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Private tours in Romania
7. Transylvania & Maramures Tour.
Period: 10 days.
Distance: 1540km.
Tariffs
Day 1.
Otopeni Airport - Bucharest
Your tour starts at the airport/train station where you'll meet your guide. 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 come to take you to a Romanian traditional dinner.
On the way back to your hotel you'll enjoy a night driving tour of Bucharest.
Day 2*.
Bucharest - Pitesti - Ramnicu Valcea - Olt Valley - Sibiu
After breakfast, you'll start your day heading toward Sibiu, a Transylvanian city built by Saxons about 800 years ago.
On the way you'll visit Cozia Monastery built in 1387-1391 by Dracula's (Vlad the Impaler) grandfather. Here you'll visit an orthodox church built in the Byzantine style.
Driving on the beautiful Olt Valley, you'll make a small detour for a taste of the countryside. You'll visit Cisnadie fortified church which was built by the Saxons around the 12th century. Protected by walls, towers and bastions, the church was the first one in Transylvania to have a lightning rod.
Finally, you’ll reach Sibiu, also a German city with a very important cultural influence over the country throughout history.
Brukenthal, governor of Transylvania, had a major roll in Sibiu's development as a major cultural center. He opened the first museum of Romania in 1817,
seven years after 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 iron bridge, which has an interesting legend regarding its name. You'll visit places such as Large Square, Small Square, Huet Square, Goldsmiths' Square and Passage, Staircases' Passage, the Evangelic Church, the Orthodox Cathedral and the Catholic Church.
You'll stay overnight in Sibiu.
Day 3.
Sibiu - Sebes - Alba Iulia - Cluj Napoca
After breakfast you'll head toward the city of Cluj Napoca.
The first stop of the day is Calnic, an interesting peasant fortress
built around the 13th century.
On the way, you'll stop in Alba Iulia, the most important urban center during
Roman occupation and capital of the Transylvania province between 1541 and 1690. It was here Michael the Brave (Mihai Viteazul) unified for the first time, November 1st, 1599, the all three Romanian provinces, Walachia, Moldavia and Transylvania.
Here you'll admire the walls of the fortress built in Vauban type. The Reunification Cathedral was built between 1921and1923, a grandiose building which was the place where the Romanian monarchs were crowned. The Roman
Catholic Cathedral, built in 13th century, is considered to be an important monument of early Transylvanian medieval architecture. It harmoniously combines Gothic and Roman style elements. It is here Inacu by Hunedoara, the father of King Corvinus of Hungary, rests for eternity.
In Turda you'll visit something quite different from the rest of the stops in
this trip. This place is known for its salt deposits. Discovered first by the
Romans, Turda salt mine became an important exploitation center during the control of Transylvania by the Habsburgs. Here you’ll be astonished by the very
long access corridor, which has almost 1km and by the huge salt galleries.
Driving among the Transylvanian hills you'll reach the city of Cluj Napoca.
After your check in, you'll visit the beautiful town's old center, where you can admire the St. Michael Cathedral and the Orthodox Cathedral. In the afternoon you'll go to Cetatuia Hill, which offers a beautiful view over the town.
Day 4.
Cluj Napoca - Gherla - Dej - Baia Mare - Surdesti - Vadu Izei
After your breakfast you'll drive toward Maramures region, a place where the purity of nature blends with the beauty of the old villages, a place where the locals kept untouched their traditions, a place where the carved wood represents a
common way of building.
Passing through Gherla, Dej and Baia Mare you'll have a first contact with a wooden church, Surdesti church. Built in 1724, this church, made of evergreen oak beams, impresses because of its very high steeple, 54m, the total height of the church reaching 72m!
Crossing Gutai Mountains, you'll reach Desesti village famous for its wooden church. Built in 1780, the wooden church amazes with its beautiful frescoes made by Radu Munteanu, a local painter.
Further on, you'll stop at the outskirts of Berbesti village to admire Rednic wooden Calvary, the oldest crucifix in Romania, 300 years old.
Finally, you'll reach Vadu Izei village renowned for its craftsmen: woodcarvers,
weavers and painters.
Before the dinner you'll take a stroll in the village. You'll visit a local distillery, used by the locals to prepare tuica or palinca, a sort of plumb brandy. Not far from the distillery, you'll see how the locals are washing their carpets in a way like 100 years ago.
You'll continue your walking tour on the streets of the village admiring the wooden gates, the wooden houses, the local architecture and the locals.
You’ll stay overnight in a modern and clean guest house with all modern facilities. A lovely surprise is expecting you.
Day 5.
Vadu Izei - Sighet - Sapanta - Vadu Izei
After the traditional breakfast you'll head toward Sapanta village to admire Merry Cemetery. Here the carved crosses are painted in bright colors, the dead person being represented during an important moment of his life.
In the same village you'll stop to admire the highest wooden structure in the world: Peri Convent, recently rebuilt.
On the way back to Sighet you'll have the chance of seeing on the side of the road many local women sewing traditional clothes or other different things.
In Sighet you'll find out something about the horrors of the communism regime.
You'll visit a prison where during the communism years many important Romanian leaders but also, common people who were against the regime, lost their lives.
You can observe the locals by having a walking tour in the center of Sighet or in the local market.
