Tour 22 Romania Grand Tour

Day 1: Bucharest - Constanta -  Histria - Tulcea Early morning departure for the Black Sea Coast to Constanta, the largest sea port on the Black Sea. A city of over 350,000 population, Constanta was established in the 4th century BC as a Greek colony. The drive from Bucharest will take approximately three hours, crossing the Danube into the region of Dobrogea and driving along the (in)famous Danube-Black Sea Canal. The city tour of Constanta will take you to the Secession style Casino and the Genoese Lighthouse. Later tour the Archeology Section featuring the fabulous Glykon Serpent and the wonderfully restored the Roman Mosaic - one of the largest in this part of Europe. In the afternoon drive to Mamaia - Romania's largest sea resort, established by King Charles of Romania in the second half of the 19th century and then continue north to the ruins of the ancient town of  Histria (formerly the main Greek Colony on the Coast but silted by the alluvuim of the Delta). In the ealry evening arrive to Tulcea located right at the entrance to the Danube Delta. Hotel check in. Dinner on your own.
Accommodation in Tulcea at Hotel Delta *** (right on the Danube Banks)

Day 3: Piatra Neamt – Bucovina Monasteries After breakfast drive to the splendid region of Bucovina, the land of the outside painted monasteries, all of the part of the UNESCO World Heritage. Bucovina monasteries are gems of medieval Moldavian architecture and artistry. Each of them has a predominant color. Start your day with Voronet Monastery, the most famous out of all, known as the Sistine Chapel of the East. Voronet features one the best Last Judgment fresco in this part of the World. Receive a complete explanation of the fresco. Next is Moldovita Moldovita where the UNESCO Golden Apple Award given to the painted churches back in 1975, is kept. On the south facade of Moldovita is The Siege of Constantinople belonging to the 24 episodes of the Hymn to the Holy Virgin. Enjoy a traditional Bucovina lunch in the picturesque village of Sucevita. Drive to the nearby Sucevita, 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 Humor Monastery, the only one without a tower as it was not built by a ruling prince. Accommodation in Gura Humorului guest house, breakfast and dinner included.

Day 5: Maramures: Iza - Sighetul Marmatiei - Sapinta VillageAfter breakfast, take an exclusively designed walking tour of the village of Iza including an icon-on-glass workshop (and learn about the technique), an ancient tyoe plum brandy distillery still used by the lcoal community to make the doubls distilled plum brandy as well as a typical whirlpool using the Iza River water. Enter the new Orthodox church of the village which will be in the process of getting painted in fresco. Drive to Sighet and, as a cultural connection, mingle with the locals in the twons'market. Then tour 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. Optional visit to the house of Nobel Prize winner, Elie Wiesel. View of the famous Tisa bridge is included. 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. Late in the afternoon return to Iza for dinner and accommodation.

Day 7:Sibiel- Sibiu - Biertan - Sighisoara Start your day with a leisurely walking tour of Sibiu, the main city of the Transylvanian Germans. The Old Centre is awaiting recognition by UNESCO. Visit the old surrounding defense walls and the remaining guild towers. One of the landmarks of Sibiu is the Bruckenthal Museum assembled by Baron Bruckenthal, governor of Transylvania at the beginning of the 19th century, the second ever art museum to openin Europe. Its core art collection used to belong to the Baron. The 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. Visit the Passage of Stairs linking the Upper town to the Lower town, the 1859 Liar's Bridge and the Byzantine style Orthodox Cathedral, a replica of St. Sophia in Constantinople. Do not miss the original Pharmacy Museum. We visit the Ethnographic Museum, one of the world's most interesting open air museums with century old original peasant households from all parts of Romania. In the afternoon, you'll venture to Biertan Fortress Church, a World Cultural Heritage site that hosts the largest wing altar in Romania and was used for more than 300 years as the official residence of many Transylvanian Lutheran Bishops. Upon your arrival in Sighisoara, you'll understand why it is considered to be the best preserved medieval town in all of Europe. Continuously inhabited since the early Middle Ages, Sighisoara is the birth town of Prince Vlad Dracula! Overnight in Sighisoara.

Day 9: Brasov - Tampa Mountain Cable Car Ride - Bran Castle - Sinaia- Peles Castle- Brasov Hot and cold buffet breakfast at hotel. Morning cable car ride on top of Tampa Mountain offering a great panoramic view of the city. Visit the Weavers' Bastion - one the well preserved medieval guild fortresses. Later, it is time for Bran Castle also known as Dracula Castle and one of the major attractions of the country. The castle was built in 1377 to safeguard the trading route between Transylvania and Wallachia, enlarged and restored a few times since then. A guided visit of the castle is included. Drive through Predeal, Romania¡¦s highest town. Late afternoon arrival to Sinaia mountain resort. Named after St. Catherine's Monastery on Mount Sinai, Sinaia became the unofficial capital of the Kingdom of Romania towards the end of the 19th century. Orientation tour of the resort including the famous Casino, inspired by the one in Monte Carlo. Once the famous Orient Express train use to regularly call here and it still does once a year on its way from Paris to Constantinople. Accommodation in Sinaia at Palace Hotel **** (or similar), centrally located in the resort.