Day 1:

Otopeni Airport – Bran (200 km)

Arrival on Bucharest International Airport. Transfer to Bran, the most important rural tourism area in Romania; festive welcome dinner at Cheile Gradistei restaurant; accommodation at 3* guest-house in Bran area.

Day 2:

Bran – Rasnov – Sinaia – Bran (150 km)

Visit the Bran Castle, also known as Dracula's Castle; visit the Rasnov citadel, a model of middle age town organisation. Departure to Sinaia, for seeing the former summer residence of Romanian Kings, the Peles Castle, splendid building realised in Neo- Renaissance architectural style at the end of 19th c. Back to Bran for dinner and overnight.

Day 3:

Bran – Brasov – Sighisoara (200 km)

Sightseeing tour of Brasov, including a visit to the Black Church, biggest Gothic monument in Eastern Europe. Drive toward Sighisoara, the last mediaeval citadel fully inhabited in Europe. Time dedicate to visit the citadel, with its guarding towers, Mediaeval Weapons Collection and the Church on the Hill; one of the most attractive buildings is the Vlad Dracul house in the centre of the citadel, where the legend said Count Dracula was born 600 years ago.

Accommodation to 3* Dracul Inn in Danes, near Sighisoara.

Day 4:

Sighisoara – Praid – Lacu Rosu – Targu Neamt (250 km)

Departure to Praid, where the salt mountain is waiting for you to discover it. Crossing the mountains we will pass through one of the most spectacular areas in Romania, the Bicaz Gorges and the Red Lake (natural dam lake). Drive forward to Targu Neamt.

Dinner and accommodation near Targu Neamt, at 3* Razesilor Inn.

Day 5:

Targu Neamt – Suceava – Voronet – Vama (200 km)

Visit the Neamt Monastery, one of the most wonderfull monasteries in Moldova, well known for its wondermaking icon. Departure to Suceava, for visit the Throne Fortress. Visit the painted monastery in Voronet, the most important in Bucovina, surnamed the "Sistine Chapel of the East" due to its western wall paiting "the Last Judgment".

Dinner and accommodation to 3* guest-house in Vama.

Day 6:

Vama – Sucevita – Moldovita – Gura Humorului – Marginea – Vama (200 km)

Day dedicate to the outdoor frescoes monasteries, included in UNESCO's World Heritage List: Humor, Sucevita and Moldovita (the last one awarded with the “Golden Apple” for its cultural value). On the way is also included a short stop to the black pottery craftsman's workshops in Marginea village.

Day 7:

Vama – Borsa – Poienile Izei – Botiza (160 km)

Transfer from Bucovina to Maramures, another living-traditions area of Romania. Visit the mountain resort of Borsa and the wooden churches of Botiza and Poienile Izei. Walking by sledge or waggon carried by horses. Dinner and accommodation to 2* guest-houses in Botiza village, in the heart of Maramures.

Day 8:

Botiza – Barsana – Sighetu Marmatiei – Sapanta – Botiza (150 km)

Visit the Nunery of Barsana, one of the most beautiful wooden assembly in the area. Depart to Sighet, where one can see the former prison for politic convicts, nowadays a museum dedicated to the fight against Communist system, named "the Memorial to Arrested Thought". Further to the border, you can admire the beautiful painted crosses of the Merry Cemeterry, unique in the world because of its happy epitaphs carved on each cross on the cemetery.

Back to Botiza for dinner and accommodation.

Day 9:

Botiza – Surdesti – Baia Mare – Cluj Napoca – Albac (325 km)

Visit the Sfintii Arhangheli complex in Surdesti, another important wooden church in the area. Short sightseeing panoramic tour of Baia Mare. Drive forward to Cluj Napoca. Visit the centre of the town in a walking tour of the historical part. Visit the St. Mihail church and see the equestrian statue of the King Mathias. Continue alongside the Aries Valley to Albac village, in the heart of Apuseni mountains.

Dinner and accommodation to 3* Perla Ariesului guesthouse.

