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Day 1: Arrival on Bucharest Otopeni Airport. Transfer to Ploiesti. Dinner and wine tasting in Urlateanu wine cellar, former residence of Urlateanu Boyard, in Valea Calugareasca vineyard. Transfer to Bucharest. Accommodation at 3* hotel, in the city centre of Bucharest.

At Odobesti, wines are kept in large cellars; among them, “Beciul Domnesc”, commissioned by the Moldavian prince Mihai Sturdza (1839), represents quite a tourist attraction.
The wide variety of wines produced by the Odobesti vineyard makes it the most traditional wine-growing area in Romania, with six traditional sorts of Romanian wine, namely: Galbena de Odobesti, Plavaia, Feteasca Alba and Feteasca Regala (white wines) and Feteasca Neagra and Babeasca Neagra (red wines).
A Wine Festival takes place every year during the month of October; alongside traditional Romanian cuisine and fine wines from the Vrancea county vineyards, i.e. Odobesti, Panciu, Cotesti, people can enjoy shows performed by some of the best Romanian folk singers and dancers.

Day 2: Breakfast. Departure to Focsani. Visit the “Dealu Mare” vineyard and taste some of the best Romanian wines: Galbena de Odobesti in Odobesti vineyard and the impressive Romanian champagne at Panciu wine cellar. Lunch at Intim Restaurant in Focsani. Drive on to Iasi. Arrival in the city of Iasi, the center of an important Romanian vineyard, known from the 14th century. Iasi is truly a crossroads for almost every aspect of life in Eastern Europe.
Dinner and fine wine (Busuioaca de Bohotin) tasting at “The Cold Bower” wine cellar in Iasi. Accommodation at 3* hotel in Iasi.

When comparing wines produced by the Cotnari and the Iasi vineyards, the Romanian writer Al. Teodoreanu, a truly expert on Romanian vintage, would vividly imagine that “the Cotnari wine wears boots and a mace. The Uricani wine has a lace dress and court shoes. The Cotnari wine would linger on the porch, with gypsies having you welcome by playing their panpipes, guitars and cembalos. The Uricani would rather have the sound of harpsichord, the step of gavotte, and whispers behind a lady’s fan. The Cotnari is daring and brave, whereas the Uricani belongs to the fancy and subtle world of ball room”.

Day 3. Breakfast. Sightseeing tour of Iasi, including the “Trei Ierarhi” Church, the Palace of Culture, the Metropolitan Church, the Copou Park, the Golia Monastery and the Golia Tower. Travel to Cotnari. Visit the vineyard. Lunch and taste Grasa de Cotnari in Cotnari wine cellar. Visit Neamt Monastery, representative for the 14th century architectural style.
Dinner and accommodation at 3* hotel in Piatra Neamt.

In his work, “Descriptio Moldaviae”, one of the greatest Romanian scholar and prince, Dimitrie Cantemir (18th century), would write that “the best wine that I know of is made at Cotnari, and I dare say it outclasses all other European wines”.
The leading wine of the vineyard is Grasa de Cotnari. It was described as having the bitterish taste of a nutshell and a strong flavour; it is an excellent wine, whose ageing enhances its noble qualities and draws it near perfection.
In 1900, at the World Exhibition in Paris, Grasa de Cotnari was awarded a golden medal, and has since acquired the name of “Romania’s Bloom”.

Day 4: Breakfast. Departure from Piatra Neamt. Enjoy a short trip with ship on the “Izvorul Muntelui” lake. Walk through Bicaz Gorges, the most impressive gorges in Romania. Short break at Lacu Rosu. Arrival at Praid (ethnographic area).
Festive lunch in the salt mine (open buffet, for groups only) and “palinka” tasting (strong Transylvanian alcoholic drink - ~60°!). Romanian folk show with folk singers and dancers in the salt mine.
Departure for overnight to Sighisoara. Accommodation and dinner at 3* hotel, near Sighisoara.

