Itinerary

Day 1

Highlights:

*Moldavia - famous UNESCO Heritage monasteries - Voronet Monastery, the Sistine Chapel of the East, Moldovita Monastery, enjoy a monastic lunch

*Merry Cemetery in Sapanta - discover how a cemetery can be merry in the picturesque and traditional area of Maramures

*Dracula?s Castle in Transylvania - the one mentioned in Bram Stoker's "Dracula", something you can't miss on a Transylvania tour

*Famous woodcraftsman Grigore Tulean a meeting privileged by the cultural holidays - he will introduce you in the old art of wood carving

*The Communist prison and the Monument of Imprisoned Thoughts in Sighetul Marmatiei

*Marginea - the famous Black Pottery Centre

*The honourable Misiuga, Baron of Dracula - a genuine character presenting his interesting puppet exposition in Dogarilor Tower in Bistrita citadel,

*Turzii's Gorges - one of the most important natural reservations of the Apuseni Mountains


Day by day itinerary:


DAY 1 Budapest - Satu Mare

Our English speaking guide welcomes the tourists at the airport. Depart to Satu Mare for accommodation and dinner in an exquisite environment. Module: wine tasting in Tokaj, Hungary, the same wine drunken by A. Dumas's musketeers!

Day 2

Satu Mare - Certeze - Sapinta - Sighet - Birsana - Ieud

Let's explore today the magic land of Maramures! Drive to Sapanta to visit the famous Merry Cemetery and the highest wood church in Romania. Our next stop is a communist prison and The Monument of Imprisoned Thoughts in Sighet. Depart to Ieud for accommodation and dinner in traditional Maramuresean country-inns, in fact welcoming peasant houses. On the way we stop to visit Birsana Monastery. Tip: shopping session in a flea market in Satu Mare, Lunch in Casa Iurca, traditionally decorated restaurant in Sighetul Marmatiei with Maramuresean cuisine

Day 3

Ieud - Bogdan Voda - Moisei - Sacel - Voronet - Sucevita

Depart to visit the famous wood church in Bogdan Voda. We'll then arrive in Sacel and be the guests of the famous craftsman, Grigore Tulean. Drive to Sucevita for dinner. On the way we stop to visit Moisei Monument and the Voronet Monastery. Accommodate in Sucevita.

Day 4

Sucevita - Marginea - Suceava - Gura Humorului - Moldovita - Sucevita

We begin the day with some shopping at the famous Black pottery Centre in Marginea. From there we'll travel to Suceava, to visit the old Citadel and the Village Museum. The road will take us to the famous Moldovita Monastery where we'll enjoy a monastic lunch. Accommodate in Sucevita.

Day 5

Sucevita - Campulung Moldovenesc - Vatra Dornei - Piatra Fantanele - Bistrita

Travel to Transylvania. On the way we visit The Wood Museum in Cimpulung Moldovenesc and the Hunting Museum in Vatra Dornei. Arrive in Borgo Pass, the place where Bram Stoker imagined and placed the castle of the famous Count Dracula; visit the castle and the coffin. Drive to Bistrita for accommodation. Here we'll visit The Dogarilor Tower with an interesting puppet exposition presented by the honorable Misiuga, Baron of Dracula and have a special dinner in Jonathan Harker Saloon, the hero of Dracula's novel. Tip: enjoy a lunch in a special environment - the castle in Borgo Pass, the place where famous author Bram Stoker imagined Count Dracula's Castle!

Day 6

Bistrita - Cluj Napoca - Turzii's Gorges - Cluj Napoca

Arrive in Cluj Napoca and visit The Art Museum. Drive to Turda to see the Salt Mines and have a nice walk in the famous Turzii's Gorges Reservations. Accommodation in Cluj.

Day 7

Cluj Napoca - Turda - Oradea

Riding along the valley of Aries we'll visit the Ethnographic Museum in Lupsa and have a special traditional picnic lunch in a spectacular environment at Poarta lui Ionele Cave. Crossing Vartop Pass we'll arrive in Crisurilor Land where we'll visit Bears Cave and the Open Air Museum with old cars and domestic objects in Chiscau. Drive to Oradea to visit Varadinum Citadel. Accommodate. Tip: relaxing evening in the outdoor swimming pool with thermal water of your accommodation.

Day 8

Oradea - Budapest

It is now the time to say good-by to your cultural northern Transylvania tour. Depart for Budapest.

Extra Information

Inclusions -

Entry fees to: Merry Cemetery in Sapinta, the famous church in Bogdan Voda, Craftsman Workshop, The Monument in Moisei, Voronet Monastery, Moldovita Monastery, Sucevita Monastery, Suceava Citadel, Village Museum in Suceava, Museum of Woodcraft in Cimpulung Moldovenesc, Hunting Museum in Vatra Dornei, Dracula's coffin, Dogarilor Tower in Bistrita, Art Museum in Cluj, Salt Mines in Turda, Turzii's Gorges Reservation, Etnographic Museum in Lupsa, Bears Cave.

Exclusions -

other not mentioned.

Extras -

For 2008, Cultural tour of Northern Transylvania, departs on:

June 8

July 11

Here is an itinerary to your taste but the departure dates are not suitable or you don?t like to travel with big groups. Don?t worry! You can take it as a private journey, with the preferred departure dates and your chosen travel companions, whether it is for a family vacation or a fun relaxing holiday with a small group of friends. For any question or inquiries about the tour please contact us.

GBP 1739* - USD 3399* (EURO 2599) per person double occupancy,
based on 2 people travelling together

GBP 1229* - USD 2399* (EURO 1829) per person double occupancy,
based on 4 people travelling together

Single Supplement: GBP 159* - USD 309* (EURO 239)

Solo Traveller: GBP 3299* - USD 6439* (EURO 4919)