Departure:
All Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays during April 02 – Oct 24, 2008

Itinerary:

Day 1 - Bucharest
Arrive in Bucharest, capital of Romania, city testified under the name of Bucuresti in a document dated 20th of September 1459 and signed ‘Prince Vlad Dracula’.
- Arrival in Romania on Bucharest Otopeni International Airport and transfer to your hotel
- Transfer to hotel
- Accommodation in 3* centrally located hotel in Bucharest (Central or similar)

Day 2 - The ancient and modern parts of Bucharest ; the Princely Court of Targoviste
The day starts with a visit to The Village Museum, an open air collection of original houses brought here from all over Romania. Visit of the Palace of the Parliament, the second largest construction in the world after the Pentagon in USA. Proceed to Targoviste – former capital of Wallachia where visit The Princely Court and Chidia Tower built by the order of Vlad the Impaler Dracula to serve as a watch tower and prison.
- Sightseeing tour of Bucharest and visit Village Museum and Parliament Palace
- Continue to Targoviste and visit the Princely Court and Chindia Tower
- Drive to Bran area
- Accommodation in 3* hotel in Bran area (Acvila or similar)

Day 3 – The Carpathian Castlesš
Visit Peles Castle - former summer royal residence of Kings of Romania; the fairylike beauty of the landscape at the foot of the Bucegi Mountains had fascinated the young German prince Carol I of Hohenzollern who was to become the king of modern Romania. The tour will take you to the mediaeval city of Brasov. Driving through the main roads you'll discover its beauty and picturesque, the combination between new and old, blacken stone buildings and red bricks chimneys above the colored tile roofs, over the crenels and buttresses. In the afternoon visit Bran Castle built on 1377 by master masons of Brasov, on a cliff, dominating the whole region. Arranged by Queen Maria into a most romantic castles: the old garret became the fourth floor, the old cylindrical tower with defense gallery became an apartment, Gothic stone arches framed the entrance doors, stairs and boarded floors were rebuilt.
- After breakfast departure to Sinaia. Visit Peles Castle
- Sightseeing tour of mediaeval Brasov including Councilor’ Square, Black Church, Old City Hall, St. Nicholas Church
- Return to Bran, visit Bran Castle
- Accommodation in 3* hotel Acvila in Moeciu de Jos (Bran area) or similar

Day 4 – The heart of Transylvania
On our way to Sibiu we shall stop in Sambata de Sus, at the foot of Fagaras mountains, where Prince Constantin Brancoveanu built a monastery that became through the centuries one of the most important Orthodox centers in Romania. Visit Sibiu, one of the most romantic cities of Romania with its Council Tower, Small Square and Liars Bridge. Then the tour will take you to Sighisoara, the best-preserved 15th century citadel and the only mediaeval inhabited citadel in Europe. End the day in Hunedoara.
- Breakfast and drive to Sambata de Sus. Visit Brancoveanu monastery
- Sightseeing tour of medieval Sibiu including: Evangelical Church, Small Square, Catholic Church, Liar’s Bridge
- Departure to Hunedoara
- Accommodation in 3* hotel Rusca in Hunedoara

Day 5 – Gothic monuments in Romania
The biggest Gothic monument in Romania - Corvinesti castle in Hunedoara was originally built as a fortress on the foundations of a Roman camp. Later, in the middle of the 15th c. Iancu de Hunedoara turned the construction into a castle. The construction was finished during the reign of Matei Corvin – his son. Renovated in 1956, the castles hosts an interesting museum of history and mediaeval art.
One of the best preserved peasant fortified churches in Transylvania is Biertan. Built in Gothic style and erected on the ruins of an ancient edifice it was first mentioned in a document dated 1412. The church houses very valuable pieces of mediaeval art and gained a historical value due to the fact it was the headquarters of the Transylvania Lutheran Bishop for almost three centuries.
- Breakfast
- Visit Corvinesti Castle
- Drive to Biertan via Alba Iulia. Short tour of the city
- Visit Biertan fortified Church (UNESCO)
- Overnight in Sighisoara, 3* hotel

