6 days
Duration
Bucovina, Moldavia, Transylvania
Regions
Cultural Tour, Private Tour
Tour Type
- Accommodation
- Attractions
- Exclusive Tour
- Fortified Churches
- Holiday in Bucovina
- Holiday in Transylvania
- Holiday to Romania
- Meals included
- Medieval Castles
- Medieval Cities
- Medieval Fortresses
- Painted Monasteries
- Private Tour
- Saxon Villages
- Tours in Bucovina
- Tours in Moldavia
- Tours in Romania
- Tours in Transylvania
- Traditional Food
- Traditional Villages
- UNESCO World Heritage Sites
A SIX-DAY TOUR OF BUCOVINA AND TRANSYLVANIA HIGHLIGHTS
If you wish to visit Bucovina and Transylvania, but you do not have the time for a longer holiday, try our Amazing Bucovina and Transylvania Tour, a six-day private tour designed as the perfect trip to these magical regions of Romania, one of the most authentic country destinations in Europe.
You will see 9 UNESCO World Heritage Sites like the Painted Monasteries of Bucovina and the well-preserved Villages with Fortified Churches in Transylvania. Experience the delightful cuisine in a Saxon home and sleep in memorable locations right in the heart of the medieval towns. Book this Amazing Bucovina and Transylvania Tour for the best experience in Romania and for taking your holiday to the next level!
The tour can be personalised according to your time and points of interest.
Itinerary: Bucharest – Egg-painting Workshop – Bucovina Exterior Painted Monasteries – Neamt Citadel – Bicaz Gorges & Red Lake – Exclusive Gypsy Home Visit – Historic Center of Sighisoara – Saxon Villages with Fortified Churches in Transylvania – Brasov Walking Tour – Prejmer Fortified Church – Peles and Bran Castles – Bucharest
| DEPARTURE/RETURN | Bucharest (or any other city at request) |
| TRANSPORTATION | Fully insured car/minivan with climate control |
| TOURIST GUIDE | Certified English-Speaker Tourist Guide (speakers of other language at request) |
| 9 UNESCO World Heritage Sites | Voronet Monastery (Bucovina Exterior Painted Monasteries) Moldovita Monastery (Bucovina Exterior Painted Monasteries) Sucevita Monastery (Bucovina Exterior Painted Monasteries) Humor Monastery (Bucovina Exterior Painted Monasteries) Historic Center of Sighisoara Biertan Fortified Church (Villages with Fortified Church in Transylvania) Saschiz Fortified Church (Villages with Fortified Church in Transylvania) Viscri Fortified Church (Villages with Fortified Church in Transylvania) Prejmer Fortified Church (Villages with Fortified Church in Transylvania) |
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS AND UNIQUE CULTURAL CONNECTIONS
- Benefit of complete flexibility of having the tour tailored on your requirements, in terms of the route, the duration and the features of the tour;
- No more than two days in the same location;
- Enhance your experience through our choices of tours to match your particular interests and traveling style;
- Visit through our exclusively designed tours and cultural connections in Transylvania and Bucovina no less than 9 UNESCO World Heritage Sites;
- Enjoy the exceptional knowledge and expertise of Romania’s top rated licensed tourist guide with excellent reviews;
- Take the unique chance of meeting Gypsies in their own community in Transylvania and discover their particular culture and see what good skills they have at crafts;
- Enjoy traditional Romanian delight specialities from two big regions, authentic local dining in our traditional homes in Transylvania and taste traditional Bucovina lunch;
- Discover the daily life, self-sufficiency and sustainability in the remote Saxon villages of Transylvania;
- Enjoy 5 nights of accommodation at full of character, centrally located buildings, as well as one superb Saxon house in Transylvania;
- Meet local artists such as a blacksmith, a brick maker, a potter and an egg painter in their workshops and learn about the traditional arts & crafts;
- Make the most of your tour experience through our exclusively designed tours with all admissions included and not just only guided walks.
