BUCOVINA & TRANSYLVANIA EXPLORER TOUR – “THE CHARM OF OLD EUROPE” (2013/2014)


A SIX DAY EXCLUSIVE CULTURAL CONNECTIONS TOUR

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Itinerary: Bucharest – Bucovina Painted Monasteries Excursion (UNESCO World Heritage Sites) – Gura Humorului – Piatra Neamt – Bicaz Gorges – Sighisoara – Biertan – Optional Gypsy Village Experience and Home Dinner – Brasov – Dracula’s Castle in Bran – Sinaia – Bucharest
Duration: 6 Days

Day 1: Bucharest – Bucovina
Morning pick up by your English speaking tour guide at your hotel in Bucharest. Drive north to Bucovina passing thru the vineyards of Vrancea. Stopover for lunch along the way. Later in the afternoon in the town of Campulung enjoy an exclusively organized interactive egg-painting demonstration by a local artist in her home, this being one of the local traditions of the area.

You will also have the chance to admire painted eggs from all over the world. Enjoy a home hosted dinner in the village, a true cultural interchange. After arriving in Gura Humorului, check into the hotel. Evening at leisure.
B D Accommodation in Gura Humorului at Hotel Casa Humor **** OR Best Western Bucovina **** (two nights)

Day 2: Bucovina Painted Monasteries Excursion (UNESCO World Heritage Sites)
A la carte breakfast at hotel. Bucovina monasteries are gems of medieval Moldavian architecture and artistry. Begin your day with Voronet, the most beautiful and most famous out of all, known as the Sistine Chapel of the East and featuring one the best preserved Last Judgment fresco in this part of the World. Next is Moldovita Monastery where the UNESCO Golden Apple Award given to the painted churches in 1975, is kept. As a cultural connection, enjoy a traditional Bucovina lunch in the picturesque village of Sucevita. Later continue 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 is considered one of the best of the frescoes of Sucevita, rarely present in medieval Romanian art. Visit the small museum of this monastery displaying some of the most valuable old Bibles in the country. In the village of Marginea visit the black pottery workshop – they use a technique called “oxygen reduction”, there is the same technique in Mexico only! End your day with the Monastery of Humor, the only one without a belfry tower but featuring an unique “Legend of the prodigal Son” fresco. Return to the hotel.
B L Accommodation in Gura Humorului at Hotel Casa Humor **** OR Best Western Bucovina ****

Bicaz Gorges

The Bicaz Canyon is part of the National Park “Bicaz Canyon”, which includes actually the following protected areas: The Red Lake, The Bicaz Canyon and The Hasmasu Mare Mountain.

Day 3: Gura Humorului – Piatra Neamt – Bicaz Gorges – Sighisoara
A la carte breakfast at hotel. Morning visit to the exquisite Folk Customs Museum of Bucovina, an authentic window into the local culture and a perfect ending to your tour in the area. Drive south to Piatra Neamt for a cable car ride from the town to Pietricica Mountain. Later reach Bicaz Gorges where the surroundings are dramatic. Optional lunch in the resort of Lacu Rosu (restaurants here specialize in naturally grown trout). Once passing the Red Lake you are back to Transylvania passing through an area inhabited mostly by the Hungarian Szekler community. In the village of Praid visit the local salt mine (the mine has an easy access by vehicle). Afternoon arrival to Sighisoara – World Heritage Site and the only still inhabited medieval citadel in Europe. Accommodation in either one of the three hotels in the Upper Town. Optional dinner at the Birthplace of Vlad Dracula.
B Accommodation at Hotel Sighisoara*** / The House with Antler Hotel *** (two nights)

Day 4: Sighisoara & Biertan – Optional Gypsy Village Experience and Home Dinner

Before starting your walking tour of old Sighisoara attend an exclusive informal talk on Vlad the Impaler – Dracula: what is truth and what is fiction. Sighisoara is one of a kind. It was developed by the German settlers as of late 12 century. It stands on a network of tunnels and catacombs and, according to one version of the myth; this is where the Pied Piper brought the children of Hamelin after their ungrateful parents refused to pay him his due. Walking tour includes the two squares of the Citadel (Upper Town), the Scholars’ Staircase, the House with Antler, the Tower with Clock (climb up for a great view), the Torture Chamber and the Weapon Museum. Sighisoara is the place where the Vlad the Impaler Dracula was born in 1431. The Birthplace is one of the main tourist attractions of the Upper Town. After lunch drive to the fortified church of Biertan, a World Heritage Site for a visit of the former Seat of the Lutheran Bishops. This is one of the most representative examples of Transylvanian medieval archietcture. Return to Sighisoara. Optional: Gypsy Village Tour & home hosted dinner.
B Accommodation in Sighisoara

Brasov

Brasov is one of the most important destinations in Romania.

Day 5: Sighisoara – Brasov – Dracula’s Castle in Bran – Sinaia
Hot and cold buffet breakfast at hotel. Leave Sighisoara in the morning. Journey south through the picturesque Transylvanian Plateau for a tour of Brasov to admire the 14 century Black Church with its 4,000 pipe organ and over a hundred Anatolian prayer rugs given to the church as gifts by the rich Brasov merchants. Visit Schei Quarter and the First School in Romanian language. Then spend time in the lovely Counclil Square and its pedestrian area. The attraction of the afternoon is Bran Castle also known as Dracula Castle. The castle was built in 1377 to safeguard the trading route between Transylvania and Wallachia, enlarged and restored a few times to become a royal residence in the 1920s under Queen Marie of Romania. Enjoy cheese sampling. Late afternoon arrival to Sinaia mountain resort. Named after St. Catherine Monastery on Mount Sinai, Sinaia became the unofficial capital of the Kingdom of Romania towards the end of the 19th century. Take an orientation tour of the resort including a view of the famous Casino, inspired by the one in Monte Carlo. Evening at leisure.
B Accommodation in Sinaia at Palace Hotel **** (or similar)

Day 6: Sinaia – Bucharest
Hot and cold buffet breakfast at hotel. In the morning take a guided tour of the Peles Castle and Gardens in Sinaia, the royal residence of King Charles I of Romania and known as one of the most beautiful summer royal residences in Europe. After the visit drive to Bucharest Coanda Airport for your return flight. take our THE BLACK SEA & DANUBE DELTA EXTENSION.
The tour is further customizable.

