Itinerary

Day 1

Monday, October 27th
ROUTING: BUCHAREST
- Your English-speaking specialist guide will pick you up from Bucharest Airport
(if you are already in Bucharest make your own way to the hotel)
- Start off with a panoramic tour of Bucharest to see it most important
monuments, such as The old quarter, the Stavropoulos Church, the Revolution
Square with the famous balcony, and more (we will make some stops but the visits
are from the outside)
- At the end of the tour you will be dropped off at your hotel
- Dinner at Club Dracula
- Overnight in Bucharest
ACCOMMODATION: Crystal Palace****
D

Day 2

Tuesday, October 28th
ROUTING: BUCHAREST - SNAGOV - CURTEA DE ARGES
- Breakfast in Hotel
- After Breakfast, we start on the trails of Dracula, to see his final resting
place.
- Snagov is a small village 40 km north of Bucharest, with its beautiful sixteen
kilometer long lake; In the centre of the lake is an island occupied by a
monastery, built in 1519
- The Snagov monastery is situated on the island of the lake with the same name,
we have to reach the monastery by crossing the lake by boat (If time and weather
permit).
- Visitors come here to seek the tomb of Dracula sitting in the front of the
church altar.
- Vlad's murder is believed to have occurred in the forests nearby, where the
monks took the his body, since both Vlad and his father had both given money to
the monastery.
- We will depart for Curtea de Arges (Court de Arges): The former second capital
of Walachia. The strongholds rebuilt in the 14th century
- See its Princely Church and its frescoed interior which is one of the first
examples of Romanian paintings. The Episcopal Church (the monastery) which is a
recreation of the original built in 1512 -1517 by prince Neagoe Basarab (rebuilt
in 1875 - 1885) and Olari Church.
- Evening and Dinner on your own
- Overnight in Curtea de Arges
ACCOMMODATION: Montana Guesthouse***
B

Day 3

Wednesday, October 29th
ROUTING: CURTEA DE ARGES - POENARI - BRAN - BRASOV
- Breakfast in Hotel
- Today we will continue our journey of uncovering the real Dracula's foot steps
- Reaching POENARI CASTLE; standing on a cliff but know in ruins this is known
as the real castle of Dracula (Vlad Tepes). To get to the top you must climb up
its 1400 steps (takes approx. 1 hr)
- Once you arrive to the top of the Citadel you will find that the citadel is
surprisingly small, one third has collapsed down the mountainside in 1888.
Entering through a narrow wooden bridge, you come across the crumbling remains
of two towers within; the prism shaped one was Vlad's ( Dracula's) residential
quarters, from here, according to the legend , The Impaler's wife flung herself
out from the window, declaring that better this way than be captured by the
Turks, who were besieging the castle. Legend has it that Vlad himself escaped
over the mountains on horseback.
- We then depart for Bran village, with the famous history and beautiful Bran
Castle .
- Why is Bran so famous? It is a rich village, situated 28 km from Brasov, the
village commands the entrance to the pass of the same name, once the main route
into Wallachia .
- The Saxons from Brasov built a castle here in 1377 - 1382 to safeguard this
vital trade artery and although what's now stated on every tourist brochure as
Dracula's Castle. It has only few associations with Vlad the Impaler - it is
said that he sieged it in 1460 on an attack of the land of Bran.
- One of its famous residents was Queen Marie of Romania, the granddaughter of
Queen Victoria and married to prince Ferdinand in 1893.
- Today this region is full of beautiful guesthouses, the landscapes are some of
the most beautiful in the country
- Visit to the castle
- End the day in Brasov. short tour of the magic medieval center of Brasov (2
hours) - Council Square, Black Church, White and Black Towers, Weaver's Bastion
and Ecaterina's Gate.
- **Optional: Traditional Romanian Dinner and Party. Enjoy the Romanian cuisine
with folk singers and dancers** (Must advise in advance)
- Overnight in Brasov
ACCOMMODATION: Casa Wagner Hotel *** or similar
B

