Monasteries, Churches and the Carpathians

Arrive in Bucharest, Romania's vibrant capital, by 1 p.m. and make your way to the hotel. In the afternoon, join your tour guide for a city tour through the 'Paris of the East', exploring its large boulevards and neoclassical French-style buildings. Contrast this with a visit to the communist-era buildings and the old town around Lipsca Street. End the day with a welcome dinner and an overnight stay at the hotel.

Travel to the village of Buzescu in Wallachia, known for its extravagant Roma villas. Visit one of these unique houses and enjoy lunch with the owners. Learn about the culture and traditions of the Roma community. Return to Bucharest in the afternoon to continue your city tour. Spend the night at the same hotel.

Embark on a journey through the Carpathians via the spectacular Transfagarasan road. Take a hike from Lake Balea to Capra Chalet, experiencing the splendor of the Carpathians. Continue to the village of Cincsor, where you'll stay in a guesthouse owned by a family of Transylvanian Saxons. Enjoy a typical dinner and learn about their history.

Start your day with a visit to the Ohaba watermill, still used by locals to grind grain. Next, head to the famous 'Dracula Castle', perched on a rock and linked to the novel character through the Wallachian ruler Vlad the Impaler. In the afternoon, explore Brasov, a charming town known for its rust-colored roofs and wooded hills. Overnight stay in a hotel.

Travel to the village of Viscri, where Prince Charles fell in love with the local culture and contributed to the local economy. Enjoy a typical lunch here. Later, visit the fairy-tale-like Sighisoara Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Spend the night in a hotel in Sighisoara.

Today, gain an insider's perspective into the culture of the Sinti and Roma. Visit the village of Seleus with a local activist and learn about the programs supporting children here. Enjoy a delicious lunch before heading to Brateiu to learn about the traditional craft of coppersmithing. Return to Sighisoara on foot along a beautiful route. Overnight stay in Sighisoara.

Today, visit Biertan, the oldest UNESCO site in Transylvania, known for its fortified church. From here, hike to Copsa Mare, nestled in the green valley of the Taravelor plateau. Enjoy a meal made from organic, regional ingredients. Overnight stay in a typical Saxon guesthouse.

Embark on the longest hike of the trip along the Via Transsilvanica, a long-distance hiking trail that runs through Romania. Visit the village of Malancrav, home to an impressive fortified church. Enjoy a traditional lunch on a sheep farm in Floresti. Overnight stay in Copsa Mare.

Travel to Valeni, where you'll have coffee with a Sinti & Roma family. Enjoy scenic highlights with a visit to the Red Lake and the Bicaz Gorge. Reach Varatec, where you'll visit a monastery and have dinner. Overnight stay in the monastery.

Hike to Agapia Monastery, which was under the control of Varatec until 1839. After the visit, continue by vehicle to Iasi, the largest city in north-eastern Romania. Explore the city's historical landmarks including the cathedral, the Palace of Culture, and the Trei Ieararhi church. In the evening, visit another monastery to enjoy blessed wine and Byzantine choral singing. Overnight stay in a hotel.

Cross the border into the Republic of Moldova and head to Soroca, known as the capital of the Sinti & Roma. Visit the castle and enjoy the view over the Dniestr river. Continue to the historical-archaeological complex of Old Orhei, a charming place with a rich history. Overnight stay in a guest house.

Explore Orheiul Vechi, where you'll find traces of a fortress, an Orthodox rock monastery, and the remains of the Tataro-Mongolian city of Shehr-al-Zedid. Enjoy a hike to the monastery, located on a ridge above a picturesque bend in the river. Later, drive to the Moldovan capital, Chisinau. Overnight stay in a hotel.

Explore Chisinau, the least known capital city in Europe, boasting spacious parks and impressive historical buildings. Visit Milestii Mici, the world's largest wine cellar with over 1.5 million bottles of wine stored in 200 km of corridors. Enjoy a special farewell dinner with a tasting of 5 Moldovan wines. Overnight stay in Chisinau.

The tour concludes with a shared transfer to the airport for your individual homeward or onward journey.