| DEPARTURE/RETURN | Bucharest (it can be changed at your request) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| TRANSPORTATION | Fully insured car/minivan with climate control | ||||||||||||||||||||
| TOURIST GUIDE | Certified English-Speaker Tourist Guide (speakers of other languages at request) | ||||||||||||||||||||
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1
Day 1: Bucharest – Lunch & Wine Tasting – Bucovina
In the morning, your tourist guide will pick up you at the hotel and you will start the amazing Bucovina and Transylvania Tour. We will drive almost all day, north to Bucovina passing the vineyards of Vrancea, where we will have a lunch in an extraordinary ambiance in the middle of a vineyard with a wine tasting from the local wine. After arriving at the 4* hotel in Gura Humorului the evening is at your leisure.
***Optional: Three day Republic of Moldavia Extension with Tiraspol Tour (requires three extra days)
***Optional: Three day Republic of Moldavia Extension with Tiraspol Tour (requires three extra days)
2
Day 2: Bucovina Painted Monasteries (UNESCO World Heritage Sites) & Traditional Lunch – Egg-painting Workshop – Black Pottery Workshop
We will start our day after the hotel breakfast with the Folk Traditions Museum of Bucovina, where we will see all the typical Bucovina household arrangement and traditional costumes for different moments of their life and main celebrations throughout the year. These traditions stretch back to pre-Christian times and are unique to the region. An authentic view into the local culture and a perfect start of your fascinating day with the visit to the unique 15th – 16th century Painted Monasteries of Bucovina: “The big four” – the Voronet Painted Monastery, the Moldovita Painted Monastery, the Sucevita Painted Monastery and the Humor Painted Monastery; all of them listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The first is Voronet Painted Monastery, the most famous out of all, known as the “Sistine Chapel of the Orient” and featuring one the best Last Judgment fresco in this part of the world. Here the Voronet Blue is consider by the specialists to be unique in the world, and as known as Rubes red or the Veronese green.
Later in the afternoon we will visit an egg-painter artist and we will learn more about this tradition, this being one of the ancient local traditions of the Bucovina region. You will also have the chance to admire painted eggs from all over the world.
Next is Moldovita Painted Monastery with it’s towers on the both corners of the facade and a powerful tower for the gate. At the lunch, enjoy a traditional Bucovina lunch in the picturesque village of Sucevita. Later continue to the nearby Sucevita Painted Monastery, which is the largest of all, looking more like a mighty fortress than a monastery. Inside, the Virtues Ladder is considered one of the best of the frescoes from Bucovina, being the most impressive by its amplitude and the contrast between angles and hell’s chaos.
Next, we will visit the workshop of black pottery, the historians date the beginning of pottery here in 1500, they use a technique called “oxygen reduction”, and same technique is use in Mexico only. The last monastery is Humor Painted Monastery, the only one without a belfry tower.
The accommodation is at the same hotel like yesterday.
Later in the afternoon we will visit an egg-painter artist and we will learn more about this tradition, this being one of the ancient local traditions of the Bucovina region. You will also have the chance to admire painted eggs from all over the world.
Next is Moldovita Painted Monastery with it’s towers on the both corners of the facade and a powerful tower for the gate. At the lunch, enjoy a traditional Bucovina lunch in the picturesque village of Sucevita. Later continue to the nearby Sucevita Painted Monastery, which is the largest of all, looking more like a mighty fortress than a monastery. Inside, the Virtues Ladder is considered one of the best of the frescoes from Bucovina, being the most impressive by its amplitude and the contrast between angles and hell’s chaos.
Next, we will visit the workshop of black pottery, the historians date the beginning of pottery here in 1500, they use a technique called “oxygen reduction”, and same technique is use in Mexico only. The last monastery is Humor Painted Monastery, the only one without a belfry tower.
The accommodation is at the same hotel like yesterday.
