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Private tours in Romania
Transylvania & Bucovina Tour.
Period: 9 days.
Distance: 1614km.
Tariffs
Day 1.
Otopeni Airport - Bucharest
Your tour starts in Bucharest but any other modifications can be done upon request.
Once in Bucharest, you’ll be transferred to your hotel. On the way you’ll attend a short presentation of your tour. The rest of your day is at leisure.
In the evening your guide will take you to a traditional dinner.
Day 2*.
Bucharest – Targoviste – Poenari fortress – Olt Valley – Sibiu
After breakfast you’ll head toward Sibiu.
First stop of the day will be Targoviste, the former capital of Walachia. Here you’ll visit the Princely Court and theSunsetTower built for the first time during Vlad Impaler’s (Dracula) reign.
The tour continues toward the Poenari fortress, the real castle built by Vlad the Impaler (Dracula). The fortress can be reached only after you have climbed 1480 stone stairs. This path through the forest used to be surrounded by hundreds of impaled people, the image being terrifying for the enemies of Vlad.
You’ll be taken back to Curtea de Arges and further on you’ll admire the beautiful valley of the Olt River.
On the way you’ll stop to visit Cozia monastery. Mircea the Elder, prince of Walachia and grandfather of Vlad the Impaler (Dracula), built the monastery in
the 14th century. Here you’ll have a first contact with the painted frescoes. On the entrance wall of the church you’ll see an impressive “Last Judgment” fresco.
Finally, you’ll reach Sibiu.
Day 3.
Sibiu – Medias – Biertan – Sighisoara
After your breakfast you’ll start to visit Sibiu, a German city with a very important cultural influence over the country.
Brukenthal, governor of Transylvania, had a major role in Sibiu’s development as a major cultural center. He opened the first museum of Romania in 1817, seven years before the National Gallery in London, exhibiting his vast art collection.
Sibiu, Europe’s cultural capital in 2007, is also known for its medieval architecture, passages, alleys, churches and towers. Sibiu boasts Romania’s first cast-iron bridge, which has an interesting legend regarding its name. You’ll visit places such as Large Square, Small Square, Huet Square, Goldsmiths’ Squareand Passage, Staircases’ Passage, the Evangelic Church, the Orthodox
Cathedraland the Catholic Church.
After your lunch you’ll take the road which goes to Sighisoara.
On the way you’ll pass through the medieval town of Medias, famous for its church defended by the citadel’s town. It is here Dracula was imprisoned on his way to Budapest. Another major attraction of Medias is the tower of Margareta Church, which has a deviation of 2m, resembling from this point of view with the famousTower ofPisa. Also, it is one of the few Protestant churches which kept some of the Catholic frescoes.
The next stop is Biertan, a Saxon village famous for its beautiful fortified church. You’ll visit the medieval fortified church of Biertan, a true masterpiece built in the 16th century by Saxons. It exhibits an interesting pulpit carved from one single rock, a door with beautiful marquetries and with a locker unique in Europe and an organ.
The day ends with a stroll on the streets of Sighisoara, the only inhabited medieval citadel in the world. With its narrow alleys, medieval houses, towers, ramparts and legends about Dracula, Sighisoara is a world-wide attraction for tourists. You’ll visit the symbol of Sighisoara, the Clock Tower, Casa Vlad Dracul (the house where Vlad the Impaler was born), School’s Staircase, Church on the Hill and the watching towers. Here you’ll receive more information about the real Dracula (Vlad Tepes in Romanian).
Day 4.
Sighisoara – Targu Mures – Bistrita – Vatra Dornei – Gura Humorului
This day will be used to drive you from Transylvania to Bucovina, a historical region of the Moldavia province.
After breakfast you’ll head toward the town of Gura Humorului. On the way you’ll stop in Targu Mures where you’ll have the chance to visit the Orthodox Cathedral, dedicated to The Ascension of Jesus Christ. It is considered to be the largest Orthodox cathedral of Romania and it was built in 9 years, between 1925 and 1934.
