In 2009, for the 15-th year running, the "Raid Carpates" will offer riders and drivers the chance to undertake a unique panoramic off-road tour of the Carpathian Mountains. These mountains are the ‘backbone' of Romania and home to Europe's highest concentrations of wolves, bears and lynx.

Imagine sunny alpine meadows, dark forest tracks, dusty country roads and barren mountain tops. Imagine passing horse-drawn carts piled high with hay, sharing lunch with a shepherd, and riding for days without seeing a gate. Imagine a land without ramblers, route closures, and miserable locals, where beer and petrol cost both cost less than 50p a litre, and where people smile and wave at you just because you ride a dirt bike!

If you join the raid, not only will you have the chance to ride fantastic trails in one of Europe's last remaining wilderness areas, you will get to see and experience a beautiful country and meet a people who are happy, generous and very friendly. This unique adventure will place you shoulder to shoulder with Romanians with whom you will share the experience of a lifetime. Each evening, a bed will await you in a small hotel or guest house, and although the surroundings may sometimes be humble, the food will always be good and the welcome will always be warm.

"Romanian hospitality is formidable. These people spill their hearts to you, welcome you with open arms into their modest homes, feed you until you burst and expect nothing in return except simple friendship." (Lonely Planet Guide, 2001)

This classic non-competitive rally takes place in 11 stages and involves as much off-tarmac riding as we can fit in. Your safety is a priority and our back up team of qualified medical personnel and mechanical experts will never be far away. Although the routes are within the capability of the average British trail-rider, it will usually be possible to ride round the most difficult sections. You can ride at your own pace, using the GPS to navigate, or you may choose to take a more leisurely approach and ride behind our guide. Gasoline will be available at maximum 100 km, at checkpoints or petrol stations, so you won't need a long distance fuel tank. Apart from fitting your bike with a GPS holder, your usual trail riding preparation is all that is necessary.

We try to keep the rally small and friendly and for this reason the total number of vehicles (bikes and 4x4s) is limited to 35. Places fill up fast and are allocated on a ‘first come, first served' basis, so if you want to experience one of dirt-biking's best kept secrets before it's ‘discovered' by the West, get your entry in now!

What's included?

The 850 Euro entry fee includes the following:

• 11 nights shared accommodation
• Full-board - breakfast; lunch; dinner including ½ litre of wine
• Medical assistance during the rally
• Commemorative T-shirt and stickers
• Transportation of 15 kg of baggage and spares during the rally
• Advice about how to prepare for your trip: equipment to bring; driving to Romania
• Secure parking for the vehicle used to transport your bike to Romania

• Fuel
• Personal expenses, water and drinks
• Transportation of you and your bike to and from Romania
• Medical and motor insurance

For families who wish to follow their rider using their own car and driving on paved roads, we can provide a special ‘tourist itinerary'. Navigating by road-book, people on this tour will meet the raid at all checkpoints and will enjoy the same services and benefits as those in the taking part in the raid.