Beyond the Forest - Grand Tour of Transylvania

Day by Day Itinerary:

TOUR 1: 9 DAYS / 8 NIGHTS STARTING FROM BUCHAREST

Day 1:
ROUTING: BUCHAREST - BRASOV
- Your English-speaking specialist guide will pick you up from your location in Bucharest (Hotel, Airport, etc...)
- Departure from Bucharest to Transylvania, the county beyond the forest
- Arrival to the medieval town of Brasov and check in hotel
- Evening at your leisure
- Overnight in Brasov
ACCOMMODATION:
Option A: Casa Wagner***
Option B: Flamingo Guesthouse***


Day 2:
ROUTING: BRASOV - SINAIA - BRAN - RASNOV - BRASOV
- Breakfast.
- In the morning we go to Sinaia and visit the Peles Castle, former summer residence of the kings of Romania, the Peles Castle is 44 kilometres far from Brasov, in Sinaia, a well-known mountain resort as well. Nowadays the Castle is one of the most important museums in Transylvania where one can admire furniture and ornamental objects, carpets, tapestry, sculptures, paintings, collections of weapons from the 15th up to the19th centuries.
- Then it's time for a visit at the famous Bran Castle. Also called Dracula's Castle, it is situated not far from Brasov (25 kilometres) at the entrance in the Bran - Rucar passage. The castle got its fame from Dracula`s legend written in 1897 by Bram Stoker and later on made into a film by Francis Ford Coppola.. The first documents about the Bran Castle appeared in 1377. Along the history, the Castle had a strategic mission being the border between Transylvania and Wallachia. First it was under the rule of the King of Hungary Sigismund of Luxemburg, of the Romanian voievodes Mircea cel Batran and Vlad Tepes and later on it came under the jurisdiction of the City of Brasov. In the XX century the castle was donated to the royal family and became a royal residence. The museum preserve the furniture and objects from that period.
- The last stop today will be at Rasnov Fortress. Built in 1331, the Fortress had a defence role and it was a shelter for the inhabitants of Rasnov in case of enemy attacks. In the middle of the courtyard there is a well 146 metres deep and the ruins of an 11th - 12th century - Orthodox church were discovered here. Nowadays the Fortress houses an interesting museum
- Ending back in Brasov
- Overnight
ACCOMMODATION:
Option A: Casa Wagner***
Option B: Flamingo Guesthouse***
B


Day 3:
ROUTING: BRASOV - PREJMER - BISTRITA
- Breakfast.
- Start with a visit of the medieval center of Brasov. Main attractions are: Concil Square, Black Church, White and Black Towers, Weaverâ™s Bastion and Ecaterinaâ™s Gate. Due to its position at the confluence between the comercial routes from Ottoman Empire and Western Europe, Brasov became rapidly one of the most important and powerful cities from Transylvania. The houses from Old District, defensive walls, towers and gates are still preserved.
- Depart from Brasov and go north. First stop at Prejmer fortified church - the biggest fortress of its kind from East Europe built in the 14th century. The fortress has double walls and dungeons. Inside its walls there is a church, but the interesting thing here is the honeycomb like inner wall. Every family had one small room for sheltering in case the village was attacked.
- End the day in Bistrita. Situated on the Bistrita River, the town of Bistrita has his origins back in history in XIII-century. The main attractions are: Lutheran Cathedral and Bistrita County Museum.
- Overnight
ACCOMMODATION:
Option A: Coroana de Aur Hotel****
Option B: Codrisor Hotel***
B


Day 4:
ROUTING: BISTRITA - NASAUD - SACEL - DRAGOMIRESTI - IEUD - BARSANA - SIGHET/VADU IZEI
- Breakfast.
- Depart from Bistrita to the most northern part of Romania, Maramures County. Discover the region of famous wooden churches, Maramuresean gates and old and very well preserved traditions.
- We start with a stop at The Maramures Woman Museum from Dragomiresti, where you can learn about Maramuresean traditions and way of live.
- Than go to Ieud we can visit the oldest wodden church made in to the 14th century (UNESCO heritage list).
- The last stop today will be at Barsana Monastery (UNESCO ) a large monastic complex comprising of several wooden buildings, all constructed in the local style , including the wooden church . The Gate Tower is the higher wooden building from Europe.
- Overnight in Sighet
ACCOMMODATION:
Option A: CASA IURCA DE CALINESTI ****
Option B: Borlean Guesthouse***
B


