15 days tour

Private 15-Day Tour Danube Delta, Transylvania, Maramures An

Private 15-Day Tour Danube Delta, Transylvania, Maramures An

This tour includes:

Meals

All breakfasts 8 nights dinner (3 courses, tea and coffee, homemade wine, and traditional plum brandy) - 2 nights dinner Sibiel, 2 nights dinner Apuseni Montains, 2 nights dinner Botiza, 2 nights dinner Gura Humorului,

Transport

Private air-conditioned vehicle or van

Accommodation

14 nights accommodation

Guide

Professional English-speaking guide

Not included:

Others

Admission fees, other meals, The Danube Delta boat trip starts at 20 euros per, your guide will let you know, and you will pay straight to the boatman.

Start planning your experience

Itinerary of your trip Private 15-Day Tour Danube Delta, Transylvania, Maramures An

  • Day 1 Day 1: Bucharest- Constanta - Tulcea- Mahmudia
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 1: Bucharest- Constanta - Tulcea- Mahmudia

      Pick you up at 9 am from your hotel in Bucharest and depart towards the Danube Delta. Visit Constantaโ€™s old town including Ovidiu Square, the Grand Mosque ( Carol I Mosque ), and the Archaeological Museum where you will learn about the region`s rich history going back to the 6th century B.C. From the Old Town, we will walk to the seafront quay dominated by the impressive Constanta Casino, a stunning piece of Art Nouveau architecture inaugurated in 1910 and once a vibrant part of the city. Lunch in Tomis Harbour. 

      Transfer to Mahmudia, an authentic fishermenโ€™s village of the Danube Delta. Enjoy the traditional dinner based on the local fish - the dayโ€™s catch! 

      You will see how locals live in the Delta area and can enjoy regional fish-based specialities that are unique in Romania! Overnight in Tulcea town area.

  • Day 2 Day 2: Mahmudia - Explore The Danube Delta By Boat And Halmyris Ancient Fortress
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 2: Mahmudia - Explore The Danube Delta By Boat And Halmyris Ancient Fortress

      Breakfast. Safari Experience 3 hours of wildlife and bird-watching boat trip in the Danube Delta. You will explore the surrounding lakes and canals, where an abundance of the grebes, cormorants, pelicans, bitterns, egrets, storks, glossy ibises, common spoonbills, American flamingos, swans, wigeons, and pochards will offer you many splendid views.

      Visit Halmyris fortress. The archaeological site, located 2.5 km east of Murighiol, is a strong Roman and Roman-Byzantine fortress, headquarters of military units, and station of the Danubian fleet Classis Flavia Moesica; monuments having a military, civil and religious architecture have been unveiled; among them, the episcopal basilica with the crypt of the first Dobrudja martyrs โ€“ Epictet and Astion. Bronze Age fortified settlement. Greek emporium. Roman military fort and harbor town. Byzantine military and civilian urban centre. More than 1,500 years of history marks Halmyris, where multiple civilizations once ruled the point where the Danube river poured into the Black Sea. Halmyris was one of the most important military, civilian, economic and religious centers in the region throughout antiquity. Today Halmyris sits in the oasis of natural beauty that is the Danube Delta, a site of local tourism, religious pilgrimage, and archaeological exploration. Under excavation since 1981, weโ€™ve barely scratched the surface of whatโ€™s there to be discovered and the site now hosts a field school with students and volunteers from around the world. Overnight in Tulcea town area.

  • Day 3 Day 3: Mahmudia - Brasov
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 3: Mahmudia - Brasov

      Breakfast. Transfer to Brasov town, overnight in Brasov.

  • Day 4 Day 4: Brasov- Bears Sanctuary - Bran Castle- Rasnov Fortress- Brasov
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 4: Brasov- Bears Sanctuary - Bran Castle- Rasnov Fortress- Brasov

      Visit The Bears Sanctuary which is located in the forest, 2 km away from Piatra Craiului National Park. It covers an area of 69 hectares of forest, streams, and ponds where the brown bears live. It is the biggest of this kind in the entire world. Visit the Bears Sanctuary - an amazing place for such beautiful animals! This " 5 stars all-inclusive resort " for bears hosts around 100 rescued bears from captivity. They have a chance for a new and better life now! Taking pictures is allowed. Prepare your cameras! 

