Romania holidays, Transylvania to the Danube Delta

Bucharest – Arrive in Bucharest and transfer to the hotel. The rest of the day is free to relax or explore. Overnight in hotel.

Explore some of the sights of Bucharest on foot and by vehicle. We visit the old quarter with its old court and historic caravanserai, as well as newer sites such as the Arch of Triumph and Victory Square, among other sites. Afterwards we drive through the Prahova Valley to the 14th century Bran Castle, linked to the legend of Dracula and one of Romania’s most iconic sights. From here continue to the town of Brasov, an old Saxon settlement fringed by the Carpathian Mountains. Overnight in hotel B

One of medieval Saxony’s seven walled citadels, Brasov contains some superb architecture with Gothic, Baroque and Renaissance era buildings cramming its old quarter, and is a real delight to explore. Afterwards we to Sibiu, one of the best preserved medieval cities in the country, with a fascinating historic centre. Finally we head to Sibiel, a traditional village. Overnight in Hotel.

Drive into the Orastie Mountains, which house the remains of ancient citadels of the Dacian people, the original inhabitants of this region and considered to be the forefathers of modern Romanians. The Dacian citadels have recently been listed as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO; we visit the former capital of the Dacian Empire, Sarmisegetuza, as well as one or two other smaller settlements to learn about the little known history of this region. Overnight in Hotel.

Head to Alba Iulia and visit its impressive 18th century citadel with its star shaped bastions, finely carved gateways and collection of religious buildings. From here continue to Viscri, a traditional and well preserved Saxon village that has been listed on the UNESCO World Heritage list, and a superb place to get to grips with the rural traditions that still retain great importance within Romania. Overnight in Hotel.

Spend the day exploring Viscri, getting to know its inhabitants and learning about traditional Romanian culture. We spend time with local families involved in traditional industries, visit the fortified church and explore the village by horse and cart. Overnight in Hotel.

Drive to the enchanting citadel of Sighisoara, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and explore its cobbled streets and winding alleys. Afterwards we drive north through the Carpathian Mountains over Borgo Pass, which is featured in Bram Stoker’s novel ‘Dracula’. We pass from Transylvania to Bucovina, one of Romania’s most beautiful regions, and end our day in the village of Panaci.
Overnight in Hotel

Bucovina is renowned for its painted monasteries, dating back to the 15th century and vividly decorated with ornate frescoes. Today we visit two of the best – Sucevita and Moldovita, a masterpiece of Moldavian Gothic architecture. We end the day in a traditional guesthouse in Sucevita where a home cooked meal awaits. (BD)

We stop for lunch at the house of the artist Nicolae Popa. Although now sadly deceased, we are welcomed by his family and visit his intriguing collection of ethnographic and archaeological exhibits relating to the area. Later visit Agapia Monastery before continuing to Piatra Neamt for the evening. Overnight in Hotel.

Galati – Explore Piatra Neamt this morning, with its impressive cathedral and bell tower. From here on the scenery changes as we drive out of the mountains and into the plains, on the way to the Danube Delta. We end the day in Galati. Overnight in Hotel.

Danube Delta – We drive to Tulcea and depart around lunchtime on Day 11 to spend the rest of our time exploring the glorious Danube Delta, one of Europe’s most important wetlands and a haven for wildlife. Shunning the ‘floating hotels’ used by many other visitors we aim to really get beneath the skin of this intriguing region by getting much further into the Delta and staying in one of the small and traditional villages that dot these waterways. We explore the lakes and channels by small boat, hoping to spot wildlife such as deer, pelicans and storks. Both nights we return to our hosts in the village of Crisan, who offer us an excellent opportunity to understand the ways of this magical region. Overnight in Hotel.

Histria – Bucharest – Reluctantly we leave the delta behind and travel to Histria, the remains of an ancient citadel that was constructed by the Greeks around the 7th century BC. After exploring the site we continue to Bucharest for our final night in Romania. Overnight in Hotel.

Bucharest – Transfer to the airport for departure.