Medieval Dracula
Circuits > Medieval Dracula
1st day: ENGLAND - ROMANIA:
Today, life in good old England ends as we know it. We depart our normal, mundane existences for a paranormal, exciting experience on a distant and legendary foreign soil. Join fellow friends & fiends from all over the world (and beyond!?), as we board the plane as a group. Enjoy the on-flight meal (no garlic!), or get some sleep in the last safe place at ten thousand feet among the clouds of Europe (because you'll be up late howling at the moon once we begin our vacation). Maybe "the devil made you do it," but there's no turning back now - your chilling adventure to a land that time forgot has officially begun! You're in for the most fun-filled, spine-tingling time of your life (even if you are part of the undead)! Welcome to Eastern Europe, and a journey you will never forget! We land in legendary Bucharest, capital of Romania (first mentioned by this name in a document signed by Prince Vlad Dracula himself in the year 1459). It is now 550 years later, and we find ourselves in the same unholy land. We are greeted by our luxury coach and proceed to the hotel. Along the way, learn about Romania and its people, and also discover the truths, the legends, the myths and the magic of Dracula/Vlad/Transylvania. Meet your fellow travelers in our group orientation complete with full-course welcome dinner at “Count Dracula Club” where right after dark Count Dracula himself will welcome you on his land. Spend your first night at the "Golden Tulip" hotel4**** in Bucharest. If you're sensitive, pay attention: the rooms are filled with ghosts!
2ND DAY: BUCHAREST - SNAGOV - BRAN - POIANA BRASOV:
Awake late and depart by luxury coach to the mysterious, secluded island which is the home of the Snagov Monastery. You will cross a moat by rowboat to arrive at Vlad's tomb. The richly dressed corpse, exhumed in 1931, had been decapitated. In the place of a human skeleton were the bones of a large wolf. The frescos and artwork surrounding the grave are a sight to behold. Photo session outside at the giant steel crucifix. After the Isle of Snagov, transfer to the town of Bran, home of Prince Vlad's Castle, recognizable from Bram Stoker's novel. We'll drive through tiny villages with violent pasts, and acres of forest-covered hills, where the Famous Impaler artfully punished thousands. We continue our journey to the famous Castle of Bran, gloomy edifice towering over a bed of stone, gruesome yet beautiful as a preserved fortress. The castle, built in 1377, is an important national monument and landmark of Transylvania,
due not only to the majestic beauty of the castle and the uncanny landscape, but also to the legend of Count Dracula. In the park area, there is a open-air country style bazaar where you will find the best selection of Dracula dolls, shirts, souvenirs & memorabilia in Transylvania. Transfer to "Dracula’s Place" hotel 4**** in Poiana Brasov for 1 night's accommodations. Fantastic medieval dinner in the Citadel of Brasov. The show will surpass the gourmand dinner and your entertainers will be knights and nobleman who will fight for the honor of being chosen for The Impeller’s elite troops.…..
3rd day: Poiana Brasov - Sighisoara - Bistrita:
After breakfast, start exploring Brasov, one of the major cities of Transylvania, established during Vlad’s time. Legend says, that it was here, where the Ruler enjoyed his frequent banquets, while hundreds of law braking villagers were raised high on wooden stakes at the base of Tampa Mountains. Historians of the future missed the educational role of these ghoulish practices, but Hollywood producers were quick to capitalise on the fearsome reputation and the character of Vlad the Impaler , became the blood thirsty … Dracula. Sightseeing includes walks to the “Black Church”, believed to be, still the largest place of worship in Eastern Europe. 
Continue to the ancient quarter of Schei and then on to the St Nicholas Cathedral and the Museum of the first school in Romania. Departure to Sighisoara, the best preserved medieval town of Europe, built by the Saxons in the 13th century and birthplace of our now too familiar Vlad the Impaler. Enjoy a lunch with a difference in the very house where the Prince was born, now functioning as a theme restaurant. After lunch, take a leisurely stroll to the history museum in the Old Clock Tower, showing the most spectacular panoramic view of the whole town and admire the crazy detail of the scale town model there. Return to the coach and follow in the footsteps of Jonathan Harker, described by Bram Stoker in his hero’s diary, aiming for the secluded, little town of Bistrita. Arrive in style and occupy your allocated rooms in the
“Golden Crown” 4****Hotel and prepare to be dazzled by the interesting theme dinner to follow. Out comes the evening gear and we ready ourselves for a feast, perhaps even ordering the house specialty, the “Robbers’ Steak” and toasting each other with “Blood Brandy”, a house specialty and wondering freely how much of this whole ritual was fact or fiction. The interior design and uniformed staff will create a period atmosphere which will further cloud the issue. Wicked!
4th day: Bistrita - Borgo Pass - Piatra Fantanele:
Late breakfast and time to exercise all that last night indulgence. Follow crystal clear mountain rivers, dark woods, swamps and mountains, 
capturing the essence of the story and the breath taking beauty of the trail. Horse driven carts, or horse back journey to a nearby location for a hearty pick nick lunch in the open. Continue through Carpathian Gorges and finally arrive at “Dracula’s Castle” hotel3*** for 1 night's accommodations, up in the mountains, the other side of Borgo Pass. Late afternoon nap, relaxation and time to prepare for the party of all parties…. It is time for and you are invited to partake in Dracula’s Party, robes, gypsy musicians, bonfires, fangs and blood galore! Be a witness to an actual “vampire” wedding ceremony, conducted by a weird local monk wonnabee and his lovely singing nuns. Fantastic prizes bestowed upon the boldest for the most inspired costume and style!
5th day: Piatra Fantanele - Targu Mures - Sibiu:
Breakfast with lots of coffee and depart to Sibiu, the European Culture Capital of 2007, after a short bus-ride through the heart of Transylvania and lunch in the city of Tg Mures, at the Continental. Arrive in the Ramada Hotel in Sibiu and have dinner at the hotel restaurant.
6th day: Sibiu:
Late departure for a short walking tour of Sibiu, which will include the Liar’s Bridge, Central Square and Evangelical Church, with its 6.000 pipes organ and intriguing history. At the back, behind the narthex of the church, for that is where the burial vaults are located. Two vaults hold special interest. The first vault is of Prince Mihnea the Bad, one of the sons of Vlad Dracula, who was murdered just outside the church. The second vault of interest is that of Valentini Frank, a Romanian scientist and physician. The reason this vault is so unique is because Valentini Frank is considered one of Mary Shelley's inspirations in her creation of "Frankenstein". Shelley had a number of paramours, one of whom was from Sibiu, and it was this lover who informed Shelley about Frank's life and the various lurid experiments he was reputed to have conducted. Just in time for lunch we are off to the little hidden village of Sibiel, where we shall descend upon the local farmers’ houses and enjoy another hearty countryside meal. Return to Sibiu and our hotel late in the afternoon, sleep-off the midday booze and enjoy some shopping and individual sightseeing followed by dinner in the hotel.
7th day: Sibiu - Bucharest:
Return to Bucharest in time for lunch at the City Grill restaurant in the oldest part of town and follow that with a leisurely stroll to the ruins of Dracula’s court and seat of power. Rejoin your luxury coach for a short sight seeing tour of the Capital City and arrive at the Golden Tulip Hotel, late in the afternoon. You will have seen the Parliament building, second largest structure in the world, the City Centre and the Patriarch Orthodox church, the sit of the main religious belief in Romania. Preparation for the special dinner and show at Dracula Vampire’s Cave.
8th day: Bucharest - Departure:
Breakfast and transfer to the airport and a journey home!
