• arrival/departure by plane
• bus tour
• 8 days
• covers the most important sites of Romania

Although Romania has an impressive cultural variety and beautiful natural landscapes, it still is, for the most part, uncharted territory.

Day 1: Arrival in Bucharest

Arrival in Bucharest and meeting with the guide at the airport. Then transfer to hotel. Welcome dinner and accommodation in Bucharest.

Day 2: Bucharest – Bran – Brasov

Drive from Bucharest towards the mountains. Arrival at Bran Castle. The Bran Castle Museum is located on the former border between Transylvania and Walachia. Also known as the Dracula Castle, it was built in 1377 to safeguard the trade route between Transylvania and Walachia, enlarged and restored a few times since then. This castle is known as the homestead of Vlad Țepeș (Vlad the Impaler) and it’s the most visited attraction in Romania. The writer Bram Stoker brought the fame of the Dracula myth in our country at the beginning of the 20th century. During our city tour in Brașov we’ll see the city square and the historic monuments of the city. The main attraction is the Black Church, built in the 14th century in the Gothic style. Here we’ll also find a large collection of Oriental carpets, which is quite unusual for a Protestant church. Dinner and accommodation in Brașov.

Day 3: Brașov – Voroneț

Today we leave Transylvania behind and we arrive at the Red Lake (Lacul Roșu), where we take a hike around the lake. Afterwards we drive along the Bicaz Gorge, an impressive natural canyon with hundreds of meters of limestone-walls, towards Piatra Neamț. We then visit the Agapia monastery with 500 nuns and novices, one of the largest monasteries in Europe. Then we drive to Gura Humorului for a 2-night stay. Dinner and accommodation in Voroneț.

Day 4: The Moldavian Monasteries

After breakfast you’ll visit the UNESCO-Monasteries in Bukovina, also named the Moldavian Monasteries. First you’ll visit the Voroneț Monastery or “The Sistine Chapel of the East”, one of the best preserved monasteries of the 15th century. It is especially famous for the deep blue shade of its frescoes, known in Romania as “Voroneț Blue”. Next you’ll visit the Moldovița Monastery, where one of the nuns will tell you more about the everyday life of the nuns. Next you go to Sucevița, the “Pearl of the Moldavian Monasteries”. In the evening we enjoy an egg painting demonstration. Drive back to Voroneț. Dinner and accommodation in Voroneț.

Day 5: Voroneț – Bistrița – Sighișoara

Depart to Bistrița over the picturesque Borgo Pass of the Eastern Carpathians with a stop at Castle Dracula Hotel. This is where Bram Stoker placed the “residence” of his imaginary character: Count Dracula. You then pass through Bistrița heading south to Sighișoara. Here, we take a tour in Sighișoara to admire the most beautiful medieval townscape in Romania. We’ll see the Clock Tower, the Church on the Hill, the Citadel, the former defensive towers and walls of the town and also the birthplace of the Wallachian leader Vlad Dracul, who later became known as Count Dracula in Gothic literature and film. Dinner and accommodation in Sighișoara.

Day 6: Sighișoara – Sibiu

Today we’ll visit the former bishop’s seat in Biertan, where you’ll find a carefully restored fortified church which has been listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Drive to Sibiu through the picturesque Hârtibaciu Valley. A walk through the city center of Sibiu will take you along narrow alleys, old bargain houses, palaces, churches and towers. Among others, we’ll visit the following sights in the historical center: the Evangelical Church, the Council Tower, the Large and the Small Square, the Liars‘ Bridge, the Peasants‘ Market, etc. Dinner in Sibiel, at a farmer family. The meal will consist of traditional Romanian dishes. Overnight stay in Sibiu.

Day 7: Sibiu – Bucharest

Today we head alongside the Olt River towards southern Romania. Visit of the Cozia monastery , with typical Romanian architecture from the 14^th century.  We then continue to Bucharest. In Bucharest we’ll see the Athenaeum, the former royal palace, the Patriarchal Cathedral, the Stavropoleos church and other religious buildings, but also Ceaușescu’s megalomaniac legacy, nowadays known as the Palace of Parliament. The ruins of the old royal court remind us of Vlad Țepeș, a model for the literary character Count Dracula. The controversial Wallachian prince is rumored to be the founder of Bucharest. Dinner at a restaurant and accommodation in Bucharest.

Day 8: Departure

Transfer to airport and departure.

Included services:

– 7 overnight stays with breakfast in 3* and 4* hotels;

– 7x half board (dinner);

– 1x dinner at farmers in Sibiel (included in half board);

– 1x welcome drink;

– 1x wine tasting;

– 1x meeting with a local;

– all entry fees;

– transport with bus according to the program;

– English speaking tour guide from/to airport.

The Hotels are:

2 x Bucharest – Hotel Crystal Palace 4* or similar

1 x Poiana Brasov – Hotel Miraj 4* or similar

2 x Gura Humorului – Hotel Best Western 4* or similar

1 x Sighișoara – Hotel DoubleTree by Hilton – Cavaler 4* or similar

1 x Sibiu – Hotel Silva 4* or similar