The Real Dracula Halloween Tour - Truth and Myth of the Legend of Vlad Tepes
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Tour ID:
1010 Tour Theme: Dracula Halloween in Transylvania Regions: Transylvania, Walachia Duration: 7 Days / 6 Nights |
Introduction:
Halloween Tour 2007 Photo Album - Click Here
Halloween Tour 2008 Photo Album - Click Here
What a better way to celebrate Halloween than the home land of Vlad "the Impaler" or better known as Dracula. We have prepared a special tour for this event to trace the foots steps of the "Real Dracula". Travel with your specialist tour guide to ancient residents of this phenomenon whereVlad use to dwell. Discover the truth and the myth of this unique legend. We have also included important elements of Romanian history on this tour.
We will start of in Bucharest where you will be met by your English speaking tour guide at the international airport. On the way to your hotel enjoy a basic tour of the city. For tonight's dinner you will be welcomed to "Club Dracula" to enjoy an amusing evening in this unique restaurant. The atmosphere soaks up the with Dracula lovers, both the fictional Bram Stoker's character to the Vlad himself, from the servers to the plates and even the wall paper.
The next morning we are off to Snagov Monastery, where they say the tomb of Dracula lays. To visit you must cross the kilometer long lake by boat. Vlad's murder is believed to have occurred in the forests nearby, where the monks took the his body, since both Vlad and his father had both given money to the monastery.
Next, we depart for Poenari Castle, which is referred to as the real Dracula Castle. Now in ruins this castle sits on a cliff which demands a hike up the 1,400 stairs to reach the top. This is where the famous scene took place when Dracula's wife flung herself from the window into the murk waters opting death over being captured by the Turks. It is said that Vlad escaped by horse back through the mountain during this ferocious attack
Next; we will head to Bran Castle, often referred to as "Dracula Castle". Although in history it is said he may have set foot in the residence once during a siege of the castle. Despite these allegations this is one of the most picturesque castles in the country. Built by the Saxons in 1300's in a setting surrounded by forest and hills. After a visit to Bran, we will visit Rasnov fortress, and then head to Sinaia to see the stunning Peles Palace, before stopping for the night in the medieval city of Brasov. This night will be free to explore the lively city of Brasov, and take part in some of the great nightlife.
Today we head towards Borgo pass - the fictional path used in the novel to reach Count Dracula's home of residence. Its dramatic scenery, with huge hills draped in forests of fir trees and villages appearing as living monuments to a way of life unchanged for centuries. At the end of the road we will come to Hotel Dracula where you will be staying for the night. The Hotel dates from 1983, built in the style of a medieval mansion, it was created to bring alive an authentic Dracula atmosphere.
The next morning we are onto Sighisoara, the birth place of Dracula. This ancient citadel is among one of the only still inhabited in Europe. An appropriate stay for Halloween night. This evening will have many festivities planned for your special night (costumes, masks, fangs, fake blood, etc...).
The next morning we depart Sighisoara and visit the European Culture of Capital for 2007, Sibiu; before returning to Bucharest for your final night on this Halloween Tour.
Your specialist tour guide will assure that all the elements of Halloween be included on this tour from start to finish. Don't miss out on this opportunity to discover the myth and the truth of the "Legend of Dracula" in mythical Romania
Halloween with Dracula in his Homeland of Transylvania!!!
Day by Day Itinerary:
Day 1: Thursday, October 28th
ROUTING: BUCHAREST
- Your English-speaking specialist guide will pick you up from Bucharest Airport (if you are already in Bucharest make your own way to the hotel)
- First evening will be on your own, but you have the option of adding on a city tour of request and/or Dinner at Club Dracula
- Overnight in Bucharest
ACCOMMODATION: Hotel***
Day 2: Friday, October 29th
ROUTING: BUCHAREST - SNAGOV - CURTEA DE ARGES
- Breakfast in Hotel
- After Breakfast, we start on the trails of Dracula, to see his final resting place.
- Snagov is a small village 40 km north of Bucharest, with its beautiful sixteen kilometer long lake; In the centre of the lake is an island occupied by a monastery, built in 1519
- The Snagov monastery is situated on the island of the lake with the same name, we have to reach the monastery by crossing the lake by boat (If time and weather permit).
- Visitors come here to seek the tomb of Dracula sitting in the front of the church altar.
- Vlad's murder is believed to have occurred in the forests nearby, where the monks took the his body, since both Vlad and his father had both given money to the monastery.
- We will depart for Curtea de Arges (Court de Arges): The former second capital of Walachia. The strongholds rebuilt in the 14th century
- See its Princely Church and its frescoed interior which is one of the first examples of Romanian paintings. The Episcopal Church (the monastery) which is a recreation of the original built in 1512 -1517 by prince Neagoe Basarab (rebuilt in 1875 to 1885) and Olari Church.
