Castles and Monasteries – 8 days/7 nights

Short description

A fabulous journey through the mysteries of Transylvania and the beauties of Bucovina

Day 1. Pick up from Bucharest Airport. Transfer to the Opera Hotel (***  star, Air-conditioned, cable TV, breakfast included, in the Bucharest downtown). Dinner on your own.

Day 2. Bucharest City Tour. Explore Bucharest in detail, with history, architecture and culture sites. Visitation at the Palace of the Parliament. Our tour begins with a morning walk through the Revolution Square, a centerpoint of Bucharest and Romania’s modern history. It cover most of the old city, together with the most important architectural landmarks: The Royal Palace, The University Library, The Palace of Justice, the CEC Bank, The Patriarch’s Cathedral, The Free Press Building. We will visit the Palace of Parliament, the second largest administrative building in the world.After lunch we start driving towards  to Sibiu (274 Km NW), through Pitesti and Ramnicu Valcea. On the way visit the Cozia Monastery (14th century).  Arrive in Sibiu around 6 PM. Accommodation in Roman Emperor Hotel or Continental Forum (***). Dinner on your own.

Day 3. Breakfast. Morning tour of Sibiu. Explore the medieval town, one of the largest and most prosperous of Transylvania. Walk on the ancient streets and squares, discovering the town’s history and architecture. Discover the Old town, known to his German builders as Hermanstadt. Visit  the Large and the Little Square, the Bridge of Lies and the Lutheran Cathedral (1520). Later drive to Sibiel village and visit the Glass Icons Museum, unique in the world. Continue east to Biertan village and visit the village’s fortified church. Lunch in Biertan at the Unglerus, Medival Restaurant. Continue to Sighisoara (25 Km east) . Arrive around 4 PM. Visit Sighisoara, UNESCO World Heritage site. Accommodation at Sighisoara Hotel (***). Dinner on your own.

Day 4. Breakfast. Drive north to Targu Mures (1hr)  with a brief stop to visit the downtown’ Rose Square and the stunning Palace of Culture (30 min). Continue north to Bistrita (1.5 hrs), then turn east towards Vatra Dornei through the spectacular Bargau (Borgo) Pass where Bram Stoker has place the Dracula’s Castle in his famous novel (1.5 hrs). Lunch  at the Dracula Hotel Restaurant. Continue east over the mountains to  Gura Humorului with accommodation at  the Passiflora B&B (****) (2.5 hrs). Dinner on your own.

Day 5. Breakfast. Today we visit a unique corner of Romania,  the famous painted Monasteries (UNESCO World Heritage sites). We will see them in the chronological order of their construction and painting beginning with Humor, and continuing with Voronet,  and Moldovita. Lunch at the Bucovina Restaurant. Continue with Sucevita and visit the Black Pottery workshops at Marginea. Drive to Gura Humorului. Accommodation an the Passiflora B&B (****). Dinner on your own.

Day 6. Breakfast. Drive south through Falticeni and Targu Neamt.  Stop in Targu Neamt and visit the Neamt Monastery (15th century). Start crossing the mountains through the spectacular Bicaz Gorges. Lunch at the Edelweiss Restaurant, i. the Gorges.  Continue south through Miercurea Ciuc and Sfantu Gheorghe to Brasov.  Accommodation in Brasov, Ambient Hotel (***). Dinner on your own.

Day 7. Breakfast. Breakfast. In Brasov, visit the Council Square, the Black Church, and the Old Fortified City. Drive to Bran. Continue with the Dracula Castle, the fortress of Bran. Continue to Sinaia and visit the Peles Castle, the former summer residence of the first King of Romania, Prince Karl of Hohenzollern Sigmaringen. Drive to Bucharest. Check in at the Opera Hotel. Romanian Traditional Dinner with Folk Show.

Day 8. Transfer to the Airport. Sorry to see you go!

Price & Information

Price:

1. For 2 persons: 990 EURO/person (Independent tour)
2. For 4 persons: 840 EURO/person
3. For 5-7 persons: 695 EURO/person Single room supplement (srs) – 175 EURO Individual tour available on request

Included:

• 7 nights accommodation in double room with breakfast included in **, *** and **** hotels. In all places, accommodation is the best available with “buffet” type breakfast.
• Transport with 7 seat air condition minivan, with driver & fuel included.
• Guide/Driver accommodation and meals. Guiding and interpreting services.
• All entrances fees to the sites where visitation is taxed (museums, monasteries, churches, etc).
• Airport transfers. ROMANIAN TRADITIONAL DINNER with Folk Show.

Not included:

• Your meals. Usually I recommend the best places to eat in each location, but I do not like to include meals or to set menus and tell my customers how much or what to eat.
• Picture taking taxes or video camera fees in certain locations like monasteries or museums. It is your choice to take pictures or not.
• Air fare. We are not in position to arrange air transport from here, and we are sure you would like to take advantage of your free air miles programs.