      There are many historical tales about Rรขศ™nov Fortress, the citadel built by Teutons in the 13th century to stave off the Tartar invasion. Set on a wooded hill above Rรขศ™nov, the chunky stone fortress is stacked with red-tiled turrets and buildings, making it look like a walled village. After around 30 minutes on the road, head inside Rรขศ™nov (own expense) with your guide. Walk around the courtyards and ramparts, and admire the sweeping views from the walls. See the fortressโ€™ well as your guide explains the legend surrounding it, and hear how medieval villagers would live in the fortress as a refuge in times of war.

      On the approach to Bran village, while the castle appears through the mist like something out of a fairytale, it will quickly become clear as to why this magnificent castle is the most well-known castle in the world! Visit Bran Castle and discover the truth behind the legends! Immerse yourself in the legend of Vlad the Impaler, the inspiration for the fictional Count Dracula! The castle is built on a hilltop with a view on each part of the valley. The castle got its fame from the novel โ€œDraculaโ€, written by Bram Stoker and Dracula movie due later directed by Francis Ford Coppola. The Bran Castle tour will show us the castleโ€™s many well-preserved rooms and chambers. Gothic furnishings and details help set the scene for ghastly legends of all that happened here, including the imprisonment of Vlad the Impaler.

      Return to Brasov town, overnight in Brasov town. 

  • Day 5 Day 5: Brasov - Ohaba Village - Lisa Village - Fagaras Fortress - Sibiel
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 5: Brasov - Ohaba Village - Lisa Village - Fagaras Fortress - Sibiel

      Visit  Ohaba village where you can see an old water mill still used nowadays by the locals and for those who still prefer the old way of grinding wheat. 

      In Lisa village we stop at the Greavu Viorel family household, located in a beautiful mountain area, where we visit a facility that processes this thick wool fabric, using hydraulic power and has is the family business for over 100 years, being transmitted from father to son and reaching its fifth generation. We see how wool fabrics are washed ( valtoreste ), and how it thickens and comb. 

      Fagaras Fortress: Strong and Elegant! This stone citadel was built in 1310 after the Tartars burned down the original wooden structure. During the 15th through 17th centuries, the castle was enlarged and improved, making it one of the strongest fortifications in Transylvania. The deep moat around the fortress could be easily filled with water from a nearby mountain brook. Over the years, the Fortress primarily functioned as a noble residence for the princes and their families. In the 17th century, Prince Gabriel Bethlen brought in Italian architects and glassmakers to add some grace to the pragmatic structure. Shortly after, the fortifications were improved, and the moat was enlarged. Unfortunately, little remains of the castleโ€™s original luxurious decor - it was converted into a military garrison in the 18th century. Today, the beautifully preserved fortress houses the Fagaras County Museum, where visitors can view Roman artifacts, a collection of medieval weapons, and a beautiful collection of painted icons.

      Transfer to Sibiel village, overnight at Ramona guest house, en suite rooms, 3 courses dinner, homemade wine, and traditional plum brandy, breakfast included.

  • Day 6 Day 6: Sibiel - Sibiu - Astra Ethographic Museum - Transfagarasan Road - Sibiel
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 6: Sibiel - Sibiu - Astra Ethographic Museum - Transfagarasan Road - Sibiel

      Visit Sibiu medieval town. The walking tour of Sibiu is dedicated to tourists who want their passage through Sibiu to be a memorable experience. During the guided tour, Iโ€™ll lead your steps through the cobbled streets, from the imposing medieval walls to the romantic squares surrounded by historical buildings; from the colorful Orthodox Cathedral to the majestic Lutheran Church, from the legends of the Bridge of Lies to the amazing stories of the medieval guilds. Sibiu is awash in aristocratic elegance. Noble Saxonโ€™s history emanates from every art-nouveau facade and gold-embossed church. Renowned composers Strauss, Brahms, and Liszt all played here during the 19th century, and Sibiu has stayed at the forefront of Romaniaโ€™s cultural scene through its festivals of opera, theatre, and film, as well as rock, jazz, and more. Beyond its grand architecture, Sibiu has a good dose of bohemian flair.

      Visit Astra Ethnographic Museum. Five kilometers from central Sibiu, this is Europeโ€™s largest open-air ethnographic museum, where churches, mills, and traditional homes number among 400 folk-architecture monuments on-site.

