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Culture, tradition and crafts and nature observing in Transylvania
Self drive
Departure: any time, starting Sundays
6 nights/ 7 days
Tour individual: Bucharest- Sinca Veche -Brasov– Viscri – Sighisoara — Targu Mures
We advise you to book tickets as follows:
Arrival destination:Bucharest(Henri Coanda/ Otopeni airport)
Departure destination: Targu Mures (Transylvania Airport)
Day 1 Sunday:
On the first day of your journey you will meet with an ‘I explore’ representative at the Otopeni/Henri Coanda airport and pick up your car. You will also receive a GPS device, maps, and a local phone number through which a representative of the agency can be contacted 24/ 7.
Transfer to hotel.
The rest of the day can be spent however you desire. In the evening, you will meet once again with your ‘I explore’ representative for a welcome party. You can also sort out any specifics regarding the route, and, if you have chosen the option of travelling with a guide and driver, you will meet him/her during the welcome party too.
On day 1, we recommend you visit theVillageMuseumPeasantMuseumand Parliament House — located near the hotel where we offer accommodation. We can book a city tour for you in a Romanian-style city bus.
Included: Welcome party dinner. Hotel 4*
Day 2 Monday:
On the second day you set off to beautifulFagarasCounty. You will follow thePrahovaValley, where you can stop at Sinaia to visitPelesCastle. You will enjoy the beautiful scenery of thePrahovaValleywhile driving up to Predeal, and then follow the gorgeous sights that lead you along the Rasnoavei Gorge. Plans will be in place for you to visit the spectacularRasnovCastle, after which you will see nearbyBranCastle, also known as Dracula's Castle. The final stop is at your guesthouse. The guesthouse is located in a small Transylvanian village and is also an example of old Romanian crafts as it is a water mill, the oldest functioning water mill inFagarasCounty, in operation since 1873. You will have a Romanian dinner with food produced in that village. The host has very good homemade jams, the best elderflower jam you’ve ever had. We have to warn you that there is no urban entertainment around.
You should ask your hosts to start up the mill and to have a demonstration of how the water mill works.
Included: Breakfast, dinner, Romanian guesthouse 3*, although classified by Ministry of tourism the house remains traditional and the mill has been in operation since 1873
Day 3 Tuesday:
For this day you might go on an easy walk or drive slowly around on theStrambaValley and enjoy the flora around. At your request, today you can enjoy a special meeting: accompanied you will be taken to observe bears in their natural environment. Please listen to your attendant’s advice carefully! Prior booking is need it.
On returning, during the day, we recommend that you visit the Sinca Veche grotto, calledTempleUrsitoarelor(the Hermitage Monastery), located in the Plesu hill. It is said that those who pray at the church altars of this underground cave receive what they have requested. Beyond these myths, the monastery cave is interesting because of the amalgam of different religions that seem to have sheltered under their walls at various times. The accommodation is again at the water mill guest house.
Included: Breakfast, dinner, guesthouse
Day 4 Wednesday:
Today we invite you to follow FagarasMountains, driving along their base up to Sambata de Sus and Sambata de Jos. You will not regret taking a detour to the Bucium monastery, also known as ‘World Peace’. This story-book monastery is in a meadow at the foot of the mountain. When you get to Lisa village, stop at La Valtori (‘the Whirlpool’) where we have arranged a demonstration of how the traditional whirlpool method is harnessed for making woollen rugs. This old whirl-engine still works and you will see the finest woollen products. The final stop is at Sambata de Jos where we have prepared for you a visit to a Lipizzaner horse stud farm. If you are interested, you can also book a riding session. In Sambata de Sus, you can visit the famous Brancoveanu monastery — Brancoveanu was a great ruler of Romania. The monastery’s architectural style is the Brancovenesc style used in all buildings commissioned by the ruler. This architectural style with arches is also known as the Romanian style.
Included: Breakfast, dinner, standard guesthouse
Day 5 Thursday:
Today after breakfast, we invite you on a tour of medievalTransylvania. Today, you will also change lodgings to a guesthouse deeper intoTransylvania, a farm-style guesthouse, close to the medieval citadel of Sighisoara. Firstly, we should drive toBrasov, a big city nestled at the foot ofTampaMountain. A visit to theBlackChurchis a must, about whose construction is said to have started in 1377 and is the largest Gothic monastery in south-easternEurope. Next stop is Viscri –an authentic Saxon village, where there is also a citadel built in the 16th century. In the rooms of the citadel’s wall is an interesting ethnographic museum. In this SaxonvillageofViscri, Prince Charles owns a traditional Saxon village home. We also suggest stopping in Saschiz, another Saxon village, with a hint of archaic agriculture, and guarded by a fortress and a fortified church, dating from the 15th century. Here, at your request, we can organize a guided tour encompassing many traditional local crafts. The tour envisages the natural beauty of this area and a tour of local handicrafts and food products. During this optional trip you can see how bread is made in this region or you can admire the beautiful flora of sunny Saschiz glades.
Then we recommend you drive to and visit the world-famous Sighisoara. This is one of the few inhabited citadels left in the world. It is said that Vlad Dracul (on whom Stoker based the character of Dracula in his novel) is said to have been born. You should climb up the clock tower to see the city from above, and take a city tour. Then off you go to Biertan! Biertan is a fortress not as well known as the others but still charming in its style, being a former peasant fortress built around a church (the community appears in historical records as early as the beginning 14th century). Then please visit the last fortress of the day, in the city ofMedias. Medias, a fortified place of worship, was built in the early twelfth century, and the three defensive walls, erected by order of Matthias Corvinus, probably between 1440 and 1534.
At the end of the day, you drive back to your guesthouse and enjoy the life on a farm.
Included: Breakfast, dinner, 3* guesthouse
Day 6. Thursday:
We haven’t organized anything for you for this day. You are free to go souvenir hunting in Sighisoara or just simply enjoy your day on the farm. If you dreamt being farmer for a day, we can organize with your host to take a riding lesson or just to take part in the daily running of the farm (comb the horses, clean the stables, and so on).
Included: Breakfast, dinner, 3* guesthouse
Day 7 Friday:
After breakfast, it’s time for you to pack up and head for home. You leave the car, GPS device, phone and maps at Targu Mures airport!
See you soon!
