Group members gather for the overnight direct flight to Bucharest, the capital of Romania.

On arrival in Bucharest we have a brief tour of the city en route to our hotel. Balance of the day is at leisure with our welcome dinner at the Crama Domneasca restaurant. Sheraton Hotel (3 nights)

Enjoy a walking tour of the old city centre and visit the Palace of the Parliament, known as the People´s Palace. It is the second largest building in the world and the symbol of the Ceausescu era. Completed in 1989, it is constructed of the best materials and craftsmanship that Romania could provide. Lunch today will be at the Pescarus Restaurant overlooking Herastrau Lake.

Our morning will be devoted to the Village Museum (Muzeul Satului in Romanian), an open-air museum located in the Herastrau Park. It showcases traditional Romanian village life and contains 272 authentic peasant farms and houses from all over Romania. This afternoon, we visit Snagov Monastery on Snagov Island, the reputed final burial site of Vlad Tepes "The Impaler" (or Count Dracula). Used for almost 300 years, Slanic Prahova Salt Mine is one of the largest in Europe. There are 14 galleries, with heights of up to 55 metres, displaying wonderful rock formations. Dinner will be at Trattoria Lido.  

Our journey around Romania begins as we drive north into the Carpathian Mountains to the ancient centre of Curtea de Arges, which was once a Royal capital. The main site in the city is the Cathedral, built in the Byzantine style. We’ll visit Cozia Monastery, one of Romania’s most valuable monuments of medieval art and architecture. The church contains one of the richest collections of art and literature in the country. This afternoon we arrive in Sibiu, which was once the capital of Transylvania. Hotel Continental Forum Sibiu (2 nights)

Sibiu is a treasure trove of historic buildings mostly centred around two Town Squares, called Piata Mare and Mica (large and small). We’ll explore this delightful centre on our morning walk, view the Council Tower, Gates and Stairs, the important churches and Liar’s Bridge. Following lunch we’ll venture to nearby Sibiel Village, set like a jewel on the Sibiel River surrounded by low mountains. The highlight of our visit will be the Museum of the Icons on Glass, Zosim Oancea, to view a wonderful collection of glass, wood, and pottery. Finally we visit the fortified Saxon church in Cristian.

Founded by German craftsmen and merchants known as the Saxons of Transylvania, Sighisoara is a fine example of a small, fortified medieval town. Sitting on a small hill overlooking the Târnava Mare River, its considered the birthplace of Count Dracula. We’ll tour the Old Town which is still partially surrounded by walls, including the Clock Tower, the History Museum and the Torture Chamber. The city of Targu Mures lies in the center of the Transylvanian Plateau, on both sides of the Mures River. This evening we are in Cluj-Napoca, the largest city in the northern region of Transylvania. Hotel Golden Tulip (1 night)

This morning we’ll explore the city, seeing the Botanical Gardens, the Orthodox Church, the Justice Palace, the National Theatre and the Romanian Opera House. Heading north we‘ll enjoy the scenic countryside and a number of traditional wooden churches (UNESCO), typical of this region. The next two nights we will be in the town of Baia Mare, the regional capital of Maramures County, which borders on Hungary. Its medieval history is retained in the town square, Piata Libertatii, by houses dating back to the 14^th century. Hotel Carpati (2 nights)

In the village of Sapanta we’ll visit the Merry Cemetery, noted for the colourful carved crosses. Sighetu Marmatiei is noted most for the horrors of the communist regime. Here we can view a prison which was used during the Communist era to hold many important Romanian leaders and common people who spoke against the rulers of the time. We will also visit the home of Elie Wiesel, awarded the Nobel Prize for peace. Along with some 38,000 other Jews he was placed in Nazi Concentration Camps, later writing about what they endured. Driving through the enchanting Maramures countryside, we hope to visit the Barsana Monastery and a wooden church in Budesti before returning to Baia Mare.

We journey across northern Romania today, admiring the beautiful rural scenery and quaint villages. This afternoon we reach the region of Bucovina, home of the UNESCO World Heritage Painted Monasteries for which Romania is famous. Our first visit will be to Moldovita, founded in 1532. Next is Voronet, considered by many to be the “Sistine Chapel of the  East”, due to its incredible frescoes painted on the west wall. Lastly, we will visit Humor, a monastery which was only reopened in 1993 and founded in 1523. Humor is noted for its exceptional frescoes and its tranquil setting by the Humor River. Our next two nights will be in Gura Humorului. Best Western Bucovina (2 nights)

Our day is devoted to exploring a number of the world famous Painted Monasteries. Sucevita Monastery, the most recent construction, is the largest and finest of the painted monasteries of Bucovina. Putna Monastery is one of the most important cultural, religious and artistic centres in medieval Moldavia. Stephen the Great is famous for building dozens of churches and monasteries across Moldavia. Putna houses the tombs of Stephen, a place of pilgrimage, and several of his family members. Bessed by great clay soil and the Sucevita River, the region is ideal for the production of exquisite ceramics. There is an ethnographic museum in the village where we can admire traditional costumes from Bucovina.

Today our road slices through the Bicaz Gorges, one of Romania’s most scenic routes. One of the deepest gorges from Carpathians, Bicaz Gorges is a rock climbing paradise. We shall stop by Red Lake (Lacu Rosu), the largest natural mountain lake in Romania. This evening we will arrive in the Moldavian city of Piatra Neamt, delightfully surrounded by wooded mountains. We hope to visit the only wooden synagogue in Romania which dates from the 17th century and is partially built below the ground. Central Plaza Hotel (1 night)

Also known as the “Pearl of Moldavia”, Piatra Neamt was home to Stephen the Great’s Princely Court and Church. We shall explore the city this morning before we continue our journey to Brasov.  En route to Brasov we visit Prejmer, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where we find an excellent example of a fortified Saxon church and fortress used by the early German settlers in Transylvania. We shall explore the old city centre this afternoon, including a walk in the square and a visit to the Black Church, the largest Gothic church in South Eastern Europe. Hotel Aro Palace (2 nights)

Discover Bran Castle, a national treasure that is commonly known as Dracula’s Castle, as it’s usually associated with Bram Stoker’s Dracula. During our visit we’ll enjoy dramatic legends, the period furniture and the small open air museum containing typical peasant dwellings. Our final stop today will be in Sinaia, where we visit Peles Castle, a former Royal Residence, built in the 19th century German-Renaissance style, which will enchant us with different furnishings.

Following a leisurely morning we’ll make our way back to Bucharest with a stop at a winery in Azuga for lunch and a champagne tasting at Rhein Cellars. This evening we gather for our Farewell Dinner at Caru’ cu Bere, featuring traditional dancing and music. Hotel Sheraton (1 night)