Itinerary
- Day 1
Chişinău
Your driver picks you up at the airport and takes you to your hotel in Chişinău. Once you check in, a guide will take you around the city to see Parliament, Pushkin Park, and the Avenue of Classics. You'll also walk through Stefan cel Mare Park. The evening is free, and you'll stay overnight in Chişinău.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Astoria Hotel oder ähnlich), Hotel (Bristol Central Park Hotel oder ähnlich)
Included Activities
- Guided city tour of Chişinău
- Walk through Stefan cel Mare Park
- Visit Parliament
- Visit Pushkin Park
- Visit Avenue of Classics
Landmarks Stefan cel Mare Park Parliament of Moldova Pushkin Park 
- Day 2
Orheiul Vechi - Chişinău
Start at Cricova wine cellar, one of the world's largest underground operations. You'll ride by bus through the 120 km tunnel system and taste wines there. After that, head to Orheiul Vechi, a 14th century monastery complex. A short 30-minute hike takes you up steep cliffs to the rock monastery of St. Maria Dormata. Then it's on to Curchi Monastery, one of Moldova's most significant religious sites. Lunch is optional in Butoceni or Trebujeni villages. You'll return to Chişinău by evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Astoria Hotel oder ähnlich), Hotel (Bristol Central Park Hotel oder ähnlich)
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Cricova wine cellar with local guide
- Wine tasting at Cricova (4-part tasting)
- Visit Orheiul Vechi museum complex
- Hike to St. Maria Dormata rock monastery
- Visit Curchi Monastery
Optional Activities
- Traditional lunch under orchard trees in Butoceni or Trebujeni (payable locally)
Landmarks Cricova Wine Cellar Orheiul Vechi St. Maria Dormata Monastery Curchi Monastery - Day 3
Purcari - Chişinău
In the morning, pick either the Museum of Natural History or Historical Museum for a guided tour. Later, travel to Purcari winery where you'll do an easy walk through the vineyards and learn about Moldovan wine traditions. A guided cellar tour and 4-part wine tasting follow. On the way back to Chişinău, stop at Adormirea Maicii Domnului church in Causeni to see its beautiful interior frescoes and learn it's one of Moldova's oldest churches.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Astoria Hotel oder ähnlich), Hotel (Bristol Central Park Hotel oder ähnlich)
Included Activities
- Choose: Museum of Natural History or Historical Museum (guided tour)
- Hike through Purcari vineyards
- Guided tour of Purcari wine cellar with local guide
- Wine tasting at Purcari (4-part tasting)
- Visit Adormirea Maicii Domnului church in Causeni
Landmarks Museum of Natural History of Moldova Historical Museum of Moldova Purcari Winery Adormirea Maicii Domnului Church - Day 4
Pocrovca - Rudi - Soroca - Chişinău
Travel north to Pocrovca, an Old Believers' village, where a guide walks you through local customs and community life. Lunch is optional at a local café or family guesthouse. You'll visit Rudi Monastery, a famous site founded after independence, and see the Struve Arch, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Later, head to Soroca in the far northeast on the Nistru River. There you'll see Stephan cel Mare's fortress and the unique villa district of the Sinti and Roma community. Return to Chişinău.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Astoria Hotel oder ähnlich), Hotel (Bristol Central Park Hotel oder ähnlich)
Included Activities
- Guided walk in Pocrovca Old Believers' village with village guide
- Visit Rudi Monastery
- View Struve Arch UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Visit Soroca Fortress
Optional Activities
- Individual lunch break in Pocrovca at local café, restaurant, or family guesthouse (payable locally)
Landmarks Pocrovca Village Rudi Monastery Struve Arch Soroca Fortress - Day 5
Bendery - Tiraspol
Travel to Transnistria, a 200 km strip along the Dnestr River. At the border, you'll fill in an entry form and have your passport checked (no stamp). Visit Bendery Fortress in Tighina, originally built by Stefan cel Mare in the early 1500s and later modified by the Ottomans. Then drive to Tiraspol, Transnistria's capital, for a city tour. Lunch is optional at a local café or restaurant before returning to the Dnestr area.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Astoria Hotel oder ähnlich), Hotel (Bristol Central Park Hotel oder ähnlich)
