HIGHLIGHTS
* The most famous Castles in Romania - Peles Castle - the most beautiful royal residences in Europe and Bran Castle - Dracula's castle in Transylvania, the place where Vlad the impellor, also known as Dracula, was arrested and imprisoned.
* Bruckental Museum in Sibiu, Romania - Rubens, Tiziano, Van Dyke paintings; the finest, most exquisite selection of museums in Transylvania.
* Renowned citadels - Transylvania's most impressive citadels, including Sighisoara, the best preserved and still inhabited medieval citadel in Europe.
* Legendary castles in Romania - Lazarea, Corvinestilor, Savarsin - a real historic testimony.
* A unique artist - Emil Muresan the only one who uses spider web for his paintings, a meeting privileged by the cultural holidays.
* Sibiu, Romania - chosen as the European Cultural capital of 2007, former capital of Saxons in Transylvania.
* Bears Cave - got its name from the skeletons of some very old species of bear (Ursus Spelaeus) that were found here.
* Bicazului Gorges - the highest Romanian gorges and the famous Red Lake also called Killer Lake due to the pine trees that point out of the water like a forest of stakes.
DAY BY DAY ITINERARY
DAY 1 - Budapest - Oradea
Welcome in a cultural tour of Southern Transylvania. You'll discover that the cultural holidays are so rewarding: exploring places rich in history, meeting genuine characters, tasting traditional food, attending traditional events, everything so you can absorb the Romanian culture.
Our guide welcomes you at the Budapest Airport and leads you in Oradea, Romania for dinner and accommodation.
You'll cross the old centre of the town or the Varadinum Citadel as it was called in Latin.
DAY 2 - Oradea - Bears Cave - Girda - Turda - Cluj Napoca
From Oradea your tour of Transylvania will take you to Bears Cave which got its name from the skeletons of some very old species of bear that were found here.
Visit the Open Air Museum in Chiscau with its old cars and domestic objects.
You'll then cross the mountains through Vartop Pass and enter Motzilor Land.
Here you'll have a nice traditional picnic lunch at the mouth of Poarta lui Ionele cave, something you shouldn't miss on a Transylvania tour.
Depart for Turda to visit one of the most beautiful and original salt mines in the world - Turda's Salt Mines.
Tip: try a vampire menu for dinner in an exquisite restaurant in Turda! Accommodate in Cluj Napoca.
DAY 3 - Cluj Napoca -Turzii's Gorges - Lazarea
The cultural holidays cannot miss a nice challenging walk - today through Turzii's Gorges, the most important Reservation in the Apuseni Mountains!
On the way to Targu Mures, admire the noble castles Luncani and Iernut.
In Targu Mures you'll visit the famous Palace of Culture.
Then head to Seklers land and stop in Lazarea, a typical seklers village, for dinner and accommodation in country-inns.
DAY 4 - Lazarea - Red Lake - Miercurea Ciuc - Brasov
In Lazarea you'll visit the castle of the noble family Lazar and the monastery near by.
You'll then head to Red Lake also called Killer Lake and in the area we can have a nice easy walk through Bicazului Gorges.
Another important medieval centre you should explore in a Transylvania tour is Brasov.
On the way to your accommodation in Brasov, you'll visit Ciucului's Sekler Museum in Miercurea Ciuc and the Museum of Mineral Water in Tusnad.
Have a special medieval dinner in "Citadel" a restaurant in Brasov.
DAY 5 - Brasov-Sinaia-Rasnov-Bran-Brasov
Today is castles day! The first one on your list is Peles castle, the most beautiful royal palace in Europe, a genuine highlight of a cultural tour.
Then cross the mountains to visit Bran Castle also known as Dracula's Castle in Transylvania.
Absorb a genuine rustic atmosphere while visiting Rasnov Peasant Citadel. Drive to Brasov for a traditional dinner with folk show and wine tasting.
DAY 6 - Brasov - Fagaras - Agnita - Sighisoara - Biertan - Medias - Sibiel - Sibiu
Travel to Fagaras to visit the citadel and the Museum of Fagaras Country.
Explore the most beautiful citadel in Europe, Sighisoara, the essence of all cultural holidays.
