Across Romania (with Danube Delta) (13 days) (Cultural Tour , Wallachia,Transylvania,Moldavia,Bukovina,Maramures,Bucharest,Danube Delta)

Itinerary: BUCHAREST – Harsova – Tulcea - UZLINA – The Danube Delta – UZLINA – Cocos and Celic Dere monasteries – Braila – Ploiesti - SINAIA – Bran Castle – Rasnov Fortress – Brasov – SIGHISOARA – Odorheiu Secuiesc – The Red Lake – Bicaz Gorges – Piatra Teiului – Neamt Monastery – Neamt Fortress – GURA HUMORULUI / FRASIN – Voronet Monastery – Humor Monastery - Marginea Pottery Centre – Sucevita Monastery – Moldovita Monastery – GURA HUMORULUI / FRASIN - Prislop Pass – Borsa – Ieud Wooden Church – Botiza Wooden Church – Barsana Wooden Church – Sighetu Marmatiei – the Merry Cemetery in Sapanta – SIGHETU MARMATIEI / BARSANA / IZVOARE RESORT – Gherla – CLUJ NAPOCA – Turda Gorges - Rimetea Village – Calnic Fortress - SIBIU – Curtea de Arges – Targoviste Fortress - BUCHAREST

Day 1: Bucharest

We shall arrive in the Romanian capital, we shall meet our guide and be transferred to the hotel.

• Transfer to the hotel
• Accommodation in Bucharest in a 3* superior hotel

Day2 - BUCHAREST – Histria Fortress – Tulcea - UZLINA

We shall leave Bucharest going Eastwards to Tulcea, also known as the Gate of the Danube Delta. On the way, we shall make a detour going to Histria Fortress, an ancient settlement of the Greeks, then developed by the Romans and the Byzantines before it was seriously damaged by the Barbarian tribes. Later on we shall reach Tulcea and enjoy a walk on the quay along the Danube and then we shall go to Murighiol from where we shall be transferred to the hotel by boat, in the very heart of the Delta. 

• Visit to Histria Fortress
• Accommodation in Uzlina in a 3* hotel

Day 3 : UZLINA – The Danube Delta – UZLINA

Today we shall make a one day boat trip to the Danube Delta, including a fish dish. We shall return in the evening to Uzlina.

• Day boat trip to the Danube Delta
• Accommodation in Uzlina in a 3* hotel

Day 4: UZLINA – Cocos and Celic Dere monasteries – Braila – Ploiesti - SINAIA

Leaving Uzlina, we shall go close to the Danube, visiting two old monasteries, i.e. Celic Dere and Cocos monasteries. Then we shall cross the Danube by ferry and, after crossing Braila, Buzau and Ploiesti, we shall get to the mountains, along Prahova Valley all the way to Sinaia, host of Peles and Pelisor castles built by the Romanian royal family in the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. We shall visit Sinaia Monastery, around which the whole resort developed. 

• Visit to Celic Dere and Cocos Monastery
• Visit to Sinaia Monastery
• Accommodation in Sinaia in a 3* hotel

Day 5: NOT MON, TUE – SINAIA – Bran Castle – Rasnov Fortress – Brasov – SIGHISOARA

In the morning we shall visit the two castles that brought the fame of this resort. While Peles Castle was set in German style, with all rooms decorated in a different manner, Pelisor was set and decorated at the request of Queen Maria of Romania. Then we shall cross the mountains, visiting Bran Castle, built by the Saxons on the former frontier between Transylvania and Wallachia. Later on we shall admire the beautiful surroundings from the top of Rasnov Fortress located on a wooden hill overlooking the neighbourhood. In the afternoon we shall have a city tour of Brasov with its impressive Black Church and Council Tower and in the evening we shall reach Sighisoara, hosting one of the largest still inhabited fortresses in Europe. We shall have a walk in the evening in this fortress where Vlad the Impaler seems to have been born. We shall then be accommodated in a hotel just inside the fortress, hosted by an 18th century building. 

• Visit to Peles and Pelisor castles
• Visit to Bran Castle
• Visit to Rasnov Fortress
• Walking tour in Brasov old centre
• Accommodation Sighisoara in a 3* hotel hosted by an old house

Day 6 : NOT MON – SIGHISOARA – Odorheiu Secuiesc – The Red Lake – Bicaz Gorges – Piatra Teiului – Neamt Monastery – Neamt Fortress – GURA HUMORULUI / FRASIN

After visiting Sighisoara and admiring the town from upstairs, we shall start to the North-East, getting close to the mountains. After passing by the scenic Red Lake with its sad story, we shall move along the spectacular Bicaz Gorges and eventually reach Izvoru Muntelui Dam, from where we shall take the scenic road along the lake until the end of the lake. Then we shall visit the monastery of Neamt, jewel of the Moldavian architecture. Later on we shall visit Neamt Fortress from where whole Moldavia was once ruled over and in the evening we shall reach Gura Humorului / Frasin, in the very heart of Bukovina.