- Evening and Dinner on your own
- Overnight in Curtea de Arges
ACCOMMODATION: Casa Domneasca Pension****
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Day 3: Saturday, October 30th
ROUTING: CURTEA DE ARGES - POENARI - BRAN - BRASOV
- Breakfast in Hotel
- Today we will continue our journey of uncovering the real Dracula's foot steps
- Reaching POENARI CASTLE; standing on a cliff but know in ruins this is known as the real castle of Dracula (Vlad Tepes). To get to the top you must climb up its 1400 steps (takes approx. 1 hr)
- Once you arrive to the top of the Citadel you will find that the citadel is surprisingly small, one third has collapsed down the mountainside in 1888. Entering through a narrow wooden bridge, you come across the crumbling remains of two towers within; the prism shaped one was Vlad's ( Dracula's) residential quarters, from here, according to the legend , The Impaler's wife flung herself out from the window, declaring that better this way than be captured by the Turks, who were besieging the castle. Legend has it that Vlad himself escaped over the mountains on horseback.
- We then depart for Bran village, with the famous history and beautiful Bran Castle .
- Why is Bran so famous? It is a rich village, situated 28 km from Brasov, the village commands the entrance to the pass of the same name, once the main route into Wallachia .
- The Saxons from Brasov built a castle here in 1377 to 1382 to safeguard this vital trade artery and although what's now stated on every tourist brochure as Dracula's Castle. It has only few associations with Vlad the Impaler â“ it is said that he sieged it in 1460 on an attack of the land of Bran.
- One of its famous residents was Queen Marie of Romania, the granddaughter of Queen Victoria and married to prince Ferdinand in 1893.
- Today this region is full of beautiful guesthouses, the landscapes are some of the most beautiful in the country
- Visit to the castle
- End the day in Brasov. short tour of the magic medieval center of Brasov (2 hours) â“ Council Square, Black Church, White and Black Towers, Weaver.s Bastion and Ecaterinaâ™s Gate.
- **Optional: Traditional Romanian Dinner and Party. Enjoy the Romanian cuisine with folk singers and dancers** (Must advise in advance)
- Overnight in Brasov
ACCOMMODATION: Casa Wagner Hotel ***
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Day 4: Sunday, October 31st
ROUTING: BRASOV - SINAIA - RASNOV - SIGHISOARA - HALLOWEEN PARTY!!!
- Breakfast.
- We'll 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.
- Next stop at Rasnov and visit the old citadel. 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
- In the afternoon we arrive at Sighisoara. Also called "The Pearl of Transylvania" the old medieval city is include on UNESCO's Word Heritage. The Old Town or the Citadel is the only one still inhabited in Europe - a lost world and still so at the present!
- In 1431, the storey house at Museum Square 6, within the shadow of the old town's Clock Tower, a women whose name is lost to posterity gave birth to a son called Vlad, who in later life earned the title of The Impaler , abroad better known as Dracula, derived from Dracul or the Devil – referring to his father Vlad Dracul, whom the Holy Roman Emperor Sigismund of Hungary made a knight of the order of The Dargon in 1431.
- The Clock Tower, the Church on the Hill, the Scholar’s Stairs, The Monastery Church, the towers of the citadel (originally fourteen), The Shoemakers Town, the Tailor’s Tower, the Tinsmiths Tower are only a few of the marvels of this place called Sighisoara.
- Transfer to the hotel and get ready for the Halloween Party!!!.
Dinner and party, Dracula Show, Costume contest and a lot of surprises. Don’t forget to bring your Halloween costume!
- Tonight will be a special dinner and Halloween Party with a Dracula Show, Costume contest and a lot of surprises. Don't forget to bring your Halloween costume!
- Overnight in Sighisoara
ACCOMMODATION:
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Day 5: Monday, November 1st
ROUTING: SIGHISOARA - BISTRITA - PIATRA FANTANELE (BORGO PASS)
- Breakfast
- In the morning we will visit the old town citadel of Sighisoara
- Continue our route to Bistrita short visit of the city. We pass through Bistrita, the setting for much of Bram Stoker's Dracula, at km 108, followed by Bargau Valley we will find the Hotel Castle Dracula in Piatra Fintinele.
- Optional you have the possibility to serve lunch at the "Golden Crown" Restaurant – Bistrita, The hotel is outstanding in Romania and in the world, as it was described in the well known nouvel "DRACULA" by the Irishman Bram Stoker. One of the main characters in the novel, the lawyer Jonathan Harker, was also a guest of the hotel and he felt here as confortable as at home. Here the tourists can enjoy a blood taste - a unique drink: blood-red liquor, an exclusive beverage of the Golden Crown Restaurant.
- Birgau Valley has a very dramatic scenery, with huge hills draped in forests of fir trees and with villages appearing as living monuments to a way of life unchanged for centuries, with the Saxon House Museum from Livezile village, attesting a former Saxon population in this region (established here in the 12 and 13 centuries).