Last stop in Targu Mures will be the beautiful Palace of Culture. It was built between 1911 and 1913 in Secession style. The palace owns its fame mainly because of the Mirror Hall. The two parallel Venetian windows and the 12 stained-glass windows are the main attraction of this marvelous hall.
Before entering the province of Moldavia, you’ll make a last stop for the lunch and to enjoy a short walking tour of Bistrita.
Finally you’ll be taken on a very scenic mountain road and you’ll reach Gura Humorului.
Day 5.
Gura Humorului – Arbore – Marginea – Sucevita – Moldovita – Vama – Voronet – Gura Humorului
Breakfast in the morning.
This day will be used entirely for the painted monasteries tour.
You’ll start with Arbore church. Luca Arbore, a nobleman and high dignitary under
Stephan the Great ordered in 1503 the building of this church dedicated to the Beheading of Saint John the Baptist.
Romania has several important pottery centers, one of them being Marginea village. You’ll stop in this village to see the workshops where the talented craftsmen make the renowned black pottery.
Then, you’ll be driven to the nearby Sucevita Monastery, which is the largest of all, looking more like a mighty fortress than a monastery. Many consider this place as the most amazing and best preserved painted church.
Driving on one of the most beautiful roads in the country, crossing the gentle slopes of Bucovina Mountains, admiring the amazing panoramas from the Ciumarna Pass, you’ll reach the Convent of Moldovita. It is famous for its “Siege of Constantinople” fresco.
The tour continues with an egg painting demonstration given by one of the many local artists from Bucovina.
Passing through Vama village, you’ll reach Voronet Convent, the most famous of all. Located not far from Gura Humorului, Voronet Convent amazes with its unique blue color, obtained from azurite, known as Voronet blue. But the “Last Judgment” fresco exceeds all expectations.
Optionally, after Voronet Monastery, you can go to Humor Monastery, located not far from Gura Humorului. Another painted monastery, Humor is surrounded by beautiful hills covered by forests. It was here that Toader Bubulog, an important nobleman of his time, built in 1530 the present church on the former site of an old hermitage.
Back to Gura Humorului.
Day 6.
Gura Humorului – Targu Neamt – Bicaz – Gheorgheni – Miclosoara
After your breakfast you’ll leave Bucovina region heading toward a remote village of the Hungarian part of Transylvania known as Szeklerland.
Further on, you’ll pass through the Bicaz Gorges located in the Hasmas Mountains. About 7km long with 300m high walls, Bicaz Gorges are not just a splendid occasion to admire the beauty of nature but also a place for buying souvenirs from the local merchants.
Not far from the gorges, Red Lake presents an interesting picturesque area, with its empty trunks of old fir trees which jut out of the water. Bring your camera.
Passing through the Transylvanian towns Gheorgheni and Miercurea Ciuc, you’ll reach the village of Miclosoara, Miklosvar in Hungarian. It is here, in this fairytale place, a Hungarian count took his estate back and transformed it into probably the best accommodation in Romania.
In the evening you’ll take a stroll on the quaint dirt roads of the village admiring the old traditional houses, their tall wooden gates , the horse-drawn carts, the locals and the beauty of this forgotten village.
You are going to stay in a room decorated in the old style with original furniture, with a traditional stove, with a modern private bathroom and you are going to enjoy a traditional dinner in a cellar. It is here where you’ll be able to see Transylvania like 100 years ago. It is a step back in time.
Day 7.
Miclosoara – Prejmer – Bransov – Bran – Sinaia
After your breakfast you’ll drive toward Brasov. On the way you’ll visit Prejmer fortified church. It is the biggest of its kind in the southeastern Europe being built in the 13th century, first by the Teutonic nights and then by the German settlers of Transylvania. The circular fortress has walls 3-4m thick and 12m high, fire holes, bastions, iron gates, deep moats and drawbridges.
