Highlights of the trip:
- Dracula’s Castle
- Peles Castle
- ‘Dracula Express’ steam train
- UNESCO sites (Viscri, Sighisoara, Voronet monastery, Bogdan Voda church)
- Narrow-gauge steam train on Vaser Valley
- Merry Cemetery in Sapanta
- Balea lake – Transfagarasan road
- Home made lunch and egg painting demonstration
Day 1 – Arrival in Bucharest, our capital city, at Otopeni Airport. Meet the guide and board on the bus. According with your flight schedule, we provide a panoramic city tour: driving along the main avenues of Bucharest to discover the glorious Belle Epoque buildings, the capital once known as "Little Paris". During the sightseeing we have 2 photo stops at the Revolution Sq (the place where the revolution in 1989 started) and the Parliament Palace. C/in at the hotel Opera / Venezia. Free evening.
Day 2 – Breakfast. In the morning, before leaving the capital city visit Cotroceni Museum, former royal residence, an excellent example of fine art. (Museum is closed on Monday). Then, we drive towards north along the beautiful princely valley. We stop in Sinaia, first for a lunch in a local restaurant where we taste Balkan food. Sinaia is the place where the 1st Romanian King, Carol of Hohenzolern - Sigmaringen, decided to build his summer residence in the late 19th cent., Peles castle. After lunch, we visit one of the most beautiful palaces in Europe, with a great art collection, stained glass windows and weapon collection. Peles castle is closed on Monday (all year round) and Tuesday (off season). After the visit, we continue to drive across the southern Carpathians to reach Transylvania, a land famous for its myths and legends. We arrive in Brasov, one of the main cities of Transylvania. C/in hotel Aro Palace 3* Free evening.
Day 3 – Breakfast. Morning - walking tour of the Saxon medieval city, including visit of the Black Church (built between 1383 and 1477), with an impressive oriental carpet collection. Transfer to the railway station to board on ‘Dracula Express’ steam train, with a long history behind: the locomotive is a unique model from 1922 and one of the cars was part of the Orient Express train in the 1930’s. We go by train cca 1h to Rasnov, from where we board on the bus again to Bran village, where the people of Brasov built in the mountain pass a fortress to defeat the main commercial road between Transylvania and Walachia. Lunch in a local restaurant. Then we visit the famous, so called Dracula’s castle… After the visit, time for shopping in the bazaar. Back to Brasov by bus. Free evening OR organ concert at the Black Church (according with the schedule)
Day 4 – Breakfast. We leave Brasov towards north and drive through the beautiful Transylvanian countryside. We reach Sighisoara, the medieval citadel, Unesco site. Walking tour of the citadel, one of the best preserved in Transylvania, and discover the fortifications, bastions, church on the hill, covered stairs. If time allows we can stop on the way to Sighisoara to visit another Unesco site, Viscri village (where the Prince of Wales is active in protecting the old Saxon heritage), with its fortified church. Check-in hotels inside of the citadel, such as Hotel Sighisoara, Casa Wagner, Casa cu Cerb, Casa Saseasca. Free evening.
Day 5 – Breakfast. We drive across the eastern Carpathians and through the spectacular Bicaz gorge to reach another historical province of Romania, Bucovina. Lunch in a local restaurant by the Red Lake. We arrive in Bucovina after cca 7-8h drive. Check-in Popasul Bucovina hotel.
Day 6 – Breakfast. Full day trip to discover the monasteries of Bucovina and the local traditions: we visit several painted monasteries with its beautiful frescoes – Sucevita, Moldovita, Voronet. We combine the visits with a home-made lunch at an artisan’s house. After lunch our host will make an egg painting demonstration to learn how locals are painting the eggs for Easter. Back to hotel for the overnight.
Day 7 – Breakfast. We cross the mountains again towards west to discover another province of Romania, called Maramures. We drive along Iza valley and visit some of the wooden churches in Bogdan Voda, Rozavlea, Barsana. We end up in Sapanta at the Merry Cemetery…but just for a short visit of the funny inscriptions on the gravestones… Overnight at Hotel Gabriela in Viseu de sus.
Day 8 – Breakfast. Full day trip by steam train on Vaser Valley: a spectacular trip by steam train on narrow-gauge, which lasts from 8.30am until 5pm…packed lunch… Back at the same hotel for the overnight.
Day 9 – Breakfast. We leave Maramures and drive back to Transylvania. We pass through Cluj Napoca, short city tour and continue towards south to Sibiu. Lunch en route. Late afternoon arrive in Sibiu, check-in hotel Han Vestem.
Day 10 – Breakfast. Morning in Sibiu – walking around the charming streets of the very well preserved medieval Saxon town, which in 2007, was European Capital of Culture… The rest of the day could be either spent in the villages nearby Sibiu (Sibiel, Cisnadioara) OR we drive on the highest road in Romania, Transfagarasan, to reach the glacier lake located at highest point of 2040m altitude. The ride is very spectacular and it offers a very nice view over the Fagaras Mts. Return to Sibiu in the afternoon (same route). Same overnight.
Day 11 – Breakfast. Drive towards Bucharest, along the Olt Valley (cca 6h drive) with lunch en route. Arrive in Bucharest during the afternoon. Check-in. Farewell dinner.
Day 12 – Breakfast. Transfer to the airport.
Price for min 20 persons: 754eur/pers in double room Single supplement: 184eur
This includes:
- accommodation in BB basis at the above mentioned hotels or similar
- everyday lunches (except arrival and departure day) and farewell dinner
- all visits mentioned above
- English speaking guide
- transportation
TIPS:
Plan your trip:
1. to arrive in Bucharest on Friday-Saturday in order to get weekend rates...
2. in the summertime in order to have Transfagarasan road open (day 10)
3. group price for dinners, with reservations in advance