      Take a ride on Transfagarasan Road, one of Romaniaโ€™s most famous attractions thanks to Top Gearโ€™s Jeremy Clarkson who named it โ€™the best driving road in the worldโ€™ - after having filmed an episode here!

      Return to Sibiel village, overnight in Sibiel village at Ramona guest house, en suite single room, 3 courses dinner, wine, and Romanian plums brandy, breakfast included. 

  • Day 7 Day 7: Sibiel - Hunyads Castle - Alba Iulia Citadel- Campeni- Garda De Sus
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 7: Sibiel - Hunyads Castle - Alba Iulia Citadel- Campeni- Garda De Sus

      Nice day, today! After breakfast, itโ€™s time to discover the landscapes and more of Romania further. Visit Hunyadi Caroom, 3 courses dinner, and bristle in Hunedoara, one of the seven wonders of Romania and Transylvaniaโ€™s most spellbinding fortress. The castle is thought to have been cursed and many believe it is the most haunted castle in Europe! Letโ€™s go there and find out! Equally chilling is the Bear Pit, where prisoners were thrown to animals after their usefulness expired.

      Alba Iuliaโ€™s star-shaped citadel is one of Transylvaniaโ€™s most overlooked sights. The walls of this magnificently preserved citadel โ€“ the largest in Romania โ€“ enclose grand monuments and museums, glittering churches, and archaeological treasure.

      Transfer to Garda de Sus, overnight in a 3-star guest house, en suite breakfast included.

  • Day 8 Day 8: Garda De Sus- Exploring The Area. Breakfast. Exploring The Area Including Scarisoara Ice Cave And Poarta Lui Ionel Cave
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 8: Garda De Sus- Exploring The Area. Breakfast. Exploring The Area Including Scarisoara Ice Cave And Poarta Lui Ionel Cave

      Explore Scarisoara Ice cave, or the Scarisoara Glacier - the largest ice cave in Romania, boasting over 3,000-year-old ice, it is located in the Apuseni Mountains in Alba County, 16 km from the Scarisoara commune that also lent its name to this geological marvel. It currently pertains to the Garda de Sus village.

      Declared a natural monument and a speleological reserve, the cave holds the worldโ€™s second-largest underground glacier after the Dobsinska cave in Slovakia. Situated at an altitude of 1,150 meters, it is famous for housing inside a glacier with an area of over 5,000 sq. m. and an ice layer between 26 and 37 meters thick. Take pictures of the entrance, an impressive sinkhole with a 60 m diameter and descent of 48 m, leading you to the body of the cave where you will walk on 70000 cubic meters of ice (30 m thick). Be prepared to enter the underworld to admire the magnificent landscape, 

      Visit also the village "Casa de Piatra", Tauz Spring, Coiba mare and Coiba Mica caves, Poarta lui Ionele Cave and admire the marvellous landscape.

      Return to Garda de Sus, overnight in 3-star guest house, en suite room, 3 courses dinner, breakfast included.

  • Day 9 Day 9: Garda De Sus - Turda Salt Mine - Bogdan Voda - Ieud- Botiza
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 9: Garda De Sus - Turda Salt Mine - Bogdan Voda - Ieud- Botiza

      Breakfast. Visit Turda Salt Mine. Step inside UFO-shaped theme park! Visit Turda salt mine, one of the largest in Europe and one of the top 10 underground wonders in the world!

      Welcome to Maramures! Widely regarded as Romaniaโ€™s most traditional region, dotted with steepled wooden churches and farmhouses fronted by ornately carved gates, MaramureลŸ feels as if you are climbing into a horse-drawn time machine and heading back a couple of centuries. Indeed, MaramureลŸโ€™ tapestry of pastureland, peopled by colorfully garbed peasants, jumps straight out of a Brothers Grimm fairy tale. Welcome to the heart of folkloric, medieval Romania, where the last peasant culture in Europe continues to thrive. 

      Medieval MaramureลŸ exists in the Mara and Iza Valleys and eight of their churches are on Unescoโ€™s list of World Heritage sites. Among the best are DeseลŸti in the former and Poienile Izei in the latter, not just for their architecture but for their well-preserved interior wall paintings.

      Overnight in Botiza village at Cretuca Pension, en suite rooms, 3 courses dinner, traditional plum brandy, breakfast included.