Day 4

Thursday, October 30th
ROUTING: BRASOV - SINAIA - BISTRITA - BORGO PASS
- Breakfast.
- We'll go to Sinaia and visit the Peles Castle, former summer residence of the
kings of Romania, the Peles Castle is 44 kilometres far from Brasov, in Sinaia,
a well-known mountain resort as well. Nowadays the Castle is one of the most
important museums in Transylvania where one can admire furniture and ornamental
objects, carpets, tapestry, sculptures, paintings, collections of weapons from
the 15th up to the19th centuries.
- Continue our route to Bistrita short visit of the city. We pass through
Bistrita, the setting for much of Bram Stoker's Dracula, at km 108, followed by
Bargau Valley we will find the Hotel Castle Dracula in Piatra Fintinele.
- Birgau Valley has a very dramatic scenery, with huge hills draped in forests
of fir trees and with villages appearing as living monuments to a way of life
unchanged for centuries, with the Saxon House Museum from Livezile village,
attesting a former Saxon population in this region (established here in the 12
and 13 centuries).
- The Borgo Pass is the border between Transylvania and Bucovina, with fantastic
landscapes. The Hotel situated on a 1116m altitude with a fantastic view of the
Carpathian mountains.
- The Hotel dates from 1983, built in the style of a medieval mansion, it was
created to bring alive an authentic Dracula atmosphere.
- Enjoy a special Dinner in the restaurant of the hotel.
ACCOMMODATION: Hotel Castle Dracula ***
B, D

Day 5

Friday, October 31st
ROUTING: PIATRA FANTANELE - SIGHISOARA
- Breakfast in Hotel
- Depart for Sighisoara
- En Route we will stop in Targu Mures, one of the great Magyar Cities of
Romania
- Arrival in the afternoon to Sighisoara
- The old medieval city is included on UNESCO's Word Heritage. The Old Town or
the Citadel is the only one still inhabited in Europe - a lost world and still
so at the present!
- In 1431, the storey house at Museum Square 6, within the shadow of the old
town's Clock Tower, a women whose name is lost to posterity gave birth to a son
called Vlad, who in later life earned the title of The Impaler , abroad better
known as Dracula, derived from Dracul or the Devil - referring to his father
Vlad Dracul, whom the Holy Roman Emperor Sigismund of Hungary made a knight of
the order of The Dragon in 1431.
- Highlights of the Citadel include The Clock Tower, the Church on the Hill, the
Scholar's Stairs, The Monastery Church, the towers of the citadel (originally
fourteen), The Shoemakers Town, the Tailor's Tower, the Tinsmiths Tower are only
a few of the marvels of this place called Sighisoara.
- Transfer to the hotel and get ready for the Halloween Party!!
- Tonight will be a special dinner and Halloween Party with a Dracula Show,
Costume contest and a lot of surprises. Don't forget to bring your Halloween
costume!
- Overnight in Sighisoara
ACCOMMODATION: CASA CU CERB*** or similar
B, D

Day 6

Saturday, November 1st
ROUTING: SIGHISOARA - SIBIU - BUCHAREST
- Breakfast in Hotel
- Depart from Sighisoara to Sibiu which was the European Capital of Culture in
2007. Sibiu is one of the most important fortified towns in Transylvania.
- The city was founded in 1190 and grew to be the chief city of the
Transylvanian Saxons. This amazing town, with the "Old Town" (The Big Square,
the Small Square, the Ursuline Church, The Franciscan Church, The staircase
Tower, the Tanners Tower, the Liar's Bridge , the House of the Butcher's Guild
and last but not least with the amazing Bruckenthal Museum) are a few highlights
of Sibiu
- Continue our route to Bucharest through Olt Valley who pass the Carpathians
Mountains offering beautiful landscapes to the traveler.
- On the route stop at Cozia Monastery; erected by Mircea cel Bătrân in 1388 and
boasting his tomb, is one of the most valuable monuments of national medieval
art and architecture in Romania.
- Continue to Bucharest
- Arrival and overnight in Bucharest
ACCOMMODATION: Crystal Palace Hotel ****
B

