You will have fascinating trip through all Romania visiting Bucharest, Pitesti, Ramnicu Valcea, Olt Valley, Sibiu, Sebes, Alba Iulia, Cluj Napoca, Gherla and Dej. Also you won't forget enjoying travelling to Barsana, Sighet, Borsa, Brasov and other cities.
Day 1. Otopeni Airport - Bucharest
In this day you'll meet your English speaking guide at the airport. Your guide will be in the same time your driver. Brief presentation of Bucharest and of the tour on route to your hotel. Check in. The rest of your time is at your leisure. In the evening your guide will come to take you to a festive folklore dinner at Pescarus Restaurant.
Back to your hotel.
Day 2*. Bucharest - Pitesti - Ramnicu Valcea - Olt Valley - Sibiu
After your breakfast, you'll start your day heading towards Sibiu, a Transylvanian city built by Saxons about 800 years ago.
On the way you'll visit Cozia Monastery built in 1387-1391 by Dracula's (Vlad the Impaler) grandfather. Here you'll have a first contact with an orthodox church built in the Byzantine style.
Driving on the beautiful Olt Valley, you'll make a small detour for a taste of the country side. You'll visit Cisnadie fortified church which was built by the Saxons around 12th century. Protected by walls, towers and bastions, the church was the first one in Transylvania having a lightning rod.
Finally, we reach Sibiu, also a German city with a very important cultural influence over the country throughout history.
Brukenthal, governor of Transylvania, had a major roll in Sibiu's development as a major cultural center. He opened the first museum of Romania in 1817, seven years after National Gallery in London, exhibiting his vast art collection. Sibiu, Europe's cultural capital in 2007, is also known for its medieval architecture, passages, alleys, churches and towers. Sibiu boasts Romania's first iron bridge, which has an interesting legend regarding its name. You'll visit places such as Large Square, Small Square, Huet Square, Goldsmiths' Square and Passage, Staircases' Passage, the Evangelic Church, the Orthodox Cathedral, the Catholic Church and Brukenthal Museum.
You'll stay overnight in Sibiu.
Day 3. Sibiu - Sebes - Alba Iulia - Cluj Napoca
After breakfast you'll head towards city of Cluj Napoca.
On the way, you'll stop in Alba Iulia, the most important urban center during Roman occupation and capital between 1541 and 1690 of the Transylvania province. It was here Michael the Brave (Mihai Viteazul) unified for the first time, November 1st, 1599, the all three Romanian provinces, Walachia, Moldavia and Transylvania.
Here you'll admire the walls of the fortress built in Vauban type. The Reunification Cathedral was built between 1921 and 1923, a grandiose building which was the place where the Romanian monarchs were crowned. The Roman Catholic Cathedral, built in 13th century, is considered to be an important monument of early Transylvanian medieval architecture. It harmoniously combines Gothic and Roman style elements. It is here Iancu by Hunedoara, the father of King Corvinus, rests for eternity.
Driving through the Transylvanian hills you'll reach the city of Cluj Napoca. After your check in, you'll visit the beautiful town's old center, where you can admire the St. Michael Cathedral and the Orthodox Cathedral. In the afternoon you'll go to Cetatuia Hill, which offers a beautiful view over the town.
Day 4. Cluj Napoca - Gherla - Dej - Baia Mare - Vadu Izei
After your breakfast you'll drive towards Maramures region, a place where the purity of nature blends the beauty of the old villages, a place where the locals kept untouched their traditions, a place where the carved wood represents a common way of building.
Passing through Gherla, Dej and Baia Mare you'll have a first contact with a wooden church, Surdesti church. Built in 1724, this church, made of evergreen oak beams, impresses because of its very high steeple, 54m, the total high of the church reaching 72m!
Crossing Gutai Mountains, you'll reach Desesti village famous for its wooden church. Built in 1780, the wooden church amazes with its beautiful frescoes made by Radu Munteanu, a local painter.
Further on, you'll stop at the exit of Berbesti village to admire Rednic wooden Calvary, the oldest crucifix in Romania, 300 years old.
Finally, you'll reach Vadu Izei village renowned for its craftsmen: woodcarvers, weavers and painters.
Before the dinner you'll take a stroll in the village. You'll visit a local distillery, used by the locals to prepare tuica or palinca, a sort of plumb brandy. Not far from the distillery, you'll see how the locals are washing their carpets in a way like 100 years ago.
In the end you'll take a stroll, admiring the street, alleys and the interesting architecture of the village.
You'll stay overnight in a modern guest houses with all modern facilities.
During summer days you'll enjoy a traditional dinner served outside in a gazebo.
