FROM THE BALTIC TO THE BLACK SEA
Independence Day in Transnistria
Come and celebrate the independence Day of a country that doesn't exist! It doesn't get much more off-the-beaten-track than that!
Transnistria is an unrecognised breakaway area of the Republic of Moldova, with all the trimmings of an independent country - but no-one acknowledges that (except fellow unrecognised breakaway territories South Ossetia, Abkhazia and Nagorno Karabah). This is Transnistria's 'National Day', come and see how they celebrate it, meet the locals, see the sights and experience something very unique.
5 nights * Dep 30th August 2022 * Independence Day in a country that doesn't exist! * Meet the locals, cooking, wine tasting, culture, history... * English speaking guide throughout * Escorted tour of Moldova * From 1148 EUR pp
Day 1 - Arrival in Chisinau
Our guide and driver will meet you at the airport. After check-in at your 4 star hotel in the centre, you have free time to enjoy your first explore of Chisinau.
Day 2 - Chisinau - Calarasi area - Chisinau (lunch included)
After breakfast you'll have a city tour of Chisinau. The tour includes the city highlights of Central Park, the Alley of Moldovan literature classics, the monument of Steven the Great, Great National Assembly Square, the Triumph Arch, the Nativity Cathedral, the Organ Hall, the souvenir market.
For lunch we will drive to "Casa Parinteasca" Craft Centre near Palanca village, where you will also discover Moldovan traditional costumes and ethnographic customs. Traditional dishes will be served for lunch with the best local wine, while the organic herbal tea, accompanied by homemade jams will surprise you with their amazing taste. Next we will visit the Honey Museum from Raciula, learn about the life of bees, taste different kind of honey and other honey products. Back to Chisinau. Same accommodation.
Day 3 - Chisinau - Tiraspol (lunch included)
After breakfast we shall visit the Military Museum from Chisinau and learn about the fate of this country during the Second World War and about its Soviet Heritage. Next we continue to Transnistria and after crossing the border we shall stop in a local village for a special lunch at a family-run guesthouse. They will share with us their problems living in an unrecognized country and how frustrating it is not being able to speak their native language. Late afternoon arrival in Tiraspol, the capital of Transnistria and a city tour. Accommodation in 4* hotel in Tiraspol or Bender and evening free to enjoy a local dinner.
Day 4 - Independence Parade in Tiraspol - Chateau Vartely (dinner included)
Today we invite you to participate in the National Day parade and experience this unique atmosphere. After the festivities of the Independence Day parade, some free time for lunch and to meet local people.
Later in the afternoon, we shall do a Treasure Hunt - of Lenin statues! We will drive towards the north, along the Dniester River, seeing communist monuments still on show in villages and small towns like Grigoriopol and Dubasari. Going back to Moldova we go to Chateau Vartely, one of Moldova's newest wineries. Accommodation at Chateau Vartely with wine tasting and dinner.
Day 5 - Curchi Monastery - Old Orhei - Cricova winery - Chisinau (lunch & dinner included)
After breakfast we stop at Curchi Monastery, a real gem of our religious life. Next we visit Old Orhei, Moldova's most stunning picturesque and historical site famous for cave monasteries. Lunch will be a traditional affair in the village of Trebujeni and after lunch we drive to the world famous Cricova Wine Cellars; an underground city of wine with 120km of underground galleries. After a tour of the winery, we return to Chisinau. Accommodation at 4* city centre hotel and a farewell dinner at a local wine bar with Moldovan wine of course!
Day 6 - Chisinau and departure home
If time allows we shall visit more Soviet sights of Chisinau, pay a visit to the Lenin Statue that is kept nowadays in a local park etc. Transfer to the airport for your flight home or onward flight.
Overview
DEPARTURE DATE 2022
30th August - 4th September 2022
TOUR INCLUDES
All services as per the itinerary
Minibus luxury coach with A/C
English speaking guide throughout
Meet the locals
Escorted tour
Notes
HOTELS
Chisinau - 4* central hotel
Tiraspol - 4* central hotel
Orhei - Chateau Winery
FLIGHTS
Please note flights are NOT included in this package. You are welcome to book your own flights, or we can do this for you, simply call or email us for a quote.
PRE/POST TOUR EXTRA NIGHTS
If required we can book additional nights at the start or end of your tour, or this tour can be extended into Ukraine (Odessa) or onwards to any of our other destinations - please contact us and we can arrange this.
Please note this coach tour is guaranteed (if two or more persons are booked on).