  • Day 10 Day 10: Botiza - Sapanta - Desesti - Breb - Sarbi - Ieud - Botiza
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 10: Botiza - Sapanta - Desesti - Breb - Sarbi - Ieud - Botiza

      The Merry Cemetery, UNESCO world heritage, consists of colorful painted wooden crosses that adorn the tombstones and naive paintings which represent scenes from the life of the departed while also telling joyful stories with a touch of irony. It is the most famous touristic attraction located in Northern Romania and was ranked at the top of European cemeteries and the second in the world after "The Valley of The Kings".

      Its uniqueness comes from the different approach it takes - whereas the popular belief is that death is a sad event, the cemetery tries to make death a natural part of life - a belief which comes mainly from the Dacians, who believed in eternal life and for which death was merely a passage to another world. Shown in art exhibitions across Europe, the crosses attract coachloads of visitors who marvel at the gentle humour of the epitaphs and the human warmth that created them.

      Explore Maramures including Breb village, stop in Sarbi village Sรขrbi Village, an idyllic Maramures village, famous for its wooden gates and for the 100 years old mill which is perfectly functioning today, with water. Here, a man together with his wife, grinds the corn using rocks, washes the clothes and the old carpets, cuts wood, but also prepares HORINCA - the plum brandy, a traditional alcoholic drink which is stronger and tastier than any whiskey, as the locals say. Gheorghe Opris, a colorful character who has transformed his property into an open-air museum. He is also famous here for his โ€œmagicalโ€ gate: all carved wood from which alcohol flows freely. More precisely, this is horinca, which flows through a small tap judiciously concealed inside the wood and connected to the sacred tank. As you will discover, the inhabitants of Maramures are hospitable!

      Overnight in Botiza village at Cretuca Pension, en suite rooms, 3 courses dinner, traditional plum brandy, breakfast included.

  • Day 11 Day 11: Botiza - Barsana - Borgo Pass - Vatra Dornei- Gura Humorului
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 11: Botiza - Barsana - Borgo Pass - Vatra Dornei- Gura Humorului

      Breakfast. Visit Barsana Monastery. Drive through Borgo Pass. Welcome to Bucovina! Bucolic Bucovina is dotted with slant-roofed village houses and lovely groves of beech trees (indeed, the name โ€™Bucovinaโ€™ derives from the ancient German and Slavic roots for beech). As in neighbouring Maramureศ™, across the mountains, youโ€™ll encounter old women in colourful traditional dress, fearless children riding bareback on horses, and enterprising locals scouring the forest for some truly massive mushrooms. Itโ€™s an ornery place, and both public transport and foreign languages can be lacking, but Bucovina is nevertheless highly worthwhile for hill walks, cycling, rural idylls and, of course, taking in those unforgettably colourful monasteries.

      Transfer to Gura Humorului village. Visit Humorului Monastery. Overnight in Gura Humorului village at Florence de Munte Pension, en suite single room, 3 dinner courses, wine and Romanian plums brandy, breakfast included.

  • Day 12 Day 12: Gura Humorului - Voronet - Painted Egg Museum - Moldovita - Sucevita - Marginea - Gura Humorului
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 12: Gura Humorului - Voronet - Painted Egg Museum - Moldovita - Sucevita - Marginea - Gura Humorului

      Hello Bucovina! After breakfast, you have the opportunity to admire some of the uniquely painted monasteries of Bucovina: "The big four" - the monastery of Voronet, the monastery of Humor, the monastery of Moldovita, and the monastery of Sucevita; all of them listed as UNESCO world heritage. 

      Visit The Painted Egg Museum in Vama village. Deep in the heart of Bukovina, in Vama, you will see the most varied and numerous collection of dyed and decorated eggs in Romania and one of the most important ones in Europe at once.

      The museum is also helpful to discover the traditions of the area and the art of decorating Easter eggs.

      Visit Marginea black pottery center. The Black Ceramics of Marginea โ€“ Marginea Ceramics is already a well-known brand. Historians date the beginning of pottery at Marginea to 1500. Pottery appeared due to the necessity of storing food. Pottery had its role in primitive society development because it made possible the storage of food. Imagine your kitchen without these ordinary objects. Due to its geographical position, Marginea commune is surrounded by forests, its soil is argillaceous and it is crossed by the Sucevita river. All these features are fundamental for the craft born from the magical triangle of clay, water, and fire

      Return to Gura Humorului. 