Day 10:

Albac – Chiscau – Albac (150 km)

Visit the Motilor County, seeing the beautiful sceneries of Apuseni Mountains in a trip to Scarisoara Ice Cave and Bears Cave.

Dinner and accommodation in Albac.

Day 11:

Albac – Alba Iulia – Sibiu – Sibiel (200 km)

Drive alongside the Ampoi Valley to Alba Iulia, medieval town known for all Romanians as the city of National Union. Visit the Sibiu citadel, including the former residence of the governor of Transylvania, Brukenthal Palace, in a 2- hour walking tour.

Dinner and accommodation in Sibiel village, at 2* guesthouses.

Day 12:

Sibiel – Cozia – Curtea de Arges – Bucharest (300 km)

In the morning, visit the Glass Icons Museum in Sibiel village. Departure to Bucharest crossing the Carpathians alongside the picturesque Olt Valley. On the way, visit the Cozia Monastery, erected in 13th c. by Mircea the Eldest, ruler prince of Wallachia. Visit the Curtea de Arges Monastery, an architectural jewel, emphazised by the ethernal legend of the sacrifice for creation knwon here as the legend of Master Manole.

Accommodation at 3* hotel in Bucharest. Festive farewell dinner at a traditional Romanian restaurant with folk singers and dancers.

Day 13:

Bucharest – Otopeni Airport (50 km)

Depending on your flight schedule, in the morning panoramic sightseeing tour of Bucharest, capital of Romania. Transfer to the airport. End of services.

Total distance: ~ 2535 km

Included objectives:
· Curtea de Arges Monastery

· Cozia - the monastery;
· The Olt valley & narrow pass, between Cozia and Lotrului mountains;
· Sibiel - The Glass Icons Museum
· Sibiu - The Bruckental Art Museum; the mediaeval citadel

· Alba Iulia, medieval town known for all Romanians as the city of National Union

· Apuseni Mountains: Scarisoara Ice Cave and Bears Cave.
· Baia Mare - panoramic tour;
· Surdesti - the “Sfintii Arhangheli” wooden church;
· Mara Valley - ethnographic zone; wooden-carved gates with pre-Christian symbols;

· Sighetu Marmatiei - "the Memorial to Arrested Thought"
· Sapanta - the Merry Cemetery (unique in the world); the Handicrafts open-air Museum
· Botiza, Poienile Izei – wooden churches & carved gates;
· Barsana - wooden church, the tallest wooden building in Europe (62 metters);
· The Ethnographic Zone of Maramures;
· Campulung Moldovenesc - the Museum of Woodcraft;
· UNESCO Monuments: Voronet Monastery (outdoor blue frescoes; called “the Sixtine Chapel of East”); Moldovita Monastery (outdoor red frescoes); Sucevita Monastery (outdoor green frescoes);
· Marginea - black pottery masters show & exhibition;
· The Ethnographic Zone of Bucovina;

· the Throne Fortress of Suceava
· Bicaz Gorges – the most impressive gorges in Romania;
· Lacul Rosu - natural lake, unique in Romania;
· Praid - arranged salt mine with an underground park, a church;

· Sighsoara - the medieval citadel
· Brasov - the mediaeval fortress, the Black Church; the “First Romanian School” Museum, the “First Romanian Printing House - Coresi” Museum;
· Bran – Rucar narrow pass;
· Sinaia - Peles Castle, the summer residence of the King Carol I of Romania, built in neo-renaissance German style in 1875 - 1883.

Tariffs include:

·          12 nights accommodation as scheduled, in twin or single rooms;

·          Meals in half-board basis

·          Festive welcome dinner at Cheile Gradistei restaurant in Bran Moieciu and festive farewell dinner in Bucharest;

·          Transport by air-conditioned coach or mini-bus;

·          Transfers from/ to the airport

·          Walking by waggon or sledge (depending on the season) carried by horses

·          Professional guidance throughout;

·          All objectives fees;

<< Back