Small Group Departure: October 12, 2008. Any other date available on request.
Extra features added for 2008:
1. visit to a typical 1930 downtown Bucharest apartment: an authentic example of the pre war architecture and city life style
2. a guided visit to Huniady Castle in Hunedoara, Transylvania
3. an exclusively organized folklore show in Maramures
4. sample of produce in a local market
5. a traditional lunch in Bucovina
6. optional home made sausage tasting in Transylvania
Excellent quality accommodation in superior three and four star full of character hotels, all centrally located. All hotels are carefully inspected by us. As a rule we do not use pensions, guesthouses or bed-and-breakfasts as none of these are up to the standards.
Day 1: Bucharest
Arrival to Coanda International Airport in Bucharest. Meet and greet by your Compass Travel Romania English speaking tour guide. Transfer to your downtown Bucharest hotel. Later enjoy a Welcome Dinner and a Folklore Show.
D Accommodation at Opera Boutique Hotel *** (centrally located next to Cismigiu Park)
Day 2: Bucharest / Cozia / Sibiu
Hot buffet breakfast at hotel. Morning city tour of Bucharest including the Revolution Square, the Palace of the Parliament - the second largest building in the world after the Pentagon, the Church of the Patriarchy, the Village Museum - one of the world's most interesting open air museums with century old original peasant households from all parts of Romania. Afternoon departure for Sibiu. On route, stop at the 14th century Cozia monastery built by Prince Mircea the Old, the grandfather of Vlad Dracula. Drive along the Olt River Canyon crossing the mountains into Transylvania. Reach Sibiu. Brief orientation tour on the way to the hotel. Overnight in Sibiu's famous Romans' Emperor Hotel, first built at the end of the 18th century, a place where Kings, Queens and gamous artists stayed. Dinner is at one of the best restaurants in town, serving all Transylvanian fares and will end with a sample of the local Ausbruch dessert wine.
B D Accommodation in Sibiu at Imparatul Romanilor Hotel **** (best in town, right off the Great Square)
Day 3: Sibiu / Huniady (Corvin) Castle / Cluj Napoca
Hot buffet breakfast at hotel. Start your day with a leisurely walking tour of Sibiu, the chief city of the Transylvanian Germans. Visit the old surrounding defense walls and the remaining towers each belonging to a certain guild. One of the landmarks of Sibiu is the Bruckenthal Museum assembled by baron Bruckenthal, governor of Transylvania at the beginning of the 19th century. The Evangelical Cathedral was completed in its actual shape in 1520, but inside, there is an exquisite fresco of the Crucifixion on the north wall of the choir dating from 1445. Visit the 1859 Liar's Bridge and the original Pharmacy Museum. Before noon depart for Hunedoara for a visit of Huniady Castle – one of the most well preserved Gothic castles of Transylvania. Late afternoon arrival to Cluj Napoca. Hotel check in.
B Accommodation in Cluj at Boutique Hotel Fullton***
Day 4: Cluj Napoca / Baia Mare / Maramures Region
Hot buffet breakfast at hotel. Morning walking tour of the old center of Cluj including the visit to St. Michael's Cathedral and the house where the famous Hungarian king Matthias Corvin was born. Drive north towards Baia Mare and reach the splendid region of Maramures (northern Transylvania). Due to the relative isolation of their land, the people of Maramures developed a particularly strong community, with a unique personality, traditions, culture, fashion and lifestyle unspoiled for centuries. Stop in the villages of Giulesti for the dowry tradition and Mara for the wonderfully carved wooden gates. Accommodation in a private house in the village of Iza. Dinner (and plum brandy) is included so that people get deeper into the local culture. Our hosts will join for dinner so this will turn into a fist hand cultural interchange.
B D Home stay accommodation (modern villa) or three star hotel (on request)
Day 5: Maramures: Iza / Sighetul Marmatiei / Sapinta Village
After breakfast, take an exclusively designed walking tour of the village of Iza including an icon-on-glass workshop, a plum brandy distillery and a typical whirlpool. Enter the new Orthodox church of the village which will be in the process of getting painted in fresco. Drive to Sighet to mingle with the locals at the colorful fruit and vegetable market. Continue to the Anti Communist Memorial - a political prison in the Communist times. The provides a direct connection to Romania’s most recent history. Optional visit to the house of Nobel Prize winner, Elie Wiesel. Continue west along Tisa River (very close to the Ukrainian border) and reach the village of Sapinta world famous for its "Merry Cemetery". Here each wooden cross carries a funny epitaph about the person's life. Late in the afternoon return to Iza for dinner with Maramures folklore show and accommodation.
B D Home stay accommodation or three star hotel (on request)
Day 6: Maramures: Iza Valley / Campulung (Bucovina)
After breakfast continue exploring Maramures. Stop in the village of Rozavlea for meeting with a famous master carver in his workshop. He represented Romania in the 1999 Smithsonian World Festival in Washington, DC. Later, admire the exquisite Barsana Monastery, a great example of Maramures wooden church architecture. Cross the Carpathian Mountains into the northern part of Moldavia called Bucovina. In Campulung enjoy an exclusively organized interactive egg-painting demonstration by a local artist, this being on of the local traditions of the area. After arriving in Gura Humorului this evening, enjoy dinner at your hotel.
