AMAZING ROMANIA
Optional extension to Chisinau (Moldova)
A cultural tour of Romania

The land of Romania is famous for many reasons – it’s vampires including the world renowned Dracula, to it’s Communist dictatorial days under Ceausescu – not to mention Turkish Ottoman rule of the principalities of Wallachia and Moldovia. Today it is a blend of the medieval Europe striving towards modernity as one of the newest member of the European Community. This is a land to be seen as it is today. Romania offers a lot in architecture, culture, people and scenic grandeur.

Day 01 Sunday: Arrival Bucharest
Upon arrival at the majestic and historical capital city of Bucharest, we are met and transferred to our hotel. Balance of the day is free at leisure.
Overnight: Hilton Bucharest (1 night)

Day 02 Monday: Bucharest – Sinaia (130 kms)
Our Amazing Romania Journey starts with a scenic drive to Sinaia, one of the best mountain resorts in the region. It is nicknamed as the “Pearl of the Carpathians”. This is a leisurely day and we have the afternoon free to enjoy Sinaja on our own.
Overnight: Palace, Sinaia (2 nights) (B)

Day 03 Tuesday: Sinaia / Brasov / Bran / Sinaia (130 kms)
Morning we visit the famous Sinaia Monastery followed by the Peles Castle, a marvelous piece of architecture, which has served as the summer residence for King Carl I - the first king of Romania. We then continue our journey to Brasov where we will take a short walking tour of this fairy-tale town founded in the 12th century by the Saxon settlers. Visit the Black Church – largest gothic style church in South-Eastern Europe and the St. Nicholas Church, then the museum of the First Romanian School in Transylvania. On our way back to Sinaia we visit the incredible Bran Castle built in the 14th century by the merchants from Brasov mainly to protect the old border between Valahia and Transylvania. Bran Castle is also known as Dracula’s Castle. (B)

Day 04 Wednesday: Sinaia / Sighisoara / Sibiu (270 kms)
After breakfast, we head for Sighisoara – the birthplace of Vlad the Impaler. The town, a Saxon medieval fortress, is part of the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage being the best preserved and continuously inhabited early medieval citadel in Eastern Europe. We then take Lunch a walking tour of the town visiting the famous Clock Tower Museum with its Torture and Weapons Room and stop in the house in which Dracula (Vlad Impaler) was born in 1432. Late afternoon we depart for Sibiu.
Overnight: Ramada, Sibiu (2 nights) (B)

Day 05 Thursday: Sibiu / Sibiel – Sibiu (70 kms)
Siebel was the European Capital of Culture in 2007. We take a comprehensive walking tour of the city viewing the arcaded medieval shops and houses, the Small Square, the Liar’s Bridge, Huet Square and the Cathedral, where the son of Vlad Impaler (another of Dracula’s monikers) was assassinated. At Sibiel Village we will have the opportunity to view the Glass Icon Museum and enjoy a hearty Romanian lunch at a local farmhouse. (B, L)

Day 06 Friday: Sibiu / Piatra Neamt (300 kms)
After breakfast we drive towards Bucovina through the Bicaz Gorges, one of the most spectacular limestone formations in Romania. Reach Lacu Rosu (Red Lake) where we stop to admire the beauty of the mountains and the surrounding woods. Our arrival at Piatrab Neamt will be at a convenient afternoon time.
Overnight: Central, Piatra Neamt (2 nights) (B)

Day 07 Saturday: Piatra Neamt / Bucovina area / Piatra Neamt (350 kms)
A full-day tour of the famous painted monasteries of Bucovina to include the Moldovita Monastery and admire the black pottery in Marginea Village. We also visit Sucevita Monastery – the best preserved of all with imposing walls and defensive towers culminating the tour with a visit of the Voronet Monastery – the “Sistine Chapel” of Eastern Europe. It is famous for the blue color used by the artist as background for its frescoes. (B)

Day 08 Sunday: Piatra Neamt / Bucharest (370 kms)
We head for Bucharest and upon arrival midday we take a panoramic tour of the capital city once called “Little Paris”. The tour includes the open air Village Museum, the Revolution Square, the Patriarchal Church, the Military Academy, the Arch of Triumph. The tour culminates with a farewell dinner with a folklore show of Romanian cultural dances and songs.
Overnight: Hilton, Bucharest (1 night) (B, D)

Day 09 Monday: Departure from Bucharest
After getting a picture of what is Amazing Romania, we bid farewell and are transferred to the airport/railways station for our flight back home. Ideal opportunity to do an optional tour of Chisinau (Moldova) or join one of the Bestway Tours European journeys. (B)

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Departure Dates
2010 English Speaking Departures May 30, Jun 06, 13, 20 & 27, Jul 04, 11, 18 & 25, Aug 01, 08, 15, 22 & 29, Sep 05, 12, 19 & 26
Inclusions
Tour Price Includes Tour Price Does Not Include Accommodation as mentioned or similar, including hotel taxes Meals as mentioned (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner) All sightseeing and transfers by AC vehicles Entrance fees to all Sites and Museums Services of an English-speaking guide International flight tickets Insurance / visa fee if applicable Tips / gratuities
Tour Price
We accept payment in US $ (US Dollars), CA $ (Canadian Dollars) or equivalent EURO (for clients outside North America). Bestway Tours & Safaris offers conversion rate protection. Once full payment has been received, and no modification has been made to the tour itinerary, we will honour that rate. For complete payment procedures, please download Bestway_Payment_Info.pdf Note: to read this file you must have Adobe Acrobat.
Departure Double Occupancy Single Room Supplement 2010 US $ 2350 US $ 199 * 10% reduction when booked as party of 4 persons
Estimated International Airfare - International airfare is NOT included in this tour
Canada - West Coast N/A USA - West Coast US $ 1400 Canada - East Coast N/A USA - East Coast US $ 1000
Participants
This tour operates on a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 20 participants
Notes
Customised Itinerary If you would like to have a tour on dates other than the above ones or with a customised itinerary, please contact us and we will be happy to work out an exclusive program for you. Foreign Language Departures Please contact us for information on French, German, Italian and Spanish speaking departures. You may e-mail us at bestway@bestway.com or call us at 604.264.7378. Residents of U.S.A./Canada may call us toll free at 1.800.663.0844.