+359 878 95 64 14
BULGARIA ROMANIA TOUR
Brief itinerary:
Day 1 – August 13 – Arrive in Sofia. Transfer to your hotel.
Day 2 – August 14 – Sightseeing tour of Sofia including the Boyana church (UNESCO)
Day 3 – August 15 – Sofia – the Rila monastery (UNESCO) – Plovdiv
Day 4 – August 16 – Plovdiv
Day 5 – August 17 – Plovdiv – Perperikon – Zvezdelina – Plovdiv
Day 6 – August 18 – Plovdiv – Kazanlak – Zheravna
Day 7 – August 19 – Zheravna – Nessebar (UNESCO) – Varna
Day 8 – August 20 – Varna
Day 9 – August 21 – Varna – Madara – Sveshtari Tomb – Veliko Tarnovo
Day 10 – August 22 – Veliko Tarnovo – Ivanovo (UNESCO) – Bucharest
Day 11 – August 23 – Bucharest Tour – Olt River Valley & Gorge – Cozia – Sibiu
Day 12 – August 24 – Sibiu Walking Tour – Turda Salt Mines – Mara Valley to Maramures
Day 13 – August 25 – Maramures: Iza Village Walking Tour – Sighetul Marmatiei – Sapinta
Day 14 – August 26 – Maramures: Iza Valley, Barsana & Bogdan Voda – Campulung – Gura Humorului (Bucovina)
Day 15 – August 27 – Bucovina Painted Monasteries Excursion (UNESCO) & Lunch
Day 16 – August 28 – Gura Humorului – Piatra Neamt – Bicaz Gorges & Red Lake – Gypsy Home Visit – Sighisoara
Day 17 – August 29 – Sighisoara Walking Tour & Biertan Village – Afternoon at Leisure
Day 18 – August 30 – Sighisoara – The Saxon Villages – Dracula’s Castle in Bran – Brasov
Day 19 – August 31 – Brasov – Sinaia: Peles Castle – Bucharest Airport
DAY BY DAY ITINERARY
Day 1 –August 13 – Arrive in Sofia. Transfer to your hotel. The reminder of the day – time at leisure. Overnight.
B Accommodation in Sofia in hôtel Thracia Permier **** (two nights)
Day 2 –August 14 – Sofia – Sightseeing tour of Sofia
In the morning visit the Boyana Church (Unesco site). Admire its beautiful freascoes dating to 1259. In the National Museum of History you will get acqueinted with the rich history of Bulgaria. Here is the Gold Thracian Treasure dating to the 4thc. BC. Return to the central part. Continue with a walking sightseeing tour of Sofia. Visit the St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral – the biggest and the most beautiful on the Balkan Peninsula, the Monument of Alexander II – Tzar Liberator, the Parliament, The Statue of St Sofia – the symbol of the city, the Presidency, the National Theater, the Ruins of Serdica and the Rotonda St George 4th c. AC, the Synagogue. Finish the tour at around 2 pm at your hotel. Afternoon at leaisure – time to enjoy the central part of Sofia.
Day 3 –August 15 – Sofia – the Rila monastery – Plovdiv
Departure to the Rila Monastery – the richest historical and architectural monument of the Orthodox enclave, founded in 10th century and transformed to the most important spiritual and cultural center of Bulgaria. The Monastery’s unrivalled architecture and murals will captivate you. In the monastery visit the Ethnographic museum – very rich with its carpets and rugs exhibition, jewelry, customs, buckles. Also you will visit four rooms decorated according to the typical styles of decoration of four regions of Bulgaria. Departure to Plovdiv. Overnight.