Day 6 – From Transylvania to Maramures
Sighisoara is the best-preserved 15th century citadel and the only mediaeval inhabited citadel in Europe. We shall briefly tour Targu Mures with its Apollo Palace before continuing to Cluj Napoca where Dacians had one of the most important centers, Napoca. End the day in Baia Mare the seat of Maramures county – home of unspoiled folklore art, crafts and customs.
- Breakfast
- Visit the medieval citadel of Sighisoara: Clock Tower, The City Walls
- Short tour of Targu Mures
- Sightseeing tour of Cluj: Church St. Michael (1350); the Reformed Church (1436), St. George’s statue, the Equestrian Monument of King Matei Corvin, National Theatre, Banffy Palace today hosting the Museum of Art (outside visit)
- Accommodation in 3* hotel in Baia Mare

Day 7 – Maramures and its architectural heritage
Maramures is the sanctuary of Romania’s ethnography and folklore, represented by the original folk architecture, national costumes and authentic traditions. In the village of Sapanta visit the Merry Cemetery - unique in the world and of an amazing originality. Your trip continues to Barsana and Bogdan Voda villages with their wooden churches. Pass the Prislop Pass on the way to Bukovina.
- Drive to Sapanta to visit the Merry Cemetery
- Visit of the wooden churches: Barsana and Bogdan Voda
- Accommodation in 3* hotel in Sucevita
Day 8 – Painted monasteries of Bukovina
Situated in the North of Moldavia, Bukovina is home to the treasure of Moldavian art – the painted monasteries, which has been preserved for almost 5 centuries. Visit 4 of the 5 UNESCO protected convents: Sucevita, Moldovita, Humor and Voronet (also called “The Sistine Chapel of the East”) monasteries. Daylight gives the colors and especially the famous ‘Voronet blue’ an unique transparence.
- Breakfast
- Visit Sucevita, Moldovita, Voronet and Humor monasteries
- Visit Marginea Black Ceramics Center
- Accommodation in Piatra Neamt in 3* hotel (Ceahlau or similar)

Day 9 – Natural beauties of Romania
We will pass from Moldavia in Transylvania through the spectacular Bicaz Gorges – famous gorges cut by Bicaz River in the limestone of Hasmas massif over 8 km. Then we will pass by the Red Lake – the greatest natural dam Lake in Romania. Not further than 15Km from Brasov is Prejmer - an UNESCO protected fortified church. One of the most impressive constructions of this type in Transylvania, the fortification has a circle shape and 3-4 meters thick walls with bastions, iron gates and drawbridges.
- After breakfast departure to Transylvania passing by spectacular Bicaz Gorges and Red Lake
- In the afternoon sightseeing of Prejmer fortified church. Drive to Bucharest
- Accommodation in 3* centrally located hotel in Bucharest (Central or similar)

Day 10 – Good bye Romania !
We hope you enjoyed your trip and look forward to have you back in order to discover other wonders of Romania.
- After breakfast transfer to Otopeni International Airport for flight back home

Services Included:

• 9 nights accommodation (place in a double room) on breakfast basis in 3 star hotels
• 1 dinner in Baia Mare
• Transportation by air conditioned car/minibus/bus with driver
• Arrival/departure transfers
• Polyglot guide assistance
• Entrance fees to museums included in the program
• VAT and local tax

Services Not Included:

• Arrival/departure flights
• Health insurance
• Personal expenses of any kind, hotel services like phone calls, laundry, minibar, room service
• Soft and alcoholic drinks with the main meals unless otherwise specified 

Clients are advised to book early, especially for Spring and Summer months for the best possible rate.

All rates are in US dollars per person based on double occupancy. Subject to availability. Air transportation/government imposed taxes and September 11th security fee are not included ($200 - $300)