Itinerary
Day 1 / BUCHAREST ARRIVAL
Meet your guide at the airport in Bucharest and transfer to the HOTEL EUROPA ROYALE 4*
Enjoy some leisure time at the hotel and dinner on your own, for which we have a very nice recommendation:
the oldest surviving restaurant in Bucharest: CARU’ CU BERE (The Beer Wagon), which offers also different shows each night (reservations upon request).
The restaurant was established in 1879 in Calea Victoriei Street by Ion Carabasanu, a former Romanian army volunteer, coming from Transylvania. The building and the establishment became famous in the commercial field of Bucharest, at the beginning of the 1900’s, when the owner, received the military decorations of the Order of the Romanian Crown and of the Order of the Star of Romania. Today, the restaurant is as loved as it was when it first opened. The restaurant is a relaxing 10 minutes’ walk from to the hotel.
Meal plan: no meals included on this day
Day 2 / BUCHAREST - RAMNICUL VALCEA
After a delicious breakfast, you will dedicate this day to explore the capital city of Romania- Bucharest.
Your day will start with a panoramic tour and continue with the visit to the biggest administrative building in the world The Palace of Parliament.
Built by the former communist ruler Nicolae Ceausescu as part of his ambitious urban development, this building stands for one of the most extravagant and expensive constructions made in the last century.
Lunch on your own. After the visit you will leave the capital and head to Ramnicul Valcea.
Situated on the bank of the river Olt and on the foothills of the Cozia mountains, the city dates back to the 14th century. Today it is considered to be a small city and numbers in total a population of 100.000 inhabitants. Upon your arrival you will check in at GRAND HOTEL SOFIANU 4* and you will serve dinner.
Meal plan: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 3 / RAMNICUL VALCEA – HOREZU - VIDRA LAKE - TARGU JIU
After breakfast at the hotel you will depart from Ramnicu Valcea to the enchanting town of Horezu, where you will experience first-hand the ceramics processing and decoration. Enlisted by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, Horezu ceramics are a unique traditional craft as they reflect the generations of knowledge and craftsmanship. Here both men and women are involved in the process of selecting, transforming and decorating the clay. Continue the tour, admiring the vivid scenery as you will head to Vidra Lake, where upon your arrival you will have a photo stop.
Lunch on your own. Your scenic drive will continue while passing the city of Petrosani towards Targul Jiu. Arriving to Targul Jiu you will visit the Architectural Complex that houses some of the most valued pieces of sculpture of Constantin Brancusi. Considered to be one of the most influential sculptors of the 20th century he was born near Targu Jiu, and although he lived and worked most of his life in Paris, some of his sculptures are being preserved today in the city. Dinner on your own.
In the afternoon you will check in at the ANA JUNIOR HOTEL 3*, where you will spend the night.
Meal plan: Breakfast
Day 4 / TARGU JIU – THE BRIDGE OF GOD – DROBETA - DANUBE CRUISE - HERCULANE
Today you will have breakfast at the hotel and head for your Danube River Cruise. On the way you will have a photo stop at The Bridge of God, a natural stone bridge created by nature and the cave nearby.
This is known to be one of the three natural bridges in the world and the only one that can be crossed by car. Legend has it that the devil himself lived in the cave and God listening to the people prayers struck the cave celling in order to chase him away and thus the bridge came to life.
Arriving at Orsova you will embark on your 3 hours cruise along the Danube river.
The Danube River is considered to be the Amazon of Europe due to its size and natural habitats that it accommodates as it flows through or along the borders of 10 countries. Called in antiquity “ The King of the European Rivers” the river enters the Romanian territory at Portile de Fier ( The Iron Gates) and continues for 670 miles until ending its journey into the Black Sea, but not before giving life to one of the most spectacular wetlands in the world – the Danube Delta.