3
Day 3: Neamt Citadel – Bicaz Gorges & Red Lake – Exclusive Gypsy Home Visit – Sighisoara
After the breakfast, we will start our day with a drive to Neamt Citadel where you will have a guided tour inside the Moldavian 12th century medieval citadel.
After Neamt Citadel, we will reach Bicaz Gorges, crossed by the road that links the historical regions of Moldavia and Transylvania. Bicaz Gorges are without a doubt one of the most breathtaking natural attractions in Romania, here you have the choice to leave the car behind and explore it by foot on a short hike. Next is the Red Lake, formed by a mountain sliding in the 1838, because of the colour of the water the names received this name. After the Red Lake you will have the chance to visit a Gypsy home, on this exclusive home visit you will have the unique opportunity to learn about this less known yet controversial ethnic group, about its culture, identity and lifestyle. Afternoon arrival in Sighisoara, an UNESCO World Heritage Site and the only still inhabited medieval citadel in Europe. Accommodation in the Upper Town.
***Optional: Transylvanian wine tasting in a 500-year old cellar in Sighisoara
After Neamt Citadel, we will reach Bicaz Gorges, crossed by the road that links the historical regions of Moldavia and Transylvania. Bicaz Gorges are without a doubt one of the most breathtaking natural attractions in Romania, here you have the choice to leave the car behind and explore it by foot on a short hike. Next is the Red Lake, formed by a mountain sliding in the 1838, because of the colour of the water the names received this name. After the Red Lake you will have the chance to visit a Gypsy home, on this exclusive home visit you will have the unique opportunity to learn about this less known yet controversial ethnic group, about its culture, identity and lifestyle. Afternoon arrival in Sighisoara, an UNESCO World Heritage Site and the only still inhabited medieval citadel in Europe. Accommodation in the Upper Town.
***Optional: Transylvanian wine tasting in a 500-year old cellar in Sighisoara
4
Day 4: Sighisoara Walking Tour – Saxon Village of Biertan & Saschiz & Viscri with the Fortified Churches with Traditional Dinner
We start the day with the breakfast at hotel. Before starting your walking tour of old Sighisoara your tourist guide will have an informal talk with you on Vlad the Impaler – Dracula, what is truth and what is fiction. In Sighisoara the German settlers built the city in the late part of the 12th century. The walking tour includes the two squares of the Citadel, the Scholars’ Staircase, the Tinsmiths’ Tower, the House with Antler, and the Tower with Clock. Sighisoara is the place where Vlad the Impaler father had a house. After the tour, we will go to the fortified church of Biertan, a UNESCO World Heritage Site for a visit of the former seat of the Lutheran Bishops of Transylvania. With its three belts of fortification, this is the most impressive fortified church in Transylvania. The journey continues south to Brasov with a stop in Saschiz Village (UNESCO World Heritage Sites) with the imposing clock tower and the fortified church, which is the most important landmark of the village. The Late-Gothic fortified church from Saschiz is one of the strongest constructions of this type from Transylvania, widely considered one of Transylvania’s most beautiful medieval monuments, this is the main tourist attraction of the village. On the route, enjoy an exclusive tasting of organic Transylvanian “like Grandma used to make” jams.
The last stop for today is in Viscri village, the traditional Saxon village, one of the oldest in all of Transylvania. It is famous for the traditional houses that the Prince Charles bought, restored and converted into guesthouses for tourists. We will visit the Fortified Church, that unlike many of the other fortified churches, this one was built around 1100 by the Szekler population and taken over by Saxon colonists 100 years later.
You will spend the night in a traditional Saxon home and enjoy a dinner, prepared by your host from local ingredients.
The last stop for today is in Viscri village, the traditional Saxon village, one of the oldest in all of Transylvania. It is famous for the traditional houses that the Prince Charles bought, restored and converted into guesthouses for tourists. We will visit the Fortified Church, that unlike many of the other fortified churches, this one was built around 1100 by the Szekler population and taken over by Saxon colonists 100 years later.