Day 5. Vadu Izei - Sighet - Sapanta - Vadu Izei
After the traditional breakfast you'll head towards Sapanta village to admire Merry Cemetery. Here the carved crosses are painted in bright colors, the dead person being represented in an important moment of his life.
In Sighet you'll find out something about the horrors of the communism regime. You'll visit a prison where during the communism years many important Romanian leaders but also, common people who were against the regime, lost their lives. Optionally you can visit Ellie Wiesel's house, awarded with the Nobel Prize for peace. In 1944, Ellie Wiesel, together with other 38 000 Jewish from Maramures, were sent by the Nazi to different concentration camps. In his many books, Ellie tells different stories about these moments.
In the end, you'll visit an interesting village museum which displays an important number of traditional wooden houses.
Back to Vadu Izei.
Day 6. Vadu Izei - Barsana - Ieud - Dragomiresti - Borsa - Campulung - Gura Humorului
At 8 o'clock you'll serve your breakfast.
Today the journey is long and beautiful. First, you'll visit Toader Barsan's house, a local wood carver who took part at the Smithsonian World Festival in Washington. In the same village, you'll visit one of the highest wooden churches in the world, Barsana church. Dedicated to the Twelve Apostles, the church was built in 1992.
After one of the newest wooden church in Maramures you'll stop in Ieud village for the oldest one. The Church on the Hill was built in 1364.
The last visit in Maramures is the Museum of the Peasant Women in Dragomiresti village. It is a traditional wooden house which belonged to a woman never married.
Passing through the mountains of Maramures (Prislop Pass), you'll reach for the first time Bucovina region, known for its painted monasteries, but also for the traditional houses adorned with beautiful floral and geometrical motifs, for its traditions kept over the centuries and for its hospitable peoples.
Driving through Ciocanesti village, where you'll be able to admire the locals' houses and Campulung, you'll reach Gura Humorului, best base for the tour of the monasteries.
Day 7. Gura Humorului - Moldovita - Sucevita - Marginea - Voronet - Vama - Gura Humorului
Breakfast in the morning.
This day will be used entirely for the painted monasteries tour. You'll start with one of the most beautiful monasteries, the Convent of Moldovita. It is famous for its "Siege of Constantinople" fresco. Then you'll drive to the nearby Sucevita Monastery, which is the largest of all, looking more like a mighty fortress than a monastery. "The ladder of John of Sinai" fresco is considered one of the best of Sucevita.
Romania has 3 important pottery centers, one of them being Marginea village. You'll stop in this village to see the workshops where the talented craftsmen make the renowned black pottery.
The next monastery is the most famous of all. Located not far from Gura Humorului, Voronet Convent amazes with its unique blue color, obtained from lapis lazuli, known as Voronet blue. But the "Last Judgment" fresco exceeds all expectations.
Optionally, before Voronet Monastery, you can go to Humor Monastery, located not far from Gura Humorului. Another painted monastery, Humor is surrounded by beautiful hills covered by forests. It was here that Toader Bubulog, an important nobleman of his time, built in 1530 the present church on the former site of an old hermitage.
In the end of the day you'll attend an egg painting demonstration in Vama village. Back to Gura Humorului.
Day 8. Gura Humorului - Targu Neamt - Bicaz - Gheorghieni - Sovata - Sighisoara
After your breakfast you'll drive towards Sighisoara.
Although, today the journey will be quite long, you'll still have time for some visits.
You'll stop for Bicaz Gorges located in the Hasmas Mountains. About 7km long with walls 300m high, Bicaz Gorges are not just a splendid occasion to admire the beauty of nature but also a place for buying souvenirs from the local merchants.
Not far from the gorges, Red Lake presents an interesting picturesque area, with its empty trunks of old fir trees which jut out of the water. Bring your camera. After the lunch, you'll continue towards the citadel of Sighisoara.
Day 9. Sighisoara - Viscri - Brasov
Breakfast in the morning.
On the way towards Brasov you'll make a small detour to visit the beautiful Viscri fortified church. Located 35km southeast of Sighisoara, the village of Viscri boasts the well-preserved peasant fortress which surrounds one of the few Romanesque churches in Romania. The Teutonic Knights built the citadel in the 13th century on the site of an existing church. The village was first mentioned in documents in 1400, under the name "Alba ecclesia". Being a UNESCO heritage site since 1990, the fortress has huge walls with protective towers, the main tower being 10m in height. The villagers used the fortified church as a hiding place when the Tartars attacked them.
After check in, you'll visit Brasov, a city founded by the Saxons, who colonized Transylvania in the 12-13th centuries. Here you'll visit the old center, where you'll admire the beautiful buildings such as the astonishing Black Church which is built in Gothic and Renaissance style. Also, you'll see the narrowest street in Romania, Rope Street, Schei and Catherine's Gates, St. Nicholas Church, and the old Schei neighborhood.
