Land of painted churches, great wines and the Danube delta
Circuits > Land of painted churches, great wines and the Danube delta
1st day: Arrival - BUCHAREST - SINAIA
Arrival at the airport of Bucharest, meeting with the guide who will be your host for the entire tour and departure by coach to Sinaia, also called the Pearl of the Carpathians. Accommodation in New Montana Hotel**** in Sinaia. Typical dinner in Vanatorul (the Hunter) restaurant.
2nd day: SINAIA - BRAN - BRASOV - SIGHISOARA
After breakfast in the hotel, a visit to the astonishing summer residence of the former Romanian Royal Family: Peles Castle, built at the end of XIX th century. We continue our journey to the famous Dracula Castle, originally built by the Teutonic knights as “Dietrichstein”. Lunch in a typical restaurant. Arrival in Brasov, one of the most fascinating medieval Romanian towns, sightseeing tour, visiting the mediaeval city, one of the seventh founded by the Saxons in Transylvania in the XIII th century, with its old Council Square, the Black Church said to be the largest worship place in Eastern Europe, the remaining fortifications and also the ancient Romanian quarter of Schei with the Orthodox Cathedral of Saint Nicholas XV th century and the museum of the first Romanian school. Continue to Sighisoara the home town of the notorious prince Vlad the Impaler, also known as Count Dracula. Dinner and accommodation in Cavaler**** Hotel in Sighisoara.
3rd day: SIGHISOARA - BICAZ GORGES - GURA HUMORULUI
After breakfast in the hotel, a visit of Sighisoara, the mediaeval city built by the Saxons in the XIII th century, with the Clock Tower (XIII th century), a history museum which has a scale model of the old town and a splendid view of Sighisoara from the walkway on top of the tower. Also to see the house where Vlad the Impaler (Dracula) was born - now being a restaurant - and the church on the Hill XIV th century. Departure to Suceava, across the Bicaz Gorges, the most famous “canon” of Romania – 10 km long and 300-400 m height walls of Mesozoic limestone. Lunch at the restaurant in Lacul Rosu. In the afternoon visit of the Agapia monastery, which dates back to the XVII th century and is famous both for its museum, displaying exquisite icons and pieces of embroidery and for its workshops. Dinner and accommodation at the Best Western**** Hotel in Gura Humorului.
4th day: GURA HUMORULUI - MONASTERIES OF BUCOVINA - GURA HUMORULUI
After breakfast in the hotel, the entire day is meant for guided tours of the monasteries in Bucovina included in UNESCO’s world patrimony. The first visit is to the important monastery in Voronet, dating back to 1488 and considered the Jewel of Bucovina due to the famous cycle of exterior frescoes decorating the church of which the best-known is the Doomsday scene.
The next visit is to Moldovita monastery dated back to 1532, surrounded by defence works and still preserving its exterior frescoes. Lunch in the restaurant of Popas Bucovina in Sucevita. In the afternoon a visit to Sucevita monastery (1582-1584) famous both for the important biblical scene ”The Steps of Virtue” and for its impressive defence walls. A stop in Marginea, a village famous for the archaeological discoveries of black pottery from the Bronze Epoch, nowadays manufactured in a local craft workshop. Visit of a typical Bucovina house. Dinner and accommodation at the Best Western**** Hotel in Gura Humorului.
5th day: GURA HUMORULUI - BACAU - PANCIU - GALATI - TULCEA
After breakfast in the hotel, we drive to Panciu vineyard to taste the Moldavian wines (lunch included). Then departure for Tulcea, crossing the entire Eastern side of Romania. Dinner and accommodation in hotel Delta**** in Tulcea.
6th day: TULCEA - THE DANUBE DELTA - CONSTANTA
After breakfast in the hotel, the entire day is dedicated to the visit of the Danube Delta, an earth paradise which in 1990 was declared a nature reserve of the biosphere and is protected by UNESCO. Trip by boat on the Danube Delta, the terminal sector of this European river, a real living geologic and biologic laboratory offering unique sights of luxuriant vegetation, great variety of birds according to the seasons and of sweet water fish or migratory fish from the Black Sea, with typical fish lunch (departure at 9.30 am and return at 4.30 pm). In the afternoon departure to Constanta. Dinner and accommodation at Ibis*** Hotel in Constanta.
7th day: CONSTANTA - BUCHAREST
After breakfast in the hotel, sightseeing tour of Constanta, ancient Tomis, visit of the Archeological Museum which holds the Roman mosaic and the archaeological thesaurus of statues dating back to the Hellenistic period. Then we depart to Murfatlar vineyard for a wine tasting and lunch there. Continue to Bucharest, also known as “The Little Paris”. Sightseeing tour, admiring its wide boulevards, glorious Belle Epoque buildings, 
the Triumphal Arch, Romanian Athenaeum, Revolution Square, University Square. Farewell show, dinner and dance on the shore of a beautiful Bucharest lake in a typical tranquil restaurant. Accommodation in Golden Tulip*** or similar in Bucharest.
8th day: BUCHAREST - Departure
After breakfast in the hotel, a tour of the old city centre with the Old Princely Court, the Metropolitan Church – the spiritual heart of the Orthodox Romanian Church and the Parliament Palace, the second largest building in the world after the Pentagon. Transfer to the airport. Departure. Have a safe journey home!.
