2024 ROMANIA SMALL GROUP TOURS

THE ”ROMANIAN HIGHLIGHTS” TOUR

THE BEST 10-DAY CULTURAL, SMALL GROUP TOUR OF ROMANIA.

LIMITED TO 6 TRAVELERS.

EXCLUSIVELY DESIGNED AND OFFERED BY COMPASS TRAVEL ROMANIA LLC

2023 & 2024 GUARANTEED DEPARTURES:

NOVEMBER 8, 22

MARCH 20, 27

APRIL 10, 17, 24

MAY 8,15, 22, 29

JUNE 5,12,19

Day 1: Arrival to Bucharest, Romania

Day 2: Bucharest City Tour –  Cozia - Olt River Gorge – Sibiu (Transylvania)

Hot and cold buffet breakfast at hotel. This morning take a city tour of Bucharest including the Revolution Square and the former Royal Palace, Cotroceni Quarter, the Palace of the Parliament - the second largest building in the world after the Pentagon, the avenues, a view of the Ceausescu’s private residence. Stroll in the Village Museum - one of the world's most interesting open-air museums with century old original peasant households from all parts of Romania. En-route to Sibiu, make a short stop to the 14th century Cozia Monastery built by Prince Mircea the Old. Drive along the picturesque Olt River Gorge crossing the mountains into Transylvania. Reach Sibiu. Brief orientation tour on the way to the hotel. Dinner on own. Suggested is Crama Sibiul Vechi,  one if the oldest cellar - restaurants in the Old Town, serving authentic Transylvanian fares.

B  Accommodation in Sibiu at Hotel My Continental *** (or similar)

Day 3:  Sibiu Walking Tour & Open Air Market - Turda Salt Mines - Cluj Napoca Tour & Time at Leisure

Hot and cold buffet breakfast at hotel. Start your day with a leisurely walking tour of Sibiu, the chief city of the Transylvanian Germans. Walk in the Great and the Lesser Squares, view the old surrounding defense walls and the remaining guild towers. One of the landmarks of Sibiu is the Baroque Burckenthal Palace, built by Baron Bruckenthal, the Governor of Transylvania at the beginning of the 19th century. View of the Evangelical Cathedral completed in its actual shape in 1520.  Visit the bustling Sibiu open-air Farmers' Market before departing for Turda for a guided tour of the recently opened Turda Salt Mines, tokened as "the most beautiful undergraound place on Earth". The mines are very easily accessible and offer all modern facilities. Afternoon arrival to Cluj  Napoca, Transylvania's largest city and a main university center. The panoramic city tour will include the Fellner & Helmer Opera House, the Gothic St Michael's Cathedral, the Banffy Palace and City Hall. Hotel check in with the remainder of the day at leisure in Cluj Napoca.  

B  Accommodation in Cluj Napoca at Hotel Pami ***

Day 4:  Cluj Napoca - Baia Mare & Surdesti (UNESCO) - Maramures Tour & Home-Hosted Dinner

Hot and cold buffet breakfast at hotel. This morning drive north toward Baia Mare and reach the splendid region of Maramures (northern Transylvania). 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. Visit the early 1720s Church of Surdesti, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and until recently the tallest wooden church in Europe. This is a good opportunity to learn about the Uniates. Then stop in the villages of Giulesti for the dowry tradition and Mara for the wonderfully carved wooden gates. Continue to Sighet to the Anti Communist Memorial - a political prison in the Communist times. This is one of the main memorial sites of the continent, alongside Auschwitz Museum and the Peace Memorial in Normandy. The visit here provides a direct connection to Romania's most recent history. Accommodation in a private home in the village of Iza. Our hosts will join for dinner, this being a first hand cultural interchange.

B D Home stay accommodation (modern villa) two nights OR Hotel on request (surcharge applies) Family home, with one section renovated into a modern villa with all modern facilities. The location is excellent, in a small village, quiet neighborhood, far away from the main street. The terraces offer a beautiful view on the village. Excellent home cooking.

