Visit Transylvania, the birthplace of the legend of Dracula. First, you will spend two nights in Bucharest, the country's capital, where you will visit its iconic landmarks. Then you will spend four nights in three more medieval villages of Transylvania. Return to the capital for an additional night. $1,999 per agent land and air from New York. Companions are welcome at $2,199 per person. Land Only: $1,199 per agent and $1,399 per companion.
Day 1, Oct 28, Monday - New York/BucharestFly from New York for Bucharest.
Day 2, Oct 29, Tuesday – Arrive Bucharest Arrive in Bucharest. Meet your guide at the 1st floor near the flower shop. Transfer for accommodation and dinner at 4* hotel Novotel or similar. (D)
Day 3, Oct 30, Wednesday – Bucharest/Sinaia Breakfast in the morning. Assemble at the hotel lobby for a fabulous panoramic tour of Romania’s capital city of Bucharest for the famous boulevards - Magheru Blvd., Victoriei Square, Universitatii Square, Aviatorilor Blvd. , Kiseleff Blvd. Depart to Sinaia. Visit Peles Castle and the Sinaia Monastery. Located in Sinaia, in Prahova County, Romania, the monastery was founded by Prince Mihail Cantacuzino in 1695 and named after the great Saint Catherine's Monastery on Mount Sinai in Egypt. As of 2005, it is inhabited by 13 Christian Orthodox monks led by Macarie Bogus. It is part of the Bucharest archdiocese. Accommodate at New Montana 4* Hotel or similar in Sinaia and prepare for dinner. Dinner and winetasting in Azuga at Hallewood Cellars. Return to the hotel in Sinaia. (B/D)
Day 4, Oct 31, Thursday – Sinaia/Sibiu After breakfast in the morning, continue the journey. Photo stop at Rasnov citadel, which is a historic monument and landmark in Romania. It is situated in Râsnov, Brasov County, in the immediate vicinity of Brasov. The citadel was built as part of a defense system refuge inside the citadel. Compelled to stay there for decades, the people of Râsnov and the nearby villages turned the fortification into a dwelling. Continue to visit Fagaras Fortress - Built in 1310 on the site of a former 12th century wooden fortress (burned by the Tartars in 1241). Fagaras was enlarged between the 15th and 17th centuries and was considered one of the strongest fortifications in Transylvania. The fortress was surrounded by a deep moat which, in times of war or social unrest, could easily be filled with water from a nearby mountain brook. A bridge over the moat provided the only access. The fortress boasts three floors and five towers. Sibiu is one of the most important cultural centers of Romania and was designated the European Capital of Culture for the year 2007, along with the city of Luxembourg. Formerly the centre of the Transylvanian Saxons, the old city of Sibiu was ranked as "Europe's 8th-most idyllic place to live" by Forbes in 2008. Outside dinner at a restaurant in Sibiu. Accommodation at a 4* Hotel Ramada or similar in Sibiu. (B/D)
Day 5, Nov 1, Friday - Sibiu/Brasov Breakfast at hotel. Depart to Sighisoara. On the road visit Biertan fortified church - is a Lutheran fortified church in Biertan (Birthälm), Sibiu County, in the Transylvania region of Romania. It was built by the ethnic German Transylvanian Saxon community at a time when the area belonged to the Kingdom of Hungary. Briefly Roman Catholic, it became Lutheran following the Reformation. Together with the surrounding village, the church forms part of the villages with fortified churches in Transylvania UNESCO World Heritage Site. Discover Sighisoara. On road visit Prejmer church another Lutheran fortified church in Prejmer (Tartlau), Brasov County, in the Transylvania region of Romania and the ethnographic area of the Burzenland. The church was founded by the Germanic Teutonic Knights, and then was eventually taken over by the Transylvanian Saxon community. Initially Roman Catholic, it became Lutheran following the Reformation. Together with the surrounding village, the church forms part of the villages with fortified churches in Transylvania UNESCO World Heritage Site. Dinner with folklore show at Cerbul Carpatin Restaurant in Brasov. Accommodation at a 4* Hotel Aro Palace or similar for 2 nights in Brasov. (B/D)
Day 6, Nov 2, Saturday - Brasov After breakfast at hotel, a walking tour includes visit at Black Church. Continue to Poiana Brasov a famous ski resort in Romania. Return to Brasov. Transfer to Dracula Halloween party (includes visit of Bran Castle) - situated near Bran and in the immediate vicinity of Brasov, is a national monument and landmark in Romania. The fortress is situated on the border between Transylvania and Wallachia, on DN73. Commonly known as "Dracula's Castle" (although it is one among several locations linked to the Dracula legend, including Poenari Castle and Hunyad Castle), it is often erroneously referred to as the home of the title character in Bram Stoker's Dracula. There is, however, no evidence that Stoker knew anything about this castle, which has only tangential associations with Vlad the Impaler, voivode of Wallachia, the putative inspiration for Dracula. As discovered by the Dutch author Hans Corneel de Roos, the location Bram Stoker actually had in mind for Castle Dracula while writing his novel was an empty mountain top, Mount Izvorul Calimanului, 2,033 metres (6,670 ft) high, located in the Calimani Alps near the former border with Moldavia. Stoker's description of Dracula's crumbling fictional castle also bears no resemblance to Bran Castle. The castle is now a museum dedicated to displaying art and furniture collected by Queen Maria. Visitors can see the interior on their own or by a guided tour. At the bottom of the hill is a small open-air museum park exhibiting traditional Romanian peasant structures (cottages, barns, etc.) from across the country. (B/D)
- Arrive at Bran Castle
- Interior visit with guide, surprises, photos, DRACULA
- Dinner DRACULA STYLE
- DRACULA PARTY (music, dance, drinks, surprises, typical program)
Back to the hotel in Brasov.
Day 7, Nov 3, Sunday – Brasov/Bucharest In the morning after breakfast, depart to Bucharest through The Royal Way - cross the Carpathian Mountains. Arrive in Wallachia. City tour includes outside view of Parliament Palace (the second world biggest building after Pentagon) and visit of the History Museum National History Museum. The most important to see is the Romanian Treasury, which includes jewelry from the time of Geto-Dacians, as well as the current Romanian Crown Jewels: the king's crown and an amazing selection of emeralds made for Queen Marie, wife of Romanian King Ferdinand and granddaughter of Queen Victoria. Farewell dinner with folklore show at Pescarus Restaurant in Bucharest. Overnight at a 4* hotel Novotel or similar. (B/D)
Day 8, Nov 4, Monday - Bucharest/New York Breakfast in the morning. Transfer to OTP for your return flight to New York. (B)
