Day 1 | Bucharest

Upon landing late at night, we proceed to our accommodation in Bucharest. We'll explore the city in depth the following day.

Day 2 | Bucharest and the Attractions

After recovering from the flight in the morning, we will wake up in Bucharest and embark on a city tour. Our morning starts with a beautiful panoramic viewpoint overlooking the city from a hill, where we'll see the Suțu Palace and impressive colonial buildings, as well as Soviet-era structures. We then head to the city center, passing through Revolution Square and learning about the Romanian Revolution of 1989 against the regime of Nicolae Ceaușescu. We visit the Triumphal Arch, commemorating Romania's victory in World War I, and take a short walk in the Romanian Union Square Park, the city's largest public park, before visiting the People's Palace, the world's largest parliament building, a lasting symbol of Ceaușescu's rule. After enjoying the sights of Bucharest, we will depart for Curtea de Argeș for our overnight stay.

Day 3 | Bucharest - Curtea de Argeș - Transfăgărășan - Sibiu

In the morning, we explore Curtea de Argeș before heading north. We'll drive through the spectacular Transfăgărășan Highway, crossing the Făgăraș Mountains, the highest peaks in Romania, and passing by Balea Lake and Vidraru Dam. Descending, we reach Vidraru Lake and the towering Surpățeanu Peak before arriving in Sibiu. In Sibiu, we wander through the town's cafes and restaurants, explore the large and small squares, and cross the Bridge of Liars, where according to tradition, all liars fall. We then visit Orthodox and Catholic churches in the city and admire the impressive colonial architecture. Overnight stay and dinner in Sibiu.

Day 4 | Sibiu - Salt Mine - Cluj

This morning, we will leave Sibiu and venture further west into the historical region of Transylvania. Our first stop will be in the beautiful historic town of Alba Iulia, where we'll see the city fortress and the Coronation Cathedral. The fortress is an ancient structure that represents the historical culture of the region, and the Coronation Cathedral is where the kings of Romania were crowned. We won't miss a visit to the small synagogue of the city, which tells the story of the Jewish residents of the area. From here, we continue to one of the most charming and fascinating spots in Romania, the salt mines of Turda Canyon. Here, we'll descend into the salt mines, marvel at the immense salt domes, visit the saltwater pool, sports facilities, and restaurants inside the mine, and explore the rare tourist attraction. From here, we proceed to another city, considered the capital of Transylvania, closer historically to neighboring Hungary, Cluj, where we embark on a tour of the historic city center and enjoy an unforgettable traditional Hungarian dinner. Overnight stay and dinner in Cluj Napoca.

Day 5 | Cluj Napoca - Biertan - Sighișoara - Roșia - Bistrița - Turda

This morning, we will leave Cluj Napoca, located at the foot of the Apuseni Mountains, part of the Romanian Carpathians, and head to the historic town of Biertan, located in the heart of Transylvania. Upon arrival in the city, we will conduct a short tour of the beautiful city and continue to the Crystal Museum, an impressive site displaying a unique and exceptional collection of crystals and gemstones from around the world. After the tour of the museum, we proceed to the small town in the Maramureș region in Transylvania, Săpânța, where, at the edge of the town, is located the "Colorful Cemetery," one of the most unique and different cemeteries in the world: a cemetery that contains special and multicolored paintings about the buried people under the tombstones and their journey to the afterlife. From here, we continue to explore the Maramureș region, through the small and remote villages along the way. We will also pass through small Hungarian villages until we reach the town of Sighet, a border town located near the Ukrainian border, where we will visit the museum established in the house of Elie Wiesel, the Romanian Jewish writer and author associated with the memory of the Holocaust and the pursuit of the Nazi perpetrators after World War II. The museum dedicated to the remarkable Jewish personality will introduce us in-depth to the story of the Holocaust of Romanian Jews and the work of Elie Wiesel, who is known today worldwide. After touring the area, we will stay overnight and have dinner in the region.

