HIGHLIGHTS
* Bran Castle – also known as Dracula’s Castle, a legendary Transylvanian fortress dating back to 1377.
* Peles Castle – one of the most beautiful royal residences in Europe, home to most of Romania’s monarchs
* Rasnov Peasant Citadel - the largest peasant fortification ever built in Eastern Europe
* Brasov City tour – explore the Medieval Saxon city of Brasov with its outstanding medieval atmosphere, one of the best preserved medieval cities in Europe
* Bucovina’s Monastery – UNESCO World Heritage sits, Voronet, Moldovita, Sucevita.
* Sighisoara Medieval Citadel one of Europe’s most beautiful and still inhabited fortified cities with a UNESCO World Heritage status.
* Merry Cemetery - discover in the picturesque and traditional area of Maramures how a cemetery can be merry.
* The European Capital of Culture for 2007 - the fortified town of Sibiu containing the largest concentrations of tourist attractions in Romania.
* Dracula’s Castle on Borgo Pass – built in accordance to Bram Stockers’s imagination on the border between Transylvania and Moldavia
* Bucharest city tour – to find out why the Romanian capital was once surnamed “the little Paris”.
DAY BY DAY ITINERARY
DAY 1 Friday, Bucharest
Welcome to Romania! You’ll connect with our English speaking guide at the airport. Enjoy a city tour; discover why the capital city of Bucharest was once surnamed “the little Paris”. Major highlights include: Romanian Athenaeum; Romanian Opera; the Triumph Arch, a little smaller than the one in Paris, but also located at the intersection of six boulevards; the Parliament Palace the second largest building in the world after the Pentagon; Stavropoleos Church an architectural jewellery, a combination of Romanian and Byzantine architecture. To have a complete picture of the Romanian capital you’re invited to enjoy a delicious traditional welcome dinner with folk show. Accommodate in a charming 3* hotel, central location.
DAY 2 Saturday, Bucharest – Sinaia – Rasnov – Bran – Brasov
Morning drive to Sinaia, the pearl of mountain resorts in Romania. Explore the main point of attraction, the royal Peles Castle, one of the best preserved and the most beautiful royal residences in Europe. Continue your journey with Transylvania’s symbol, Bran Castle. The edifice owes its fame both to its unique charm and to the myth Bram Stoker created around Dracula. In 1920, Queen Mary, the niece of Queen Victoria of Great Britain, turned the castle into a beautiful summer residence. The largest peasant fortification ever built in Eastern Europe is your next destination. Your journey ends in medieval Saxon city of Brasov. Accommodate in a centrally located 3* hotel. To better capture the Saxon atmosphere, you’ll enjoy a traditional Saxon dinner in one of the best restaurants in Brasov.
Day 3 Sunday, Brasov – Sighisoara
Explore Brasov, a city with an outstanding medieval atmosphere which has played a vital role in Romania’s history, both old and new. Visit the most famous landmark of Brasov, the Black Church, the largest gothic edifice in South – Eastern Europe. Next stop, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Sighisoara Medieval Citadel. Founded by Saxons during the 12th century, Sighisoara still stands as one of Europe’s most beautiful and still inhabited fortified cities. Sighisoara is also the place where Vlad the Impaler, known as Dracula, was born. Accommodate in a 3* hotel of an outstanding medieval charm, located in the heart of the medieval citadel.
Dinner in Casa Vlad Dracul Restaurant, the very place where Vlad Dracul was borne, turned today into a cosy restaurant.
Day 4 Monday, Sighisoara - Targu Mures – Reghin – Bistrita
Another important UNESCO World Heritage Site on your itinerary, the traditional Saxon village of Biertan, home to the best known of all the Saxon fortified churches. From the Saxon area drive to Targu Mures, to also get acquainted with Transylvania’s Szeckler influences. You can treat your self with delicious Hungarian recipes in the famous Laci Czarda restaurant. Evening in Bistrita Citadel, home to the impressive Dogarilor Tower (Cooper’s Tower) where you’ll have the privilege of meeting the honourable Misiuga, Baron of Dracula and admire an interesting hand made puppet exposition. Dinner is the culinary highlight of the day. Served in the Golden Crown Restaurant, Jonathan Harker Room, you’ll delight yourself with the same dishes, the main character of Dracula, had when in Bistrita!
Day 5 Tuesday, Bistrita – Gura Humorului
Visit today legendary places, made famous worldwide by Bram Stocker’s novel. You’ll reach Borgo Pass, the place where Bram Stocker placed the castle of the famous Count Dracula. Visit the Castle and the coffin and then head to Moldovita Monastery for a little prayer. The Church of the Annunciation of the Monastery of Moldovita has as well a UNESCO World Heritage Site status. The most spectacular fresco of Moldovita is considered The Fall of Constantinople. Enjoy a monastic lunch prepared by the nuns. Sucevita is your next stop, and then drive to Gura Humorului for accommodation in a 4* hotel.
