Itinerary

Day 1

BUCHAREST
We shall arrive in Bucharest and be transferred to a 3* hotel near 20 minutes from the center walking.

• Arrival in Bucharest Intl Airport

• Transfer to Bucharest, 3* hotel

• Accommodation in Bucharest, 3* hotel

Day 2

NOT MON – BUCHAREST – Mogosoaia Palace - Targoviste Fortress – CURTEA DE ARGES MONASTERY
In the morning we shall visit Mogosoaia Palace on the shore of the lake with the same name, built by Voyevode Constantin Brancoveanu in his own style. Later on we shall visit the fortress built by Vlad the Impaler in Targoviste and which used to host Wallachia's capital in the Middle Ages. The view from Targoviste's Tower of the Sunset is especially interesting. In the afternoon we shall arrive in yet another town which hosted the Wallachian Capital, Curtea de Arges, where we shall visit one of the most beautiful monasteries in the country, linked to a very interesting legend. We shall be accommodated in a 2* hotel in the town.

• Visit to Mogosoaia Palace

• Visit to Targoviste Voyevodal Court

• Visit to Curtea de Arges Monastery

• Accommodation in Curtea de Arges (2* hotel)

Day 3

CURTEA DE ARGES MONASTERY – Bistrita Monastery - Hurezi Monastery (UNESCO) – SIBIU
Crossing Olt River and after visiting Bistrita Monastery, we shall visit one of the most interesting Northern Wallachian monasteries, namely Horezu Monastery, bearing impressive votive frescoes from the 18th century. Horezu lies on the World Heritage List. In the afternoon we shall reach Sibiu, after going along the impressive Olt Gorges. In Sibiu we shall have a brief tour of the city, which was once known as the Red Fortress, with its old square, Liars' Bridge, Evangelic Cathedral, Bruckenthal Palace... In the evening we shall be accommodated in the city in a 3* hotel or guesthouse.

• Visit to Bistrita Monastery

• Visit to Hurezi Monastery (UNESCO)

• City tour of Sibiu

• Accommodation in Sibiu (3* hotel or guesthouse)

Day 4

NOT MON – SIBIU – Orastie – Sarmizegetusa Regia Dacian Fortress (UNESCO) – Alba Iulia – CLUJ NAPOCA
Moving Westwards from Sibiu, we shall visit a few traditional villages in Sibiel area, famous for their well preserved architecture and traditional values. Then we shall move on at the foothills of the Carpathians and we shall take a dust road from Orastie to Sarmizegetusa Fortress, once the capital of the Dacian Kingdom and a strong fortification from where the resistance during the Dacian – Roman wars was managed. The last two kilometers of the trail can only be done by walking. In the evening, after crossing the Unification City of Alba Iulia, we shall reach Cluj Napoca, where we shall be accommodated in a 3* hotel in the center.

• Visit to the traditional area of Sibiel

• Visit to Sarmizegetusa Fortress (UNESCO)

• Accommodation in Cluj Napoca, in a 3* hotel

Day 5

CLUJ NAPOCA – Baia Mare – the Merry Cemetery in Sapanta – Sighetu Marmatiei - Rozavlea Wooden Church (UNESCO) – Botiza Wooden Church (UNESCO) - Ieud Wooden Church (UNESCO) – SIGHET / BARSANA
After a brief tour of the old square, we shall start to the North-East, across the hills and legends of the Transylvanian area. Later on we shall reach the land of Maramures, one of the best-preserved traditional areas in the country, beautifully located in the wooden mountains. We shall start our Maramures tour with Sapanta and its Merry Cemetery, best depicting the local belief that life must be joined by a cheer and so can death be welcomed. Then, after going for a short while along the Ukrainean border, we shall visit to three wooden churches typical for the architecture of the area, where the wood carving skills of the local people impress through originality and uniqueness: Botiza, Rozavlea and Ieud churches (all UNESCO sites).

• Visit to the Merry Cemetery in Sapanta

• Visit to Rozavlea Wooden Church (UNESCO)

• Visit to Botiza Wooden Church (UNESCO)

• Visit to Ieud Wooden Church (UNESCO)

• Accommodation in Sighet / Barsana, in a local 3* hotel or guesthouse

Day 6

BORSA – Prislop Pass – Moldovita Monastery (UNESCO) – Sucevita Monastery (UNESCO) – Arbore Monastery (UNESCO) – GURA HUMORULUI/ FRASIN
After crossing the scenic Prislop Pass between Rodna and Maramures Mountains, we shall move towards yet another historic province of Romania, i.e. Bukovina, the land of the painted monasteries. We shall explore three of the painted monasteries here. Moldovita impresses with its large blue verandah, Sucevita bears a superb Last Judgement fresco, while Arbore, less visited by tourists, preserves an atmosphere of tranquility, which is very relaxing.