B Accommodation in Plovdiv in villa Antica (three nights)
Day 4 – August 16 – Plovdiv
Tour of Plovdiv – thesecond largest town of Bulgaria, an area since the time of Philip, King of Macedonia, father of Alexander The Great. Its unique location on these ancient crossroads has stimulated cultural and political influences from East and West civilizations and yet maintained its unique cultural identity. The most impressive building of Roman time that has come to us rising above the city is the Antique Amphitheatreby Emperor Mark Avrelii during the 2nd c. A.D. Its magnificent arcade adorned with marble statues is simply breath-taking. Visit the Ethographic museum housed in the biggest and the most beautiful house of the Old town – the Kuyumdzhioglu’s HouseThe Roman Stadiumis also constructed during the II century and reproduces the layout in Delphi, Greece. Within the centre of the ancient major town of the Roman province of Thrace remains of stone paved streets, foundations of buildings and columns and ancient fortress walls and gates reside. Afternoon at leisure.
B Accommodation in Plovdiv in villa Antica
Day 5 – August 17 – Plovdiv –Perperikon – Zvezdelina – Plovdiv
This morning after breakfast visitthe archaeological complex of Perperikon, the largest megalith complex on the Balkans. Archaeologists have uncovered a giant multi-story palace and an imposing fortress built around the hill, with walls as thick as 2.8 m. Temples and quarters of residential buildings were also constructed in the fortress. Have lunch in a Turkish family’s house in the village of Zvezdelina and taste some of the local delights. Return to Plovdiv. Accommodation. Overnight.
B L Accommodation in Plovdiv
Day 6 –August 18 – Plovdiv – Karanovo – Zheravna
In the morning departure to the village of Karanovo and get acquainted with the Karanovo culture. The site at Karanovo itself was a hilltop settlement of 18 buildings, housing some 100 inhabitants. This site was inhabited more or less continuously from the early 7th to the early 2nd millennia BC. Admire a fantastic chariot with two horses exposed “in situ”.
Continue to the village of Zheravna. Here you will admire 200 years old houses, cobble stone streets, stone walls surrounding yards with beautiful flowers and fruit trees. Today the village is an architectural reserve. It has been used as a natural decor for many Bulgarian and foreign movies. Not only you will feel like you are back to the 19th century, but here you will feel the warmness and hospitality of the Bulgarians. Accommodation. Overnight.
B Accommodation in Jeravna in Milenprodanovite Kashti Guest House
Day 7 – August 19 –Zheravna – Nessebar – Varna
After breakfast departure to Nessebar (UNESCO) -an undoubted jewel of Bulgaria’s Black Sea coast, historical and archaeological reserve with ancient archaeological remains of various periods, original churches from the 5th – 17th centuries and more than hundred authentic Revival houses. Proceed to Varna. In the Archaeological museum admire the Oldest Manworked Gold in the world discover in Varna in 1972 dated between 4600 – 4200 BC.
B Accommodation in Varna in boutique hotel Hi – (two nights)
Day 8 – August 20 – Varna free day
B Accommodation in Varna
Day 9 – August 21 – Varna – Madara – Sveshtary – Veliko Tarnovo
In the morning departure to the Madara Horseman (UNESCO) – a bas-relief cut in a rock some 23 meters above the ground dating to the beginning of the 8thcentury. The relief depicts a horseman in a natural pose with a sword in his hand. At the feet of the horse is a lion, and behind the rider is depicted his hunting dog. One legend has it that a Roman emperor was hunting on the plateau when he fell off the cliff and died. His relatives memorialized him by engaging a master to carve his image on the cliff.
Continue to the Sveshtary Thracian tomb (UNESCO) dating to the 4th – 3rd century BC (closed on Monday and Tuesday).The tomb has a unique architectural decor, with polychrome half-human, half-plant caryatids and painted murals. It is a remarkable reminder of the culture of the Getes, a Thracian people who were in contact with the Hellenistic and Hyperborean worlds, according to ancient geographers. Continue to the town of Veliko Tarnovo.
