Program for groups

Wallachia and the South Carpatian Mountains

8 days / 7 nights

Day 1 – Welcome to Romania

The English-speaking guide and the driver welcome the group at Otopeni Airport in Bucharest.
Our program is depending on the time of the group’s arrival. In case of morning flight arrival will be followed by program and lunch. In case that the group arrives late we just seat ourselves in the hotel.
Accomodation will be provided on request in 3* or 4* or 5 * hotel in Bucharest.

Day 2 – Bucharest

1. Breakfast at hotel’s restaurant
2. Sightseeing
3. Lunch in the city
4. Sightseeing to be continued
5. Dinner at the restaurant of the hotel or outside the hotel

Romanian legend has it that the city of Bucharest was founded on the banks of the Dambovita River by a shepherd named Bucur, whose name literarily means “joy.” His flute playing reportedly dazzled the people and his hearty wine from nearby vineyards endeared him to the local traders, who gave his name to the place. In the 15th century, the princely court of Vlad Tepes (thought to have been the inspiration for Bram Stoker's Dracula) was established here and by the end of the 17th century, the city had become the capital of the province of Walachia. In 1862, Bucharest became the capital of Romania.

During our tour we see The Arch of Triumph, we ride along the Victory Avenue – the oldest and the most charming street of the capital – where we pass Revolution Square, Cantacuzino Palace, former Royal Palace which houses the Romanian National Art Museum, the Romania Athenaeum – the most prestigous concert hall of Bucharest etc. We take a walk in the old historical centre of the city where Lipscani district, the Old Princeley Court built in the 15th Century by Vlad Tepes (Dracula) can be visited. Then we go to the Metropolitan Church dating from the 17th Century. Later we go on our tour on University Square en visit the Parliament Palace – the second largest office building in surface after the Pentagon, built by Communist Party leader Nicolae Ceauşescu.
The sightseeing can be completed by visiting Jewish Bucharest, walk in one of the beautiful parks or theater performance.

Dinner will be at the hotel’s restaurant.

Day 3 – Târgovişte – Sinaia – Braşov

(Bukarest-Târgovişte 70 km, Târgovişte – Sinaia 65 km, Sinaia – Braşov  50 km)

1. Breakfast at the hotel
2. Travel to Târgovişte
3. Visiting the former residence of the Wallachian princes
4. Lunch
5. Travelling to Sinaia for visiting the former Royal Court
6. After the guiding tour short spare-time
7. Late afternoon moving on to Braşov city
8. Accomodation and dinner in Braşov

After an early breakfast we leave our rooms, pack into the bus and travel to Târgovişte.

The town was first attested in 1396 in the Travel Accounts of Johannes Schiltberger. Later it became the capital of the Wallachian voivodship, probably during the reign of Mircea cel Bătrân, when the Royal Court ("Curtea Domnească") was built. Vlad III Dracula later added the Chindia Tower, now a symbol of the city.
In 1597 Mihai Viteazul fought and won a decisive battle against the Ottoman Empire in Târgovişte.
After Constantin Brâncoveanu moved the capital to Bucharest, Târgovişte lost its importance, decaying economically as its population decreased.
Târgovişte was the site of the trial and execution of Nicolae Ceauşescu and his wife Elena in December 1989.

Lunch at one of the restaurants.

After lunch we travel to Sinaia.

The town was named after Sinaia Monastery, around which it was built; the monastery in turn is named after the Biblical Mount Sinai. King Carol I of Romania built his summer home, Peleş Castle, near the town.
The city is a popular destination for hiking and winter sports, especially downhill skiing. Among the tourist landmarks, the most important are Peleş Castle, Pelişor Castle, Sinaia Monastery, Sinaia Casino, Sinaia train station, and the Franz Joseph and Saint Anne Cliffs. Sinaia was also the summer residence of the great Romanian composer George Enescu, who stayed at the Luminiş villa.

Accomodation will be provided on request in 3* or 4* or 5 * hotel.

Day 4 – Braşov

(Braşov – Bran - Braşov 50 km)

1. Breakfast
2. Walking tour in the centre of Braşov
3. Lunch
4. Visiting Bran Castle
5. Return to Braşov
6. Dinner with folklor-program

Breakfast will be followed by guided walking tour through the central part of Braşov.

Braşov – by its Saxon name Kronstadt - is a beautifully situated town with well-preserved old city quarters.  Braşov was a successful merchant town and an important intersection for trade between Transilvania and Wallachia, as wel as between German Hanseatic towns and Constantinople. The most important sights in Braşov including the Black Church with its rich collection of Turkish carpets, the Old Town Hall standing on the main square and housing Museum of History now, the area around the main square: Shei Quarter with its atmospheric old streets, the Jewish Quarter with its recently renovated Synagogue, cable lift to the top of Mount Ţimpa, city walls, gates and bastions around the central part.
During the tour the next sights will be visited: Synagogue, Black Church, Museum of History.

We take a walk in the city centre which is followed by spare-time and lunch.

In the afternoon we ride to Bran Castle – called Dracula’s Castle. Bran is one of the most popular destination for foreign visitors because of mysterious Count Dracula. Although, from the outside does look likesomething out of a Dracula film. In any case there is not really connection with the Wallachian ruler Vlad Tepes. The castle is in an excellent condition and houses a museum. The castle became a property of Romanian Royal family and was the summer haunt of the Romanian Queen Marie.

The dinner will be served in the most  popular restaurant, located in the main square. After de dinner will be Romanian folkmusic, folksongs and dances presented.