Day 5:  Maramures:  Iza Village Walking Tour - Sighetul Marmatiei  - Sapinta Village - Dinner

After breakfast, take an exclusively designed walking tour of the village of Iza including an icon-on-glass workshop (and learn about the technique), the local ancient type plum brandy distillery and a Maramures typical whirlpool still used by the local women to wash heavy woolen blankets. This is an excellent opportunity to see the locals dressed in their  Sunday Costumes. Then drive to the nearby town of Sighet to mingle with the locals at the colorful fruit and vegetable market where you will have the opportunity to sample various produce. Tour the impressive Sighet Memorial, a political prison in Communist times and one of Romania's main site. Continue west along Tisa River (very close to the Ukrainian border) and reach the village of Sapinta world famous for its "Merry Cemetery". Here each wooden cross carries a funny epitaph about the person's life. In the same village view the tallest wooden church in the World:  Sapinta Peri. Late in the afternoon return to Iza for a home hosted dinner and accommodation.

B D Home stay accommodation OR Hotel on request

Day 6:  Maramures: Iza Valley & Bogdan Voda – the Prislop Pass - Gura Humor (Bucovina)

Following breakfast continue exploring Maramures along the picturesque Iza Valley – an excellent oportunity to witness daily life in this forgotten corner of Europe. Stop in the village of Rozavlea for a visit to the workshop of a famous master carver in his own workshop. He represented Romania at the 1999 Smithsonian World Folk Festival in Washington, DC. Next is the exquisite Barsana Monastery, probably the best example of Maramures wooden church architecture. Then visit the wooden church of Bogdan Voda (UNESCO World Heritage Site) and one of the oldest in the area dating back from the early 18th century.  In the village of Dragomiresti, visit the workshop of unenamelled red ceramics polished with stones, based on a technique originating in the Neolithic age and learn about the technique, first hand.  In the same village, visit the local museum located in a 235-year old, original household.  Cross the Carpathian Mountains through the picturesque Prislop Pass into the northern part of Moldavia called Bucovina. In the town of Campulung enjoy an exclusively organized egg-painting demonstration by a local artist in her home, this being one of the local traditions of the area. You have the chance to admire painted eggs from all over the world. After arriving in Gura Humorului, check into the hotel.

B  Accommodation in Gura Humorului at Hotel Best Western Bucovina **** (or similar, two nights)

Day 7:  Bucovina Painted Monasteries  Excursion (UNESCO World Heritage Sites) & Traditional Lunch

A la carte breakfast at hotel. Bucovina monasteries are gems of medieval Moldavian architecture and artistry. Begin your day with Voronet, the most famous out of all, known as the Sistine Chapel of the East and featuring one the best Last Judgment fresco in this part of the World. Next is Moldovita Monastery where the UNESCO Golden Apple Award given to the painted churches in 1975, is kept. As a cultural connection, enjoy a traditional  Bucovina lunch in the picturesque village of Sucevita. Later continue to the nearby Sucevita Monastery, which is the largest of all, looking more like a mighty fortress than a monastery. The Ladder of John of Sinai is considered one of the best of the frescoes of Sucevita, rarely present in medieval Romanian art. In the village of Marginea visit the black pottery workshop - they use a technique called "oxygen reduction", there is the same technique in Mexico only! End your day with the Monastery of Humor, the only one without a belfry tower. Return to the hotel.

B L Accommodation in Gura Humorului 

Day 8: Gura Humorului - Targu Neamt - Bicaz Gorges  - Gypsy Experience - Sighisoara

