2025 TRANSYLVANIAN ENCOUNTER
A FOUR-DAY CULTURAL PRIVATE TOUR OF TRANSYLVANIA AND MORE.
FROM 499 EURO PER PERSON
ALSO SUITABLE AS A PRE/POST DANUBE RIVER CRUISE.
Itinerary: Bucharest - Sinaia & Peles Castle - Bran Castle - Brasov - The Saxon Trail & Viscri - Sighisoara - Gypsy Home Visit - Biertan - Tour of Sibiu (UNESCO) - The Trans Fagarasan Road - Bucharest
UNIQUE TOUR FEATURES, NOT OFFERED BY ANY OTHER OPERATOR.
- enjoy the exceptional Transylvanian expertise of the best tour guides in Romania, exclusively working with Compass Travel Romania;
- benefit of the complete flexibility of having the tour tailored to your requirements, both in terms of the route and the duration of the tour;
- make the most of your tour experience through our exclusively designed tours with admissions included and not just guided walks;
- enjoy 3 nights of accommodation at full of character, centrally located historical hotels with excellent Tripavisor reviews;
- learn about the daily life in the Saxon villages of Transylvania such as Viscri and interact with locals;
- drive on the famous Trans Fagarasan Road;
- take the unique chance of meeting Gypsies in their own community and discover their particular culture and traditional skills;
Day 1 (Daily departures. If a Monday, the tour will be operated in reverse):
Bucharest - Sinaia & Peles Castle - Bran Castle - Brasov City Tour & Evening at Leisure
Meet your tour guide at your hotel. Commence your Transylvania private trip with a scenic drive to Sinaia - one of the famous Carpathian Mountains towns. 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 Orient Express use to regularly call here and it still does once a year. Tour Peles Castle and Gardens, the former royal residence of King Charles I of Romania and known as one of the most beautiful summer royal residences in Europe. Then cross the mountains into Transylvania to the village of Bran. The attraction is the medieval Bran Castle also known as Dracula Castle. The connection between this place and Vlad the Impaler is still under debate, but the castle is definitely worth a visit. Enjoy cheese sampling on the premises. Continue to the nearby town of Brasov boasting one of the best preserved medieval quarter and fortifications. The tour will include the the Black Church, the Council Square, Schei Quarter and the the First School in Romanian language, the Rope Street and Cathetine's Gate. View of the Brasov Synagogue. Hotel check in. The rest of the day is at leisure. Enjoy Brasov’s lovely pedestrian area with its many shops and outdoor cafes.B Accommodation in Brasov at Hotel Bella Muzica *** (or similar)
Day 2:
Brasov - The Saxon Village Trail & Viscri - Sighisoara (UNESCO Site)
Hot and cold buffet breakfast at hotel. Drive through the picturesque Transylvanian Plateau with its quaint villages and Saxon fortifications such as Viscri. Arrive to Sighisoara, a World Heritage Site and the only still inhabited medieval citadel in Europe. It was developed by the German settlers as of late 12th century. 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, the Ducklings' Square, the Tinsmiths' Tower, the House with Antler and the Venetian House, the Tower with Clock (climb up for a great view), the Torture Chamber and the Weapon Museum. Sighisoara is the place where the famous Vlad the Impaler Dracula was born in 1431. The Birthplace is today a restaurant and one of the main tourist attractions. Hotel check in. The remainder of the day is at leisure in the Upper Town.
B Accommodation in Sighisoara at The House with Antler ***
The hotel is located in the Upper Town in a historical building. Previously used by King Charles III on his stay in Sighisoara.
Day 3:
Sighisoara - Biertan - Gypsy Home Visit - Sibiu Walking Tour & Evening at Leisure
Hot and cold buffet breakfast at hotel. Our Transylvania private travel reaches the impressive Biertan fortified church and a UNESCO World Heritage. As the former Seat of the Lutheran Bishops between 1516 and 1867, this place is proof of the important Heritage of the Transylvanian Saxons. Take a guided tour. On an exclusive basis, visit a Gypsy village and a Gypsy family in their own home, an opportunity to learn about this ethnic group. In the afternoon enjoy a leisurely walking tour of the Old Town Sibiu with the Great and Lesser Squares and the surrounding defense walls and guild towers. The late Gothic Evangelical Cathedral was completed in its actual shape in 1520, but inside there is an exquisite Fresco of the Crucifixion on the north wall of the choir dating from 1445. View the Passage of Stairs linking the Upper Town to the Lower Town and the 1859 Liar's Bridge. Hotel check in. Continue your tour of Romania with a visit to Sibiel, a typical Romanian village in the heart of Transylvania. Tour the local icon-on-glass museum (formerly a private collection) and learn about the technique. Continue to Sibiu for check in and time at lesiure in the Old Town.
B Accommodation in Sibiu at Hotel My Continental *** / The Council *** (or similar)
Day 4:
Open Air Market of Sibiu - The Trans Fagarasan Road - Fortress of Poienari & Curtea de Arges - Bucharest
Hot and cold buffet breakfast at hotel. Start your day with a visit to a local open air fruit and vegetable market (with an opportunity to sample various produce). Leaving Transylvania, you'll cros the Carpathisn Mountains on the famous Trans Fagarasan Road up to 6,600 feet to the glacier Lake of Balea. The views are stunning. Descend toward South with a stop at the impressive Vidraru Dam followed by a view of the real Dracula's Castle; the Fortress of Poienari. Time permitting pay your respect to the grave of Queen Marie of Romania in Curtea de Arges. Arrive to Bucharest in the late afternoon. Transfer to your hotel.
Your Price Includes:
- 3 nights at three star hotels (all centrally located)
- fully insured sedan or minivan with climate control, for the entire distance
- fuel & parking fees included
- all sightseeing tours & cultural connections
- Gypsy Home Visit (on exlcusive basis, organized by Compass Travel Romania)
- informal talks on: Vlad the Impaler - Dracula, The Gypsies and Their Journey, Transylvanian History Overview (all by the tour guide)
- 3 breakfasts
- cheese sampling session in the village of Bran
- a Tours Of Romania® professional English speaking guide (driving) to accompany you throughout
- guide's expenses
- porterage at hotels
- VAT and local tax.
You'll Visit 4 UNESCO World Heritage Sites:
- Historic Center of Sighisoara
- Village of Viscri
- Historic Center of Sibiu
- Biertan Fortified Church
Not Included:
- Admissions (pay on spot based on the tour type you elect; seniro discounts available)
- Credit card fee of 2.5%
- Gratuities of any kind.