Next stop is Brasov, a city founded by the Saxons, who colonized Transylvania in the 12-13th centuries. Here you’ll visit the old center, where you’ll admire the beautiful buildings such as the astonishing the Black Church which was built in Gothic and Renaissance style. You’ll enjoy a walking tour of the old medieval citadel and you’ll admire its walls protected by towers, the old square and the narrowest street in Romania, Rope Street.
After lunch you’ll be taking a scenic road and you’ll reach the Bran Castle built 700 years ago and famous for the Dracula legend.
Driving on the beautiful Prahova Valley, you will have an astonishing view over Bucegi Mountain, especially over the craggy Caraiman Massive with its Heroes’ Cross built in the memory of the soldiers who died in the First World War.
In the end you’ll reach Sinaia, a famous mountain resort.
Day 8.
Sinaia – Ploiesti – Bucharest
The first visit is Sinaia where you’ll admire the Peles Castle, the most beautiful castle of Romania, residence of the former royal family. Sinaia Monastery was the first building of this town, and is located not far away from the castle.
You’ll reach Bucharest in time for lunch. After that, you’ll be given a driving and walking tour of Bucharest.
In the Revolution Square you’ll stop to admire the Romanian Athenaeum built in 1888 in Neoclassical style, the Central University Library and the Art Museum, the former Royal Palace. Also, you’ll get explications about the anticommunist revolution.
Next stop is the Parliament House, the largest administrative building in Europe, second in the world. Built between 1984 and 1989, right in the former historical center of Bucharest, The Parliament Palace, better known as The House of People, is the most grandiose administrative construction in Europe.
The last visit of this tour is the old center of Bucharest where you’ll visit the Old Princely Court with its church – the oldest building of Bucharest, the Manuc’s Inn, the Stavropoleos church and the quaint old streets, alleys and buildings.
The entire tour ends with a farewell dinner.
Day 9.
Transfer day
Today you'll be transferred to your airport/train station.
Day 2*.
Bucharest – Targoviste – Curtea de Arges – Poenari fortress – Transfagarasan Road – Sibiu
Option:
During July, August and September months, we’ll use Transfagarasan road, instead of Olt
Valley. The tour of the day is changed accordingly:
After your breakfast, you’ll start your day heading toward Sibiu, a Transylvanian city built by Saxons about 800 years ago.
First stop of the day will be Targoviste, the former capital of Walachia. Here
you’ll visit the Princely Court and theSunsetTower built for the first time during Vlad Impaler’s (Dracula) reign.
On the way you’ll stop to visit Curtea de Arges Monastery, one of the most beautiful monasteries of Romania.
At the beginning of the Transfagarasan Road, Vlad the Impaler built Poenari fortress on top of a mountain. The fortress can be reached only after you have climbed 1480 stone stairs. This path through the forest used to be surrounded by hundreds of impaled people, the image being terrifying for the enemies of Vlad.
Vidraru Dam was constructed on this road, being impressive through its size: 166m high and 305m long.
Further on, you’ll drive on the Transfagarasan road, the most picturesque road of Romania. After the invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968, Ceausescu dictator, being afraid of a Soviet invasion, ordered the building of a strategic road, in
this way being able to transfer troops and munitions from one side to the other of the Carpathian Mountains. The construction of the road took more than 4 years, since March 1970 till 20th September 1974. The road, inaugurated by the dictator, uneconomic for goods transportation, is a fascinating tourist route, representing throughout summers the most impressive and spectacular way of crossing the Carpathians.
Finally, we reach Sibiu, also a German city with a very important cultural influence over the country throughout the history.
You’ll stay overnight in Sibiu.
| group of 1 person |
group of 2-3 person |
group of 4-7 person |
| 1695Euros/a person |
947Euros/a person |
825Euros/a person |
Single Supplement: 180 Euros
The tariffs include:
- car with A/C
- Fuel for the entire trip
- Transfers from/to airport or train station
- Accommodation in 3-4 stars hotels or guest houses
- Breakfast each day
- English speaking guide/driver
- Entrance fees for tourist objectives
- Parking tickets
- Info folder & detailed map of Romania
- VAT, hotel taxes
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