A la carte breakfast at hotel. Begin your day with a drive south to Targu Neamt for a tour of the impressive Neamt Citadel, formerly part of the medieval system of defense of Moldavia. Reach the Bicaz Gorges where the surroundings are dramatic. Time for a short hike in the Gorges. Optional lunch in the resort of Lacu Rosu (restaurants specialize in naturally grown trout). Once passing the Red Lake you are back to Transylvania. Exclusive Visit to a Gypsy village followed by a Gypsy home visit: this is an unique opportunity to learn about this less known yet controversial ethnic group, about its culture, identity and lifestyle. Afternoon arrival to Sighisoara - World Heritage Site and the only still inhabited medieval citadel in Europe. It was developed by the German settlers as of late 12th century and it stands on a network of tunnels and catacombs and. According to one version of the myth, this is where the Pied Piper brought the Children of Hamelin after their ungrateful parents refused to pay him his due. The walking tour includes the two squares of the Citadel (Upper Town), the Scholars' Staircase and the Tower with Clock. Sighisoara is the place where the Vlad the Impaler Dracula was born in 1431. The Birthplace  is one of the main tourist attractions.  Accommodation in the Upper Town. Suggestion for dinner: the Birthplace of Vlad Dracula.

B Accommodation in Sighisoara at The House with Antler *** (or similar, in the Upper Town)

Day 9:  Sighisoara Walking Tour - Dracula's Castle in Bran - Cheese Sampling  - Brasov Walking Tour & Evening at Leisure

Hot and cold buffet breakfast at hotel. Leave Sighisoara in the morning. Journey south through the picturesque Transylvanian Plateau for a tour of Bran Castle also known as Dracula's Castle. This medieval structure was built in 1377 to safeguard the trading route between Transylvania and Wallachia, enlarged and restored a few times to become a royal residence in the 1920s under Queen Marie of Romania. After the visit enjoy cheese sampling. The remainder of the day is spent in Brasov, another of  the important Saxon towns with a rich cultural heritage.  The tour will reveal the Old Town with a view of the late Gothic Black Church, the Council Square, the medieval Catherine’s Gate, the Guild Towers, Schei Quarter, the narrow Rope Street as well as a view of the impressive 1901 synagogue. Hotel check in with the evening in the lovely pedestrian area of the Old Town with its many restaurants and outdoor cafes.

B Accommodation in Brasov at Hotel Bella Muzica ***

Day 10:  Brasov - Sinaia: Peles Castle - Bucharest Airport  Drop-Off or Hotel Transfer for Extra Nights 

Hot and cold buffet breakfast at hotel.  This morning enjoy a scenic drive to Sinaia mountain resort. Named after St. Catherine Monastery on Mount Sinai, Sinaia became the unofficial capital of the Kingdom of Romania toward the end of the 19th century. The orientation tour includes a view of the famous Casino building, with its architecture inspired by the one in Monte Carlo. Then take a guided tour of the Peles Castle and Gardens in Sinaia, the royal residence of King Charles I of Romania and known as one of the most beautiful summer royal residences in Europe. After the visit drive to Bucharest Coanda International Airport for your afternoon return flights or transfer to your Bucharest hotel.

 

Included Features:

• ·         7 nights at three and four star hotels
• ·         2 nights home stay in Maramures (or three/four star hotel on request, surcharge applies)
• ·         fully insured modern tour bus with climate control, for the entire distance
• ·         fuel & parking fees
• ·         all sightseeing tours & cultural connections
• ·         informal talks on: Vlad the Impaler - Dracula, Ceausescu and His Times, The Gypsies and Their Journey (all by the tour guide)
• ·         12 meals:  9 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 2 dinners
• ·         a professional English speaking tour guide to accompany you throughout
• ·         an egg painting demonstration in Bucovina
• ·         exclusive meeting of a Gypsy family in their own home
• ·         Bucharest city tour, including a guided tour of the Palace of the Parliament
• ·         airport transfer on arrival and drop-off (if departing on Day 10)
• ·         porterage (except for Customs Areas)
• ·         map of Romania.

         

You'll Visit 5 UNESCO World Heritage Sites:  

Sibiu's Historic Center & Ensamble of Squares, Maramures Wooden Churches, Bucovina Exterior Frescoed Monasteries, Historic Center of Sighisoara, Biertan Fortified Church.

         

Not Included:

• ·         other meals than stated
• ·         alcoholic beverages
• ·         admission fees at sites and museums
• ·         credit card fee of 2.5%
• ·         gratuities of any kind.

                       Tour Price & Discounts: PLEASE CLICK HERE