You will spend the night in a traditional Saxon home and enjoy a dinner, prepared by your host from local ingredients.
5
Day 5: Exclusive Viscri Village Tour – Prejmer Fortified Church – Bran Castle – Brasov Walking Tour
After the organic breakfast, you will meet a traditional blacksmith in his workshop and he will show you how is working in a traditional blacksmith workshop, after the visit at blacksmith we will visit a traditional brick makers too, all this things in an exclusive traditional tour in a horse cart. Next is the last UNESCO World Heritage Site, in Prejmer village, where we will visit Prejmer Fortified Church, the largest fortified church in South Eastern Europe.
Later, it is time for Bran Castle also known as Dracula Castle. This medieval structure was built in 1377 to safeguard the trading route between Transylvania and Wallachia, enlarged and restored a few times to become a royal residence in the 1920s under Queen Marie of Romania. After the visit, you will have time for buying souvenirs and have an exclusive natural cheese sampling.
Remain of the day is spent in Brasov, another of the important Saxon cities with a rich heritage and one of the oldest in Europe, dating from 1235. The tour will reveal the Old Town with the magnificent Black Church – largest Gothic style church in South-Eastern Europe and featuring a collection of over one hundred Muslim prayer rugs, Council Square, Catherine’s Gate, the Guild Towers, Schei Quarter with the First School in Romanian language and the narrow Rope Street. Hotel check-in in the lovely pedestrian area of the Old Town with its many restaurants and outdoor cafes.
Later, it is time for Bran Castle also known as Dracula Castle. This medieval structure was built in 1377 to safeguard the trading route between Transylvania and Wallachia, enlarged and restored a few times to become a royal residence in the 1920s under Queen Marie of Romania. After the visit, you will have time for buying souvenirs and have an exclusive natural cheese sampling.
Remain of the day is spent in Brasov, another of the important Saxon cities with a rich heritage and one of the oldest in Europe, dating from 1235. The tour will reveal the Old Town with the magnificent Black Church – largest Gothic style church in South-Eastern Europe and featuring a collection of over one hundred Muslim prayer rugs, Council Square, Catherine’s Gate, the Guild Towers, Schei Quarter with the First School in Romanian language and the narrow Rope Street. Hotel check-in in the lovely pedestrian area of the Old Town with its many restaurants and outdoor cafes.
6
Day 6: Peles Castle – Bucharest
After the breakfast at the hotel, we will drive through Predeal, Romania’s highest town. 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. The orientation tour of the resort includes a view of the famous Casino building, with its architecture inspired by the one in Monte Carlo. Then take a guided tour of the Peles Castle, the royal residence of King Carol I of Romania and known as one of the most beautiful summer royal residences in Europe. Once the famous Orient Express train use to regularly call here and it still does once a year on its way from Paris to Constantinople.
After the visit drive to Henri Coanda International Airport for your afternoon return flight or to your hotel.
***Optional: Two day Black Sea & Danube Delta Extension with Danube Delta Private Cruise accompanied by certified skipper (requires two extra days)
***Optional: You can choose a Bucharest City Tour (requires one extra day)
NOTE: The tour is further customizable.
After the visit drive to Henri Coanda International Airport for your afternoon return flight or to your hotel.
***Optional: Two day Black Sea & Danube Delta Extension with Danube Delta Private Cruise accompanied by certified skipper (requires two extra days)
***Optional: You can choose a Bucharest City Tour (requires one extra day)
NOTE: The tour is further customizable.
Extra full day Bucharest City Tour
After the breakfast, we will start the visit of the capital city of Romania. The day starts with a visit to the Village Museum, one of the most impressive open-air museums in Europe with century old original peasant households from all parts of Romania.
