JUNE - JULY 2010: from Budapest to Odessa, or viceversa, along the Danube and the Black Sea.
“In the heart of Balcans”, from Budapest to Odessa along the Danube and crossing Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania and Ukraina. Journey through a territory characterized by a significant fragmentation in history, nationalities, languages, cultures and religions.

NOTES
Overall length: : 1700-1800 km approx
Estimated duration: 24 days approx
Period: June-July 2010
Overnights: small hotels/tent … just in case

WHO I AM
I’m 57 years old, reasonably well equipped and fairly trained (80-120 km/day).
Is there anybody available/interested ???
Corrado

Here below a preliminary GPS track of the route Odessa to Budapest:



Yet to clarify:

- Moldavia and Transnistria border crossing

- Izmail (Ukr) to Tulcea (RO) border crossing

... in the meantime, I’ve been searching the whole web in the attempt to give an answer to the following questions:

1. Does anybody know how to cross the border between Ukraine and Romania in such a way to avoid Moldova (.. and related odd tales about visas, cops, extra charges, etc. …)?

2. Is there any way to directly cross the border and Danube river from Izmail (UA) to Tulcea (RO)?

… well, the answer seems to be NO … and NO again !!!

So, starting from Odessa, the only solution appears to cycle to Reni (UA), then cross the border to Giurgiulesti (MD) and finally to pass the border again to Galati (RO) .... eventually pointing to Tulcea

However, here a positive note: all EU member states, USA , Canada, Switzerland and Japan no longer need visas, neither for visiting Ukraine nor for Moldova.
Good ...isn't it ??? But, for further details you can visit the following web sites: ROMANIA & MOLDOVA and UKRAINE
This obligatory Moldova passage however, unfortunately makes the overall trip Odessa to Budapest to become quite longer, something like 200 km or more.
The Danube Delta territory, on the other hand, remains something worth to be visited but very hard to be planned in terms of days, kms, ferries and any other accommodation and transport related service.
Leaving Tulcea it appears that there is no practical possibility to cycle to Sulina, same story from Sulina to a more southern mainland point where to resume the way to Costanta.

NEVERTHELESS …. EVERYTHING WILL BE WORTH TO BE INVESTIGATED DIRECTLY ON SITE !!!

For the time being and for further information about the Delta area, such as:
- from Tulcea to Periprava
- from Tulcea to Sulina
- from Tulcea to Sfantu Gheorghe
you can visit: DANUBE DELTA
(it’s a valuable mine of information about transportation, accommodation and any other practical and useful tip )

Hope that all above is somehow helpful for a more conscious trip understanding.
AN HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL THE GLOBE CYCLISTS
Corrado

Hi, again me,
I just found your letter about Moldavia. I want to go in May from Chisinau (Capital of Moldova) to Odessa and then back along the black sea to the delta at the ukrainian side. From there i intend to go to Rumania via Galati - as you describe it. So I think, you have to go through Moldova even if Moldova has only 900 m border along the danube.
Birgit

Thanks a lot Birgit for the information about Tulcea-Sulina-Sfantu Gheorghe Road&Boat connections.
Indeed also myself I'm planning the same route as yours from Odessa to Galati, so when you come back please don't forget to post a message about your trip.
As far as I'm concerned I've already traveled the last summer from Le Croisic (Loire Atlantique) to Budapest and so the next step is by the way to complete the Atlantic to Black Sea route.
Of course, hope to hear from you again.
Ciao.
Corrado

Corrado, I am very interested! I am 25 female from US with flexible time frame. I can cycle anywhere up to 200 km per day pushing hard lol. I love to cycle and I will be backpacking through Europe anyway. Let me know!! Should I Bring my bike with me it is a road/speed bike about 25 pds. Pls get in touch with me.


Nicky

Hi Nicky, I'd enjoy to do it but:

1. First, have a look here below to a a preliminary GPS track of the route Odessa to Budapest:



2. It's totally out of my scope to cycle 200 km/day, my estimate average is 80-100 km/day approx.

3. Any road/speed bike doesn't properly fit, so a more convenient trekking/tourism bike would be much better (e.g Cannondale Touring or Koga Traveller).

Personally I use a GIANT CRS2.0, nothing special but ... it works

Corrado

Conrado,
possibly we meet on your tour, as I will start end of Mai from airport of Constanta - Tulcea, then following the Danube upwards to Vienna.

My question beside your itinerary to Odessa: why do you pass via Constanta, a more unpeasant industrial zone without any highlight? Following the Danue downstream to Tulcea may be reconsidered possibly.
Regards
Guenter

---always a thumb's distance below the rim!

Sorry Guenter, I don't catch you.
Are you perhaps saying that Costanta is not worthwhile to pass through? and that, in other words, from Tulcea it's better to go upstream directly to Vienna ??

OK, now everything is clear I'll not go to Costanta
I'll make any possible effort to pass the river in the between Izmail (Ukraine) and Tulcea (Romania) without windind-up to Moldova.
So ... Odessa-Izmail-Tulcea and then .... wow ..., upstream Danube strightforward to Budapest!
ConRAD