FROM THE BALTIC TO THE BLACK SEA
Highlights of Romania Private Tour
Our 'Highlights of Romania Private Tour' has been designed to comfortably visit the main sights in Romania. There are many superb sights to see in Romania and after this private tour, you will really know this wonderful, diverse country! The tour has everything from rural folklore, crafts and traditions to majestic castles, walled cities and fortified churches.
Highlights include: Curtea de Arges, Poienari Castle, Turda salt mines, visiting a local market, the merry cemetery, Maramures wooden churches, a private folkloric show, Bucovina painted monasteries, a home-hosted lunch at a master egg-painters studio, visit a Gypsy home, drive through the Bicaz Gorge, explore Sighisoara medieval citadel, stay in Viscri traditional village, take a horse & cart ride, meet traditional artisans, tour Bran Castle and Peles Castle and taste Romanian wines.
Visit Romania on this private tour with your own drivers and guides to really discover this super country.
11 nights * Private drivers & guides * Handpicked hotels * Excellent sightseeing: painted monasteries, castles, fortified churches, countryside, old towns, Roma culture, craftspeople, traditions and folklore * Tailored to suit you * From 2,293 EUR pp
Day 1: Bucharest
Transfer from the airport to your hotel Our driver will meet you at the airport and drive you to your hotel, they will have a sign with your name on it. Arrive in Bucharest, meet you guide Depending on your arrival time to Bucharest, get settled at your hotel, meet your guide and take a panoramic city tour for an insider’s glimpse into the life and character of this vibrant city. Hotel Berthelot or similar
Day 2: Bucharest - Curtea de Arges - Poienari - Transfagarasan Road - Sibiu
The medieval Transylvanian city of Sibiu is your destination today. Along the way, stop at the 16th-century Curtea de Arges Cathedral, visit the dizzying heights of Poenari Castle, take one of southeastern Europe’s most famous roadways: the Transfagarasan Road cross the Carpathian Mountains - claimed by BBC Top Gear to be the 'Best road in the World!' Arrival to Sibiu in the afternoon and check into your hotel, followed by a guided walking tour of Sibiu with your guide. Hotel Casa Levoslav**** or similar.
Day 3: Sibiu - Hunyad Castle - Densus Church - Alba Iulia
Today, you'll travel deep into wild Transylvania towards the Hunedoara region, visiting Hunyad Castle and the spectacular Densus Church on the way and later in the afternoon, you visit Alba Iulia with its impressive fortress. A great first day of sightseeing on your private tour of Romania! La Maison de Caroline*** or similar
Day 4: Alba Iulia - Turda Salt Mines - Cluj Napoca - Surdesti Church - Vadu Izei
Today, you'll head towards Maramures, where the landscape, local traditions, craftsmanship and culture have remained virtually unchanged since the Middle Ages. Enroute visit the Turda salt mines, Salina Turda, seriously impressive. After the mines, it is on to Cluj Napoca, a university city which lends it a youthful, vibrant street atmosphere. Our guide will show you around the city sights. After Cluj, you enter a different world in Maramures, where the nature, wildlife and wooden architecture are the main attractions, including the church of Surdesti (UNESCO World Heritage Site). Accommodation is at a family guesthouse with a home-cooked dinner included. Family Guesthouse.
Day 5: Full day in Maramures
Spend a full day exploring Maramures, the highlights of which include a plum brandy distillery, a manmade whirlpool still used by locals for washing their wool carpets, mingle with local people and sample exquisite traditional delicacies at a traditional open-air market before moving on to the Merry Cemetery in Sapanta (colorful wooden crosses, folkloric hand-painted imagery and brutally honest epitaphs), visit a woodcarver still working at his trade, the tallest wooden structure in the world: Peri Church. Afterwards, it's on to Sighetu Marmatiei to visit the Memorial to the Victims of Communism and in the evening, you’ll enjoy an exclusive folkloric show! The performers are real villagers, singing and dancing to songs passed down through generations, a unique opportunity! Home-cooked dinner at the family guesthouse.
