The Dracula and Transylvania Tour
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Tour ID:
1031 Tour Theme: Historic and Cultural Tours Regions: Transylvania Duration: 5 Days / 4 Nights |
Introduction:
When referring to Romania the first thing that comes to mind is Transylvania. Transylvania is home to some of the best preserved medieval towns in Europe, most relating to the legend of Dracula. On this tour your specialist tour guide will take you on a trip to the past to discover this enchanting Region.
We depart from Bucharest with the first stop of this tour is in Sinaia. Here you will get a chance to visit the breath-taking Palace of Peles. Continuing to Brasov, the historical center of Transylvania. Here you will have a chance to visit its old quarter and Black Church.
Next on the itinerary is the famous Bran Castle. Often referred to as Dracula's Castle, this fact is disputed byhistorians as it is said the Prince may have stayed here 1 night during an attack. Despite this Bran Castle is one of the most picturesque castles in Transylvania, sitting on hilltop with beautiful views.
Then Sighisoara, the birthplace of Vlad "Dracula" Tepes. One of the most magnificent citadels in Europe and the only still inhabited. Main attractions include its 17th century clock tower and medieval torture museum.
After onto Bistrita is where Bram Stoker based the setting for his novel Dracula. One of the main characters in the novel, the lawyer Jonathan Harker, was a guest of a hotel here named the Golden Crown. Here you will enjoy a Lunch and an opportunity to try its specialty drink: blood-red liquor, an exclusive beverage of the Restaurant.
The tour would not be complete with out a chance to stay at night at Hotel Castel Dracula. The Hotel and it's inside court are impressive with their medieval architecture. Inside the hotel it contains an amusing Dracula Room. If you are traveling in a larger group we can arrange a Dracula Show with surprises, costume parade, photo session and visit of “Count Dracula” himself.
For more details on this tour refer to the "Day by Day Itinerary". This tour is customizable to your request so please inquire for details.
The Dracula and Transylvania Tour!!!
Day by Day Itinerary:
Day 1:
ROUTING: BUCHAREST - SINAIA - BRASOV
- Your English-speaking specialist guide will pick you up from Bucharest Airport or another location in the city (This tour is also available to start from Cluj)
- Depart for Sinaia and visit the Peles Castle (only for arrives in Bucharest before 12.00), former summer residence of the kings of Romania. The Peles Castle is 44 kilometres distance from Brasov. Sinaia is 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.
- After we continue to the medieval town of Brasov
- Upon arrival check in hotel
- Evening at your leisure
- Overnight in Brasov
ACCOMMODATION:
Option A: Casa Wagner***
Option B: Flamingo Guesthouse***
Day 2:
ROUTING: BRASOV - RASNOV - BRAN CASTLE - SIGHISOARA
- Breakfast
- Brasov is one of the most important cities from Romania and a very powerful medieval citadel during the history. Short tour of the magic medieval center of Brasov (2 hours) – Council Square, Black Church, White and Black Towers, Weaver’s Bastion and Ecaterina’s Gate.
- Next stop at Rasnov and visit the old citadel. Built in 1331, the Fortress had a defense 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
- Continuing we go to Bran
- Bran Castle is dubbed Dracula's Castle; however this is disputed point among historians
- According to the stories of that time, Vlad Tepes (or Dracula) laid siege to it in 1460 when he attacked this land. After centuries, one of the famous residents was Queen Maria of Romania, the granddaughter of Queen Victoria and the wife of prince Ferdinand.
- Visit inside the Village museum of Bran & the Ancient Customs House Museum
- Continue the route to Sighisoara – the birthplace of Vlad Tepes
- On UNESCO's Word Heritage List and makes the perfect introduction to Transylvania.
- The Old Town or the Citadel is the only one still inhabited in Europe - a lost world and still so at the present!