On this cruise you will be able to see some of the most remote and iconic sites built on the shores of the Danube. First you will see Tabula Traiana, situated on the Serbian shore, this is a 4 meters’ memorial built by the roman emperor Trajan, to celebrate the victory he had over the Dacian people in the year 106 a.d as well as the completion of the roman military road that was starting at this point and stretching for over 40 kilometers. Next on this journey you will admire the Rock Sculpture of Decebal, the king of Dacia who bravely fought the romans in order to preserve the independence of his country. The carving measures 42 m in height and 32 meters in width and it took the 12 sculptors 10 years to finish it. The estimated cost at the end of the 10 years was 1 million US Dollars for this sculpture to be made. During your cruise you will also see Mraconia Monastery, situated in one of the most beautiful landscapes of the country, as well as Ponicova Cave, the biggest cave of the area with galleries that measures more than 1.5 kilometers.
After the cruise you will head to Herculane where you will spend the night at the PENSIUNEA NOBLESSE 4*.
Meal plan: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 5 / HERCULANE – EFTIMIE MURGU – BIGAR WATERFALL – ORAVITA
Breakfast at the hotel. You will start the day with a short tour of the small Spa Town of Herculane. Built by the romans 2000 years ago, the city – resort of Herculane suffered a decay after the fall of communism in 1989, and it was only recent that the Romanian authorities started investing in order to restore it and include it in the touristic circuit. The place is one of the rare places on earth where the thermal and mineral water has favorable biological effects on the human body.
You will continue the day with a visit to Rudaria ancient watermills complex, an open- air museum that contains 22 watermills situated in a incredible beautiful landscape. In continuation of your tour you will visit the most unique waterfall in the world- Bigar Waterfall. This waterfall falls down making its way on a cliff covered in moss and it is said that it is the most beautiful waterfall from Romania.
Today you will have a lunch – box prepared by Pensiunea Noblesse.
After lunch you will depart towards Oravita, where upon your arrival you will visit the Mihai Eminescu theatre. The opening of the theatre, which is a small copy of the Burg Theatre in Vienna, was held in the year 1817 in the presence of the emperor Francisc I of Austria.
Late in the afternoon you will arrive to the CONDOR 3* guesthouse where you will serve dinner and spend the night.
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch- box, Dinner
Day 6 / ORAVITA – BEUSNITA WATERFALL – OCHIUL BEIULUI LAKE – ORAVITA
Breakfast at the guesthouse. Today you will depart and start an easy trekking excursion trough the Chielile Nerei – Beusnita National Park, a 91 acres of gorgeous untouched land. The park is most famous for its waterfalls and easy hiking trails. During your excursion you will visit Beusnita Waterfall and Ochiul Beiului lake.
You will serve the lunch- box carefully prepared by the guesthouse.
In the afternoon you will return to Oravita where you will have the rest of the day at leisure.
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch- box, Dinner
Day 7 / ORAVITA – SARMIZEGETUSA U. TRAIANA – DENSUS – HUNEDOARA – DEVA
Breakfast at the guesthouse. In the morning you will head Sarmisegetusa Ulpia Traiana, the roman citadel, erected by the romans after conquering the ancient land of Dacia, this was the largest city and the capital of Roman Dacia. Built 40 kilometers away from the unreachable Sarmisegetusa Regia, Dacia capital, the city was settled by the veterans of the Dacian wars. Nowadays the site is partially preserved and the visitors can still see the ruins of a forum, amphitheater and the remnants of several temples.
Your day will continue with a visit to the strange yet enchanting church of Densus, the oldest church Romania in which services are still being held. Built in the 13th century this building was erected on the foundation of a roman temple dedicated to the god Mars.
You will have lunch on your own and continue to Hunedoara where you will visit the imposing Corvin Castle, a one of the most spectacular medieval castle that survives today.
After the visit you will be transferred to Deva where you will be accommodated in the luxurious guesthouse ARCHIA MANOR 5*.
Meal plan: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 8 / DEVA - SARMISEGETUSA REGIA - DEVA
In the morning after enjoying a delicious breakfast you will depart for a real ancient and spiritual adventure as you will set out to visit the sacred citadel of the Dacian people that was destroyed by the romans at the end of the war in 106 AD. Considered to be an amazing place, Sarmizegetusa Regia, has been described as the Machu Picchu of Europe, although the city pre-dates the Inca’s by nearly 1000 years. Situated on the mountain top at 1200 meters altitude was the most important military, religious and political center of this culture.