After, we will visit the world’s largest, heaviest and most expensive administrative building, the Palace of Parliament. Between the two communist landmarks, we will have a panoramic tour of the city with Victory Square and Avenue, Royal Palace and Revolution Square and a short stop and visit of the Romanian Athenaeum. Next, we will attend a visit to the former residence of Ceausescu family, the last communist leader of the Socialist Republic of Romania. In contradistinction with the Ceausescu former residence we will have an incursion back in time, in the communist time, where you will have the opportunity to experience life in the 80’s with the help of authentic decor and furniture, working appliances and household accessories, local drinks and homemade snacks and historical and archive footage.
Before arriving in the old city center we will stop in the Cotroceni Neighborhood where we will visit the Presidential Palace and a typical 1930s Bucharest Residence.
In the late afternoon, we will reach Bucharest’s Old Town, with the ruins of the Old Princely Court, known as Dracula’s residence, where the legend says that Vlad the Impaler was keeping his prisoners. We will take a sightseeing tour of this part of the city, filled with lively cafes and street food to see why the nickname of Bucharest is “The Little Paris”. The rest of the evening is on your own.
Two day Black Sea & Danube Delta Extension with Danube Delta Private Cruise accompanied by certified skipper
1
Extra Day 1: Bucharest – Constanta Walking Tour – Histria Fortress – Tulcea
Begin your extension tour of the Black Sea and Danube Delta with an early morning departure to the Black Sea Coast, to Constanta – the largest seaport on the Black Sea, established in the 4th century BC as a Greek colony. The drive from Bucharest will take approximately three hours, crossing the Danube into the region of Dobrogea and driving along the famous Danube-Black Sea Canal. The city tour of Constanta will take you to the Secession style Casino and the Genoese Lighthouse. In the National Museum of Archaeology, we will see the fabulous Glykon Serpent and the wonderfully restored Roman Mosaic – one of the largest in this part of Europe. In the afternoon drive to Mamaia – Romania’s largest sea resort, established by King Carol I of Romania in the second half of the 19th century and then continue north to the ruins of the ancient town of Histria. In the early evening we will arrive to Tulcea located right at the entrance in the Danube Delta. Hotel check in. Dinner on your own.
2
Extra Day 2: Danube Delta Private Cruise with Lunch – Bucharest Airport
After the early breakfast, you will explore, in your private boat the youngest territory in the world, the Danube Delta started to form just 10,000 years ago and is still in the process of formation. On your exclusively cruise you will have the chance to admire the Danube scenic beauty and wildlife – it is known as the birdwatchers paradise, so simply relax while browsing through the narrow channels. A fauna specialist tour guide and skipper, who knows all the channels, will lead your tour. A great opportunity for you to watch birds and to admire nature. The Delta cuisine is certain to provide an interesting lunch experience, the lunch will be served on the ship.
After the tour we will drive back to Henri Coanda International Airport for your afternoon return flight.
After the tour we will drive back to Henri Coanda International Airport for your afternoon return flight.
Three day Republic of Moldavia Extension with Tiraspol Tour
1
Extra Day 1: Bucovina – Iasi City Tour – Soroca
We will begin the three-day extension with the tour of Iasi city, the unofficial capital of the Moldavian region of Romania, here we will explore the Palace of Culture, the once gold-plated Church of the Three Hierarchs, Golia Monastery and the Neoclassical National Theatre. After this incursion, we will cross the Prut River in Republic of Moldavia, outside of the European Union. On the route enjoy the countryside to Soroca, the town that hosts the greatest and most impressive fortress in Republic of Moldavia. Before reaching the hotel we will visit a different part of the Soroca town, named the Gypsy Hill, where the Gypsy community built a neighbourhood of palaces. After this hotel check in and dinner on your own.
2
Extra Day 2: Soroca Fortress – Old Orhei with Traditional Lunch – Cricova Wine Cellars – Chisinau City Tour
After the breakfast, we will start the day with a visit to the one of the best well-preserved fortresses of Europe, established by the Moldavian Prince Stephen the Great in 1499.