B D Accommodation in Gura Humorului at Hotel Belvedere**** (opened in 2007 this is the best hotel in town)
Day 7: Bukovina painted Monasteries (UNESCO World Heritage Sites)
Bukovina monasteries are gems of medieval Moldavian architecture and artistry. Start your day with Voronet, the most famous out of all, known as the Sistine Chapel of the East and featuring one the best Last Judgment fresco in this part of the World. Next is Moldovita Monastery where the UNESCO Golden Apple Award given to the painted churches in 1975, is kept. Enjoy a traditional gourmet Bucovina lunch in the picturesque village of Sucevita. Later continue to the nearby Sucevita Monastery, which is the largest of all, looking more like a mighty fortress than a monastery. The Ladder of John of Sinai is considered one of the best of the frescoes of Sucevita, rarely present in medieval Romanian art. In the village of Marginea visit the black pottery workshop - they use a technique called "oxygen reduction”, there is the same technique in Mexico only! End your day with Humor Convent.
B L Accommodation in Gura Humorului at Hotel Belvedere****
Day 8: Gura Humorului / Piatra Neamt / Bicaz Gorges / Red Lake / Sighisoara
Begin your day with a drive south to Piatra Neamt for an orientation tour including a visit of the only wooden synagogue in Romania (17 C), built half underground. Journey south and reach Bicaz Gorges where the surroundings are dramatic. Optional lunch in the resort of Lacu Rosu (restaurants here specialize in naturally grown trout). Once passing the Red Lake you are back to Transylvania. Afternoon arrival to Sighisoara - World Heritage Site and the only still inhabited medieval citadel in Europe. Accommodation in either one of the three hotels in the Upper Town. Optional dinner at the Birthplace of Vlad Dracula.
B Accommodation at Hotel Sighisoara***/Casa Wagner ***/House with Antler***
Day 9: Sighisoara
Before starting your walking tour of old Sighisoara attend an exclusive lecture on Vlad the Impaler – Dracula, what is truth and what fiction. Sighisoara is one of a kind. It was developed by the German settlers as of late 12 C. It stands on a network of tunnels and catacombs and, according to one version of the myth; this is where the Pied Piper brought the children of Hamelin after their ungrateful parents refused to pay him his due. Walking tour includes the two squares of the Citadel (Upper Town), the Scholars’ Staircase, the House with Antler, the Tower with Clock (climb up for a great view), the Torture Chamber and the Weapon Museum. Sighisoara is the place where the Vlad the Impaler Dracula was born in 1431. The Birthplace is one of the main tourist attractions. The rest of the day is at leisure OR drive to the fortified church of Biertan, a World Heritage Site for a visit of the former Seat of the Lutheran Bishops. Optional plum brandy tasting.
B Accommodation in Sighisoara
Day 10: Sighisoara / Brasov / Dracula’s Castle / Sinaia
Hot buffet breakfast. Leave Sighisoara in the morning. Journey south to Brasov to admire the 14C Black Church with its 4,000 pipe organ and over a hundred Anatolian prayer rugs. The attraction of the day is Bran Castle also known as Dracula Castle. The castle was built in 1377 to safeguard the trading route between Transylvania and Wallachia, enlarged and restored a few times. Late afternoon arrival to Sinaia mountain resort. Named after St. Catherine Monastery on Mount Sinai, Sinaia became the unofficial capital of the Kingdom of Romania towards the end of the 19th century. Orientation tour of the resort including a view of the famous Casino inspired by the one in Monte Carlo. Farewell dinner.
B D Accommodation in Sinaia at Palace Hotel **** (built for the Orient Express Train)
Day 11: Sinaia / Bucharest
In the morning visit Peles Castle and Gardens in Sinaia, the royal residence of King Charles I of Romania and known as one of the most beautiful summer royal residences in Europe. Optional visit to Pelisor Castle. After the visit(s) drive to Bucharest Coanda International Airport for your afternoon return flight.
Tour price: US$ 1,599 per person for a group of four to six people. Price based on double occupancy. Single supplement is US$ 339.
*** Airline tickets provided on request. Flights are booked at cost--we add no service charge.***
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Included:
• 8 nights at three and four star hotels
• 2 nights home stay in Maramures (or three star hotel)
• fully insured sedan/minivan with climate control, for the entire distance
• fuel & parking fees
• all sightseeing tours & cultural connections
• three independent lectures on important topics
• 17 meals: 10 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 6 dinners
• a professional English speaking guide (driving) to accompany you throughout
• all transfers
• admissions to museums and sites as per itinerary
• porterage
• welcome folder and map of Romania.
*** Airline tickets provided on request. Flights are booked at cost--we add no service charge.***
Also see tour packages in:
Europe
Romania
Cultural Journey
Food & Wine
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