Optionally you can visit Ellie Wiesel's house, awarded with the Nobel Prize for peace. In 1944, Ellie Wiesel, together with other 38 000 Jewish from Maramures, were sent by the Nazis to different concentration camps. In his many books, Ellie tells different stories about these moments.
In the end, you'll visit an interesting village museum which displays an important number of traditional wooden houses.
Back to Vadu Izei.
Day 6.
Vadu Izei - Barsana - Ieud - Dragomiresti - Sacel - Nasaud - Bistrita
At 8 o'clock you'll serve your breakfast.
Today the journey is long and beautiful. First, you'll visit Toader Barsan's
house, a local wood carver who took part at the Smithsonian World Festival in Washington. In the same village, you'll visit one of the highest wooden churches in the world, Barsana church. Dedicated to the Twelve Apostles, the church was built in 1992.
After one of the newest wooden church in Maramures you'll stop in Ieud village for the oldest one. The Church on the Hill was built in 1364.
The last visit in Maramures is the Museum of the Peasant Women in Dragomiresti village. It is a traditional wooden house which belonged to a woman never married.
After this last stop in Maramures, you'll head toward the City of Bistrita where you'll see the Evangelical Church.
Day 7.
Bistrita - Reghin - Targu Mures - Sighisoara
Breakfast in the morning.
On the way toward Sighisoara 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.
In the afternoon you'll visit 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.
Day 8.
Sighisoara - Viscri - Brasov
Breakfast in the morning.
First, you are going to make a detour to visit one of the most valuable Saxon fortified churches, Biertan. The church was built on the site of a Catholic basilica between 1490 and 1524. It is an extensive Gothic building, with
Renaissance and Baroque elements. Since 1993 it is part of the UNESCO world heritage.
On the way toward Brasov you'll visit the beautiful Viscri fortified church. Located 35km southeast of Sighisoara, the village of Viscri boasts the well-preserved peasant fortress which surrounds one of the few Romanesque churches in Romania. The Teutonic Knights built the citadel in the 12th century on the site of an existing church. The village was first mentioned in documents in 1400, under the name "Alba ecclesia". Being a UNESCO heritage site since 1990, the fortress has huge walls with watching towers, the main tower being 10m high. The villagers used the fortified church as a hiding place when the
Tartars attacked them.
After check in, you'll visit 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 Black Church which is built in Gothic and Renaissance styles. Also, you'll see the narrowest street in Romania, Rope Street, Schei and Catherine's Gates, St. Nicholas Church, and the old Schei neighborhood.
Day 9.
Brasov - Rasnov - Bran - Sinaia - Ploiesti - Snagov - Bucharest
After you'll enjoy your breakfast you'll head toward the peasant fortress of Rasnov. Built in the 14th century, the fortress, with its beautiful panoramic view, is a good occasion to see how the locals defended themselves against different invaders.
Located in the Barsa region, the Bran Castle is famous for the Dracula legend, but in reality has no link with the terrifying Count.
Further on, you'll be taken on a scenic mountain road and you'll leave Transylvania.
On the way to Sinaia you'll 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 during the First World War.
In Sinaia you'll visit Peles Castle, the most beautiful castle in Romania,
residence of the former royal family. Sinaia Monastery was the first building of this town, being located not far away from the castle.
Further on, you'll be driven toward Snagov Monastery, the place where Vlad the Impaler (Dracula) was buried according to the legend. The monastery is placed on an island in the middle of a beautiful lake surrounded by a thick forest.
Finally, in the afternoon you'll reach Bucharest where your tour ends.
Day 10.
Transfer day
Breakfast in the morning.
Your guide will come to your hotel for your airport/train station transfer.
Day 2*.
Bucharest - Pitesti - Curtea de Arges - Transfagarasan Road - Sibiu
Option:
During July and August 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 Curtea de Arges Monastery, one of the most beautiful monasteries of Romania.
At the beginning of the Transfagarasan Road, Vlad the Impaler built Poienari 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 terrified for the enemies of Vlad.
Also, Vidraru Dam was constructed on this road, being impressive through its size: 166m high, the length of the dam having 305m.
Further on, you’ll be driven 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. It was built manly by the army, the human and material costs being enormous. 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, you'll reach Sibiu, a German city with a very important cultural influence over the country throughout the history.
Brukenthal, governor of Transylvania, had a major roll in Sibiu's development
as a major cultural center. He opened the first museum of Romania in 1817, seven years after 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 iron bridge, which has an interesting legend regarding its name. You'll visit places such as Large Square, Small Square, Huet Square, Goldsmiths' Square and Passage, Staircases' Passage, the Evangelic Church, the Catholic Church.
You'll stay overnight in Sibiu.
| group of 1 person |
group of 2-3 person |
group of 4-6 person |
| 1821Euros/a person |
1052Euros/a person |
1028Euros/a person |
Single Supplement: 255 Euros
| group of 1 person |
group of 2-3 person |
group of 4-6 person |
| 1696Euros/a person |
981Euros/a person |
956Euros/a person |
Single Supplement: 199 Euros
| group of 1 person |
group of 2-6 person |
| 1480Euros/a person |
864Euros/a person |
Single Supplement: 148 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 upon request
- Breakfast each day
- 3 dinners
- English speaking guide/driver
- Entrance fees for tourist objectives
- Parking tickets
- Info folder & detailed map of Romania
- VAT, hotel taxes
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