Day 5:
ROUTING: SIGHET/VADU IZEI - SIGHET - SAPANTA - SATU MARE - ORADEA
- Breakfast.
- In the morning visit the town of Sighetu Marmatiei. Main attractions are: "Memorial Comunist Prison" Museum and Maramuresean Village Museum.
- Then go to Sapanta and visit the famous Merry Cemetery, truly one of the most unique sites in Europe. It is famous for its colourful tombstones with native paintings describing, in an original and poetic manner, the persons that are buried there as well as scenes from their lives. The Merry Cemetery became an open-air museum and a national tourist attraction.
- Continue your journey on the north part realy close to the Ukraine Border and go west until Oradea.
- Overnight
ACCOMMODATION:
Option A: Vulturul Negru Hotel****
Option B: Scorilo Hotel ***
B


Day 6:
ROUTING: ORADEA - DEVA - HUNEDOARA
- Breakfast.
- Start your day visiting the center of Oradea, the capital city of Bihor County, located in North-West of Romania. The city dates back to a X century castle and the first documented mention was in XI century on the latin name: Varadinum. In the 18^th century, the Viennese engineerFranz Anton planned the city in Baroque style and, starting from 1752, many landmarks were constructed such as the Roman Catholic Cathedral and the Bishop's Palace, presently the Muzeul Ţării Crişurilor ("The Museum of the Crişland"). In addition to many Baroque buildings, Oradea is remarkable for its particularly rich collection of Art Nouveau architecture. Main attractions are: Bishopâ™s Palace, Baroque Cathedral - the biggest baroque cathedral from Romania, The Church with Moon - because it has a kind of astronimical clock depicting the phases of the moon, State Theatre, Black Eagle Passage.
- After that depart on the route to Hunedoara.
- Overnight
ACCOMMODATION:
Option A & B: Rusca Hotel***
B


Day 7:
ROUTING: HUNEDOARA - ALBA IULIA - CALNIC - SIBIU
- Breakfast.
- In the morning visit the Arriving at Hunedoara and visit the Hunyad's Castle. The most representative castle in this part of Transylvania was built in 14^th century and became famous as a property of Iancu of Hunedoara, the great ruller and fighter against the Ottoman Empire at that time. Built in the 14th century, on the place of an old fortification, on a rock below which flows the small river Zlasti, the castle is a large building, with tall and diversely coloured roofs, towers, windows and balconies adorned with carvings in stone. In February 2007, Hunyad Castle played host to the British paranormal television program "Most Haunted" for a three-night live investigation into the spirits purported to be haunting the castle.
- Then we go to Alba Iulia The modern city is located near the site of the important Dacian political, economic and social centre named Apulon, (believed by many archaeologists to be the Dacian fortifications on top of Piatra Craivii). ). In the roman period the city was known as Apullum. In 1918, tens of thousands of Romanians gathered in Alba Iulia on December 1, now commemorated as the National Day of Romania, to hear the proclamation of the union of Transylvania with the Kindom of Romania. In 1922, Ferdinand of Romania was symbolically crowned King of Romania at Alba Iulia.
- Visit the old citadel, The Reunion Cathedral, The Reunion Hall and Museum, The Catholic Cathedral (who host the grave of Iancu de Hunedoara - the famous ruler of Transylvania.)
- Next stop at Calnic Castle (Unesco site). The castle, first mentioned in 1269, is very well preserved. Built as a noble's residence, it was bought in 1430 by local peasants and fortified.
- Overnight in Sibiu
ACCOMMODATION:
Option A: Hotel Ramada Sibiu ****
Option B: Zorba Pension ****
B


