Days
11
Price from
$3,125USD
Unearth Romania’s gothic Transylvanian splendour
No place on Earth conjures images of gothic horror quite like Transylvania. Beyond Bram Stoker’s famous Count Dracula and Ceausescu’s equally horrifying reign of terror exists a land of surprising natural beauty, remarkably preserved medieval villages and a very modern capital city. From Bran Castle in Brasov and the pristine forests outside Viscri, to the shabby chic of Bucharest, this tour delivers the real, resplendent Romania.
- Start
- Bucharest, Romania
- Finish
- Bucharest, Romania
- Destination
- Romania
- Style
- Peregrine
- Code
- PESR
- Physical rating
- Traveller’s rating
- 1 review
- Ages
- Min 15
- Group size
- Min 1, Max 12
Why you'll love this trip
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Travel through Transylvania and see the gothic churches and castles that inspired the legend behind the world’s most famous vampire, Count Dracula. In Brasov, listen to ghost stories and legends about the Black Church and city fortifications
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Visit Viscri’s 15th-century fortified church and hear how this church saved locals from invaders. Afterwards visit a local in her home and be entertained by stories about village life.
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Delve into the communist past and the thriving, artistic present-day vibe of Bucharest, a surprisingly dynamic city on the edge of Eastern Europe.
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Experience delicious home-cooked meals and true Romanian hospitality on a visit to some of the country’s lesser known towns and villages. Embark on a horse and cart ride with a local coachman through a landscape of rolling hills and wildflower meadows.
Is this trip right for you?
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Summer temperatures in Romania can reach up to 40°C, which can be uncomfortable for those not used to the heat. Please consider the time of year you wish to travel and your suitability to that season. If travelling in summer, drink lots of water and remember to protect yourself from the sun. Bring layers to combat the heat, as well as sun block, shades and a hat.
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Single travellers will be sharing accommodation with another traveller of the same sex. If you'd prefer a single room, a supplement is available at an additional charge. Please ask your travel consultant for more details. Hotels in Europe often don't have double beds, but rather two single beds that can be pushed together/apart.
Gallery
Itinerary
This itinerary is valid for departures from 01 January 2019 to 31 December 2019. View the itinerary for departures between 01 January 2018 - 23 September 2018
Bună Ziua! Welcome to Bucharest, Romania's quirky capital. Perhaps take some time to unpack and explore the city before tonight's welcome meeting. After the meeting you might like to get a head start and explore the city by night, or perhaps head out for a group dinner to sample Romania's unique cuisine.
Accommodation
- Hotel Europa Royale or similar (1 night)
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.Special Information
An airport arrival transfer is included in the trip price. Please provide your flight details to your agent at the time of booking. Your adventures starts with a group meeting at 6pm today. Please look for a note in the hotel lobby or ask reception where it will take place. If you can't arrange a flight that will arrive in time, you may wish to arrive a day early so you're able to attend. We'll be happy to book additional accommodation for you (subject to availability). If you're going to be late, please inform the hotel reception. We'll be collecting your insurance details and next of kin information at this meeting, so please ensure you have all these details to provide to your leader.
Enjoy a guided walking tour through the 'Little Paris of the Balkans'. Known for its Belle Epoch architecture, thumping nightlife and communist sites, Romania’s capital is home to one of Europe's biggest squares and a bevy of unique museums. You may also choose to take a guided tour of Romania’s most controversial building, the mammoth Palace of Parliament (or Casa Poporului, the ‘people’s house’). Built at the behest of Nicolae Ceausescu, last leader of Romania's Communist Party, it’s the second largest building—after the US Pentagon—in the world. Another option is to visit Bucharest’s Old Town, which is both a time capsule of Bucharest’s past and symbol of post-communist transformation, and bursts with art galleries, antique shops, coffeehouses, restaurants and nightclubs.
Accommodation
- Hotel Europa Royale or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
- Bucharest Guided Walking Tour
Meals Included
- Breakfast
Heading north towards the Transylvanian city of Brasov you’ll first visit the spectacular Peles Castle in Sinaia. A stunning example of Neo-Renaissance architecture, Peles Castle rises from the Southern Carpathians like something out of a fairy tale. It was commissioned in 1873 by King Carol I and in 1883 became the summer residence of the royal family until the forced exile of King Michael I in 1947. Its 160 rooms are adorned with a staggering array of European artworks, chandeliers, stained-glass windows and more. You’ll then head deeper into Transylvania before stopping at Rhein Cellars in Azuga for a taste of sparkling wine produced using the traditional method of Champagne. Opened in 1892, the winery was recognized as "Supplier of the Royal Court" between the first and second world wars. Arrive in Brasov in the evening and enjoy a guided tour of this charming city.
