Untitled Document

Day 1, BUCHAREST – TARGOVISTE
Arrival on Bucharest International Airport. Meeting with Romanian car and guide (& driver, english speaking). Sightseeing tour of Bucharest, including the Palace of Parliament, also called the House of the People – the second largest building in the world, after the US Pentagon building, the Archbishop Complex, Calea Victoriei (formerly called “Podul Mogosoaei”), “Aviatorilor” boulevard, the Old Princely Court and the Village Museum (established in 1936 by D. Gusti). Transfer to Targoviste. Accommodation in Hotel Dambovita 3*.

Day 2, TARGOVISTE-SIBIU.
Breakfast. Visit the Chindia Tower (built by Prince Vlad as a watch tower and prison) and the ruins of the former Princely Court of Wallachia. Continue our way to Curtea de Arges, another former capital of Wallachia during 14th century, where we visit the Monastery and Master Manole’s well (architectural jewels from 16th century). Drive on to Poenari Stronghold (a hidden place, rebuilt by Vlad the Impaler as an “eagle nest”). Near to Poenari Stronghold, a great view of Fagaras Mountains is expecting you at Vidraru Lake. Return to Curtea de Arges and continue the way to Ramnicu Valcea. Visit Horezu (the monastery & the pottery masters) on the way. Continue our way to Sibiu, once the richest town in Transylvania, passing through one of the most spectacular and beautiful areas in Romania – the Olt Valley (narrow pass). On the way, visit Cozia Monastery, erected in 14th century by Mircea the Old, Dracula’s grandfather.
Accommodation in Sibiu, in Hotel Continental 3*. Festive dinner in “the Old Sibiu” wine-cellar.

Day 3, SIBIU - SIGHISOARA - TARGU MURES - BISTRITA
Breakfast. Sightseeing tour of the mediaeval fortress by foot, including The Art Museum “Bruckental” – one of the best art galleries in Romania, the historic center, the Liar’s Bridge etc.
Departure to Sighisoara, the only medieval citadel in Europe that is fully inhabited; mentioned in 1280 as “Castrum Sex”; sightseeing tour of the city, including the Clock Tower Museum, the Cover Stairs and the Church on the Hill. Is also included a visit in the house where Vlad “Dracula” was born, now a cozy restaurant, and two mediaeval attractions: the Torture room and the Mediaeval Weapons Collection.

Drive forward to Bistrita, with a short stop in the centre of Targu Mures city (sightseeing tour, mediaeval fortress). Accommodation in Bistrita, in 3* hotel Coroana de Aur (The Golden Crown).

Day 4, BISTRITA - BAIA MARE – SAPANTA - BOTIZA
Breakfast. Departure to Baia Mare, the biggest town in the NW part of Romania. Sightseeing tour of Baia Mare, including ‘Stephen the Great’ Tower, the Mineralogy Museum, the Butcher’s Guild;
Travel to Surdesti to see the wooden church “Sfintii Arhangheli” - the second tallest wooden construction in Europe. Then, passing through Mara Valley, you can admire the famous Romanian wooden carved gates. Drive to Sapanta via Sighetul Marmatiei.
Visit the Merry Cemetery (unique in the world, realised by local craftsman Stan Patras) and the Folk Art Museum in Sapanta. Return in Baia Mare. Dinner and overnight in Hotel Carpati, 3*.
Other objectives: all around the Historical Maramures, you can admire one of the eldest European civilizations, which has a lot of Dacians and pre-Christians symbols; the area is famous for its wooden-carved gates, handicrafts and woodcrafts.

Day 5, BOTIZA – VAMA - SUCEVITA.
Breakfast. Departure to Borsa, through Iza Valley, with short breaks in Rozavlea, Barsana and Ieud for seeing the famous wooden churches from Maramures prepared by the Easter Holiday (the tallest wooden building in Europe: the wooden church from Barsana, 62 meters). Short stay in the Borsa mountain resort. From here, you may take a sky-lift which will take you to the Horses Waterfall. Crossing the mountains, we arrive in Campulung Moldovenesc, where we can visit the woodcraft museum.
Accommodation and Romanian dinner in Hotel-villa Bucovina, 4*, in Sucevita.

Day 6, MONASTERIES TOUR.
Breakfast. Today we visit, in a full-day trip, the most important UNESCO monuments: the monasteries of Sucevita, Moldovita, Voronet, Humor and Arbore. Accommodation and dinner in Hotel-villa Bucovina, 4* in Sucevita.