More Reviews
THE TRIP TO MOLDOVA WAS UNIQUE AND TRULY GREAT IN EVERY SENSE, AN UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCE!
The trip to Moldova was unique and truly great in every sense, an unforgettable experience! We had a fantastic time and enjoyed every minute. The two guides, were not only exceptionally nice and forthcoming, they went an extra mile to give us the best possible experience. We would give them 5 out 5 stars! Accommodation and restaurants were excellent. The two highlights for us were the sturgeon farm in Transnistria and the wine tasting in Chisinau. We also ordered some wine now through the guide, who will send everything in the coming days. Thanks for your quick response and for organizing this trip. I will certainly contact you again before our next trip.
MR PERNET, MOLDOVA TAILOR-MADE PRIVATE TOUR, OCTOBER 2021
AN OUTSTANDING TRIP TO MOLDOVA
Just returned last night from an OUTSTANDING trip to Moldova. My daughter and I genuinely fell in love with the country and the inhabitants. A key factor was the top professional and very wonderful [guide]. She was the best guide ever and I cannot recommend her enough.
MS KAAS, MOLDOVA PRIVATE TOUR, AUGUST 2021
TRANSNISTRA WAS THE MOST UNUSUAL
I had a really good time. My tour of Chisinau was led by Christina and Vladimir and they did a great job. The wineries and the monasteries fun. And, of course, Transnistra was the most unusual. I have been to both the Soviet Union and Russia, and this was really a step back in time.
MRS DERINGER, MOLDOVA PRIVATE TOUR, MAY 2016
THANKS AGAIN, AND KEEP UP THIS HIGH STANDARD!
We have returned from our trip to Moldova and Transnistria and just wanted to tell you that it was excellent and far exceeded even our high expectations. The tour guide (Elena) and the driver were exceptionally good throughout. We also much appreciated the time we spent with local peasant families, sharing meals with them, or learning more about their ancient customs. Thanks again, and keep up this high standard!
MR & MRS SPINKS, MOLDOVA PRIVATE TOUR, AUGUST 2018
A MEMORABLE TRIP TO A LARGELY UNKNOWN PART OF THE WORLD
Just wanted to say that the recent Moldova trip was an excellent introduction to a fascinating, beautiful country with a complex history but the most friendly, hospitable people and culture. The traditional food was great and the wines amongst the best I have ever tasted. Transnistria was like going back in time and the Victory Day Parade was surreal but highly entertaining and poignant at the same time, especially the Immortals parade. Thanks again to you and the team for a memorable trip to a largely unknown part of the world.
MR LANCASTER, MOLDOVA VICTORY DAY TOUR, MAY 2018
WE WOULD CERTAINLY RECOMMEND VISITING MOLDOVA
It is indeed now sometime since we arrived back from our holiday in Moldova but we still have very fond memories of the trip. My wife was especially touched by Vladimir's young daughter presenting her with a picture which she had painted as a birthday gift. The hotel in Chisinau was excellent and lived up to its 5 star rating. Chisinau has many interesting places to see and we enjoyed going around the city by the local trams and buses. Other highlights were the visit to the Milesti Mici wine cellars and the fascinating trip to Transnistra. All the arrangements worked well and we would certainly recommend visiting Moldova to people who would like to gosomewhere different and interesting and to use Baltic Holidays to do so.
MR & MRS PENFOLD, PRIVATE TOUR OF MOLDOVA, MAY 2017
THEY WERE VERY KIND AND MADE OUR TOUR VERY SPECIAL
We liked very much our tour! I would like to tell you that we liked specially the guides from Ukraine, Belarus, Kaliningrad and Vilnius. They were very kind and made our tour very special. In general, we liked all the hotels! Thanks a lot!
FABRICIO, TAILOR-MADE TOUR TO UKRAINE, MOLDOVA, BELARUS, KALININGRAD & LITHUANIA, AUGUST 2017
A MEMORABLE TRIP TO A LARGELY UNKNOWN PART OF THE WORLD
Just wanted to say that the recent Moldova trip was an excellent introduction to a fascinating, beautiful country with a complex history but the most friendly, hospitable people and culture. The traditional food was great and the wines amongst the best I have ever tasted. Transnistria was like going back in time and the Victory Day Parade was surreal but highly entertaining and poignant at the same time, especially the Immortals parade. Thanks again to you and the team for a memorable trip to a largely unknown part of the world.
MR LANCASTER, MOLDOVA VICTORY DAY TOUR, MAY 2018
Ready to book this tour?
Or need it changed to suit you? Let’s discuss your plans…