Journey across Romania / 16 days (exploring cultural and ethnic diversity without crossing borders)

DAY 1
Bucharest - Sinaia
-Arrival at Bucharest OTP Airport.
-Transfer to Sinaia (ca. 2 hours).
-Accommodation in Sinaia, 3* hotel in the resort centre or historic lodge close to Peleș Castle.

DAY 2
-Breakfast.
-Visit to Peleș Castle in Sinaia.
-Optional (time allowing): visit to the smaller, entirely different decoration Pelișor Castle.
-Visit to the Cantacuzino Castle in Bușteni (interior and gardens).
-Walk in the old town in Brașov including exterior views of the Black Church.
-Accommodation in a 3* guesthouse set in a heritage property in the old town in Brașov or in a farmhouse in Valea Zălanului or Cobor.

DAY 3
Valea Zălanului / Cobor / Brașov - Sibiu
-Breakfast.
-Activity according to the overnight place: a nature walk to King’s Meadow in Valea Zălanului, a visit to the local farm in Cobor or a detour to the Lisa ‘vâltori’ in the case of the Brașov accommodation.
-Walk across the old town in Sibiu, including the three main squares there, as well as exterior views of the Council Tower, of the City Hall, Brukenthal Palace and the Evangelical Church.
-Accommodation in Sibiu, 3* guesthouse in or just off the old town.

DAY 4
Sibiu - Valea Viilor - Alma Vii - Biertan - Sighișoara
-Breakfast.
-Short walks through the villages in Valea Viilor, Alma Vii and Biertan.
-Visit to Biertan Fortified Church.
-Optional (time allowing and provided they are open): visit to the Alma Vii and Valea Viilor fortified churches.
-Walk across the fortress town in Sighișoara.
-Accommodation, 3* guesthouse or hotel set in a heritage house inside the fortified town.

DAY 5
Sighișoara - Corund - the Red Lake - Bicaz Gorges - Piatra Neamț - Iași
-Breakfast.
-Early start recommended.
-Visit to a potter’s workshop in Corund and presentation of the craft.
-Break by the Red Lake.
-Drive along the Bicaz Gorges.
-Optional (time allowing) break in Piatra Neamț and walk around Stephen the Great’s 1499 Tower, the Princely Church and with exterior views of the Baal Shem Tov Synagogue.
-Accommodation in Iași, period 4* hotel in or close to the city centre.

DAY 6
Iași - Târpești - Târgu Neamț - Dolheștii Mici - Poieni Solca / Frasin / Gura Humorului
-Breakfast.
-Tour of Iași with exterior views of the Palace of Culture, National Palace, Trei Ierarhi Church.
-Optional (time allowing) visit to the Ethnographic Collection inside the Palace of Culture in Iași.
-Visit to Neculai Popa’s collection of ritual and artistic masks in Târpești.
-View of and visit of Târgu Neamț Fortress.
-Traditional craft presentation in Dolheștii Mici: blacksmith and fur coat maker.
-Traditional meal and live local music in Dolheștii Mici.
-Accommodation in Poieni Solca / Frasin or another village in the region, traditional guesthouse.

DAY 7
Poieni Solca / Frasin / Gura Humorului - Marginea - Sucevița - Moldovița - Voroneț - Poieni Solca / Frasin / Gura Humorului
-Breakfast.
-Visit to the black pottery workshop in Marginea.
-Visit to Sucevița, Moldovița and Voroneț monasteries.
-With an earlier start or rescheduling one or two sights for the following morning, we may also visit today Râșca Monastery, of the same period as the others, but with the particularity that its frescoes are in Byzantine style, a unique feature for the Bukovina monasteries of the time.
-Visit to an egg painting workshop and explanations (either in Moldvița or Brodina).
-Accommodation in Poieni Solca / Frasin or another village in the region, traditional guesthouse.

DAY 8
Poieni Solca / Frasin / Gura Humorului - Ciocănești - Ieud - Poienile Izei - Bârsana - Sighetu Marmației
-Breakfast.
-Walk in the village of Ciocănești so as to see the exterior of local houses.
-Visit to the Hill Church in Ieud and to Poienile Izei Church.
-Visit to Bârsana Monastery.
-Accommodation in a traditional guesthouse în or just off Sighetu Marmației.

DAY 9
Sighetu Marmației - Săpânța - Huta Certeze - Satu Mare - Oradea
-Breakfast.
-Visit to the Merry Cemetery in Săpânța.
-Optional break in Huta-Certeze.
-Break in Liberty Square in Satu Mare and introduction to the Secession architecture.
-Walking tour in Oradea taking in the Vulturul Negru Passage, Republicii Street and the Moon Church.
-Accommodation in Oradea, 3* hotel set in a historical property.

DAY 10
Oradea - Cluj - Rimetea
-Breakfast.
-Walk across the pedestrian area in Cluj, around St. Michael’s and along Eroilor Avenue.
-Optional (not included, only possible based on a shortened tour of Cluj): visit to Turda Salt Mine.
-Walk in Rimetea to take in the traditional houses, with the option to taste the Torockoi dairy products (if arriving too late, it can also be done the following morning).
-Optional (time allowing): walk towards the foot of the Székely Kő or hike to its top.
-Accommodation in a traditional guesthouse or a mansion-like bed and breakfast adorned with traditional furniture and rugs in Rimetea or Colțești nearby.

