Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival in Bucharest
You'll arrive at Bucharest's modern airport and get transferred to your hotel. Later in the evening, you'll meet the group for your first dinner together at a local restaurant with lots of character.
- Meals
- Dinner
- Day 2
Transylvania
Start by checking out Bucharest's main sites including the parliament building, Patriarchal Church, and Revolution Square. After that, head south into Wallachia to visit Curtea de Arges Cathedral, which has Byzantine and Moorish details. Then cross the Red Tower Pass heading into Transylvania and stop at Cozia Monastery, one of the region's oldest structures.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Parliament Building
- Visit Patriarchal Church
- Visit Revolution Square
- Visit Curtea de Arges Cathedral
- Visit Cozia Monastery
Landmarks Parliament Building Patriarchal Church Revolution Square Curtea de Arges Cathedral Cozia Monastery 
- Day 3
Sibiu
Walk through Sibiu's historic old town, the center of Transylvanian Saxon culture. You'll see the Protestant parish church, cross the Bridge of Lies, and check out the Brukenthal Museum. Spend some time around Cibin market square, then in the afternoon visit the Glasikonen Museum in Sibiel. Dinner happens at a mountain farmer's home.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Sibiu old town
- Visit Protestant Parish Church
- Walk across Bridge of Lies
- Visit Brukenthal Museum
- Visit Cibin market square
- Visit Glasikonen Museum in Sibiel
- Dinner at mountain farmer's home
Landmarks Sibiu Old Town Protestant Parish Church Bridge of Lies Brukenthal Museum Cibin Market Square Glasikonen Museum - Day 4
Sighisoara
Today focuses on fortified churches built with thick walls for medieval defense. You'll explore Valea Viilor's complex fortifications and Biertan's strong defensive walls and towers. See the winged altar at St. Margaret's Church in Medias, then head to Sighisoara to climb the Stundturm tower, where Vlad Dracul was born, and continue up to the mountain church.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Valea Viilor fortified church
- Visit Biertan fortified church
- Visit St. Margaret's Church in Medias
- Visit Stundturm tower in Sighisoara
- Visit Vlad Dracul birthplace
- Climb stairs to mountain church in Sighisoara
Landmarks Valea Viilor Fortified Church Biertan Fortified Church St. Margaret's Church Stundturm Tower Vlad Dracul Birthplace - Day 5
Cluj-Napoca
Stop at an Orthodox church in Targu Mures before reaching Cluj-Napoca, Transylvania's main city. You'll visit St. Michael's Church, one of Romania's most important Gothic structures, and see the monument to King Matthias Corvinus. The city itself is worth exploring for its young, energetic vibe mixed with historic character.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Orthodox church in Targu Mures
- Visit St. Michael's Church
- View King Matthias Corvinus monument
Landmarks Orthodox Church Targu Mures St. Michael's Church King Matthias Corvinus Monument - Day 6
Maramures
Get a real sense of Maramures culture by visiting Sapanta's colorful cemetery and small villages in the Iza Valley where you'll see traditional wooden crafts. Walk around Barsana Monastery and Bogdan Voda to see the tall wooden church towers, then stop at Rozavlea's old Orthodox wooden church with its original frescoes.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Sapanta cemetery
- Explore Iza Valley villages
- Visit Barsana Monastery
- Visit Bogdan Voda
- Visit Rozavlea Orthodox wooden church
Landmarks Sapanta Cemetery Iza Valley Barsana Monastery Bogdan Voda Rozavlea Orthodox Wooden Church - Day 7
Bukovina Monasteries
Visit several of Bukovina's Orthodox monasteries known for their colorful frescoes from the 1400s and 1500s. You'll meet nuns at Moldovita Monastery and see the Lucia Condrea Egg Museum with over 11,000 items. Check out Sucevita Monastery with its fortified buildings and bright wall paintings, then stop at the Marginea Ceramics Center famous for its black pottery.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Moldovita Monastery and meet nuns
- Visit Lucia Condrea Egg Museum
- Visit Sucevita Monastery
- Visit Marginea Ceramics Center
Landmarks Moldovita Monastery Lucia Condrea Egg Museum Sucevita Monastery Marginea Ceramics Center - Day 8
Piatra Neamt
Start at Voronet Monastery, founded in 1487 with its famous deep blue frescoes. Drive through Vanatori-Neamt National Park, a protected area with varied wildlife, then visit Varatec Monastery before arriving in Piatra Neamt by evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Voronet Monastery
- Visit Vanatori-Neamt National Park
- Visit Varatec Monastery
Landmarks Voronet Monastery Vanatori-Neamt National Park Varatec Monastery - Day 9
Tulcea
Travel through rolling landscapes and vineyards in southern Romania. Cross the Braila bridge and walk through the historic city center to see the Maria Filotti Theater and the pedestrian zone with its distinctive umbrellas. Then drive through small Dobruja villages on your way to Tulcea.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Maria Filotti Theater
- Explore pedestrian zone in Braila
Landmarks Maria Filotti Theater - Day 10
Danube Delta
Trade the bus for a boat to explore Europe's largest river delta. Your boat takes you across the main canal to mile 36, then across the old Danube to the pelican reserve in Lake Nebunu. You'll see small vegetated islands with various plants and animals. After that, walk around Tulcea's old market square.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Boat trip to Danube Delta
- Visit pelican reserve in Lake Nebunu
- Explore Tulcea old market square
Landmarks Danube Delta Lake Nebunu Pelican Reserve - Day 11
Predeal
Head back into Wallachia briefly, then travel west into the Carpathian Mountains through Buzau. Cross the Prahova Valley and arrive in Predeal, Romania's highest town and known as a health resort for its climate.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Landmarks Prahova Valley - Day 12
Brasov
See Bran Castle's battlements in the distance, though it's actually connected to Queen Maria rather than the Vlad legend. Start your Brasov tour at the old market and town hall square, then visit the Black Church, the region's largest Gothic sacred building. Dinner is at a rustic restaurant back in Predeal with a campfire and folk music.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Dinner with folk music in rustic restaurant with campfire)
Included Activities
- Visit Bran Castle
- Explore Brasov old town and market square
- Visit Black Church in Brasov
- Dinner with folk music in Predeal
Landmarks Bran Castle Brasov Old Town Black Church - Day 13
Bucharest
Tour Peles Castle, the 19th-century summer home of the Hohenzollern family, then contrast it with the simple Sinaia Monastery built in the 1600s. Drive back through the Prahova Valley for one last look at the Carpathian mountains. In Bucharest, have a festive dinner at a former caravanserai near Lipscani Street, the lively heart of the city's art and cafe scene.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Festive dinner in former caravanserai)
Included Activities
- Visit Peles Castle
- Visit Sinaia Monastery
- Explore Lipscani Street
- Festive dinner in former caravanserai
Landmarks Peles Castle Sinaia Monastery Lipscani Street - Day 14
Departure from Bucharest
Say goodbye and fly home from Bucharest.
- Meals
- Breakfast