Day 6 I Bistritsa - Churches Wood Campulung Moldovenesc - Radauti - Folklore Show Combined with Dinner

A wonderful and special day is ahead of us: this morning we will embark on a hiking trail in the green and cool Carpathian Mountains, and we will climb across the picturesque Bistrița Pass. The pleasant and refreshing hiking route offers a marvelous mountainous landscape. Here, the bus will pick us up, and we will continue our journey to the town of Campulung Moldovenesc, a picturesque town in the Suceava County where we find a fascinating UNESCO preservation site, the unique wooden churches located at the foothills of the Carpathian Mountains, serving as a starting point for hiking trails in the area. After the tour of the wooden churches, we will proceed to the town of Radauti, also located at the foot of the mountains. We will settle in the hotel and then head out for an unforgettable evening dinner combined with a folklore performance integrating songs and dances of the mountain locals.

Day 7 I The Painted Monastery in Voronet - The House of Popa Nechita - Baia Sprie - Campulung Moldovenesc

This morning, we will continue our tour in the marvelous land located at the foothills of the Carpathian Mountains, but today our tour will focus on culture and art: our first stop will be at the Painted Monastery of Voronet or as it's locally known during the times when many Jews lived here, "King Stephen's Chapel," a painted structure from 1547 containing breathtaking and illustrative paintings depicting stories from the Bible and Jewish legends that have circulated here throughout the years. From here, we will proceed to the House of Popa Nechita, located in the village of Vatra Moldovitei, the house of Nechita rich in magnificent masks and sculptures he created over the years, reflecting the culture and folk tradition of Romania. After the tour of the artist's house, we will continue to the fruitful women's monastery, located near the town of Campulung Moldovenesc, a monastery renowned for its workshop where women create beautiful and unique artistic products crafted by hand, including textile works and icons. After touring the town surroundings, we will settle in a hotel and get to know the town where for a certain period Rabbi Israel, known by the good name, lived. Through his life and work, the town still preserves to this day the Hasidic spirit of his era, and during the tour, we will taste Hasidic flavors that will remind some of us of homemade meals.

Day 8 I The Synagogue of the Baal Shem Tov - The Red Lake - Barsana

This morning will begin with a tour of the synagogue of the Baal Shem Tov, a house that until today serves as a pilgrimage site for his students and believers. From here, we will continue and ascend through a magnificent natural canyon at the foothills of the Carpathian Mountains, reaching great heights in a breathtaking journey until we arrive at the area of the Red Lake, a natural lake formed as a result of a strong earthquake that occurred in the region during the 19th century. Following the earthquake, the lake formed, now serving as a natural area for hiking trails, picnics, and water activities. From here, we will proceed to the town of Barsana, famous for its wooden church, one of the most renowned wooden monasteries in all of Romania, hosting the most magnificent paintings in the country. Here, we can witness the local tradition and admire the traditional craftsmanship and wooden products sold nearby the monastery. After the tours in the area, we will stay overnight in Barsana.

Day 9 I Barsana - Sighetu Marmatiei - Poiana Brasov

This morning we will leave Barsana and continue our journey eastward, this time to the city of Vlad Tepes, or as known in British literature Dracula, the city of Sighetu Marmatiei. This city is considered one of the beautiful and fascinating cities in Romania, a popular destination for tourists who return to the medieval days of Europe. In the old town of Sighetu Marmatiei, founded in the 12th century, we can be impressed by the famous clock tower. From the Jewish synagogue, to see and recognize from the outside the house of Vlad Tepes, also known as Dracula, and wander through the city streets, which still resemble the ancient cities of Europe, with various guilds and local guild members. After the tour of the beautiful Sighetu Marmatiei, we will ascend to the ski town of Poiana Brasov located near the Carpathian circus, a special and beautiful mountainous phenomenon. Here, in the heart of the mountains, we will stay overnight and have dinner.

Day 10 I Poiană Brașov - Sinaia - Bucharest

This morning we will have some time to breathe in the clear mountain air before departing on a journey to the city of Poiana Brasov, located at an altitude of 1,200 meters above sea level. Here, we will take a tour to familiarize ourselves with the beautiful city: we will stroll through the main square, be impressed by the impressive Black Church, and enjoy another cup of coffee at one of the city's cafes before continuing our journey south to the city of Sinaia, where the official royal palace, Peles Palace, is located. It's unclear why the royal family chose to locate their palace in this small town, but undoubtedly the spectacular views around Sinaia influenced the choice of this area. We will tour the palace and after the visit, we will head south to Bucharest Airport, where we will stop at a local shopping center before returning home.