B Accommodation in Veliko Tarnovo in hotel Gurko *** http://www.hotel-gurko.com/index_en.php
Day 10 – August 22 – Veliko Tarnovo – Ivanovo (UNESCO) – Ruse – Giurgiu – Bucharest
In Veliko Tarnovo you will be captured by the beauty of the setting of the town. Old houses perched on the rocks and two Mediaeval fortress preserve the glorious past of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom (1186 – 1396). Visit the Tsarevets and the Trapezitsa fortresses. In the village of Arbanassi is situated the richestly decorated church in Bulgaria of « The Nativity of Christ » called the Sistine Cjapel on the Balkans. Departure to the complex of the Ivanovo rock church (UNESCO). Admire beautiful paintings from the 14th century. Proceed to the Romanian border. Say good-bye to your Bulgarian guide and meet your Romanian guide. Departure to Bucharest.
Afternoon arrival to the border with Bulgaria at Giurgiu. Meet and greet by your professional English speaking tour guide and transfer to Bucharest with a short orientation tour en route to your downtown hotel.
B Accommodation in Bucharest at Hotel Berthelot **** (centrally located boutique hotel)
Day 11 – August 23 – Bucharest Tour – Olt River Valley & Gorge – Cozia – Sibiu
Hot and cold buffet breakfast at hotel. This morning take a city tour of Bucharest including the Revolution Square, the Palace of the Parliament – the second largest building in the world after the Pentagon, Cotroceni Quarterfor its representative architecture and the Village Museum– one of the world’s most interesting open air museums with century old original peasant households from all parts of Romania.
OPTIONAL AND BASED ON THE DAY OF THE WEEK: exclusive guided tourof former private residence of the Ceausescus (pay on own, if going).
Before leaving for Sibiu visit a typical 1930s downtown Bucharest Residence: an authentic example of the pre war architecture and city life style. En-route, make a short stop to the 14th century Cozia Monastery built by Prince Mircea the Old. Drive along the scenic Olt River Canyon crossing the mountains into Transylvania. Reach Sibiu. Brief orientation tour on the way to the hotel. Overnight in Sibiu’s famous Romans’ Emperor Hotel, first built at the end of the 18th century. Dinner on own.
Suggested is Crama Sibiul Vechi, the best cellar – restaurants in town, serving authentic Transylvanian fares.
B Accommodation in Sibiu at Imparatul Romanilor Hotel *** Hotel Imparatul Romanilor, located in the Old Town of Sibiu near the main square, in a 16th century building built in traditional Transylvanian Renaissance style, a former merchant’s hall transformed into hotel in the 18th century, with many famous guests: Emperor Franz Joseph II, composers Franz Liszt, Johann Strauss as well as Prince Charles and many others.
Day 12 – August 24 – Sibiu Walking Tour – Turda Salt Mines – Mara Valley to Maramures
Hot and cold buffet breakfast at hotel. Start your day with a leisurely walking tour of Sibiu (Hermannstadt), formerly the chief city of the Transylvanian Germans. The Great and Lesser Squares are the landmarks of the Old Town with the many merchant houses featuring “”the sleepy eye” dormers. View the old surrounding defense walls and the remaining towers belonging to the merchant guilds. One of the landmarks of Sibiu is the Baroque-style Bruckenthal Palace assembled by Baron Bruckenthal, the Governor of Transylvania at the beginning of the 19th century. Next is the Evangelical Cathedral completed in its actual shape in 1520. Depart Sibiu forguided tour of the Salt Mines at Turda, recently re-opened to all modern facilities. Drive north toward Baia Mare and reach the splendid region of Maramures (northern Transylvania). Due to the relative isolation of their land, the people of Maramures developed a particularly strong community with a unique personality, traditions, culture and lifestyle unspoiled for centuries. The villages along the Chioar Valley are particularly stunning.Then stop in the villages of Mara Valley to learn about the local dowry tradition and to admire wonderfully carved wooden gates. Accommodation in a private house (not a B&B) in the village of Iza. Dinner (and home made plum brandy) is included so that guests get deeper into the local culture. Our hosts will join for dinner, this being a first hand cultural interchange.
B D Home stay accommodation (modern villa) or hotel in Sighet on request
Family home, with one section renovated into a modern villa with all modern facilities. The location is excellent, in a small village, quiet neighborhood, far away from the main street. The terraces offer a beautiful view on the village. Excellent home cooking.