Visit here the Clock Tower, the Torture room and The Medieval Weapon Collection.
Depart for Biertan to admire the fortified church. In Medias you'll make the acquaintance of the only artist who uses spider web for his paintings.
Travel to Sibiu, for accommodation. Carriage ride from Sibiel to Mioritica country-inn for dinner.
Module: attend a witch trial set on the street like in the old days!
Tip: in Sighisoara you can enjoy your lunch in a special location - Casa Vlad Dracul Restaurant, the place where Vlad Dracul, the father of the one who bares the stigma of the bloody count Dracula, was born!
DAY 7 - Sibiu - Deva - Arad
Your Transylvania tour takes you today to Sibiu which will welcome you with the famous Bruckental Museum, a baroque edifice which houses the works of some famous artists, such as Rubens, Van Dyke and the largest ethnographic museum in Transylvania - the Village Museum.
Drive to Hunedoara and visit Corvinestilor Castle, continue with the castle in Savarsin and end the road in Arad for accommodation and dinner.
DAY 8 - Arad - Budapest
Before saying good-by to Romania you'll end your cultural tour of Southern Transylvania by visiting the historic centre of Arad and the beautiful Art Museum. Depart for Budapest.
GUARANTEED DEPARTURE DATES
For 2008 Cultural Tour of Southern Transylvania is guaranteed to depart, from Budapest, on
- August the 2.
PRIVATE TOUR
Cultural Tour of Southern Transylvania is guaranteed to depart on the dates given, as we do not insist on a minimum number of bookings before departure. However all our escorted group tours can also be taken as private journeys, so you could experience all our excellent itineraries with whom ever you want and at your preferred travel dates. We are always happy to help you customise the itinerary that you like.
Private tour prices:
USD 3429* (EURO 2619) per person double occupancy,
based on 2 people traveling together
USD 2439* (EURO 1859) per person double occupancy,
based on 4 people traveling together
Single Supplement: USD 329* (EURO 249)
Solo Traveler: USD 6319* (EURO 4829)
* price in USD is for guidance only; balance will be paid in EURO.
The prices above are based on buying the itinerary as listed on tour page. We can customize the tour to meet your exact travel needs: change hotels, shorten or lengthen the tour. For any customization implying a new base itinerary, a tailor made fee of USD 302 (+VAT),Euro 240 (+VAT) is required and will be added to the tour cost.
IMPORTANT
Our company is committed to operating a Responsible Travel Policy that is supportive of the environment.
In stead of offering you a printed brochure, we’d rather have you enjoy a refreshing summer day at the shade of a thick forest. Should you need information, you will have our full support over the telephone, email or trough our websites.
EXPLANATION
Items marked in the tours as "Tips" represent our suggestion for a special activity or event particular for an area, that you shouldn’t miss, arranged with individual accounts.
Items marked in the tours as "Optional" are available at a small extra cost but not included because it will not appeal to everyone. Items marked in the tours as "Module" are available only if the entire group chooses them, arranged with individual accounts.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Price includes:
* Accommodation: four nights in 3* hotels, two nights in 4* hotels, one night in country-inn, (one bathroom for two rooms).
* Transportation: from / to Budapest airport, by coach, minibus or car - air conditioned, depending on the number of travellers
* English speaking guide
* Meals: 7 breakfasts, 1 picnic lunch at Poarta lui Ionele Cave and 6 dinners.
* Entry fees to: Bears Cave in Pietroasa, Salt Mines in Turda, Turzii's Gorges, Lazarea Castle, Ciucului's Sekler Museum in Miercurea Ciuc, The Museum of Mineral Water in Tusnad, Peles Castle, Bran Castel, Rasnov Peasant Citadel, Museum of Fagaras Country, Clock Tower, the Torture room and The Medieval Weapon Collection in Sighisoara, Fortified Church in Biertan, Spider web painter in Medias, Brukental Museum in Sibiu, Village Museum in Sibiu, Corvinesti Castle in Hunedoara, Savirsin Castle in Savirsin, Art Museum in Arad.
Not included: plane ticket, airport fees, photo & video tax and other not mentioned.
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