Day 8:
ROUTING: SIBIU - MEDIAS - BIERTAN - SIGHISOARA - BRASOV
- Breakfast
- In the morning we explore the city of Sibiu, which was The European Capital of Culture in 2007.Sibiu or Hermannstadt (in German language) was founded in XII century by German settlers. It was probably built near a roman settlement, one that would be known during the early Middle Ages as Caedonia. Sibiu became the most important ethnic German city among the seven cities that gave Transylvania its German name Siebenbürgen (literally seven castles), and it was home to the Universitas Saxorum, the assembly of Germans in Transylvania. Common opinion in the 17th century ascribed Sibiu the quality of being the easternmost city to be part of the European sphere; it was also the eastern terminus of postal routes. Main attractions are: Little Square and Grand Square, Evanghelical Cathedral, Lierâ™s Bridge, Bruckental Museum, defensive towers and fortifications, etc...
- Then start to explore a region with beautiful Saxon citadels and fortresses. Stop at Slimnic to see the old Saxon fortress and at Biertan (UNESCO) for the Saxon fortified church from here second largest from south-east of Europe.
- Finally arriving in Sighisoara (UNESCO), also caled "The Pearl of Transylvania" a wonderful medieval city where you can still enjoy the medieval atmosphere. Short walking in Sighisoara and visits at Clock Tower and History Museum, Born House of Vlad the Impaler, Covered Stairs, Church on the Hill, etc...
- In the evening arrive at Brasov. - Overnight in Brasov
ACCOMMODATION:
Option A: Casa Wagner***
Option B: Flamingo Guesthouse***
B


Day 9:
ROUTING: BUCHAREST - AIRPORT or GIURGIU* (*Romania/Bulgaria border crossing)
- Breakfast
- Transfer to Bucharest Airport and final good-bye from your Romanian Specialist Tour Guide (about 2h.30min driving) or continue this tour to Bulgaria with our partners, for more details click here


End of tour services
_________________________________________________________


TOUR 2: 9 DAYS / 8 NIGHTS STARTING FROM CLUJ

Day 1:
ROUTING: CLUJ-NAPOCA - CAVNIC
- Your English-Speaking driver/guide will pick you up from the Airport in Cluj
- Depending of your arrival time we can make a city tour of Cluj.
- Cluj-Napoca is one of the oldest cities from Romania, its origins came fron the ancient times of Roman Empire when the city was named "Napoca". Visit the center of the city with the St Michael’s Cathedral, The Orthodox Cathedral, Romanian Opera, Born House of Matei Corvin (Mathias Corvinus) the former king of Hungary, the "Cetăţuia" with its wonderful panorama of the city.
- Depart to Cavnic
- Overnight
ACCOMMODATION:
Option A: Secret Garden Hotel***
Option B: Pension***
B


Day 2:
ROUTING: CAVNIC - BAIA MARE - DESESTI - SIGHET - VISEU
- Breakfast.
- Today we visit Maramures County, the land of traditions and wooden churches.
Stop on the route at Desesti in order to visit the local wodden church (UNESCO).
- Next stop is Birsana church , built in 1720 , listed on UNESCO Heritage List , with the florid paintings , the best in Maramures and the Barsana Monastery (UNESCO ) a large monastic complex comprising of several wooden buildings, all constructed in the local style , including the wooden church . The Gate Tower is the highest wooden building from Europe.
- Next stop at the The Maramures Woman Museum from Dragomiresti, where you can learn about maramuresean traditions and way of life. At Ieud we can visit the oldest wodden church made in to the 14th century (UNESCO).
- Overnight in Vadu Izai
ACCOMMODATION:
Option A: Gabriela Hotel***
Option B: Pension***
B


