty lunch, we hop on the saddles and start a progressive ascent surrounded by dazzling rock heights and limestone caves carved by the Sohodol river. The challenging altitude gain will help pass to the Jiu river valley offering an intimate, undisturbed gravel cycling experience most probably having the possibility of observing the thriving Carpathian wildlife in his natural habitat. The day ends with an extensive descent to Campu lui Neag, a secluded, picturesque maintain resort, where our host will wait for us with a well-deserved dinner.

The proposal for day 6 is a hiking roundtrip in the Retezat Mountain group offering a panoramic display of the Unesco World Heritage Retezat Biosphere reserve. Home of chamois, marmots, grouse, lynx and black woodpeckers the "blue-eyed magical land" has more than 50 glacial lakes unique flora and fauna waiting to be discovered by the curious but sustainability-conscious tourist. After ascending to the Piatra Iorgovanului Peak (2014m a.s.l) we continue our ridge hike surrounded by breathtaking views of the Carpathians surrounding us on the whole trip. The track descends gently to a high alpine sheepfold finishing with the grandiose Scorota gorges then leading us back to our pick-up.

Some say we left the best for the last. Passing back from the Jiu to the Cerna valley is a thing of beauty. The gravel road passes the 1450m mark and descends slowly to the Cerna river spring then follows the contour of Iovanu lake's impressive water stretch and finishes at the enormous dam build on the Cerna river. Although the last day of the tour this effort is a crowning of the week spent together and is worth every push on the crank. The wild road segment rewards at every step with the values that inspired us to share our journeys: uncrowded roads, authenticity, non-invasive tourism.