Day 7

Sunday, November 2nd
ROUTING: BUCHAREST - AIRPORT
- Breakfast in Hotel
- Transfer to Airport and the final good-bye from your Specialist Guide
B

Extra Information

Inclusions -

6 nights accommodation in Hotels/Guesthouses 3* & 4* (Hotels subject to change according to availability) , (B) Breakfast daily, except on the day of arrival , (D) 3 Dinners; Sighisoara, Piatra Fantanele, Club Dracula Restaurant in Bucharest , Dracula Show in Hotel Castel Dracula (Piatra Fintinele) , English-Speaking Specialist guide for the duration of the tour , Transportation in fully equipped minibus or Coach with private driver , Pick,up from Bucharest International Airport on Sunday, on October 26th from 10am - 5pm , Drop,off at the Bucharest International Airport on Sunday, November 2nd. from 7am - 2pm. ** alternate pick up times and locations are available for an extra cost, please inquire for more details and prices** , Visit of Snagov Monastery (Dracula’s tomb) by boat. , Halloween Party in Sighisoara

Exclusions -

Insurance

Extras -

What a better way to celebrate Halloween than the home land of Vlad the
Impaler or better known as Dracula. We have prepared a special tour for this
event to trace the foots steps of the Real Dracula. Travel with your
specialist tour guide to ancient residents of this phenomenon where Vlad use to
dwell. Discover the truth and the myth of this unique legend. We have also
included important elements of Romanian history on this tour.

We will start of in Bucharest where you will be met by your English speaking
tour guide at the international airport. On the way to your hotel enjoy a basic
tour of the city. For tonight's dinner you will be welcomed to Club Dracula to
enjoy an amusing evening in this unique restaurant. The atmosphere soaks up the
with Dracula lovers, both the fictional Bram Stoker's character to the Vlad
himself, from the servers to the plates and even the wall paper.

The next morning we are off to Snagov Monastery, where they say the tomb of
Dracula lays. To visit you must cross the kilometer long lake by boat. Vlad's
murder is believed to have occurred in the forests nearby, where the monks took
the his body, since both Vlad and his father had both given money to the
monastery.


Next, we depart for Poenari Castle, which is referred to as the real Dracula
Castle. Now in ruins this castle sits on a cliff which demands a hike up the
1,400 stairs to reach the top. This is where the famous scene took place when
Dracula's wife flung herself from the window into the murk waters opting death
over being captured by the Turks. It is said that Vlad escaped by horse back
through the mountain during this ferocious attack

Next; we will head to Bran Castle, often referred to as Dracula Castle.
Although in history it is said he may have set foot in the residence once during
a siege of the castle. Despite these allegations this is one of the most
picturesque castles in the country. Built by the Saxons in 1300's in a setting
surrounded by forest and hills. After a visit to Bran, we will visit Rasnov
fortress, and then head to Sinaia to see the stunning Peles Palace, before
stopping for the night in the medieval city of Brasov. This night will be free
to explore the lively city of Brasov, and take part in some of the great
nightlife.

Today we head towards Borgo pass - the fictional path used in the novel to reach
Count Dracula's home of residence. Its dramatic scenery, with huge hills draped
in forests of fir trees and villages appearing as living monuments to a way of
life unchanged for centuries. At the end of the road we will come to Hotel
Dracula where you will be staying for the night. The Hotel dates from 1983,
built in the style of a medieval mansion, it was created to bring alive an
authentic Dracula atmosphere.

The next morning we are onto Sighisoara, the birth place of Dracula. This
ancient citadel is among one of the only still inhabited in Europe. An
appropriate stay for Halloween night. This evening will have many festivities
planned for your special night (costumes, masks, fangs, fake blood, etc...).

The next morning we depart Sighisoara and visit the European Culture of Capital
for 2007, Sibiu; before returning to Bucharest for your final night on this
Halloween Tour.


Your specialist tour guide will assure that all the elements of Halloween be
included on this tour from start to finish. Don't miss out on this opportunity
to discover the myth and the truth of the Legend of Dracula in mythical
Romania

Halloween with Dracula in his Homeland of Transylvania!!!