Accommodation
- Hotel Gott or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
- Peles Castle Guided Tour
- Wine Tasting & Lunch at Rhein Winery
- Brasov Evening Guided Walking Tour
Meals Included
- Breakfast
- Lunch
Special Information
Today's total driving time: Approx 3 hours, 200km. Please note that Peles Castle is closed Mondays and Tuesday between mid-Sep and mid-May. If the castle is closed during your visit alternative arrangements will be made.
After breakfast you’ll have a full day in and around one of Romania’s most popular destinations, Brasov. Also known by its German name of Kronstadt, the town was once a major medieval trading centre. First up is Bran Castle, Transylvania’s most famous link to the Dracula legend. Built in 1377 and perched on top of a 61-metre (200-foot)-high rock, its imposing towers and turrets make it easy to imagine Bram Stoker’s famous vampire calling it home, even if the Irish writer never visited Bran Castle himself. From 1920 to 1957 the castle was the summer residence of Queen Victoria’s granddaughter, Queen Marie of Romania, and features a display of her art and furniture. You’ll next visit Prejmer fortified church and Saxon village, the largest fortified church in Southeastern Europe. Built by Teutonic knights in 1212-1213 and today a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it’s a marvel of medieval design with massive walls that helped villagers survive many attacks from the Turks.
Accommodation
- Hotel Gott or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
- Bran Castle
- Prejmer Fortified Church
Meals Included
- Breakfast
Special Information
Today's total driving time: Approx 2 hours, 100km.
Travel back in time with a drive through pristine Transylvanian countryside to the ethnic Hungarian-Szekler village of Miclosoara. Check in to Count Kalnoky’s Guesthouse, an authentic, 18th-century hunting lodge consisting of four carefully restored buildings, all beautifully furnished with antiques in the Transylvanian Szekler and Saxon styles. Next, discover why this historical region of Transylvania is called 'The Woodlands' with a horse and cart ride with a local coachman through a landscape of rolling hills and wildflower meadows. A picnic lunch in a picturesque spot will complete your escape to a more tranquil time and place.
Accommodation
- Count Kalnoky’s Guesthouse or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
- Horse & Cart Ride in Miclosoara
Meals Included
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
Special Information
Today's total driving time: Approx 1 hour, 50km.
Continue on this morning to the village of Viscri. Originally inhabited by Saxons from the Luxembourg area for over 800 years, this idyllic village of red-tiled roofs is a World Heritage site that’s benefitted from the preservation efforts of the local Roma community. Viscri’s Saxon-fortified church, from which the city got its name, was built around 1100 by the Szekler population and taken over by Saxon colonists in 1185, who began fortifying it in the 15th-century. Be sure to go inside, as its classic 19th-century altar features a Blessing of the Children centrepiece by Romanian painter J. Paukratz. Visit a Viscri resident’s house for lunch and make the most of a unique opportunity to try a selection of fresh, traditional Romanian fare. It’s then on to Sighisoara, one of the most beautiful and best-preserved medieval towns in Europe.
Accommodation
- Fronius Residence or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
- Viscri Fortified Church
- Sock Project Visit in Viscri
Meals Included
- Breakfast
- Lunch
Special Information
Today's total driving time: Approx 2,5 hours, 120km.
After breakfast it’s time to explore the most seductive city in Romania. Sighisoara’s mix of original medieval architecture, winding cobbled alleys, steep stairways and secluded squares feel like you’ve stepped into a living history book. Another World Heritage site, the town was first settled by the Romans but flourished under the Saxons from the 12th century. Take a walk around the Old Town, which coils up a narrow hill and is surrounded on all sides by fortified walls, and explore the 64 metre (210 feet)-high clock tower that dominates the citadel. The town is famed as the birthplace of Vlad Dracul III, better known as Vlad the Impaler, whose name was the inspiration for Count Dracula. Vlad III is revered as a folk hero by Romanians for driving off the invading Ottoman Turks. You may also wish to take a trip to nearby Biertan, a timeless village boasting Romania’s largest Saxon fortified church.
Accommodation
- Fronius Residence or similar (1 night)
Optional Activities
- Church on the Hill - RON5
- The Clock Tower - RON14
- Covered Stairway - Free
- Church of the Dominican Monastery - RON5
Meals Included
- Breakfast
After several days of Saxon villages and fortified churches you may be slightly bewildered by the Turda Salt Mine, your first destination on this busy day. It sounds impossible: An amusement park and museum 400 meters (1300 feet) underground in a shuttered salt mine that originally opened as far back as 1075. Yet inside the massive cavern you’ll find a giant Ferris wheel, a mini-golf course with six different tracks, tennis courts, and even an underground lake. Afterwards continue on to Alba Iulia. Also known as Apulum in ancient times, when it served as a political, military and cultural centre during the Roman occupation, this city is where the union of Transylvania and Romania was declared on 1 December 1918. Visit Alba Iulia’s spectacular baroque fortress, constructed between 1716 and 1735 and consisting of seven bastions in a stellar shape. Call it a day with a drive to another medieval wonderland, the unabashedly bohemian city of Sibiu.