- The Borgo Pass is the border between Transylvania and Bucovina, with fantastic landscapes. The Hotel situated on a 1116m altitude with a fantastic view of the Carpathian mountains.
- The Hotel dates from 1983, built in the style of a medieval mansion, it was created to bring alive an authentic Dracula atmosphere.
- Enjoy a special Dinner in the restaurant of the hotel.
ACCOMMODATION: Hotel Castle Dracula ***
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Day 6: Tuesday, November 2nd
ROUTING: PIATRA FANTANELE - BISTRITA - MEDIAS - SIBIU
- Breakfast in Hotel
- Leaving the hotel and Birgau Valley. We pass through Bistrita and Targu–Mures, one of the great Magyar cities of Transylvania, with the famous Teleki – Bolyai Library, with 40,000 volumes founded by the Hungarian Count Samule Teleki, containing many ancient medical scientific texts.
We pass the city of Targu Mures and we stop at Medias, old medieval town dating from XV century. The Margareth Cathedral is a monument included in UNESCO Heritages List and its famous Trompets Tower is one of the most slided buildings from the world.
- Ending the day in Sibiu which was the European Capital of Culture in 2007. Sibiu is one of the most important fortified towns in Transylvania.
- The city was founded in 1190 and grew to be the chief city of the Transylvanian Saxons. This amazing town, with the "Old Town" (The Big Square, the Small Square, the Ursuline Church, The Franciscan Church, The staircase Tower, the Tanners Tower, the Liar's Bridge , the House of the Butcher's Guild and last but not least with the amazing Bruckenthal Museum) are a few highlights of Sibiu
- Arrival and overnight in Sibiu
ACCOMMODATION: Ramada Hotel****
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Day 7: Wednesday, November 3rd
ROUTING: SIBIU - BUCHAREST - AIRPORT
- Breakfast in Hotel
- Transfer to Airport and the final good-bye from your Specialist Guide (arrival time around 1pm)
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End of tour services
Prices, Dates & What's Included:
HALLOWEEN TOUR 2010 – 7 days / 6 Nights (28oct - 03nov)
Group Size Price Per Person 1 Person (Single Occupancy) € 773 (EUR) 2 People (Double Occupancy) € 592 (EUR) 3 People (Triple Occupancy) € 580 (EUR) PRICE PER PERSON based on occupancy level and group size specified above. Prices are valid for 2010. All prices are in Euros.
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HALLOWEEN WEEKEND 2010 – 3 days / 2 Nights (30oct - 01nov)
Group Size Price Per Person 1 Person (Single Occupancy) € 453 (EUR) 2 People (Double Occupancy) € 396 (EUR) 3 People (Triple Occupancy) € 402 (EUR) PRICE PER PERSON based on occupancy level and group size specified above. Prices are valid in 2010. All prices are in Euros.
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HALLOWEEN IN SIGHISOARA - 2 nights (30oct - 01 nov)
Group Size Price Per Person 1 Person (Single Occupancy) € 216 (EUR) 2 People (Double Occupancy) € 156 (EUR) 3 People (Triple Occupancy) € 150 (EUR) PRICE PER PERSON based on occupancy level and group size specified above. Prices are valid in 2010. All prices are in Euros.
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HALLOWEEN IN SIGHISOARA – 1 night (31oct)
Group Size Price Per Person 1 Person (Single Occupancy) € 145 (EUR) 2 People (Double Occupancy) € 116 (EUR) 3 People (Triple Occupancy) € 109 (EUR) PRICE PER PERSON based on occupancy level and group size specified above. Prices are valid in 2010. All prices are in Euros.
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The Tour Includes:
- 6 nights accommodation in Hotels/Guesthouses 3* & 4* (Hotels subject to change according to availability)
- (B) Breakfast daily, except on the day of arrival
- (D) Dinner and Halloween party in Sighisoara
- English-Speaking Specialist guide for the duration of the tour
- Transportation in fully equipped minibus or Coach with private driver
- Pick-up from Bucharest International Airport on Sunday, on October 28th from 10am - 5pm
- Drop-off at the Bucharest International Airport on Sunday, November 3nd. from 1pm.
** alternate pick up times and locations are available for an extra cost, please inquire for more details and prices**
- Visit of Snagov Monastery (Dracula's tomb) by boat.
Not Included:
- Airfare
- Alcoholic drinks
- Gratuities
- Extra charges of hotel, eg. Laundry, telephone or fax charges, room service, etc..
- Entrance fees and photo charges to the monuments (to be paid directly)
- Insurance
Note: the above is for the week long package, for other packages inquire for details
Dates and space for this tour are limited. To guarantee your seats please fill out the Inquire/Book It form which you can access from the button below and we will explain our payment process.
