Romania simply surprising - the Grand Tour - PRIVATE TOUR in 14 days

Tariffs
EURO |
|
1 person | 3750 |
2-3 persons * | 2395 |
4-5 persons * | 1695 |
6 persons and more * | 1495 |
* price per person
* single room occupancy - plus 50 euro
Price includes
- Transfer from / to the airport or your accommodation in Bucharest
- All overnight accommodation in central 3* hotel/guest house with breakfast included (accommodation in 4* hotel/guest house is possible for extra 15 Euro/night/person)
- One or more traditional village accommodations are possible, including one lunch or one dinner offered by local ladies (at your own expense approx. 10 Euro/pers/meal)
- Air conditioned private car or minivan, fuel cost and parking fees
- Licensed private English speaking guide/driver for the whole trip
- Entrance fees and guided tour for the sights mentioned in the program
Price does not include
- Other meals than mentioned
- any boat trips while in the Danube Delta area
- Photo & video fees
- Individual travel insurance
Our Grand tour of Romania will take you in a trip for 2 weeks into the famous land of Transylvania, the land of still living traditions in Maramures, the holy land of Bucovina, the unique biodiversity of Danube Delta but also the vibrant Bucharest, the capital of Romania.
Private Tour in 14 Days
1st Day
Our journey will begin after picking you up from airport or your accommodation in Bucharest. If you had a long flight we shall have one a relaxing walk in the Old Town area with nice and interesting stories about the Old Court.
OVERNIGHT in Bucharest
2nd Day
Today we visit the most important landmarks in Bucharest including the Palace of Parliament, the Arch of Triumph - a smaller replica of the one in Paris, the Revolution Square - where the Revolution against communism started in December 1989, the Old Town area with Stavropoleos Church, Old Court - the residence of Vlad The Impaler (the inspiration for Bram Stocker's Dracula) and Manuc’s Inn – one of the oldest and best known inns in Bucharest, the National Art Museum located in the former Royal Palace, the Romanian Atheneum – an iconic concert hall but also the very interesting Village Museum.
OVERNIGHT in Bucharest
3rd Day
Today it is time to start discovering Transylvania. We shall drive to beautiful medieval city of Sibiu and during our 4 hour drive we shall have one stop at the beautiful Curtea de Arges Monastery (built during 1515 - 1517) – the place where the kings of Romania are buried and then a stop at Cozia Monastery - founded in 1387, being the only Byzantine style building preserved in Romania.
After we reach Sibiu, we shall have a relaxing walk in the historical city center including: Large Square, Small Square, Liars’ Bridge. The Council Tower offers a splendid panoramic view of the city. We continue to the over 300 years old Lutheran and Catholic Churches, then Orthodox Cathedral built after the great cathedral from Constantinople, Saint Sophia.
OVERNIGHT in Sibiu
4th Day
After breakfast we drive for 1 h 30 min to the Corvin Castle (http://www.castelulcorvinilor.ro/en/) probably the most impressive castle in Transylvania with its Gothic – Renaissance architecture.
We continue our trip to visit Alba Iulia citadel – probably the most important citadel for Romania’s history, especially for the genuine Roman ruins still in the same place since 2000 years ago which are exposed in Principia Museum within the citadel, but also for Romania's Great Union on 1st Dec 1918 that took place within the citadel as well.
In the evening we accommodate in Turda so next day we would be ready for a unique experience – visit Turda Salt Mine.
OVERNIGHT in Turda
5th Day
The interesting Turda Salt Mine is first on the list today.
Then we start driving to the region of Romania where the traditions are most alive, Maramures. Also we shall have the chance to visit on the way the wooden church of Plopis or Surdesti included in UNESCO World Heritage list.
We will have our base for exploring Maramures in the special village of Breb for 2 nights and in the first afternoon we shall visit a local Shepherd with the possibility of having dinner with his family or simply we can have a traditional dinner in a local lady's house.
OVERNIGHT in a traditional Wooden House with all modern facilities in Breb village
6th Day
After a self-catering breakfast with local products, we shall discover the interesting Merry Cemetery from Sapanta - one of the weird but very funny attractions of entire Romania. People in this area considered death as a beginning and this faith has been reflected on the carvings.
