Touristic Weekends
Tour Option 1: Dracula Tour Curtea de Arges & Geopark Buzau/ Wine region Dealu Mare
Fee: 103 EUR per tour; 195 EUR (package/both tours)
Short description:
Discover the real story of Prince Vlad the Impaler Dracula and the beautiful nature of the Carpathian Mountains. The first day leads us to Curtea de Arges, the former capital of Valahia – a place full of history & legends. The second day, we visit the future UNESCO Geopark Buzau and the Muddy Volcanoes- a unique natural phenomena in Europe.
On the way back to the capital we make a stop-over in Dealu Mare – Romania´s most famous wine region. Dealu Mare is situated on the same latitude as Bordeaux and Tuscany. More than 2.000 years of Romanian wine history and Romania´s most modern winery are waiting to be discovered.
Day 1 (14 September):
• Transfer from Bucharest to Curtea de Arges: The former capital of Valahia welcomes you as a quiet, friendly town full of legends and green streets.
• Visit the Princely Court: the ruins of the former princely residence and the 14th Century church. The frescoes hide a few secrets and some unique features. The church is the burial place of the first princes of Valahia (the voievods).
• Lunch in Curtea de Arges
• Visit the Monastery in Curtea de Arges: Two legends, one considered a founding myth of the Romanian folklore! Share the tragic passion of Mason Manole and his wife Ana. Mind you: the modernkings of Romania liked the place so much, that they have chosen it as their burial place.
• The Ruins of the Fortress Poienari - It is time to climb the 1456 steps to the eagle's nest of a fortress besieged but never conquest.
• Show in the Village of Aref: the villagers of Aref shall welcome you for a Romanian traditional party, with "floricele", "tuica" and a light dinner, storytelling, singing and dancing.
• Transfer back to Bucharest
Day 2 (15 September):
• Transfer to Berca/ Muddy Volcanoes – Guided tour: "The future UNESCO Geopark Buzau and the Muddy Volcanoes"
• Premium buffet with regional produce in a country-inn (old mill)
• Visit to Ratesti monastery – oldest nunnery in Buzau county
• Transfer to the Romania´s most modern winery - Dealu Mare area: winery tour, tour through the vineyards, wine tasting, get-together at the panorama terrace
• Transfer back to Bucharest
Tour Option 2: Geopark Buzau/ Wine region Dealu Mare & Romanian Castles
Fee: 103 EUR per tour; 195 EUR (package/both tours)
Short description:
The first day we visit the future UNESCO Geopark Buzau and the Muddy Volcanoes- a unique natural phenomena in Europe. On the way back to the capital we make a stop-over in Dealu Mare – Romania´s most famous wine region. Dealu Mare is situated on the same latitude as Bordeaux and Tuscany. More than 2.000 years of Romanian wine history and Romania´s most modern winery are waiting to be discovered.
The second day we will pass the Carpathian Mountains and visit Romania´s most famous castles – Peles and Bran.
Day 1 (14 September):
• Transfer to Berca/ Muddy Volcanoes – Guided tour: "The future UNESCO Geopark Buzau and the Muddy Volcanoes"
• Premium buffet with regional produce in a country-inn (old mill)
• Visit to Ratesti monastery – oldest nunnery in Buzau county
• Transfer to the Romania´s most modern winery - Dealu Mare area: winery tour, tour through the vineyards, wine tasting, get-together at the panorama terrace
• Transfer back to Bucharest
Day 2 (15 September):
• Tranfer to Valea Prahovei - Sinaia
• Visit to Peles castle
• Lunch at Sinaia
• Tranfer to Bran castle: Visit to Bran castle
• Transfer back to Bucharest
Tour Option 3: Carpathian Mountains & Medieval Transylvania (2 days/ Accommodation in Brasov)
Fee: 260 EUR
Short description:
Discover the fascinating atmosphere of Transylvania, a land of historical monuments, splendid landscapes, legends and traditions. The tour will begin with a visit to the Muddy Volcanoes, a unique natural fenomena in Europe, where you can enjoy a spectacular view of the small volcano-shaped structures that create a a strange lunar landscape. The next stop is the Saxon Fortified Church at Prejmer, designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. The first day will end with a Medieval knight's dinner that will give a taste of the medieval times. On the second day of the tour, you will discover Brasov and the famous and fascinating "House of Dracula", the Bran Castle.
Day 1 (21 September):
• Transfer to Berca/ Muddy Volcanoes – Guided tour: "The future UNESCO Geopark Buzau and the Muddy Volcanoes"
• Lunch in Buzau county
• Passing the Carpathian mountains via lake Siriu
• Visit the Saxon Fortified Church at Prejmer (UNESCO site)
• Check in a 3 or 4-star hotel/guest-house in Brasov
• Medieval knight´s dinner in a restaurant in Brasov
Day 2 (22 September):
• Breakfast
• Medieval walking tour in Brasov
• Lunch
• Visit to Bran castle
• Transfer back via Prahova valley
• Optional: visit to Peles castle
Tour Option 4: Bucharest Tour - From Communism to Democracy (21 September)
Fee: 59 EUR
This fascinating ½ day bus and walking tour takes you to places that most expats and tourists never see: typical communist-era neighborhoods that really haven’t changed much since communism; as well as the seats of power and the edifices of a collapsed ideology. Gain insight into how modern Romanians live in a city that is a relic and daily reminder of its history.
Our expert guide (a Bucharest native) will take you on a journey to deep within the heart of the city’s cultural and political history: fifty years of communism, twenty years of democracy, and the “Golden Age” of the interwar period have all shaped the city in different and profound ways.
After visiting many engaging sites, neighborhoods and a traditional market, we will have lunch in a typical old-style restaurant where you will have a discussion about modern Romania - moderated by our guide.
Tour Option 5: Grape harvest participation and wine tasting (22 September)
Fee: 92 EUR
Dealu Mare is Romania´s most famous and trendy wine region. The majority of the premium wineries is located here. Wines from this region won several international prizes at the most famous international wine competitions. Dealu Mare is situated on the same latitude as Bordeaux and Tuscany. More than 2.000 years of Romanian wine history and Romania´s most modern winery are waiting to be discovered.
22 September:
• Transfer to the Dealu Mare region
• Introduction into the world of Romanian wine
• Grape harvest participation
• Winery visit
• Premium buffet with local produce
• Optional: "Blind wine tasting" – learn everything about wine and their aroma without seeing what you drink
GENERAL CONDITIONS:
1) Cancellation fee:
25% until August 10, 2013
100% after August 10, 2013
2) The tour can be cancelled if the minimum number of participants has not been reached – already made payments will be reimbursed
3) The tour can be modified if weather or road conditions make it necessary
4) Drinks are not included (wine tasting includes 6 varieties, extra wine upon price list of the winery)