Day 3:
ROUTING: VISEU - SIGHET - SAPANTA - ORADEA
- Breakfast.
- Begin the day with a drive from Viseu to Sighet through a beautiful countryside road. In Sighet we can stop for a visit at Memorial Museum - a former communist prison.
- Near Sighet we stop at Sapanta and we visit the famous Merry Cemetery, truly one of the most unique sites in Europe. It is famous for its colourful tombstones with native paintings describing, in an original and poetic manner, the persons that are buried there as well as scenes from their lives. The Merry Cemetery became an open-air museum and a national tourist attraction.
- Our route will go crossing the mountains to Oradea, a city in western region of Romania. Near to the Hungarian Border.
- Overnight
ACCOMMODATION:
Option A: Vulturul Negru Hotel****
Option B: Impero Hotel ***
B


Day 4:
ROUTING: ORADEA - ARAD - RECAS/MINIS - TIMISOARA
- Breakfast.
- In the morning a visit through the center of Oradea will lead you through the charm of Art Nouveau architecture style, Cathedrals and pedestrians areas.
- Then we continue the tour visiting two cities from West Romania, Arad and Timisoara.
- Arad is a modern-built city and contains many charming private and public buildings, including a cathedral. Itâ™s origins camed from Xi- century and it had a great economic development in XIX century.
- Timisoara . The city is also called "Little Vienna", because it belonged for a very long time to the Habsburg Empire, and the entire city center consists of buildings built in the Kaiser era, which is reminiscent of the old Vienna.It was the first European city to be lit by electric street lamps in 1884. It was also the second European and the first city in what is now Romania with horse drawn trams in 1867.
- In December 1989 here started the Revolution against communists.
- Near Timisoara are two of the most famous Romanian vineyards Minis and Recas. If you desire we can visit one of them and of course taste some wine.
- Overnight in Timisoara
ACCOMMODATION:
Option A: Best Western Ambasador Hotel ****
Option B: Eurohotel***


Day 5:
ROUTING: TIMISOARA - DEVA - HUNEDOARA
- Breakfast.
- In the morning a tour of Timisoara city.
- Then we leave Timisoara and go to Deva. The local citadel can be also visited. Last stop for the day will be at Hunyad's Castle. The most representative castle in this part of Transylvania was built in 14^th century and became famous as a property of Iancu of Hunedoara, the great ruler and fighter against the Ottoman Empire at that time. Built in the 14th century, on the place of an old fortification, on a rock below which flows the small river Zlasti the castle is a large building, with tall and diversely coloured roofs, towers, windows and balconies adorned with carvings in stone
The day we end at Hunedoara.
- Overnight
ACCOMMODATION:
Option A & B: Rusca Hotel***
B


Day 6:
ROUTING: HUNEDOARA - ALBA IULIA - CALNIC - SIBIU
- Breakfast.
- In the morning visit the Arriving at Hunedoara and visit the Hunyad's Castle. The most representative castle in this part of Transylvania was built in 14^th century and became famous as a property of Iancu of Hunedoara, the great ruller and fighter against the Ottoman Empire at that time. Built in the 14th century, on the place of an old fortification, on a rock below which flows the small river Zlasti, the castle is a large building, with tall and diversely coloured roofs, towers, windows and balconies adorned with carvings in stone. In February 2007, Hunyad Castle played host to the British paranormal television program "Most Haunted" for a three-night live investigation into the spirits purported to be haunting the castle.
- Then we go to Alba Iulia The modern city is located near the site of the important Dacian political, economic and social centre named Apulon, (believed by many archaeologists to be the Dacian fortifications on top of Piatra Craivii). ). In the roman period the city was known as Apullum. In 1918, tens of thousands of Romanians gathered in Alba Iulia on December 1, now commemorated as the National Day of Romania, to hear the proclamation of the union of Transylvania with the Kindom of Romania. In 1922, Ferdinand of Romania was symbolically crowned King of Romania at Alba Iulia.
- Visit the old citadel, The Reunion Cathedral, The Reunion Hall and Museum, The Catholic Cathedral (who host the grave of Iancu de Hunedoara - the famous ruler of Transylvania.)
- Next stop at Calnic Castle (Unesco site). The castle, first mentioned in 1269, is very well preserved. Built as a noble's residence, it was bought in 1430 by local peasants and fortified.
- Overnight in Sibiu
ACCOMMODATION:
Option A: Hotel Ramada Sibiu ****
Option B: Zorba Pension ****
B


