Grand Tour of Romania

Arrival at Otopeni airport in Bucharest, where you will be greeted by an English speaking guide. Departure to Ploiești where you will discover the town and visit to the small Museum Hagi Prodan, traditional house of the 18th century. Continue to Sinaia, magnificent mountain resort. Check-in at the hotel. Visit to the 17th century monastery and the small chapel, which has at the entrance a magnificent fresco of the Judgement Day. Dinner and accommodation at a 3* hotel.

After breakfast, visit to Peleș Castle, ancient residence to the Hohenzollern family of Romania, one of the most beautiful castles in Europe, which has a rich collection of arms and armours, tapestries, furniture, paintings and other valuable objects. Journey across the Carpathians to Brașov, old Transylvanian bourg colonised in the 800s by the Saxons. Visit to the Black Church, the biggest church between Istanbul and Vienna. Visit the Schei quarter, the only quarter in Romania where Romanians were authorized to live among Saxons, who owned the major part of the city. Lunch at a local restaurant. Afterwards, route to Sibiu, ancient Hermannstadt, European capital of Culture in 2007: visit to the ‘high city’ with its churches from the 18th and 19th century and its splendid houses (The Grand Palace, The Small Square). At the end of the afternoon, excursion to the village of Sibiel for dinner among the locals, opportunity to share their lives and costumes. Return to Sibiu, overnight at a 3* hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel. Visit Bruckenthal Art Museum, built at the end of the 18th century by the ancient governor of Transylvania, which shows the works of Rembrandt, Rubens and Van Dyck among other famous paintings. Route to Biertan and visit to the fortified church, UNESCO heritage sites and afterwards departure to Sighişoara, the best preserved medieval town, part of the UNESCO heritage site. Visit to the Clock Tower, Church on a Hill and the Steps of School Children. Lunch at Count Dracula Restaurant. Journey to Cluj Napoca, one of the most important historical cities of Romania. Visit to Saint Michael’s Cathedral, Avram Iancu’s statue, Matias Corvin’s house, built in the 15th century and the Botanical Garden. Dinner and accommodation at a 3* hotel.

After breakfast, journey through Maramures, the forest country, region where traditional life is the most authentic. Discover traditional houses, wooden-carved churches and typical wooden gates found across the villages on the Valley of the Marna River. Transit to Sighetu Marmației, Elie Wiesel’s town; afterwards visit the Joyful Cemetery in Sapanta, opened by the wood carver Stan Patras, where we can find on each cross, painted images and verses about the life of the person buried there. Dinner and accommodation in Baia Mare at a 3* hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel. Continue across the Iza Valley with its traditional villages. Visit the Wooden- Carved Churches Bârsana, Rozavlea and Bogdan Vodă. Excursion on a private steam engine train across the Vaser Valley, following the forest train route, which took the workers to their jobs. Traditional picnic on the way. In the afternoon continue through Bucovina, the country of painted monasteries across one of the most spectacular regions in Romania. Dinner and accommodation at a 3* hotel.

Day reserved for discovering the three monasteries whose exteriors are painted and are part of the UNESCO heritage site : Moldovița, with its famous fresco ‘The Siege of Constantinopol’ which depicts the anti-ottoman fight; the fortified Monastery of Sucevița, with a fresco on a green background. The presence of a woman on the fresco, the famous ‘The Unknown of Sucevita’ is a mystery for historians. Visit to Voroneț Monastery, built in 1488 by the Prince Stephan the Great. With a forceful blue predominance, it was called ‘The Sistine Chapel of the Orient’ and its scene ‘Judgement Day’ is known worldwide. Visit on the way the black pottery workshop at Marginea and visit the Traditional Mask Collection of the artisan Nicolae Popa from Tarpesti. Arrival at the end of the day at Piatra Neamț. City tour, dinner and accommodation at a 3* hotel.

After breakfast, departure to the Danube Delta across the Bauce Romania. Visit on the way the Mărășești Mausoleum, place of glory for the history of Romania and visit the Panciu Wine Reserves, lunch and wine tasting. Cross the Danube on a tray at Galați and arrival in Tulcea, city-port situated at the entrance of the Danube Delta, dinner and accommodation at a 3* hotel.

After breakfast, Cruise through the Danube Delta, natural reserve, part of the UNESCO heritage site, unique place for its diverse flora and fauna. The pelican and the lily are its symbols. Lunch with fish specialities on the boat. Afternoon return to Tulcea and visit to the Danube Delta Museum. Dinner and accommodation at the hotel.

Morning departure to Bucharest. City tour of the town : The Arch of Triumph, Victoria Palace, the headquarters of the Romanian Government, The Romanian Athénée, Opera House, the long boulevards, the church of the Patriarchy (17th century), and lastly the treasures of the History Museum. Lunch in the famous Caru cu Bere Restaurant. In the afternoon, walk through the old city centre : the small church Stavropoleos, built in 1724, the ruins of the Old Ruling Court (Curtea Veche), ancient residence of the Wallachia princes and the ancient commercial roads of the Lipscani Quarter. Farewell dinner in a local restaurant. Accommodation at a 3* hotel.

The morning will be dedicated to a visit to the Parliament Palace, the 2nd largest building in the world. Airport transfer, free lunch and return the United Kingdom in the afternoon.