From Moldavia through the Bicaz Pass you can reach Transylvania, the cradle of the highly appreciated white dry wines produced by the local vineyards.
The wines of the Tarnave Vineyard provide a perfect blend of acid, alcohol and flavour. They seem to have gathered together the strong fragrance of pine resin, the smell of lime blossom and the transparency and sweetness of acacia honey.
The Alba Iulia Vineyard, also named the County of Wine, has been known ever since the 1st century B.C. Among the sorts of wine produced by the Alba Iulia vineyard can be mentioned Feteasca Alba, Furmint, Traminer, Italian Riesling, Sauvignon, Pinot gris and Muscat Ottonel.

Day 5: Breakfast. Sightseeing tour of the Sighisoara fortress, the best-preserved mediaeval citadel in Europe and the only one still inhabited, including the Tower Museum, the Cover Stairs, the Church on the Hill. Lunch in the middle of Jidvei vineyard, in Sighisoara. Taste the best dry and demi-dry wines in south-eastern Europe (Sauvignon Blanc, Dry Muscat, Dry Riesling and so on). Continue onto Sibiu (sightseeing tour of the mediaeval citadel, Bruckental Art Museum, the Liar’s Bridge, the Big and Little Squares, the main walls of the fortress).
Accommodation and dinner at 3* hotel, in Sibiu.

The wine cellar from Urlati

Day 6: Breakfast. On the way to Bucharest, visit Brasov. A sightseeing tour is included in program. Features: the Black Church, the St. Nicholas Church, the Schei and Ecaterina Gates, the Old Town Hall Square, the Schei District (architectural reservation) etc. Visit the famous Dracula’s Castle, a symbol of Legendary Transylvania: Bran Castle. Return in Brasov. Festive dinner with the best Romanian wines in Brasov in Cerbul Carpatin “The Carpathian Stag” Restaurant (wine cellar).
Accommodation at 3* hotel in Brasov.

Day 7: Breakfast. Leave for Sinaia. Visit Peles and Pelisor Castles and Sinaia monastery.
Lunch in Sinaia at Hotel Caraiman - National Saloon.
Transfer at the International Bucharest Otopeni airport for your flight home. End of services.

Included objectives:
· Sibiu - Bruckental Art Museum;
· Brasov - the Black Church, St. Nicholas Cathedral,
· Sighisoara - the Tower Museum, the Torture Room and the Mediaeval Weapons Collection
· Neamt Monastery
· Praid – the salt mine
· Bran - Dracula’s Castle
· Sinaia - Peles, Pelisor Castles
· Iasi – Golia Tower and Monastery;
· Alba Iulia – National Union Museum

Non-paid objectives:
· Iasi - Trei Ierarhi Church, the Palace of Culture, the Metropolitan Cathedral
· Sighisoara - the mediaeval citadel (the only citadel still inhabited in Europe; Objectives: the Cover Stairs, the Guilds’ Towers (9), Vlad Dracul House, the Church on the Hill;
· Tg. Mures - the Cathedral, the Palace of Culture;
· Alba Iulia - the citadel, the Cathedral of Reunion;
· Sibiu - the Liar’s Bridge, historical centre, the Stairs’ Tower built in the XIIth century, the Franciscan Church,
· Brasov - the Schei District – architectural reservation, Schei’ Gate, the Old Town Hall Square, White Tower, Black Tower, etc.
· Bicaz Gorges (the most impressive gorges in Romania);
· The Red Lake (natural lake, unique in Romania);
· The Peles’ park
· Prahova Valley and Bucegi Mountains

Total distance: 1600 km

Daily distances: 160 km (day 1); 400 km (day 2); 200 km (day 3); 250 km (day 4); 100 km (day 5); 160 km (day 6); 180 km (day 7).

Accommodations: Bucharest, Iasi, Piatra Neamt, Sighisoara, Sibiu, Brasov

Wine tastings: Urlati, Panciu - Odobesti, Iasi, Cotnari, Jidvei, Brasov

Festive meals: Urlati (Romanian cuisine), Praid (hungarian cuisine), Iasi (Romanian folk music), Brasov (Romanian folk dancers and music show).