After the visit you will return to the city of Deva and have free time to explore on your own or simply relax at the guesthouse.
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 9 / DEVA - ALBA IULIA
Breakfast at the guesthouse. Today you will leave behind the charming manor and head to the town of Alba Iulia, to visit the Alba Iulia Citadel, which boasts fortifications in the shape of a star. The citadel has recently received the prize for the best restauration project of its kind in Europe.
Lunch on your own.
After lunch you will have free time to enjoy the beautiful city on your own.
In the afternoon you will be transferred to HOTEL TRANSILVANIA 4*, where you will spend the night.
Meal plan: Breakfast
Day 10 / ALBA IULIA – BIERTAN - SIGHISOARA
Breakfast at the hotel and depart to Biertan, where you are in for a surprise, as you will discover the most efficient method to avoid divorce: a prison for couples, where they were forced to live together in a tight space for a limited time, sharing only one bed, one chair, one spoon and one plate. Using this method only one divorce happened here in 300 years. Arrival in Sighisoara and lunch on your own.
After lunch you will visit Sighisoara, the UNESCO recognized medieval citadel where you will have a pedestrian tour. Visit the Clock Tower and enjoy some free time in the heart of the city where narrow alleys full with souvenirs welcome guests from all over the world. Here you will meet the story of Count Dracula as it is said that Sighisoara is the birthplace of Vlad the Impaler.
During the 14 -16 century the city was a military and political stronghold and the Saxons who were ruling the city erected fourteen towers and five artillery bastions around the city walls in order to protect it from the Turkish raids and to store ammunition and supplies. Nowadays only nine towers and two bastions are still standing.
In the afternoon you will check in the hotel HOTEL BULEVARD 4*where you will spend the night.
Meal plan: Breakfast
Day 11 / SIGHISOARA – SASCHIZ - BRASOV
After having breakfast, you will leave the beautiful Sighisoara and make a fist stop in Saschiz for a delicious tasting of gems and marmalades organized in a local – rural house.
After you will head to one of the most beautiful cities in Romania: Brasov.
The city is nestled between the peaks of the Carpathian Mountains and boasts an impressive mix of gothic, baroque and renaissance architecture. It was founded in 1211, by the Teutonic Knights, later on settled by the Saxons, that turned it into a walled citadel and developed it to become one of the richest towns in Transylvania.
In Brasov you will have a pedestrian guided tour of the city and you will visit the Black Church. Build in the XIV century the church is the most representative historical monument in the city. You will continue the tour, visiting the First Romanian School and one of the narrowest streets in Europe – String’s Street.
Lunch & dinner on your own.
After the tour you will check in at the HOTEL AMBIENT 4* hotel.
Meal plan: Breakfast
Day 12 / BRASOV – RASNOV – BRAN - BRASOV
Breakfast at the hotel. This morning you will visit one of the most iconic castles of Romania, known as Dracula’s Castle- Bran. Bram Stoker’s character Dracula is often confused with Vlad the Impaler who was a very cruel Romanian Prince with a castle located high above a valley perched on a rock with a flowing river below in the Principality of Transylvania. A description perfectly fit for Bran Castle, a fortress built in the year 1211 by the Teutonic Knights –a catholic religious order formed in Palestine during the late twelfth century by German crusaders.
Lunch on your own.
This day will continue with the visit of Rasnov citadel, one of the best rustic fortification towns preserved in Romania.
In the afternoon you will experience Dino Park, the only dinosaurs theme park in Romania and the biggest in the South – East of Europe. Late in the afternoon you will arrive back to Brasov.
Meal plan: Breakfast
Day 13 / BRASOV - SINAIA - BUCURESTI
Breakfast at the hotel. You will start your day with a visit to the impressive Peles Castle. Majestically perched on a hilltop and a landmark of Romania, this particular castle is a daily reminder of the glorious royal past of the country.