Next, we travel south, stopping at the outstanding cave monastery of Old Orhei, which is organically combines the natural landscape and vestiges of ancient civilizations. A home-made lunch will be served in the village with the same name.
In the afternoon, you head to Cricova, where you will visit the largest wine cellar in the world and where you will enjoy some of the best Moldavian wines. The winery Cricova was founded in 1952 and it is one of the few wineries which produce sparkling wine using the Champagne Method. Before reaching the hotel, we will visit the capital city of Republic of Moldavia, which is one of the greenest city in Europe. The tour will reveal the Arch of Triumph, the Metropolitan Cathedral of Chisinau with the Belfry Tower and the Parliament of Moldavia. To have a sweet evening we will have a short stop at the famous “Bucuria” shop, which is the greatest enterprise specialized in the production of candies. The rest of the evening is at your leisure.
Next, we travel south, stopping at the outstanding cave monastery of Old Orhei, which is organically combines the natural landscape and vestiges of ancient civilizations. A home-made lunch will be served in the village with the same name.
In the afternoon, you head to Cricova, where you will visit the largest wine cellar in the world and where you will enjoy some of the best Moldavian wines. The winery Cricova was founded in 1952 and it is one of the few wineries which produce sparkling wine using the Champagne Method. Before reaching the hotel, we will visit the capital city of Republic of Moldavia, which is one of the greenest city in Europe. The tour will reveal the Arch of Triumph, the Metropolitan Cathedral of Chisinau with the Belfry Tower and the Parliament of Moldavia. To have a sweet evening we will have a short stop at the famous “Bucuria” shop, which is the greatest enterprise specialized in the production of candies. The rest of the evening is at your leisure.
3
Extra Day 3: Bender Fortress – Tiraspol Tour – Bucovina
The last day in Republic of Moldavia will be an incursion in the unrecognized Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic (Transnistria). It officially belongs to Moldova and is its second largest city.
First, we will visit Bender Fortress, which was built in one the most powerful of the medieval cities of Moldavia – Tighina, which was an important trade outpost. Later we will cross Dnister in Transnistria, where you will understand why this is the world’s last Soviet republic in fact.
In Tiraspol we will visit Suvorov Plaza & Monument, Memorial of the WW2 and Afghanistan war, Lenin statue and more.
After the walking tour in Tiraspol we will go back to Bucovina, crossing back Prut River in Romania.
First, we will visit Bender Fortress, which was built in one the most powerful of the medieval cities of Moldavia – Tighina, which was an important trade outpost. Later we will cross Dnister in Transnistria, where you will understand why this is the world’s last Soviet republic in fact.
In Tiraspol we will visit Suvorov Plaza & Monument, Memorial of the WW2 and Afghanistan war, Lenin statue and more.
After the walking tour in Tiraspol we will go back to Bucovina, crossing back Prut River in Romania.
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Tour Reviews
Two friends and I took the Amazing Bucovina and Transylvania Tour with Dan. This trip was outstanding. Dan’s knowledge of his country’s history is outstanding. He was such a wonderful guide and a person who is proud of his country and its’ accomplishments. I would highly recommend you take one of his tours if you are visiting Romania. We learned so much information that we never would have on our own or with a large group. He personalized the tour and tailor-made it to fit our needs and interests. We cannot wait to visit again and take another trip with Dan.
A thoroughly enjoyable tour of a fascinating and beautiful region. We particularly enjoyed the painted monasteries, the fortified churches and the happy cemetery. Our guide was an excellent driver, knowledgeable, charming and happy to make small detours as we wished. Accommodation and meals were generally very good. Overall, a trip to be highly recommended.
From the initial contact, through booking a private tour and the itinerary, Holiday to Romania was quick, efficient, friendly and gave good advice.
During the tour Dan was very responsive to our requests and went out of his way to organise some wine tasting and to spend time with a gypsy family. I can highly recommend this company for seeing the best that Romania has to offer.
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