Later we shall get a perspective over the ancient ways of doing things by visiting some of the wooden craft work but also other crafts which can be seen in the villages of Maramures. Except the Wooden Churches, the most impressive are surely the traditional wooden gates, which are a beautiful still existing proof of the traditions kept in this special part of Romania, but also guarding for centuries the entry to the houses. Some people own a home atelier where they craft their work – mostly out of wood - and are usually very proud and willing to show it to you.
On the way back home we can visit a local farmers market in Sighetu Marmatiei, where both Romanians and Ukrainians come to sell their products
In the evening we shall visit a traditional local family and have dinner with them
OVERNIGHT in a traditional Wooden House with all modern facilities in Breb village
7th Day
We can relax some more with a walk in Breb village before another interesting experience, a special trip with MOCANITA steam train in Moldovita, after we reach (drive aprox. 4 hours) the magical land of Bucovina with its Painted Monasteries included in UNESCO
OVERNIGHT in Vama Village or Fundu Moldovei area
8th Day
Today we shall explore the holy land of Bucovina, concentrating on the Painted Monasteries, especially Voronet, Moldovita, Sucevita and Humor – all 4 part of UNESCO.
During our trip we shall visit also a local lady’s house that will show us how she paints the eggs by hand, the most important tradition of Bucovina. And later a quick stop at Marginea Black pottery where we shall discover the still living tradition of pottery in Marginea village since 16th century.
OVERNIGHT in Vama Village or Fundu Moldovei area
9th Day
We start driving back to Transylvania, a long day of driving 5 hours, all the way to medieval city of Sighisoara – place of birth of Vlad the Impaler (aka Dracula).
After some refreshing time at the hotel, we shall have a relaxing walk in the Medieval Citadel (inclued in UNESCO) and its Square, Tailor’s Bastion (where Vlad the Impaler aka Dracula grew up) and visit other historical monuments: Stag House, Venetian House, Dominican Monastery, Student Stairs and the Church on the Hill.
OVERNIGHT in Sighisoara
Today it is time to relax and enjoy the most famous village of Romania, Viscri, part of UNESCO.
We shall take some pictures of the house owned by King Charles III (United Kingdom) - probably the greatest ambassador of Romania all over the world.
Then we shall visit the Fortified Church in Viscri and the Blacksmith within a Gypsy family. Also we can take horse and cart for a short trip around the village which would be another interesting experience.
After a traditional lunch in a local lady’s house, we head to medieval city of Brasov, where we shall visit the largest church in Romania, the Black Church (built starting with year 1383) and have a relaxing walk in the Council Square.
We continue our trip to the town of Bran where we shall visit next morning the most famous castle in Romania, Bran Castle also known as Dracula’s Castle.
OVERNIGHT in Bran
11th Day
The document first attesting Bran Castle's existence dates back in 1377. The castle became a favorite place for Queen Maria, who put her mark on the interior’s renovation, and it was later seized by communists in 1948 along with Royals’ expulsion from Romania.
Within 1 h drive we shall reach probably the most beautiful castle in Romania, Peles Castle. The Royal family built the Peles Castle as their summer residence at the end of 19th century and its now one of the most visited castles in Romania all year long.
Next stop will be one of the most interesting mixed reservations (geological and botanical) in Romania, the Muddy Volcanoes in Buzau County. It has been a protected reservation since 1924. Muddy Volcanoes are not the volcanoes you would expect. They’re not the big, real volcanoes that scare off people with volcanic ash. Not by far. But they’re a pretty amazing and unique place in Romania.
OVERNIGHT in Buzau
12th Day
Today we shall drive towards the city of Tulcea for 3 ½ hour from where we shall start our adventure in the only natural bioreservation of Romania included in UNESCO, the unique Danube Delta. First we take a boat trip to Crisan traditional village, where we'll set our base for 2 nights. We shall have the oportunity to taste some of the local cuisine based on fresh fish (other foods are available too) prepared by locals.
Even 2 days might seem not enough, we shall explore the surrounding lakes and channels where an abundance of grebes, cormorants, pelicans, bitterns, egrets, storks, glossy ibises, common spoonbills, American flamingos, swans, wigeons, and pochards will offer you many splendid views.
OVERNIGHT in traditional village of Crisan
13th Day