Romania & Bulgaria
Romania & Bulgaria ,Castles & Monasteries Day 1. Homeland - Bucharest Arrive in Bucharest, the capital of Romania. Day 2. Bucharest - Sinaia: Bran Sighisoara Upon arrival we will visit the nearby Peles and Pelisor Castles. Almost adjacent to Peles Castle is Pelisor (“Little Peles”). We depart for Bran and Bran Castle. Bran Castle is erroneously claimed by some to be that of Count Dracula. After our visit we continue to Sighisoara, arriving in time for dinner. Day 3. Sighisoara - Biertan - Sibiu Sighisoara This morning we will start with a walking tour of Sighisoara. We will visit to the History Museum located in the former Town Hall, the Clock Tower. We will also see the house where Vlad Tepes once lived. We continue on to Biertan. We drive to Sibiu. Day 4. Sighisoara - Praid - Bistrita - Gura Humorului We arrive in the heart of the mountains by bus through a long tunnel. 120 m below the surface we find an underground city. After a break for lunch in Praid, we continue via Bistrita, founded in the early 13th century by German settlers and to become one of Transylvania’s major Medieval cities. We overnight in Gura Humorului, the perfect base for our explorations of the painted Monasteries of Bucovina. Day 5. Bucovina Monasteries Today is spent visiting some of the most impressive Bucovina monasteries. Voronet is probably the most accomplished sample of artistic achievement in Moldavian architecture and painting. After a visit to the famous Marginea black ceramics centre, we visit the Sucevita Monastery, the largest and arguably the finest of the Bukovina monasteries. Day 6. Gura Humorului - Cheile Bicazului Lacul Rosu - Brasov The road that slices through the Bicaz Gorges is among Romania’s most spectacular. The gorge twists and turns steeply uphill for 5km, cutting through sheer, 300-meter high limestone rocks. At one point, the narrow mountain road runs beneath the overhanging
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rocks in a section known as the ‘neck of hell’. This stretch of road is protected as part of the Hasmas-Bicaz Gorges National Park. A few kilometers west we will cross into Transylvania’s Harghita County and immediately come to the resort area of Lacu Rosu or Red Lake. The alpine resort in this region sprang up in the 1970’s and is still a magnet for hikers from both Transylvania and Moldavia. We’ll break for lunch before continuing to Brasov. Day 7. Brasov - Bucharest This morning we tour Brasov. In Brasov we will visit the Black Church and Museum of First Romanian School of Schei. We depart for Bucharest. We then begin our sightseeing program in the capital. Our tour today will include the Cotroceni Palace and Museum, Parliament Palace. We will also see the Triumphal Arch, the Romanian Athenaeum, and University Square. We will drive out to visit the Bucharest Village Museum. In the evening join us for a festive dinner and a traditional dance and music show. Day 8. Bucharest - Sofia - Bulgaria This morning we explore the beautiful Peles Castle, an impressive structure which is sure to take your breath away! We then head to Bucharest where you will have free time to explore the area and discover the contrasts of Romania’s cultural capital. Bucharest also boasts the world’s second largest building, the Palace of Parliament.If you’d like to learn more about the traditional way of life of Romanian peasant farmers you can visit the Village Museum Day 9. Sofia - Rila - Sofia This morning we depart for the 10th century Rila Monastery, 121 km (75 miles) south of Sofia at the end of a winding road through high rock walls with formations like giant animals waiting to pounce. The Rila Monastery is one of Europe’s largest monasteries, located in some of Bulgaria’s most beautiful terrain. Sightseeing of the monastery features the unsurpassed frescoes of the Church of the Blessed Virgin. After lunch we will return to Sofia.