Day 6 Wednesday, Gura Humorului – Voronet – Sacel – Birsana – Sighetu Marmatiei
Start your day with the most beautiful monastery of Bucovina, Voronet, probably the most accomplished example of Moldavian architecture and painting, known as the ‘Sistine Chapel’ of the East, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The fame of Voroneţ is due especially to its exterior painting realized on an inimitable blue background, and known throughout the world as the ‘blue of Voroneţ’. In Sacel you’re invited to visit the workshop of a skilled woodcraftsman and whiteness how wood takes shape and life in his hands. Continue with Barsana Monastery built on the right bank of Iza River. Lunch served at the country-inn run by the nuns. Accommodate in Sighetu Marmatiei in a 4* country-inn. For dinner we recommend Casa cu Pridvor. Restaurant for the delicious traditional Bucovinean dishes you can enjoy here.
Day 7 Thursday, Sighetu Marmatiei – Sapinta – Baia Mare
Get acquainted to another face of Romania’s history; visit the “Memorial” – an old communist prison turned into an impressive museum. The Merry Cemetery in the beautiful region of Sapanta is the next highlight of your day. The Merry Cemetery owns its name to the vivid colours of the headboards on which are naively painted scenes narrating the biography of the deceased. The house in which the artist lived and created is now a workshop-museum where Patras’s disciples continue his tradition. Sapanta is also home to the highest wood church in Romania., an interesting place to visit. Accommodate in a 3* hotel in Baia Mare and enjoy the dinner in the restaurant of the hotel.
Day 8 Friday, Baia Mare – Cluj – Turda
Live Maramures region and head back to Transylvania, to visit the city of Cluj Napoca, on important Transylvanian centre with a rich history and beautiful medieval buildings. Drive to Turda, 30 kilometers from Cluj and accommodate in a lovely 4* hotel, often referred to as a medieval fantasy with beds. The imposing medieval atmosphere combines rustic and hunting elements creating an intimate and worm atmosphere. Dinner will be served in the restaurant of the hotel and will definitely be the highlight of the evening as you’ll taste a vampire menu.
Day 9 Saturday, Turda – Sibiu
Prepare to descent to the heart of one of the biggest saline in Romania, the Salt Mines of Turda, with impressive halls named after kings and queens. Drive next to the traditional Saxon village of Sibiel and enjoy a home cooked lunch in the restaurant of a country-inn. The village of Sibiel is home to a museum housing an important collection of glass painting. Evening in the European cultural capital of 2007, Sibiu. The fortified town of Sibiu has been the centre of Romania's German minority since medieval times and it is one of Romania’s most beautiful cities. Visit the Village Museum, the largest outdoor exhibition of peasant settlements from all over Romania. Accommodate in a 4* hotel.
Module: You can complete your staying in Sibiu with a wine tasting session.
Day 10 Sunday, Sibiu – Bucharest
In the morning visit a top tourist attraction of Sibiu, the Bruckental Museum, displaying important works of art: Rubens, Titzian, Van Dyke. Transfer to Bucharest airport for the flight back home.
GUARANTEED DEPARTURE DATES
For 2008 Best of Romania, Sightseeing tour is guaranteed to depart on
- July 18.2008
- August 08.2008
- August 22.2008
PRIVATE TOUR
For 2008 Best of Romania, Sightseeing tour 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 2949* (EURO 2089) per person, double occupancy,
based on 2 persons travelling together
USD 2459* (EURO 1739) per person, double occupancy,
based on 4 persons travelling together
Single Supplement: USD 299* (EURO 299)
* 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.
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.
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.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
* Accommodation:4 nights in 4* hotels, 5 nights in 3*
* Transportation: we welcome our tourists at the airport with a luxury coach to fully enjoy the scenery unfolding before them;
- Attention: for a luxury coach a minimum of 15 tourists is required, (the group limits are 15 to 48 persons); for smaller groups the transportation is assured by minibus or car .
* Meals: 9 breakfasts, 6 dinners and 3 lunches.
* Entry fees to: Peles castle, Bran Castle, Risnov Peasant Citadel, Black Church in Brasov, Clock Tower, Medieval Weapon Collection and Torture Room in Sighisoara, Dracula Castle and Coffin in Borgo Pass, Moldovita Monastery, Sucevita Monastery, Voronet Monastery, Woodcraftsman workshop in Sacel, Birsana Monastery, Prison of Communism Victims in Sighetu Marmatiei, Merry Cemetery, Turda Salt Mines, Icon Glass Painting Museum when in Sibiel, Village Museum and Brukental Museum in Sibiu.
Not included: plane ticket, airport fees, photo & video tax and other not mentioned.
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Romania
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