2013/2014 Tour Prices & Discounts: PLEASE CLICK HERE

Photo Album - Romania

Your price includes:

  • 5 nights at three and four star hotels (all centrally located)
  • fully insured sedan or minivan with climate control, for the entire distance
  • fuel & parking fees included
  • all sightseeing tours & cultural connections
  • informal talk on Vlad the Impaler
  • 7 meals: 5 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 1 dinner
  • professional English speaking guide (driving) to accompany you throughout
  • guide’s expenses
  • admissions to museums, sites and churches as per itinerary
  • porterage at hotels
  • VAT and local tax
  • detailed map of Romania.

You’ll visit 3 UNESCO World Heritage Sites:

  • Bucovina frescoed Monasteries
  • Historic Center of Sighisoara
  • Biertan Fortified Church

Not included:

  • Other meals than stated
  • Alcoholic beverages
  • Photo/video fees at sites and museums.

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    Client Testimonials

     

    Tara Sonja Jones

    Together with my mother we’ve visited Romania in the summer of ’09. We always enjoyed private tours as opposed to bus tours. We had a fantastic journey through Transylvania, Maramures and Bucovina and were able to understand Romania in depth: the traditions and people. We loved all the special features included in our trip and especially meeting local artists and the home hosted dinners. We think the special lectures are a bonus to the entire experience. Excellent quality. Thank you for making it possible for us. Sincerely,
     

     

    Dr. and Mrs. Luis G. Murillo, San Diego, California

    Our journey through your wonderful country was most enjoyable and rewarding. We thank you very much for the help you extended to us especially in customizing our tour. Our guide was a very intelligent, knowledgeable and amiable young man who contributed greatly to our sense of comfort and security. His interest and skills in photography were an additional and unexpected help. He certainly can be considered a very valuable professional. Best Regards!
     

     

    Janel Barberito and Jim Jurczyk

    My husband and I visited Romania after we e-mailed about 7 tour operators with the same request (dates, itinerary, etc). We made our decision based on the timely replies, the tour that was presented by each operator, the costs and the manner in which it was presented. There was something different about their responses and we felt good about our decision….we were not disappointed. The accommodations were superb, better than what we would have chosen. We compared the costs with the other operators and agreed that was the best deal.
     

     

    Rachelle Babij and Her Group of 42, Canada

    Once again, I wish to say Thank You for making our trip to Romania (home) so wonderful – everyone was very pleased with the tour and all had a great time.  There were many sad tears when we said good bye to each other – no one wanted the tour to end.   I am very happy to have contacted you to do this family tour for us – it was EXCELLENT!!!!!
     

     

    Helmuth and Johanna Ehrlich, Vienna, Austria

    Dear Sirs, We have arrived well in Austria. We, my wife and I, have to thank you for the excellent preparation of our journey which became a highlight. Romania is really a very interesting country to travel with much history, many sights and really nice people. The hotels chosen were all good, the food was good. Our guide was one of the best. Due to his excellent introduction and knowledge of Romanian history, geography and traditions we really became fond of your country. We parted as friends. Thank you also for your farewell gifts and palinka (noroc!). Summary: we had a super journey and whenever somebody will ask us we’ll be pleased to pass on your agency and also our guide as excellent. Best regards,
     

     

    Maria Helms, Australia

    The trip was just fabulous. Everything was the way it was supposed to be or better. We had the best tour guide in the world I feel very fortunate to have had George as our tour guide. He was very friendly, knowledgeable, organized and made things go very smoothly. We loved all his stories about the Revolution and Communist times.
     

     

    The Samsons in Delaware

    Took a while before we got back to our normal lifes at home. Just wanted to touch base and thank you for the best tour ever. Romania is a beautiful country and we were happy to get to know people. The cooking lesson in Bucavinia was the best. Where do you find these people. We had a great time all along. Thank you.
     

     

    Rick Oncescu & Group, Canada

    Thank you very much for the most memorable trip you put together for us. We all enjoyed the experience of finding one of our relatives as well a seeing all of the sites and places within Romania you coordinated for our trip. Cristian was everything we could ask for in a guide/driver, he most definitely made our time in Romania interesting and entertaining, he fit right in and became one of the family. Romania is a wonderful inviting country with so much to offer, I know some if not all of us will return.
    Thanks again.
     

     

    Mr. And Mrs. Rodriguez, Los Angeles, California

    We are back home, and I think I have finally gotten my sleep cycle straightened out! I just wanted to say thank you for putting together a wonderful tour! The tour was thoughtful, insightful and well pallend and organized The guide you have assigned, Andrei,  was very knowledgeable, fun and accommodating. He was also a very experinced driver. Very well chosen hotels all along. We now have a better understanding of the culture and history of Romania. Thanks again, and I wish you all the best.
     

     

    Alexia Stern & Jack Birnbaum, NY

    Wonderful scenery and a great trip. It was beyond our expectations. Romania has  bright future. Thank you. Sincerely,