Day 6: Vadu Izei - Barsana - Ieud - Borgo Pass - Gura Homorului
Today, you will drive to Bucovina region, famous for its exquisite painted monasteries. Along the way, discover the lovely monastic complex at Barsana. Stop to visit the workshop of the most famous woodcarver in Maramures, his gates are the pride of the region! Stops at the oldest wooden church in Maramures, crossing the eastern Carpathians over the Borgo Pass, and a visit to the village of Ciocanesti, where the locals lovingly maintain their beautiful houses, heavily ornate with floral and geometric motifs are also highlights of this great day out, ending in Bucovina ready for more exploring tomorrow. Hotel Casa Humor****
Day 7: Tour of the Painted Monasteries & a home hosted lunch at a local artists home
Spend the day discovering Romania’s famous UNESCO painted monasteries. You will visit the monasteries of Humor and Voronet, then it's off to the home of a world-renowned egg-painting artist for a home-cooked lunch. Egg painting is a regional art form of Bucovina and involves much symbolism. After lunch, you will visit the monasteries of Moldovita and Sucevita.
Day 8: Gura Homorului - Popa Ethnographical Museum - Bicaz Gorges - Gipsy Home Visit - Sighisoara
Today, you explore southern Transylvania. Take a spectacular route through the Bicaz gorges stopping at some local souvenir shops. Before leaving Bucovina, you’ll visit the extraordinary Nicolae Popa Ethnographic Museum, located in the Naïve sculptor’s beautiful home. It is one of Romania’s hidden folkloric treasures. A highlight of today is an unparalleled experience visiting a Roma (Gypsy) village. The Gabor family welcome you into their home and you can learn about their intriguing, often misunderstood culture. It is very rare for Gypsies to open their homes to strangers, but you will be invited in to discover their culture and lifestyle. Hotel Sighisoara***
Day 9: Sighisoara - Biertan Fortified Church - Viscri
Enjoy a guided walk through the impressive Old Town of Sighisoara (UNESCO World Heritage Site) and birthplace of Vlad the Impaler, the inspiration for Bram Stoker’s Dracula. Next you visit Biertan fortified church (UNESCO World Heritage Site) and Viscri, where you’ll experience Transylvania’s living heritage and rural charm. Viscri is where Prince Charles has an 18th-century house and is a strong advocate for preserving the traditional Transylvanian way of life. Explore the fortified church (UNESCO World Heritage Site), enjoy a local lunch, then discover a diverse range of traditional handicrafts; watch a village blacksmith at work in his forge, enjoy a horse-cart drive to the outskirts of the village, and meet brick-makers living close to the forest in a traditional way. The afternoon is free-time. Should you wish, a longer horse-cart ride to meet shepherds living in the hills overlooking the village can be arranged. Overnight in Viscri B&B with a home-cooked lunch and dinner included. Viscri 125 B&B**** Home cooked lunch and dinner included.
Day 10: Viscri - Bran Castle & Brasov
This morning, you'll journey to Brasov via one of the most famous sights in Romania; Bran Castle. Stroll amongst the wares of souvenir vendors around the castle and try the local specialities available here: local cheeses, pálinka (plum and pear brandy), and traditionally-prepared meats. In the afternoon, take a leisurely walk around Brasov’s Old Town including a visit to the Black Church, the Old Town square with its merchants houses all around, the city walls and bastion. The rest of the day is free time to explore or relax. Hotel Armatti***
Day 11: Brasov - Peles Castle - Sinaia Monastery - Lunch with wine tasting - Bucharest
Depart Brasov for Bucharest, via the wild, unspoiled mountains of Transylvania. Visit Peles Castle in Sinaia, the Sinaia monastery, and have a hearty lunch at Azuga Rhein Wine Cellars, discovering some of the best wines Romania has to offer. After lunch, drive to Bucharest, arriving in the late afternoon. Hotel Berthelot****
Day 12: Bucharest
Our driver will pick you up from your hotel and drive you to the airport for your flight home or on to another destination!
Overview
Bestselling private tour of Romania
Exceptional personal guides and drivers
Can start any day of the year
Can start in Bucharest or Brasov to suit your flights
Choose from 3, 4 or 5 star hotels
Tailor the itinerary to suit you - add day trips, extra nights or travel on to our other destinations
Call or email us to discuss your travel plans
From 2,293 EUR pp
Notes
For groups of friends we can offer a discount, so please ask us about this
If you want to visit a particular place or event - we can arrange this!