Day 13 – August 25 – Maramures: Iza Village Walking Tour – Sighetul Marmatiei – Sapinta Village
After breakfast, take an exclusively-designed walking tour of the village of Iza including an icon-on-glass workshop (learn about the technique), the local ancient type plum brandy distillery and a typical whirlpool still used by the local women to wash heavy woolen blankets. Then drive to the nearby town of Sighet to mingle with the locals at thecolorful fruit and vegetable market where you will have the oportunity to sample various produce from cheeses to sausage. Continue to the Anti Communist Memorial – a political prison in the Communist times. This is one of the main memorial sites of the continent, alongside Auschwitz Museum and the Peace Memorial in Normandy. The visit provides a direct connection to Romania’s most recent history. Continue west along Tisa River and reach the village of Sapinta world famous for its “Merry Cemetery”.Here each wooden cross carries a funny epitaph about the person’s life. Before returning to Iza, take a view of what is the tallest wooden structure in the world: Sapinta Peri. Late in the afternoon return to the village. Time at leisure. Enjoy a home hosted dinner on an exclusively organized Maramures folklore show and accommodation.
B D Home stay accommodation (or hotel on request)
Day 14 – August 26 – Maramures: Iza Valley, Barsana & Bogdan Voda – Campulung – Gura Humorului (Bucovina)
Following breakfast continue exploring Maramures along the picturesque Iza Valley – an excellent oportunity to witness daily life in this corner of Europe and also meet locals. Stop in the village of Rozavlea for a visit to a famous master carver in his own workshop. He represented Romania at the 1999 Smithsonian World Folk Festival in Washington, DC. Next is the exquisite Barsana Nunnery, a superb example of Maramures wooden church architecture. In the village of Dragomiresti tour the local museum located in a 235-year old house. Cross the Carpathian Mountains through the Prislop Passinto the northern part of Moldavia called Bucovina. In the town of Campulung enjoy an exclusively organized egg-painting demonstration by a local artist in her own home, this being one of the main artistical traditionsof the area. You will have the chance to admire painted eggs from all over the world. After arriving in Gura Humorului, check into the hotel. Evening at leisure.
B Accommodation in Gura Humorului at Hotel Best Western Bucovina ****
OR Hotel La Conac in Bucovina **** (two nights)
Day 15 – August 27 – Bucovina Painted Monasteries Excursion (UNESCO World Heritage Sites) & Lunch
A la carte breakfast at hotel. Bucovina monasteries are gems of medieval Moldavian architecture and artistry. Begin your day with Voronet, the most famous out of all, known as the Sistine Chapel of the East and featuring one the best Last Judgment fresco in this part of the World. The newly open Customs and Traditions Museum of Gura Humorului is a must. Next is Moldovita Monastery where the UNESCO Golden Apple Award given to the painted churches in 1975, is kept. As a cultural connection, enjoy a traditional Bucovina lunch in the picturesque village of Sucevita. Later continue to the nearby Sucevita Monastery, which is the largest of all, looking more like a mighty fortress than a monastery. The Ladder of John of Sinai is considered one of the best of the frescoes of Sucevita, rarely present in medieval Romanian art. In the village of Marginea visit the black potteryworkshop – they use a technique called “oxygen reduction”, there is the same technique in Mexico only! End your day with the Monastery of Humor, the only one without a belfry tower. Return to the hotel with the evening at lesiure.
B L Accommodation in Gura Humorului at Hotel Best Western Bucovina ****
OR Hotel La Conac in Bucovina ****
Day 16 – August 28 – Gura Humorului – Piatra Neamt – Bicaz Gorges & Red Lake – Gypsy Home Visit – Sighisoara
Hot and cold buffet breakfast at hotel. Begin your day with a drive south to Piatra Neamt.
