Bucovina, Maramures & Transylvania Grand Tour

Enjoy a full day tour of Bucharest, called "Little Paris". Start with The Palace of the Parliament – admire the luxurious display of crystal chandeliers, mosaics, oak paneling, marble, gold leaf, stained-glass windows. Visit Cotroceni Palace and Museum. Continue to the Village Museum with 50 buildings representing the history and design of Romania’s rural architecture. See Bucharest’s Arc of Triumph, built in honour of the Romanian soldiers who fought in the First World War.

Airport transfer with private vehicle and driver.

Enjoy a direct flight from Bucharest to Suceava.

Enjoy a private airport transfer.

Bucovina gathers more than 20 painted monasteries, memory of medieval history. This day is dedicated to four of the most beautiful of them. We start in Sucevita , a XVth century fortified monastery. Continue with Moldovita (small Moldova) a UNESCO world heritage site. But probably the star of the day will be Voronet. Perfectly shaped and built, Voronet hosts the most beautiful religious frescoe in Moldavia, “ The Judgement”. We finish our trip at Dragomirna, the tallest monastery church and an example of gothic style in Eastern Europe. Some of the visits will be led by experts involved in the restoration of the churches and their frescoes to give you a unique insight.

We leave Bucovina and head to the splendid region of Maramures (Northern Transylvania). You will pass through the stunning Carpathian mountains over the Prislop Pass (1400 meters, snow all year round ) . Due to the relative isolation of their land, the people of Maramures developed a particularly strong community, with a unique personality, traditions, culture, fashion and lifestyle unspoiled for centuries. Stop in the villages of Poenile Izei for the dowry tradition and Barsana for the wonderfully carved wooden gates.

After breakfast, the village of Sapinta, will enable you to explore the world famous "Merry Cemetery". Here each wooden cross carries a funny epitaph. Continue to Valea Cosaului – an area off most tourist routes but with an untouched heritage. Stop to meet the local fair in Bogdan Voda, a colorful world where you can find everything , from horses to chinese sport shoes. Later, a visit to Calinesti church and village, including an icon-on-glass workshop, and a plum brandy distillery. If weather allows we can have a picnic lunch close to the church, surrounded by deep green forrest. Late in the afternoon return to the hotel for dinner and exclusively organized Maramures folklore show.

Located in the Somesul Mic River valley, the city is considered the unofficial capital to the historical province of Transylvania and it is the fourth most populous city in Romania. Featuring baroque, gothic, Renaissance and neoclassical buildings, the square allows for quick access to St. Michael's Church and the Banffy Palace. Flanking the church on the south side is a 1902 equestrian statue of the 15-th century ruler, Matei Corvin. In the southwest corner of the square stands Hotel Continental, built in 1895 in an eclectic style combining Renaissance, classical and baroque elements. During World War II, the hotel served as the German military headquarters in Transylvania. Across the square, you can visit the Hintz House, which served as Cluj's first and longest-running pharmacy (1573-1949) and is now home to the Pharmacy Museum. Walk around the city and discover all these sights.

Enjoy a relaxing city tour of Sibiu, the European Capital of Culture in 2007, a medieval city with narrow streets and gothic arhitecture. Considered to be the jewel in the crown of German Siebenbuergen (Transylvania), the town dates back from 1400 and is one of the main tourist attraction in Romania. Visit Brukental Museum, the oldest museum in Romania with a vast collection of paintings, antiques, coins, and rare books, built by governor of Transylvania, Samuel Brukenthal between 1777 and 1787.

Experience the countryside today and see how local village people live. You will be problably wake by the sound of the cows returning to the summer meadows then after a wonderful breakfast a horse and cart will take you up through the High Nature Value meadows to visit a traditional shepherds Stana, see the sheep being milked and cheese being made, later you will visit the local charcoal burner and other village craftsmen. You will take a picnic in the hills above the village. Returning to the village you will visit the UNESCO church then have time to explore.

Breakfast. Leave Sibiu and stop in Biertan to visit the citadel, then onto Sighisoara. Sighisoara is the best preserved early middle age fortress-town in Europe, and therefore included in the World Cultural Heritage. Optional lunch in the Casa de Vlad Dracul restaurant - the actual house where Dracula was born and lived up to the age of four. Take a stroll through the old cobbled streets of Sighisoara and let yourself filled with its middle age like atmosphere. Visit the Clock Tower and the Church on the Hill. Continue to Brasov for overnight.

Start your Old City tour with the Town Hall Square, where you can admire the colorfully painted and ornately trimmed baroque structures. Visit the Black Church, the largest gothic church in Romania. Continue your visit and see Catherine's Gate errected in 1559, the only original gate that still survives since medieval times. Visit Weavel's Bastion, the largest medieval bastion in Brasov and the best-preserved among the seven original watchtowers constructed around the city walls.

Enjoy a full day tour and visit the famous Bran Castle or Dracula castle. Continue your tour with Peles Castle, one of the most beautiful castles in Europe, a masterpiece of German New-Renaissance architecture, commissioned by King Carol I in 1873 and completed in 1883. Admire Pelisor Castle, about 100 m uphill from the castle, built by King Carol I for his nephew.

Airport transfer with private vehicle and driver.