• Visit to Moldovita Monastery (UNESCO)

• Visit to Sucevita Monastery (UNESCO)

• Visit to Arbore Monastery (UNESCO)

• Accommodation in Gura Humorului / Frasin, 3* hotel or guesthouse

Day 7

NOT MON – GURA HUMORULUI – Humor Monastery (UNESCO) – Voronet Monastery (UNESCO) – Suceava – Targu Neamt Fortress – Neamt Monastery – Izvorul Muntelui Lake – Bicaz Gorges – THE RED LAKE / TUSNAD SPA
This is another real monastery day, including visits to the other two painted monasteries around Gura Humorului in Bukovina, starting with the blue frescoes of the Voronet Monastery and ending with the fortress-like monastery in Humor. After visiting Neamt Fortress from where Moldavia used to be ruled over, we shall pass on to another type of monastery, the one in Neamt. After passing by the scenic Izvorul Muntelui Lake and along the spectacular Bicaz Gorges, we shall reach the Red Lake with its sad story, where we shall sleep for the night. Alternatively, accommodation can be provided in Tusnad Spa.

• Visit to Humor Monastery (UNESCO)
• Visit to Voronet Monastery (UNESCO)

• Visit to Targu Neamt Fortress

• Visit to Bicaz Gorges

• Accommodation in a 2* hotel near the Red Lake or Tusnad Spa, 3* hotel

Day 8

NOT MON – THE RED LAKE / TUSNAD SPA – Sighisoara (UNESCO) – Biertan Fortified Church (UNESCO) – Viscri Fortified Church (UNESCO) – BRASOV
In the morning we shall have a tour of Sighisoara Fortress and visit the small museum hosted by the Clock Tower. Sighisoara is one of the largest and best preserved still inhabited fortresses in Europe, a UNESCO site. Then we shall go and visit the fortified church in Biertan, providing a great view to the village, and later on, abandoning the main road, we shall take a dust road to Viscri, one of the fortified churches in Saxon Transylvania that best preserved the traditional lines. In the evening we shall reach Brasov and have a short tour of the old square, then we shall be accommodated in a central 3* hotel.

• Visit to Sighisoara Fortress (UNESCO)

• Visit to Biertan Fortified Church (UNESCO)

• Visit to Viscri Fortified Church (UNESCO)

• Brief tour of Brasov's old square

• Accommodation in a 3* hotel in Brasov

Day 9

NOT MON – BRASOV - Prejmer Fortified Church (UNESCO) – SINAIA
In the morning, we shall visit the largest fortified church in Romania, the impressive Prejmer. Then we have the option of going straight to Sinaia Resort for some hiking or to make an optional side trip to visit Bran Castle and Rasnov Fortress before crossing the mountains. In the evening we shall be lodged in a 3* hotel in Sinaia.

• Visit to Prejmer Fortified Church (UNESCO)

• Visit to Bran Castle and Rasnov Fortress (optional)

• Accommodation in Sinaia in a 3* hotel

Day 10

NOT MON, TUE – Sinaia's Peles and Pelisor Castles – Ploiesti – Buzau – Braila - Tulcea – Murighiol – UZLINA
In the morning we shall cross the mountains into Wallachia, where we shall visit the stunningly beautiful castles of Peles and Pelisor, built by the Romanian royal family in the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century and decorated in totally different styles. Changing the scenery, we shall go through the plains to the East, across large orchards and vineyards, eventually reaching the Danube, which we shall cross in Braila by ferry. After passing at the foothills of the small but so interesting Macin Mountains, preserving a Mediterranean climate, we shall eventually reach Tulcea, at the gate of the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve. In the evening we shall be transferred by boat to Uzlina, cross St. Gheorghe Branch, and we shall be accommodated in a 3* hotel.

• Visit to Peles and Pelisor castles in Sinaia

• Crossing of the Danube by ferry

• Accommodation in Uzlina in a 3* hotel

Day 11

UZLINA – the Danube Delta (UNESCO) - UZLINA
Today we shall make a boat trip inside the Delta, trip that will include a fish lunch and a very interesting sightseeing tour. The Danube Delta is host of a variety of fishes, birds and a very rich, sometimes luxuriant flora that one can admire. In the evening we shall return to Uzlina and get accommodation in the same hotel.

• Incursion in the Danube Delta (UNESCO) by boat

• Fish lunch

• Accommodation in Uzlina in a 3* hotel

Day 12

UZLINA – Tulcea – Histria Fortress - Constanta - BUCHAREST
Today we shall leave the Delta and move to the South, visiting the ancient fortress in Histria, settled by the Greek colonists. Then we shall move on to Constanta, Romania's largest harbour, hosting a couple of interesting mosques and a great casino by the sea promenade. In the evening we shall reach Bucharest and be accommodated in a 3* hotel.

• Visit to Histria Fortress

• Short tour of Constanta

• Accommodation in Bucharest, 3* hotel

Day 13

BUCHAREST
Today we shall say good bye to Romania, being transferred to the hotel for the flight back home.

• Transfer to Bucharest Int'l Airport

Extra Information

Inclusions -

Visits

Exclusions -

Meals, other than breakfast

Extras -

The price is PER PERSON, sharing a double room and for a group of minimum 4 persons. For other arrangements, kindly contact us.