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Monasteries & Medieval Cities in Romania
Day 1.. Homeland - Bucharest Arriving in Bucharest, meet your English speaking guide. Transfer to Hotel
Day 2. Bucharest Tour of Bucharest, a city of wide Parisianstyle boulevards and belle époque buildings. Visits include Cotroceni Palace, by special permission, and the exterior of Ceausescu’s palace. In the evening join us for a festive dinner and a traditional dance and music show.
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Day 3. Bucharest - Sibiu Morning drive through the Fãgãras mountains to Sibiu, the main city of the Saxons that combines gothic, Renaissance, baroque and classical architecture. Afternoon walking tour of the city, including visits to the Protestant and Orthodox cathedrals, and the Brukenthal Art Museum - the oldest and finest art gallery in Romania.
Day 4. Sibiu - Biertan - Sighisoara Drive to Sighisoara, stopping at Biertan to visit the gothic fortified church. Afternoon tour of Sighisoara, a beautifully preserved medieval citadel set in rolling countryside. Visit the walls and defending towers that encircle cobbled streets and ancient houses, the citadel and the old clock tower.
Day 5. Sighisoara - Viscri This morning travel to the atmospheric Saxon village of Viscri and see the Unesco-listed 12th-century church with its scenic views of the rolling Transylvanian countryside. Walk down the main street where The Prince of Wales, has restored many of the medieval houses.
Day 6. Viscri - Targu Mures - Bistrita - Gura Humorului In the morning, drive to the city of Târgu Mures, which has Romanian, Hungarian and Habsburg influences. See the hall of the Palace of Culture with art deco stained-glass windows illustrating traditional Hungarian themes and tales. Continue via the small market town of Bistrita to Gura Humorului.
Day 7. Gura Humorului - Sucevita - Voronet - Moldovita - Gura Humorului Morning tour of the remarkable painted monasteries, considered to be among Europe’s greatest artistic monuments. The monasteries include Sucevita, Voronet and Moldovita, which feature amazingly wellpreserved frescoes that cover the walls with vivid images of saints and biblical scenes. Afternoon visit to the painted egg museum and workshop at Vama.
Day 8. Gura Humorului - Agapia - Brasov Drive to Agapia and visit the monastery and village. Stop for lunch at Lacu Rosu, then continue to Brasov.
Day 9. Brasov - Prejmer - Brasov In the morning, see Piata Sfatului, one of the finest baroque squares in the country. Visit the gothic Black Church, a focal point of the Lutheran Reformation; St Nicholas Church; and the first Romanian school. Afternoon visit to the impressive fortified church of Prejmer. With more than 270 rooms and buildings, the fortress was attacked more than 50 times by the Mongols, Turks, Tartars, Cossacks and Moldavians during the middle ages, but was only conquered once.
Day 10. Brasov - Sinaia - Bucharest - Homeland Drive south through the Bucegi mountains and visit Peles castle, the former royal residence of King Carol I Continue to Bucharest airport.
Services
9 nights of accommodation in 4* Hotels with HB English speaking guide Bus/Mini-bus at your disposal Festive dinner Traditional dance and music show 1 SGL room free of charge for the foreign tour leader
Minimum of turists 10+1 15+1 20+1 25+1 30+1 35+1 40+1 45+1 Price per person (place in DBL/HB) 730€ 620€ 565€ 535€ 510€ 495€ 485€ 475€ SGL Supplement 135€ 135€ 135€ 135€ 135€ 135€ 135€ 135€
9 Lunches Supplement 110€ 110€ 110€ 110€ 110€ 110€ 110€ 110€
Eastern Culture
Day 1. Homeland - Bucharest Welcome to Bucharest. If you arrive early head out to explore Bucharest. Join a guided tour around the recently restored Old Town. After the welcome meeting this evening perhaps head out for a group dinner to get a first sample of Romania’s unique cuisine.
Day 2. Bucharest / Tulcea This morning there may be some time to explore Bucharest before heading off to the provincial city of Tulcea by local bus at around noon. Tulcea has been an important harbour city since ancient times, where the Danube empties out into the Black Sea. Under Byzantine rule the town was abandoned by the first half of the 7th century due to the Barbarian invasions. Inhabitation was restored in the second half of the 10th century, as the Byzantines built a fortress on the spot after reconquering the region.
Day 3. Danube Delta Today , head out on a full-Day excursion through the remote Danube Delta. This is a UNESCO protected area of ecologically significant lagoons, channels and marshes - one of the largest wetland areas in the world, and one that’s a paradise for birds. At lunch time indulge in local specialties or the catch of the day . In the late evening, return to Tulcea.
Day 4. Tulcea - Comrat This morning, travel to Moldova and on to Valeni. In the afternoon continue to Comrat. When you arrive, take some time to wander around the compact town centre. Walk down the main street, still named after Lenin, and see the statue of the revolutionary leader that stands paradoxically near a memorial to the victims of Communist repression. Pass the monument to soldiers who died in the RussianAfghan War or just absorb the atmosphere of this unique little town.
Day 5. Comran - Milestii Mici - Chisinau After breakfast, you’ll make your way towards Chisinau, Moldova’s bustling capital. But before entering the city you have the opportunity to taste Moldova’s famous wine on a tour of Milestii Mici winery. Continue to Chisinau, a perfect example of a city almost entirely rebuilt in a Stalinist style.
Day 6. Chisinau - Orhei Vechi -Chisinau Head out of town to the little village of Orheiul Vechi, where you’ll visit the famous14thcentury monastery. Atop one of the hills is the church of the Ascension of St Mary, which has some interesting murals inside, but the real treat is the cave monastery. You can wander through the central park to the Victory Memorial of the Soviet army, and on to the Eternal Flame, dedicated to the unknown soldiers from the city who died in WWII.