Day 7, POTTERY SHOW AND TRAINING.
Breakfast. Visit the black pottery masters’ workshops in Marginea, where we enjoy a great pottery show realised by the local craftsmans. The tourists could improve theirs pottery skills supervised by the local masters. Lunch in Radauti. Return to hotel in Sucevita. Free time at your disposal.
Accommodation and dinner.

Day 8, EASTER EVE
Easter Eve in Sucevita Monastery. Assistance to egg’s painting and to cooking traditional Easter dishes. Eggs painting training with local craftsmans.
In the night, assist to the holy rithual in Sucevita Monastery. Festive Easter dinner after the holy rithual.

Day 9, HOLY SUNDAY; EASTER
Free time at your disposal, celebrating the Ortodox Easter. Festive lunch with Romanian traditional dishes and wines. Accommodation and dinner.

Day 10, SUCEVITA – TUSNAD – BRASOV
Breakfast. On the route to Brasov, we go through Bicaz Gorges (the most impressive gorges in Romania) and reach the Red Lake Resort (natural lake, unique in Romania). Sightseeing tour of Brasov by coach, including the Black Church (gothic monument 12th century), the Old Town Council Square and the Schei District (architectural reservation). Accommodation at Aro Palace Hotel 4*. Festive dinner with wine-tasting and Romanian folk dancers and singers in the “Golden Stag” wine-cellar.

Day 11, BRASOV – SINAIA – BUCURESTI
Breakfast. On the way to Sinaia visit the Bran Castle, also known as “Dracula’s Castle” or “Castle from Carpathians”. In Sinaia one can visit the Peles Castle, the former summer residence of the King Carol I of Romania, built in neo-renaissance German style between 1875 - 1883. Also include: visit to Sinaia Monastery, named after the Sinai monks which established the monastery. Lunch in Sinaia. Transfer and tourist assistance to the Bucharest Otopeni Airport.

Total distance: ~ 2400 km.
Daily distances: 125 km (day 1); 425 km (day 2); 250 km (day 3); 300 km (day 4); 250 km (day 5); 250 km (day 6); 100 km (day 7); 300 km (day 10); 200 km (day 11)

Accommodations:
Targoviste, Hotel Dambovita 3* (HB)
Sibiu, Hotel Continental 3* (HB)
Bistrita, Hotel Coroana de Aur 3* (HB)
Baia Mare, Hotel Carpati 3* (HB);
Sucevita – Hotel-vila Bucovina 4* (HB) (5 nopti)
Piatra Neamt, Hotel Central 3* (HB)

* The hotels could be changed with similar ones depending on availability.

Included objectives:
· Bucharest: The Palace of Parliament, the Archbishop’s Palace and the Old Princely Court
· Targoviste: The Chindia Tower and the former princely court of Wallachia
· Sibiu: the Art Museum Bruckental; the medieval fortress, the Liar’s Bridge, the Big and the Little Squares
· Sighisoara - the Tower Museum;
· Sighisoara - the mediaeval citadel: UNESCO monument (the only citadel still inhabited in Europe; firstly mentioned in 1208 under the name “Castrum Sex”); Objectives: the Cover Stairs, the Guilds’ Tower (9), Vlad Dracul House, the Church on the Hill;
· Baia Mare - Stephen the Great’ Tower, the Butchers’ Bastion;
· Baia Mare - the Mineralogy Museum;
· Surdesti - the “Sfintii Arhangheli” wooden church, second tallest wooden building in Europe;
· Valea Marei - ethnographic zone; wooden-carved gates with pre-Christian symbols;
· Sapanta - the Merry Cemetery (unique in the world); the Folk Art open-air Museum
· Barsana - wooden church, the tallest wooden building in Europe;
· The Ethnographic Zone of Maramures;
· Campulung Moldovenesc - the Woodcraft’ museum;
· UNESCO Monuments: Voronet Monastery (outdoor blue frescoes; called “the Sistine Chapel of East”); Moldovita Monastery (outdoor red frescoes); Sucevita Monatery (outdoor green frescoes); Humor Monastery
· Bicaz Gorges – the most impressive gorges in Romania
· Lacul Rosu - natural lake, unique in Romania
· Sinaia - Peles Castle

Included services:
o 10 nights accommodation in 3*-4* hotels
o Meals in full-board basis
o Festive meals on Easter (dinner and lunch); festive dinner in Brasov
o Transport by deluxe air-conditioned mini-bus
o Transfers and tourist assistance at the airport;
o Professional guidance throughout
o All entrance fees to the mentioned objectives
o All route and parking fees

Minimal group: 6 pax.