- Overnight in Sighisoara
ACCOMMODATION:
Option A: Hotel Sighisoara***
Option B: Casa Saseasca Pension***
B
Day 3:
ROUTING: SIGHISOARA - TARGU MURES – BISTRITA - PIATRA FANTANELE (BORGO PASS)
- Breakfast
- Visit Sighisoara the medieval city and fortress including the famous Clock Tower, the History Museum and the Torture Room. 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.
- Then we are off to the famous Borgo Pass via Targu Mures
- Stop in Bistrita to enjoy a panoramic tour
- Bistrita is where Bram Stoker based the setting for his novel "Dracula"
- The capital of the Northern Bistrita-Nasaud County has several well preserved medieval buildings, an Orthodox church dating from the 13th century and a county Museum
- The Golden Crown is outstanding in Romania and in the world, as it was described in the well known novel "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 comfortable 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.
- We pass 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.
- 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.
- Overnight in Piatra Fantanele
ACCOMMODATION: HOTEL CASTEL DRACULA***
B
**Optional: In the evening – “Dracula - festive dinner & show”. After the dinner follows a Dracula Show with surprises, costume parade, photo session and visit of “Count Dracula” himself. (This program can only be organized for minimum 20 people)**
Day 4:
ROUTING: PIATRA FANTANELE - BISTRITA - REGHIN - TOPLITA - MIERCUREA CIUC - BRASOV
- Breakfast
- Leave the hotel and start your route to Brasov
- On the way stop to visit Toplita Monastery, surrounded by a magnificent garden whose natural beauty has been enhanced over the years by its industrious dwellers (the monks), from its very foundation and up to the present day the Topliţa Monastery has known a constant process of development
- Another stop at Lazarea Castle.
- Overnight in Brasov
ACCOMMODATION: Casa Wagner***
B
Day 5:
ROUTING: BRASOV - SNAGOV - BUCHAREST or GIURGIU* (*Romania/Bulgaria border crossing)
- Breakfast
- Early departing on the route Brasov – Snagov. 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. (Note: for groups less than 11 persons this visit is optional and the price is not included in the total amount of the trip.)
- After departure to Bucharest and time to say good-bye to Dracula's Romania
- Drop off at airport or hotel in Bucharest (estimated time: 5:30PM - 6:00PM) or continue this tour to Bulgaria with our partners, for more details click here
B
End of tour services
Prices, Dates & What's Included:
Option A: High Standard Hotels
Group Size Double Occupancy Single Occupancy 1 Person € 1,545 (EUR) 2 People € 840 (EUR) € 975 (EUR) 3 People € 640 (EUR) € 775 (EUR) 4 People € 605 (EUR) € 740 (EUR) 5 to 6 People € 565 (EUR) € 685 (EUR) 7 to 8 People € 465 (EUR) € 599 (EUR) PRICE PER PERSON based on occupancy level and group size specified above. Prices are valid 01/Dec/2008 - 30/Nov/2009. All prices are in Euros.
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Option B: Medium Standard Hotels
Group Size Double Occupancy Single Occupancy 1 Person € 1,405 (EUR) 2 People € 795 (EUR) € 885 (EUR) 3 People € 590 (EUR) € 690 (EUR) 4 People € 555 (EUR) € 660 (EUR) 5 to 6 People € 505 (EUR) € 610 (EUR) 7 to 8 People € 415 (EUR) € 515 (EUR) PRICE PER PERSON based on occupancy level and group size specified above. Prices are valid 01/Dec/2008 - 30/Nov/2009. All prices are in Euros.
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For other group sizes inquire for details
To reserve or request for details on this tour please fill out the Inquire/Book It form which you can access from the button below.
The Tour Includes:
- 4 nights accommodation in hotels***
- Transportation by private car or minivan
- Local English-Speaking Specialist Driver/Guide
- Credit Card Transaction Fee**
- Local Taxes
Not Included:
- Airfare
- Alcoholic drinks
- Gratuities
- Lunches and Dinners
- Entrance fees
- Extra charges of hotel, eg. Laundry, telephone or fax charges, room service, etc..
- Insurance