This tour does not include flights - you can book your own or we can do this for you
Tailor-made itineraries are our speciality and we want you to get the right tour for you
Call or email us to discuss your plans
More Reviews
WELL THAT’S ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL TRIP (OUR THIRD SO FAR) WITH BALTIC HOLIDAYS
Dear Phil & Jurga, Well that’s another successful trip (our third so far) with Baltic Holidays, and we’re already looking forward to next year’s one to Russia. We thoroughly enjoyed our 12-day tour around Romania, seeing the diverse range of architecture and scenery and meeting so many friendly people. Definitely the way to gain a true understanding of the country and its’ culture. Our guide throughout (Stefan) was first class, professional and friendly (even managing to squeeze in a couple of extra castles for us to visit, once he recognised our interests).Our last few days, in Budapest, were a great way to unwind after 12 days “on the road”. The hotel location on Buda Hill, with a Danube river view room looking over to the Parliament building was ideal. So once again, many thanks to you and the team for another enjoyable holiday.
ROMANIA & BUDAPEST TAILOR-MADE PRIVATE TOUR, THE BIRDS, AUGUST 2019
THE STAFF AT BALTIC HOLIDAYS ARE PROFESSIONAL, KNOWLEDGEABLE AND EXCEEDINGLY FLEXIBLE
My husband and I worked with the exceptional staff at Baltic Holidays to plan two remarkable tailor-made vacations: One to Russia, Finland and Estonia, the other to Eastern Europe visiting Bucharest, Budapest and Prague. The accommodations were perfect and located in convenient places in the cities we visited. The guides we had for day trips both in and out of the cities were knowledgeable, smart and each and everyone went out of their way to make our visit wonderful. We were warmly greeted at the airport and bus stations with staff that took us to our hotels and delivered us back on time and in comfort. Baltic Holidays went the extra mile to help us get tickets to concerts, operas and even the Moscow Circus. But best of all the staff at Baltic Holidays are professional, knowledgeable and exceedingly flexible. We spend lots of time communicating on e-mail about different trip options until we got our plans just right. We feel like the staff are friends now and look forward to working with them again on our next adventure.
TAILOR-MADE TOURS OF EUROPE, TERI DOWLING & MAL LITWILLER
JUST TO LET YOU KNOW WE HAD A GREAT HOLIDAY
Hi Phil Just to let you know we had a great holiday. All the guides were excellent very knowledgeable and friendly. The hotels were very good and all in convenient positions. Overall had a great time and hope to use Baltic Holidays again. Thank Sally for her help. With Thanks.
J. PRIESTLEY, ROMANIA & THE BALTIC STATES, OCTOBER 2016
A LOVELY TIME IN ROMANIA
We had a lovely time in Romania so thanks very much to you and your team (and those in Romania) for all the hard work you did for us. The driver/guide was very good and a great help. His knowledge of the history of his country was prodigious. Again, our thanks to you and your team.
TAILOR-MADE ROMANIA PRIVATE TOUR, THE BRUNTONS, MAY 2019
THE ROUTE WAS WELL-CHOSEN, WITH MANY OUTSTANDING SIGHTS TO BE SEEN EACH DAY.
We very much enjoyed our short trip with you, and appreciated your quick and personal service when we contacted you. The route was well-chosen, with many outstanding sights to be seen each day. The hotel accommodation was good and we appreciated the central location in Sibiu and Alba Iulia. Our guide, Stefan, was first rate. He was personable and flexible. He also had excellent English, was passionate about Romania, and imparted his extensive knowledge clearly and extensively.
TAILOR-MADE ROMANIA PRIVATE TOUR, JOHN & DIANA, OCTOBER 2019
WELL THAT’S ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL TRIP (OUR THIRD SO FAR) WITH BALTIC HOLIDAYS
Dear Phil & Jurga, Well that’s another successful trip (our third so far) with Baltic Holidays, and we’re already looking forward to next year’s one to Russia. We thoroughly enjoyed our 12-day tour around Romania, seeing the diverse range of architecture and scenery and meeting so many friendly people. Definitely the way to gain a true understanding of the country and its’ culture. Our guide throughout (Stefan) was first class, professional and friendly (even managing to squeeze in a couple of extra castles for us to visit, once he recognised our interests).Our last few days, in Budapest, were a great way to unwind after 12 days “on the road”. The hotel location on Buda Hill, with a Danube river view room looking over to the Parliament building was ideal. So once again, many thanks to you and the team for another enjoyable holiday.
ROMANIA & BUDAPEST TAILOR-MADE PRIVATE TOUR, THE BIRDS, AUGUST 2019
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