DAY 11
Rimetea - Transapuseana Road - Timișoara
-Breakfast.
-Drive along the Transapuseana Road.
-Walk in Timișoara taking in the Orthodox Cathedral, the Opera House Square, Liberty Square, Union Square and its adjacent streets, the Bastion and the Iron Tree.
-Accommodation in Timișoara, 3* or 4* guesthouse or heritage property hotel.

DAY 12
Timișoara - Rudăria - Danube Gorges - Dubova
-Breakfast.
-Walk to see the watermills down Rudăria Valley.
-Drive along the Danube Gorges from Moldova Veche to Dubova.
-Accommodation in Dubova or around, 3* guesthouse.

DAY 13
Dubova - Hobița - Târgu Jiu - Horezu / Măldărești
-Breakfast.
-Visit to Constantin Brâncuși’s birth home in Hobița, a fine sample of vernacular architecture in the region.
-Walk in Târgu Jiu to see Constantin Brâncuși’s three works: the Gate of the Kiss, the Table of Silence and the Column of Infinity.
-Visit to Hurezi Monastery.
-Presentation of the Horezu pottery.
-Accommodation near Horezu, 4* hotel set in traditional style or 4* mansion.

DAY 14
Horezu / Măldărești - Craiova
-Breakfast.
-Visit to the two culas in Măldărești.
-Visit to the church of the Coșuna Monastery.
-Walk across the old town in Craiova including a visit to the Ethnographic Museum hosted in Bans’ House and a visit to the Art Museum hosted in Dini Mihail’s Palace.
-Accommodation in Craiova, elegant 3* guesthouse hosted in a period house.

DAY 15
Craiova - Potlogi - Bucharest
-Breakfast.
-Visit to Potlogi Palace.
-Drive down Calea Victoriei and / or other historical central avenues (note: especially during the week-end in summer, the Calea Victoriei might be closed to traffic and pedestrianized); break and presentation in Revoluției Square, with views of the Royal Palace, the Central University Library and the Athenaeum.
-Walk across the old town with its merchant and craftsmen streets, with views of the old churches (Stavropoleos, the Old Court) and inns (Hanul lui Manuc, Hanul Gabroveni, Hanul cu Tei) there.
-Optional (not included): an outstanding, domed auditorium complete with its grand foyer and spiral stairways, the 1888 Athenaeum hosts classical music concerts which are highly recommended; furthermore, the 72 m. long fresco decorating the main hall depicts scenes from the history of Romanians; if of interest, tickets need be purchased well in advance.
-Accommodation in a 4* hotel hosted by a characterful, elegant period property in the city centre or on the verge of the former Jewish Quarter or in a 5* historic hotel down the Calea Victoriei.

DAY 16
Bucharest
-Breakfast.
-Optional: in case of an afternoon or evening flight out (or more days to spend in Bucharest for that matter), we recommend further exploration of the city including, for instance:
>A walk across the interwar districts of Cotroceni and Dorobanți, with their villas built in an appealing diversity of styles from the Neoclassical, Italianate, neo-Brâncoveanu or Neogothic to the Modernist.
>A visit to the open air Village Museum founded in 1936 by Sociologist Dimitrie Gusti and consisting of genuine, traditional houses from different parts of Romania brought to Bucharest and set village-like in the city’s largest park, the Herăstrău.
>A walk or drive and walk across the former Jewish District in a city that hosted a 95,000 strong Jewish community back in 1940. The streets of Romulus, Remus and the Calea Dudești, as well as the still functional Yeshua Tova Synagogue, Choral Temple and Jewish Theatre, or the museum - hosting Great Synagogue and Holy Union Synagogue are all evocative for the great role the Jewish community played in the history of the city and country.
>A visit to the Romanian art wing at the National Art Museum hosted in the Royal Palace; the exhibition follows a chronological approach, hence emphasizing the style evolution and influence shift, and it includes some great local painters such as, among others, impressionists Nicolae Grigorescu and Ștefan Luchian, surrealist Victor Brauner and cubist Maxy, as well as fine sculptors among which Dimitrie Paciurea and Constantin Brâncuși.
>A walk across the old residential districts of Sfântul Ștefan or Icoanei with their leafy gardens and airy houses which makes them atypical for a large city, the former not far from the Mântuleasa where religion historian and writer Mircea Eliade spent his childhood and found inspiration for his short stories.
>A leisure walk across the Văcărești Delta, a vast area on the bottom of an abandoned reservoir that was taken over by nature, nowadays hosting a rich deltaic fauna and flora, all that within the city..
-Transfer to Bucharest OTP Airport for the outbound flight (please allow 1 hour - 1 hour 30 minutes for the drive, according to the time of the day).
-End of services.

Full tour details at https://orbis-unum.com/our-destination/journey-across-romania-16-days/