Accommodation
- Villa Weidner or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
- Turda Salt Mine Guided Tour
- Fortifications of Alba Iulia
Meals Included
- Breakfast
Special Information
Today's total driving time: Approx 5 hours, 300km. Please note that today is a long travel day with a late evening arrival into Sibiu. There will be plenty of interesting stops along the way.
After a guided walk this morning, enjoy a free day to explore Sibiu. Called Herrmannstadt when it was the wealthiest and largest of the Saxon strongholds, Sibiu retains a medieval Germanic feel to this day. Perhaps head to Grand Square for a coffee and some people watching, or stroll along the medieval walls on the town's perimeter. While most of the historic sights are in the Upper Town, make sure you take a wander through the Lower Town, a tangle of streets lined with colourful houses. The well-preserved Citadel of Sibiu is one of the finest in Romania. Admire the Tower of Stairs, Sibiu’s oldest building, as you amble along the 13th-century Passage of Steps. You can admire icons and Romanian impressionists in Sibiu's Brukenthal Museum, or stroll to the nearby Liars' Bridge, Romania's oldest cast-iron bridge, which is said to collapse if you tell a lie when standing on it. Perhaps visit the 14th-century evangelical church, where the son of Vlad the Impaler was stabbed.
Accommodation
- Villa Weidner or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
- Sibiu Guided Walking Tour
Optional Activities
- Astra Open Air Museum - RON17
- Turnul Sfatului (The Tower of the Council) - RON2
- Brukenthal Palace National Museum - RON20
- Cibin Market - Free
Meals Included
- Breakfast
After a short drive from Sibiu to Carțișoara you’ll see breathtaking mountain scenery via the Transfagarasan Road to Balea Lake. Meandering through a glacial valley—and once called the ‘the greatest road in the world’ by the Top Gear TV show—Transfagarasan Road connects the highest peaks in the country, Moldoveanu and Negoiu, and therefore sections are closed during winter. Situated at an altitude of 2034 metres (6673 feet), Balea Lake sparkles beneath the rugged peaks of the Fagaras Mountains in the Carpathians. The astonishingly picturesque glacial lake draws visitors from around the world. For lunch you’ll dine at one of Nicolae Ceaușescu’s former hunting lodges. Afterwards, enjoy the scenery on the drive from Transylvania to Bucharest. Perhaps enjoy a final Romanian feast with your group at one of Bucharest’s many fine eateries.
Accommodation
- Hotel Europa Royale or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
- Balea Lake Cablecar
Meals Included
- Breakfast
- Lunch
Special Information
Today's total driving time: Approx 7 hours, 400km. Please note that today is a long travel day with many winding but very scenic roads. In case of adverse weather conditions the route may have to be altered, and in some cases the cable car may not be operating.
Your trip comes to an end after breakfast this morning. If you’d like to stay on in Bucharest, we can help arrange additional accommodation for you on request. Why not soak up all that historic Bucharest has to offer on an immersive one-day Urban Adventure tour? Visit urbanadventures.com for more details.
Meals Included
- Breakfast
Meals
10 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 1 dinnerTransport
Private vehicleAccommodation
Comfortable hotel (9 nights), Feature stay (1 night)Included Activities
- Bucharest Guided Walking Tour
- Peles Castle Guided Tour
- Wine Tasting & Lunch at Rhein Winery
- Brasov Evening Guided Walking Tour
- Bran Castle
- Prejmer Fortified Church
- Horse & Cart Ride in Miclosoara
- Viscri Fortified Church
- Sock Project Visit in Viscri
- Turda Salt Mine Guided Tour
- Fortifications of Alba Iulia
- Sibiu Guided Walking Tour
- Balea Lake Cablecar
Reviews
Our Secrets of Romania trips score an average of 5 out of 5 based on 1 review in the last year.
Secrets of Romania, June 2018
William Denney
We enjoyed the 'Secrets of Romania' tour. We both enjoyed the history, places, and sights of Romania. The experience of Romania is better in person than shown on the Internet. Very good vacation... one to remember.
Review submitted 21 Jun 2018
Dates & availability
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Important notes
SINGLE SUPPLEMENT
A single supplement is bookable on this trip, subject to availability at the time of booking. Please note that due to the small properties we use in Europe there is only a limited amount of single supplements available per trip departure. If you would like to book a single supplement and enquire about availability please speak to your booking agent.