• Visit to the Red Lake, Bicaz Gorges, Izvorul Muntelui Lake
• Visit to Neamt Fortress and Neamt Monastery
• Accommodation in Gura Humorului / Frasin, 3* hotel or guesthouse

Day 7 : GURA HUMORULUI / FRASIN – Voronet Monastery – Humor Monastery - Marginea Pottery Centre – Sucevita Monastery – Moldovita Monastery – GURA HUMORULUI / FRASIN

This is a full monastery day, including visits to the most famous painted monasteries in Bukovina, starting with the blue frescoes of the Voronet Monastery and ending with the impressive Last Judgement of the Sucevita Monastery. 

 

• Visit to Voronet, Humor, Sucevita and Moldovita Monasteries
• Accommodation in Gura Humorului / Frasin, 3* hotel or guesthouse

 

Day 8: GURA HUMORULUI / FRASIN - Prislop Pass – Borsa – Ieud Wooden Church – Botiza Wooden Church – Barsana Wooden Church – Sighetu Marmatiei – the Merry Cemetery in Sapanta – Baia Mare – IZVOARE RESORT / SIGHETU MARMATIEI / BARSANA

Today we shall move to another historical land of Romania, i.e. the Maramures, an area with many cultural influences: Romanian, Hungarian, Austrian, Jewish, Polish, Slovak, Russian… In the morning we shall go up the mountains, crossing Prislop Pass into Maramures. We shall continue by visiting the wooden churches of Maramures, real jewels of traditional wood-carving and of local architecture. After exploring the traditions and architecture in the region, as well as Sapanta Merry Cemetery, we shall be accommodated in Sighet / Barsana or Izvoare Resort, according to preference and availability (small units). 

• Visit to Ieud, Botiza, Barsana wooden churches
• Visit to the Merry Cemetery in Sighetu Marmatiei
• Accommodation in Izvoare Resort / Sighet / Barsana, guesthouse or 3* hotel

Day 9: SIGHET / BARSANA / IZVOARE – Gherla – CLUJ NAPOCA

 

Leaving Maramures, we shall venture once again in Transylvania, visiting the once large Armenian city of Gherla (called in the late Middle Ages “Armenopolis”) and then the city of Cluj Napoca with its interesting St. Michael Catholic Church. We shall be accommodated in a classical hotel in the very center of Cluj.

 

• Visit to Gherla Armenian Town
• Visit to Cluj Napoca old center, including St. Michael Church
• Accommodation in a 3* hotel of Cluj Napoca

Day 10: CLUJ NAPOCA – Turda Gorges - Calnic Fortress - SIBIU

 

Leaving Cluj Napoca, we shall make a short incursion in Apuseni Mountains, walking through the beautiful Turda Gorges for a couple of hours. Then (optionally) we can go to Rimetea Village to see some old traditional Hungarian households with many interesting decorations. After crossing Alba Iulia, we shall make a short side trip from the main road to visit Calnic Fortress and then we shall reach Sibiu, where we shall have a short walk in the Large Square, around the Liars’ Bridge. We shall be accommodated in Sibiu in a 3* hotel or guesthouse.

 

• Walk along Turda Gorges
• Visit to Rimetea Village near Turda (optional)
• Visit to Calnic Fortress
• Walking tour of Sibiu
• Accommodation in Sibiu, 3* hotel or guesthouse

 

 

Day 11: NOT MON – SIBIU – Curtea de Arges – Targoviste Fortress – BUCHAREST (Transfagarasan Road is only open in summer, July to October, otherwise the road along Olt Valley will be followed)

 

We shall leave Sibiu in the morning and, according to weather up in the mountains, we shall take the route across the Fagaras Mountains, Romania’s highest road (2042 m.a.s.l.) or we shall go along Olt Valley. Whichever way we go, we shall visit at noon Curtea de Arges Monastery and then make our way to Bucharest with a stop in Targoviste where we can visit the ruins of Vlad the Impaler’s Fortress. In the evening we shall get accommodated in Bucharest, 3* hotel.

 

• Visit to Curtea de Arges Monastery
• Visit to Targoviste Fortress
• Accommodation in Bucharest, 3* superior hotel

 

 

Day 12: NOT MON, TUE – BUCHAREST

 

Today we shall do a tour of Bucharest, including the city’s oldest avenue with the historical monuments along it. We shall visit the Village Museum and the Royal Palace hosting the National Art Museum. Among other places we are to visit, we list here the Old Court of Bucharest where Vlad the Impaler used to rule over Wallachia, the city’s oldest church and one of the oldest inns of the city, a former caravanserai, Hanul lui Manuc.

 

• City tour, including the Royal Palace, the Village Museum, the Old Court, Manuc Inn
• Optional: lunch and dinner in a traditional restaurant
• Accommodation in Bucharest in a 3* superior hotel

 

 

Day 13 : Bucharest

 

Today we shall say farewell to Romania, being transferred to Otopeni Airport for our flight back home.

Transfer to Bucharest Int’l Airport