Day 5 – The most fascinating fortified church

(Braşov – Prejmer 20 km, Braşov – Sibiu 150 km)

1. Breakfast at hotel’s restaurant
2. Excursion to Prejmer, visiting the UNESCO Heritage fortified church
3. Return to Braşov to lunch
4. Travelling to Sibiu
5. Sightseeing / walking tour in the city centre
6. Accomodation and dinner

Prejmer is located 17 km northeast of Braşov. Construction began on the church in de 13th century, during a short period of rule by the Teutonic knights.
Within the doubble wall 272 storage and living spaces were built for de residents of the town, so they could retreat behind the walls during attacks. In the interior of the church, the fanvoulted nave, rose windows and unworked stone evoke an almost tangible medieval atmosphere.
The storage and living spaces can be reached from steps leading up the walls and are interconnected, creating quite a labyrinth. There is also a folk exhibition on the life of the small Saxon community between the walls, with painted furniture, folk costumes and other items of interest.

After visiting the church we return to Braşov for a while. We eat our lunch in one of the restaurants than we move on to Sibiu.
After arrival we seat ourselves in the hotel.
Acoomodation will be provided on request in 3* or 4* or 5* hotel.

Sibiu was the most important town in Saxon Land. In the medieval times, this was the administrative centre for the Saxon self-governing region known as the ’Universitas Saxonum’, and later the Habsburgs governed the whole of Transilvania from here.
Sibiu was selected by the European Comission to be the 2007 Europian Capital of Culture.

Dinner will be in the hotel’s restaurant.

Day 6 – The Saxon capital - Sibiu

1. Breakfast
2. Walking tour  through the city centre
3. Lunch
4. Visiting ASTRA Museum of Trasitional Folk Civilisiation
5. Dinner

Medieval Sibiu developed into a rich and indipendent town, thanks to the industrious Saxon merchants living here and liveliy trade both with nearby Wallachia and Western Europe. To protect all this affluence, the well-to-do citizens built a strong defensive wall around the town which later provided a safe place in the face of Turkish attacks.
Sibiu has also been an important focus for Transilvanian Romanians’ Culture. For example, the influential Romanian cultural society, ASTRA was formed here in 1861, with the objective of advancing Romanian language and culture.

First we look around in the city center. We take a walk along the main street connecting the old town with the modern parts. The Old Town is unspoiled by modern buildings. It centres around the neighbouring squares: Great Square, Lesser Square and Huet Square. Two of Sibiu’s important sights are to be found in these squares: the Lutheran Cathedral and the Brukenthal Museum. This walking tour takes approximately two hours.
After lunch we ride to the ASTRA MUSEUM which is Transilvania’s largest open-air village museum.

Our dinner will be served at the hotel’s restaurant.

Day 7 – Făgăraş – de highest tops of the Carpatian Mountains

(Sibiu – Curtea de Arges 120 km, Curtea de Arges – Bukarest 170 km)

1. Breakfast
2. Leaving Sibiu and travel to Curtea de Arges
3. Excursion to South Carpatian Mountains
4. Lunch in Curtea de Arges of towards Curtea de Arges
5. Move on to Bucharest
6. Accomodation and dinner in Bukarest

The last whole day in Romania we will spend in the Carpathian Mountains. After breakfast we leave Sibiu an travel through the Făgăraş Mountains where Romania’s highest peak (Moldoveanu 2544) is to be found. Făgăraş is the most spectacular mountain range.
The Transfogarasan road which is crossing the tallest mountains, starts 30 km from Sibiu. The road was built mainly with military forces at a high cost. They used about 6 million kilo dynamite on the nothern face and on the tunnel. Today, the Transfagarasan road is an attraction for travelers, mostly drivers and lots of hikers. But you also meet more and more bikers (with or without an engine attached). The road is generally only open from June to September.

Sights along the famous Transfogarasan road:

One of the most beautiful places along the road is the Bălea Lake - a glacial in its origins, with clear, icy waters reflecting the peaks above and the ice shelf guarding it year-round.

Vidraru Dam was built in 1965 on the Argeş River. Dam's construction lasted for 5 years and a half.

Story how the castle was built: ’Dracula’s first major act of revenge was aimed at the boyars of Târgovişte for for not being loyal to his father. On Easter Sunday of what we believe to be 1459, he arrested all the boyar families who had participated at the princely feast. He impaled the older ones on stakes while forcing the others to march from the capital to the town of Poenari. This fifty-mile trek was quite grueling and no one was permitted to rest until they reached destination. Dracula then ordered boyars to build him a fortress on the ruins of an older outpost overlooking the Arges River. Many died in the process, and Dracula therefore succeeded in creating a new nobility and obtaining a fortress for future emergencies. What is left today of the building is identified as Poenari Fortress’.

Curtea de Arges is a lovely town, located at the end of the Transfogarasan road.

The main not-to-be missed attraction is the old town indeed the remains of Wallachia’s oldest administrative building, dating from the 14th century, and the amazingly preserved church (the oldest in it’s original form in Wallachia) adjacent to the court also from the mid  1300s.

The Monastery church is the place where Romania’s royalty were buried in white marle tombs: the first modern king of Romania Carol I. , Queen Elisabeth, Ferdinand I and his wife Queen Mary rest here.

After visiting the main sights we keep on to Bucharest.

We plan arriving late afternoon.

Accomodation and dinner wil be provided on request in 3* or 4* or 5* hotel.

Day 8 – Farewell

Program and transfer is depending on the group’s departure.