Discover Romania – 10 days/9 nights

Short description

A wonderful journey through the three provinces of Romania – Wallachia, Transylvania and Moldova

Day 1. Pick up from Bucharest Airport. Transfer to the Duke Hotel (*** 3 star, Air-conditioned, cable TV, breakfast included, in the Bucharest downtown).  Dinner on your own.

Day 2. Breakfast.  Breakfast. City Tour of Bucharest (5 hrs.). 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 center point of Bucharest and Romania’s modern history. It covers 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. Dinner on your own.

Day 3. Breakfast. Start driving to Sibiu (274 Km NW). On the way stop at Curtea de Arges to visit the Curtea de Arges Cathedral (16th century), a unique architectural monument, build by Neagoe Basarab, in 1518. Continue to Sibiu through the spectacular Olt River Valley and visit the Cozia Monastery (14th century), foundation of Dracula’s grandfather, Mircea de Old.  Arrive in Sibiu around 5 PM. Check in at the Roman Emperor or the Continental Forum Hotel (***). Dinner on your own.

Day 4. Breakfast. Tour of the old fortified city. Discover the Old town, known to his German builders as Hermanstadt. Walk through the Large and the Little Square, the Bridge of Lies and visit the Lutheran Cathedral (1520). Start driving north to Cluj Napoca. On the way stop in Sibiel to visit the Glass Icon Museum. Continue north throught Alba Iulia and visit the fortress and the Unification Cathedral. Lunch. Continue drive north and arrive in Cluj around 5 PM. Walking tour of the City Center. We explore on foot the historic center of the city and visit the most imposing landmarks, the St Michael’s and the Orthodox Cathedral. Overnight in Hotel Belvedere (****). Dinner on your own.

Day 5. Breakfast. Start driving north to Dej and then east to Bistrita Nasaud, later climbing through the spectacular Borgo , Tihuta and Mestecanis Passes,  towards the province of Bucovina. A day driving through splendid villages and pristine scenery as we cross the Northern Carpathians. Lunch at Dracula Castle Hotel Restaurant in Tihuta. Continue east into Moldova and arrive in Gura Humorului, at Hotel Bucovina Best Western (***) around 5 PM. Dinner on your own.

Day 6. 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 in Best Western Hotel. Dinner on your own.

Day 7. Breakfast. Drive south through Falticeni and Targu Neamt. Visit the 15th century Neamt Citadel (15 min walking uphill) and the XV century Neamt Monastery. Start crossing the mountains along the BICAZ LAKE and through the spectacular Bicaz River Gorges. Lunch at the Edelweiss Restaurant, by the Red Lake. Continue west and arrive in Sighisoara around 5 PM. Check in at Sighisoara or Casa Wagner Hotel (***). Dinner on your own.

Day 8. Breakfast. Visit Sighisoara, UNESCO World Heritage site, one of the best preserved medieval cities in Europe. Among the highlights are the Clock Tower Museum (whose top platform offers a breathtaking view of the city!), the Covered Stairway (1624) and Dracula’s birthplace house (1431) and the Church Uphill. Short drive NW to cisit the 15th century fortified church of Biertan, for 3oo years the residence of the Protestant Archbishop of Transilvania. Lunch at the Unglerus medieval restaurant in Biertan.  Continue south to Brasov through Rupea and on the way visit the Teutonic Knights Fortress and Church of Prejmer (13th century). Arrive in Brasov around 5 PM. Check in at Ambient Hotel (****). Dinner on your own.

Day 9. 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 Lido Hotel. In the evening, ROMANIAN  TRADITIONAL DINNER with Folk Show.

Day 10. Transfer to the Airport. Sorry to see you go!

Price & Information

Price:

1. For 2 persons: 1,375 EURO/person (Independent tour)
2. For 4 persons: 1,255 EURO/person
3. For 5-7 persons: 1,175 EURO/person * Single room supplement (srs) – 145 EURO * Individual tour available on request

Included:

• 9 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. So the meals are yours.
• 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.