Day 7. Chisinau - Odessa A bus ride today will take you across the border to Odessa, Ukraine. After an orientation walk with the group, wander down Primorskiy Boulevard. Make sure you check out the famous Potemkin Steps, which lead from the street down to the waterfront.
Day 8. Odessa / Overnight Train Today is a free day to explore the pretty town of Odessa and it’s surroundings. Take your time to stroll around the streets and admire the Neoclassical and Baroque buildings - the National Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre.
Day 9. Odessa - Kiev Upon your early morning arrival into Kiev embark on a city tour around this magnificent city. In your free time make sure you visit the 11th-century Lavra Monastery overlooking the Dnieper River. No visit to Kiev is complete without a stroll along Khreschatyk Boulevard, spending time at Maidan square, where evidence of the recent historic events are still visible, and then an amble down church-lined Andriivsky Descent.
Day 10. Kiev - Homeland Today your trip comes to an end
Services
9 nights of accommodation in 4* Hotels with HB English speaking guide Bus/Mini-bus at your disposal Festive dinner Traditional dance and music show Wine tasting Overnight train 1 SGL room free of charge for the foreign tour leader
Minimum of turists 10+1 15+1 20+1 25+1 30+1 35+1 40+1 45+1 Price per person (place in DBL/HB) 1075€ 920€ 840€ 795€ 760€ 740€ 720€ 705€ SGL Supplement 165€ 165€ 165€ 165€ 165€ 165€ 165€ 165€
8 Lunches Supplement 120€ 120€ 120€ 120€ 120€ 120€ 120€ 120€
The Best of Romania and Bulgaria
Day 1. Bucharest Arrival and meet your local guide. Transfer to hotel.
Day 2. Bucharest Bucharest is located on the plains between the Carpathian foothills and the Danube River. You will have a panoramic tour of the Romanian capital city, which includes: the Parliament Palace - the world’s largest civilian administrative building, Romanian Athenaeum, the Royal Palace, Arch of Triumph, Village Museum an open-air museum. Enjoy a traditional dance and music show during the dinner.
Day 3. Bucharest - Pitesti - Curtea de Arges - Cozia - Sibiu Morning departure for Curtea de Arges to visit the Princely Church, founded in 1340, Mason Manole’s Fountain and the Cozia Monastery. Continue through Olt valley river to Sibiu.
Day 4. Sibiu - Sighisoara - Bran - Brasov - Predeal Morning sightseeing tour of Sibiu, former European Capital of Culture for the year 2007. You leave Sibiu for the museum town of Sighisoara best known as the birthplace of Count Dracula. Transfer to Bran castle, often referred to as Dracula’s Castle. On the way from Bran to Sinaia, we stop for a short sightseeing tour of Brasov.
Day 5. Predeal - Giurgiu - Ruse - Veliko Turnovo After breakfast you tour the Peles Castle. Fortunately, as you’ll see, it is one of the best preserved royal palaces in Europe. You are transferred to the border town Giurgiu. Depart via Ruse to Veliko Turnovo, capital of Bulgaria’s Second State from the 12th to 14th centuries.
Day 6. Veliko Turnovo - Arbanassi - Shipka - Kazanluk - Plovdiv After breakfast, visit Tsarevetz Hill where you will find relics of the mighty fortress of the Bulgarian monarchs. After sightseeing tour of the city, proceed to Arbanasi. En route visit Drianovo Monastery. Continue to Etara where we visit the open-air folk art museum. Short stop at Shipka Memorial Church and then drive to Kazanluk - the centre of the Valley of Roses, known as well as the Valley of the Thracian kings. Visit Kazanluk Tracian Tomb. Tasting rose products. Drive to Plovdiv for overnight.
Day 7. Plovdiv Day dedicated to Plovdiv, the 2nd largest city in Bulgaria. The tour includes the Roman Amphitheatre, the Roman Stadium, the Old Plovdiv Architectural reserve with the Ethnographic museum and the National Revival Houses complex, Djumaya mosque and Trakart exhibit of Roman mosaics. Plovdiv was European capital of culture and has been awarded by UNESCO with golden medal for architecture. Second overnight in Plovdiv.
Day 8. Plovdiv - Rila Monastery - Sofia Transfer to Rila Monastery (UNESCO site). Admire wooden balconies, azure fretwork, colonnades, facades and colourful frescoes, silhouetted against a fantastic panorama of mountain peaks. Altitude 1147 meters above sea level. Founded in the 10th century. National Historical Reserve since 1976. UNESCO site since 1983. Late afternoon departure to Sofia.
Day 9. Sofia After breakfast full day sightseeing tour of Sofia. The tour includes Boyana Church and the National Museum of History. Visit St. George’s Rotunda of the 4th century, containing the oldest mural paintings in Sofia, the area with the Presidency, the Council of Ministers, the ruins of Ancient Serdica, the National Theater, the Old City Garden, St. Sofia 6th-century basilica, the Parliament Square, and St. Alexander Nevsky’s Memorial Cathedral. Dinner with folklore show and overnight in Sofia. Day 10. Departure Free time and transfer to Sofia airport. Minimum of turists 10+1 15+1 20+1 25+1 30+1 35+1 40+1 45+1 Price per person (place in DBL/HB) 755€ 645€ 575€ 535€ 515€ 495€ 480€ 470€ SGL Supplement 155€ 155€ 155€ 155€ 155€ 155€ 155€ 155€ Services 9 nights of accommodation in 4* Hotels with HB English speaking guide Bus/Mini-bus at your disposal 2 festive dinners Traditional dance and music show 1 SGL room free of charge for the foreign tour leader
9 Lunches Supplement 110€ 110€ 110€ 110€ 110€ 110€ 110€ 110€