It took over 40 years and hundreds of builders and artist to create this masterpiece that can still be admired today like it once was, as there is not even a single piece of furniture or decoration missing.
Built to serve the purpose of a summer residence for the royal family, Peles is full of items such as Murano glass, carved walnut, silk rugs and polished marble. One of the most admired places is the so called Oriental Room where we can still see today the collection of weapons of the king.
Lunch on your own.
Heading back to Bucharest, you will be accommodated at the same hotel, as previously, HOTEL EUROPA ROYALE 4*.
Meal plan: Breakfast
Day 14 / DEPARTURE FROM BUCHAREST
Breakfast at the hotel. Today in time for your flight you will be transferred to Otopeni International Airport.
Meal plan: Breakfast
Accomodation & Tarriffs
| Location | 3* Category | 4* Category | 5* Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bucharest | Europa Royale Hotel | ||
| Ramnicu Valcea | Grand Hotel Sofianu | ||
| Targu Jiu | Ana Junior Hotel | ||
| Herculane | Pensiunea Noblesse | ||
| Oravita | Condor Hotel | ||
| Deva | Archia Manor | ||
| Alba Iulia | Hotel Transilvania | ||
| Sighisoara | Hotel Bulevard | ||
| Brasov | Hotel Ambient |
| Tarriffs | 4* Category |
|---|---|
| Total tarrif/person | 3150 euro |
Included services
- 13 nights’ accommodation at the specified hotels or similar
- Meals specified in the program
- English speaking guide throughout the tour
- All transfers and tours indicated in the outlined itinerary
- Excursions, visits and activities, according to the program
- Entrance tickets for all the mentioned visits
- Passenger welcome kit with map, suggested restaurants, gift and pick-up time
- 24-hours emergency phone numbers
- Visa assistance if required
Extra services
- Visa costs if visa is required
- Flights or other flight related costs
- Early check-in & late check-out
- Porterage (airport & hotel)
- Other meals, except for the ones specified in the program
- Additional drinks, except the ones indicated in the meal plan
- Tips for guide and driver
- Optional excursions and visits
- Personal Expenses
- Medical insurance
- Other services or expenses, except the ones mentioned in the “included” section (for example: massages, casino, telephone, internet, etc.)
Observations
- Remarks about feasibility of tours: most tours can be done also during the winter November- March (may vary in some areas), but some roads may not be accessible in that period due to heavy snow fall.
- Tariffs are subject to changes, especially if heavy fluctuation in exchange rate and/or fuel prices.
- All tours and tariffs are subject to changes in case of cancellations or overbooking of flights, changes in timetable, bad weather and road conditions, strike, closing of sites, natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods.
- No services have been blocked for this tour. Ground services availability will be checked when we receive your enquiry. The availability will be re- confirmed, when the deposit has been made and received.
- In case of a last minute notification from the hotel, regarding the already confirmed availability, we commit ourselves to replace it with another hotel from the same category, or a superior one.
- For the transportation services, we will use cars, mini vans or buses, adequate to the number of participants.
Reservation
- The prices are valid for 2018, except legal holidays in Romania, when additional costs may apply.
- We will supply you with all the required company details, including the SWIFT code, in order to safely proceed with the payment.
- Payment will be made in Euros, to the provided bank account.
- In case of payment by credit card, the bank will perceive an extra commission of 1.6%, of the full value of the transaction.
- The payment will be made, as follows:
- For the ground services, an advance payment of 30% of the full value of the package, will be made at the moment of the reservation.
- The other 70% of the full value of the package, will be paid the latest, one month before the beginning of the services and the exact dates for the payment will be set through annexes to the contract.
- For service confirmations received 30 days before they commence, full prepayment will be made at the moment of the confirmation.
- If the client wishes to include also the flights in the present package, the price for the flights, will be paid in full, at the moment of their reservation.
- Airline companies can modify the flight’s schedule or status, according to their internal organization, without any prior notice to the travel agency. Trip Tailor cannot be made liable for any changes in the schedule of the booked flight, which falls completely in the responsibility of the airline company.