Day 10. Brasov - Rasnov - Bran - Sinaia - Ploiesti - Bucharest
After you'll enjoy your breakfast you'll head towards the peasant fortress of Rasnov. Built in the 14th century, the fortress, with its beautiful panoramic view, is a good occasion to see how the locals defended themselves against different invaders.
Located in the Barsa Country, the Bran Castle is famous for the Dracula legend, but in reality has no link with the terrifying Count. From here you'll head towards Sinaia, advancing on the beautiful Prahova Valley. You'll have an astonishing view over the Bucegi Mountain, especially over the craggy Caraiman Massive with its Heroes' Cross built in the memory of the died soldieries during the First World War.
In Sinaia you'll visit Peles Castle, the most beautiful castle in Romania, residence of the former royal family. Sinaia Monastery was the first building of this town, being located not far away from the castle.
Passing through the Romanian plains, you'll reach Bucharest in the afternoon where your tour ends.
Day 11. Transfer day
Breakfast in the morning.
Your guide will come to your hotel for your airport/train station transfer.
Day 12*. Bucharest - Pitesti - Curtea de Arges - Transfagarasan Road - Sibiu
Option:
During July and August months, we'll use Transfagarasan road, instead of Olt Valley. The tour of the day is changed accordingly:
After your breakfast, you'll start your day heading towards Sibiu, a Transylvanian city built by Saxons about 800 years ago.
On the way you'll stop to visit Curtea de Arges Monastery, one of the most beautiful monasteries of Romania. The legend says the construction made during the day, collapsed during the night. Thus, the workers were forced to wall into the building one of the workers' wife or sister. When the splendid building was finished, the Prince who ordered the construction of the monastery, fearing that the workers will build a much more beautiful monastery, took the leaders, the workers remaining on the roof of the church. Although, they tried to improvise some wings, they died crushed by the land.
At the beginning of the Transfagarasan Road, Vlad the Impaler built Poienari fortress on top of a mountain. The fortress can be reached only after you have climbed 1400 stone stairs. This path through the forest used to be surrounded by hundreds of impaled people, the image being terrified for the enemies of Vlad. Also, Vidraru Dam was constructed on this road, being impressive through its size: 166m in height, the length of the dam having 305m.
Further on, you'll drive on the Transfagarasan road, the most picturesque rod of Romania. After the invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968, Ceausescu dictator, being afraid of a Soviet invasion, ordered the building of a strategic road, in this way being able to transfer troops and munitions from one side to the other of the Carpathian Mountains. The construction of the road took more than 4 years, since March 1970 till 20th September 1974. It was built manly by the army, the human and material costs being enormous. The road, inaugurated by the dictator, uneconomic for goods transportation, is a fascinating tourist route, representing through out summers the most impressive and spectacular way of crossing the Carpathians.
Finally, you'll reach Sibiu, also a German city with a very important cultural influence over the country throughout history.
Brukenthal, governor of Transylvania, had a major roll in Sibiu's development as a major cultural center. He opened the first museum of Romania in 1817, seven years after National Gallery in London, exhibiting his vast art collection. Sibiu, Europe's cultural capital in 2007, is also known for its medieval architecture, passages, alleys, churches and towers. Sibiu boasts Romania's first iron bridge, which has an interesting legend regarding its name. You'll visit places such as Large Square, Small Square, Huet Square, Goldsmiths' Square and Passage, Staircases' Passage, the Evangelic Church, the Catholic Church. You'll stay overnight in Sibiu.
Tariffs for June & July:
1 person/trip: 2495Euros; 2-3 persons/trip: 1365Euros; 4-6 persons/trip: 1156Euros
Single Supplement: 290Euros*
Tariffs for May & September:
1 person/trip: 2340Euros; 2-3 persons/trip: 1287Euros; 4-6 persons/trip: 1131Euros
Single Supplement: 290Euros*
Tariffs for March, April, October & November:
1 person/trip: 1503Euros; 2-3 persons/trip: 882Euros; 4-6 persons/trip: 870Euros
Single Supplement: 170Euros*
*The single supplement is already included in the tariff for the one person trip.
The tariffs include:
- car with A/C
- Fuel for the entire trip
- Transfers from/to airport or train station
- Accommodation in 3-4 stars hotels
- Breakfast each day
- Festive folklore dinner
- Two traditional dinners in Vadu Izei
- English speaking guide/driver
- Entrance fees for tourist objectives
- Parking tickets
- Welcome folder & detailed map of Romania
- VAT, hotel taxes
- Special lecture about Dracula
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Guide in Romania - Eduard Popescu