CHOICE OF MORNING TOURS:
Later reach Bicaz Gorges where the surroundings are dramatic. Opportunity for a short hike. Next is the Red Lake, formed by a mountain sliding in the 1830s. Optional lunch in the resort (restaurants here specialize in naturally grown trout). Once passing the Red Lake you are back to Transylvania passing through an area inhabited mostly by the Hungarian Szeklers community, which actively maintains its peculiar culture and even script. Exclusive Visit to a Gypsy village followed by a Gypsy home visit: this is an unique opportunity to learn about this less known yet controversial ethnic group, about its culture, identity and lifestyle. Afternoon arrival to Sighisoara – World Heritage Site and the only still inhabited medieval citadel in Europe. Accommodation in the Upper Town.
Suggestion for dinner: the Birthplace of Vlad Dracula.
B Accommodation in Sighisoara at The House with Antler *** (two nights)
Previously used by Prince charles during his early travels to Transylvania.
Day 17 – August 29 – Sighisoara Walking Tour & Biertan Village – Afternoon at Leisure
Hot and cold buffet breakfast at hotel. Before starting your walking tour of old Sighisoara attend an informal talk on Vlad the Impaler – Dracula, what is truth and what is fiction. Sighisoarais one of a kind. It was developed by the German settlers as of late 12th century. It stands on a network of tunnels and catacombs and, according to one version of the myth; this is where the Pied Piperbrought the children of Hamelin after their ungrateful parents refused to pay him his due. The walking tour includes the two squares of the Citadel (Upper Town), the Scholars’ Staircase, the House with Antler, the Tower with Clock (climb up for a great view), the Torture Chamber and the Weapon Museum. Visit the exquisite Spoonman Exhibition of Transylvanian Arts & Crafts.Sighisoara is the place where the Vlad the Impaler Dracula was born in 1431. The Birthplace is the oldest civilian building in town and one of the main tourist attractions. Then drive to the fortified church of Biertan, a UNESCO World Heritage Site for a visit of the former Seat of the Lutheran Bishops. With its three betls of fortification this is the most impressive fortified church in the country.Opportunity for a short walk in the village. Return to Sighisoara’s Upper Town to further explore it on own.
B Accommodation in Sighisoara
Day 18 – August 30 – Sighisoara – The Saxon Villages – Dracula’s Castle in Bran – Brasov Tour
Hot and cold buffet breakfast at hotel. Leave Sighisoara in the morning. Journey south through the picturesque Transylvanian Plateau and its superb Saxon Villages. En route enjoy an exclusive tasting of organic Transylvanian ”like Grandma used to make” recipes. Later tour 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 enjoy cheese sampling. The remainder of the day is spent in Brasov, another of the important Saxon town with a rich heritage. The tour will reveal the Old Town with the late Gothic Black Church featuring a collection of precious Anatolian rugs, Council Square, Catherine’s Gate, the Guild Towers, Schei Quarter, the narrow Rope Street as well as a view of the impressive 1901 synagogue. Hotel check in with the remainder of the day in the lovely pedestrian area of the Old Town with its many restaurants and outdoor cafes.
B Accommodation in Brasov at Hotel Bella Muzica *** OR Hotel Casa Wagner ***
Day 19 – August 31 – Brasov – Sinaia: Peles Castle – Bucharest Airport
Hot and cold buffet breakfast at hotel. Morning scenic drive to Sinaia mountain resort. 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 and Gardens in Sinaia, the royal residence of King Charles I of Romania and known as one of the most beautiful summer royal residences in Europe. After the visit drive to Bucharest Coanda International Airport for your afternoon return flight (drop-off).
Price per person (for two people in the tour): 2631 euro
Price is based on two people in the group accommodated in twin rooms allover.
PRICE INCLUDES:
ACCOMMODATION IN TOTAL 18 OVERNIGHTS
TRANSFERS AND TRANSPORTATION
TOURS / GUIDES / FOOD
PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE:
Additional private expenses of a client
All that is not mentioned in section “Price includes”
Travel insurance package
Other meals than stated
Photo/video fees at sites and museums
Bank, credit card and pay pal fees