Day 7:
ROUTING: SIBIU - MEDIAS - BIERTAN - SIGHISOARA - BRASOV
- Breakfast
- In the morning we explore the city of Sibiu, which was The European Capital of Culture in 2007.Sibiu or Hermannstadt (in German language) was founded in XII century by German settlers. It was probably built near a roman settlement, one that would be known during the early Middle Ages as Caedonia. Sibiu became the most important ethnic German city among the seven cities that gave Transylvania its German name Siebenbürgen (literally seven castles), and it was home to the Universitas Saxorum, the assembly of Germans in Transylvania. Common opinion in the 17th century ascribed Sibiu the quality of being the easternmost city to be part of the European sphere; it was also the eastern terminus of postal routes. Main attractions are: Little Square and Grand Square, Evanghelical Cathedral, Lierâ™s Bridge, Bruckental Museum, defensive towers and fortifications, etc...
- Then start to explore a region with beautiful Saxon citadels and fortresses. Stop at Slimnic to see the old Saxon fortress and at Biertan (UNESCO) for the Saxon fortified church from here second largest from south-east of Europe.
- Finally arriving in Sighisoara (UNESCO), also caled "The Pearl of Transylvania" a wonderful medieval city where you can still enjoy the medieval atmosphere. Short walking in Sighisoara and visits at Clock Tower and History Museum, Born House of Vlad the Impaler, Covered Stairs, Church on the Hill, etc...
- In the evening arrive at Brasov.
- Overnight in Brasov
ACCOMMODATION:
Option A: Casa Wagner***
Option B: Flamingo Guesthouse***
B


Day 8:
ROUTING: BRASOV - SINAIA - BRAN - RASNOV - BRASOV
- Breakfast.
- In the morning we go to Sinaia and visit the Peles Castle, former summer residence of the kings of Romania, the Peles Castle is 44 kilometres far from Brasov, in Sinaia, a well-known mountain resort as well. Nowadays the Castle is one of the most important museums in Transylvania where one can admire furniture and ornamental objects, carpets, tapestry, sculptures, paintings, collections of weapons from the 15th up to the19th centuries.
- Then it's time for a visit at the famous Bran Castle. Also called Dracula's Castle, it is situated not far from Brasov (25 kilometres) at the entrance in the Bran - Rucar passage. The castle got its fame from Dracula`s legend written in 1897 by Bram Stoker and later on made into a film by Francis Ford Coppola.. The first documents about the Bran Castle appeared in 1377. Along the history, the Castle had a strategic mission being the border between Transylvania and Wallachia. First it was under the rule of the King of Hungary Sigismund of Luxemburg, of the Romanian voievodes Mircea cel Batran and Vlad Tepes and later on it came under the jurisdiction of the City of Brasov. In the XX century the castle was donated to the royal family and becamed a royal residence. The museum preserve the furniture and objects from that period.
- The last stop today will be at Rasnov Fortress. Built in 1331, the Fortress had a defence role and it was a shelter for the inhabitants of Rasnov in case of enemy attacks. In the middle of the courtyard there is a well 146 metres deep and the ruins of an 11th - 12th century - Orthodox church were discovered here. Nowadays the Fortress houses an interesting museum
- Ending back in Brasov
- Overnight
ACCOMMODATION:
Option A: Casa Wagner***
Option B: Flamingo Guesthouse***
B


Day 9:
ROUTING: BUCHAREST - AIRPORT or GIURGIU* (*Romania/Bulgaria border crossing)
- Breakfast
- Transfer to Bucharest Airport and final good-bye from your Romanian Specialist Tour Guide (about 2h.30min driving) or continue this tour to Bulgaria with our partners, for more details click here


End of tour services

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