Included Activities
- Cross border into Transnistria
- Visit Bendery Fortress in Tighina
- City tour of Tiraspol
Optional Activities
- Individual lunch break in Tiraspol at local café or restaurant (payable locally)
Landmarks Bendery Fortress Tiraspol - Day 6
Gagauzia Autonomous Region
Start your day in Gagauzia by heading to Comrat's central market, where you can pick up lunch and get a feel for local life. From there, travel to Beshalma to check out the Museum of History and Ethnography of Gagauzia, which covers the region's past and cultural traditions. Later in the afternoon, drive to the village of Ecaterinovca to visit the 'Alterhof Katharina' museum, which tells the story of Bessarabian German settlers and their way of life in the area. You'll head back to Chișinău by evening, wrapping up your tour of this unique region.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Astoria Hotel oder ähnlich), Hotel (Bristol Central Park Hotel oder ähnlich)
Included Activities
- Walk through Comrat central market
- Visit Museum of History and Ethnography of Gagauzia in Beshalma
- Visit 'Alterhof Katharina' museum in Ecaterinovca village - Bessarabian Germans museum
Optional Activities
- Individual lunch break in local café or restaurant in Comrat
Landmarks Comrat Museum of History and Ethnography of Gagauzia Alterhof Katharina Ecaterinovca - Day 7
Tipova - Chateau Vartely - Chişinău
Drive north to Saharna cave monastery, founded in 1776, where Christian hermits lived in caves since around the 1300s. The monastery and ritual bathing place draw many pilgrims. Optional lunch features typical Moldavian food. Next, visit the nearby Tipova cave monastery in unspoiled landscape. End your day at Chateau Vartely winery, known for modern production methods and quality wines. You'll do a 4-part wine tasting, with optional dinner available. Return to Chişinău.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Astoria Hotel oder ähnlich), Hotel (Bristol Central Park Hotel oder ähnlich)
Included Activities
- Visit Saharna cave monastery
- Visit Tipova cave monastery
- Guided tour of Chateau Vartely wine cellar with local guide
- Wine tasting at Chateau Vartely (4-part tasting)
Optional Activities
- Lunch break with typical Moldavian specialties in local café, restaurant, or family guesthouse (payable locally)
- Dinner at Chateau Vartely winery (payable on request)
Landmarks Saharna Cave Monastery Tipova Cave Monastery Chateau Vartely Winery - Day 8
Chişinău - Ribnitsa - Rascov
After breakfast, explore Jewish history in Chişinău by visiting the active synagogue, ruins of the 'Rabi Tsirelsona' synagogue, Jerusalem Street, and pogroms memorials from 1903-1905. An optional visit to the Jewish cemetery is available. Then travel to Ribnitsa to see the former Jewish cemetery, ghetto memorial, and the cathedral, which is Moldova's largest church. Lunch is optional at a local restaurant. Your final stop is Rascov on the Dniester River, Moldova's oldest settlement in Transnistria, where you'll hike and see the 1786 Catholic church, a large Hassidic synagogue's ruins, and an old cemetery with Yiddish inscriptions.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Astoria Hotel oder ähnlich), Hotel (Bristol Central Park Hotel oder ähnlich)
Included Activities
- Visit active synagogue in Chişinău
- Visit ruins of old 'Rabi Tsirelsona' synagogue
- Walk through Jerusalem Street
- Visit memorial to 1903-1905 pogroms
- Visit former Jewish cemetery in Ribnitsa
- Visit ghetto memorial in Ribnitsa
- Visit central cathedral in Ribnitsa
- Guided hike in Rascov with local Russian-speaking guide
- Visit Catholic church (1786) in Rascov
- Visit ruins of Hassidic synagogue in Rascov
- Visit old cemetery with Yiddish inscriptions in Rascov
Optional Activities
- Visit Jewish cemetery in Chişinău
Landmarks Active Synagogue of Chişinău Rabi Tsirelsona Synagogue Ruins Jewish Cemetery of Chişinău Ribnitsa Cathedral Rascov Catholic Church - Day 9
Departure
Your tour through Moldova concludes. A driver will transfer you to the airport for your flight home.
- Meals
- Breakfast