      Overnight in Gura Humorului village at Floare de Munte Pension, en suite single room, 3 dinner courses, wine, and Romanian plums brandy, breakfast included.

  • Day 13 Gura Humorului - Nicolae Popm- Bicaz Gorge- Red Lake- Gheorgheni- Borzont- Sighisoara
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Gura Humorului - Nicolae Popm- Bicaz Gorge- Red Lake- Gheorgheni- Borzont- Sighisoara

      Breakfast. Visit Nicolae Popa Ethnographic Museum.

      Welcome to Bicaz Gorges & Lacu RoลŸu! National Highway 12C winds its way through the Bicaz Gorges (Cheile Bicazului), 20km west of Bicaz. Itโ€™s a spectacular ride as the road cuts through sheer 300m-high limestone cliffs along which pine trees improbably cling. The road runs directly beneath overhanging rocks in the โ€˜neck of hellโ€™ (Gรขtul Iadului) section. A few kilometers west begins Transylvaniaโ€™s Harghita County and Lacu RoลŸu (Red Lake), a pretty lake where you can get a bite and a boat, or hike around. 

      Hungarian traditional lunch. Transfer to Sighisoara, overnight in Sighisoara medieval town at Casa Wagner Hotel, en suite room, breakfast included.

  • Day 14 Day 14: Sighisoara - Viscri - Brasov
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 14: Sighisoara - Viscri - Brasov

      Breakfast. Visit Sighisoara medieval town - UNESCO world heritage and Vlad the Impalerโ€™s birthplace. So resplendent are SighiลŸoaraโ€™s pastel-colored buildings, stony lanes, and medieval towers, youโ€™ll rub your eyes in disbelief. Fortified walls encircle SighiลŸoaraโ€™s lustrous merchant houses, now harboring cafes, hotels, and craft shops. Visit Sighisoaraโ€™s medieval town including The Clock Tower, The Church on the Hill, and the house where Vlad the Impaler was born. 

      Walking along the wall that surrounds Sighisoara citadel we admire the five centuries-old houses along with the towers erected by various guilds of the citadel, from which the Shoemakers, Tailors, and Tin Makers Guilds towers are the most impressive. We visit the Church on the Hill but not before climbing the 175 covered steps which were built in 1642 to make easier access for schoolchildren.

      Visit Viscri, an authentic Transylvanian village and the oldest fortified church in Transylvania and UNESCO world heritage site. Walking through this enchanting village is like going back in time! Even Prince Charles of Wales, attracted by the beauty of this area, bought a house here a few years ago. 

      With a medieval fortification at its heart and bucolic meadows in its surrounds, Viscri epitomizes the romance of rural Transylvania. Flowing from Viscriโ€™s medieval fortified church are cobbled lanes flanked by rows of cornflower-blue houses. The only sounds are the rattle of horse-drawn carts and the clank of a blacksmithโ€™s workshop. Viscri village remains one of the best-preserved Saxon villages in Romania. Have a walk through the village and discover a cultural and natural landscape which disappeared in most parts of Europe. 

      Time allocated for taking pictures and walking through the village. Your guide will lead you to the best spots!

      Transfer to Brasov town, overnight in Brasov town. 

  • Day 15 Day 15: Brasov - Peles Castle - Snagov Monastery - Bucharest
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 15: Brasov - Peles Castle - Snagov Monastery - Bucharest

      The next destination is the tourist town of Sinaia, where Peles Castle is located. Arrive in Sinaia, once an exclusive aristocratic resort, where we visit Peles Castle, the summer residence of the former Romanian royal family. Peles Castle is one of the most beautiful museums in Romania and was built almost 40 years by King Charles 1.

      About 45 kilometers north of Bucharest, on an island in the middle of Snagov Lake, lays the monastery with the same name. Built around the time of Vlad the Impalerโ€™s grandfather, Mircea the Old, the monastery has become famous as the burial place of the king of Walachia who would become the inspiration for Bram Stokerโ€™s Dracula.

      There are many gaps to fill when it comes to the life of Vlad the Impaler. While his life has been exploited and his heroic battles against the Turks highly praised, little is known about the last hours of his legendary life. It is believed that Vladโ€™s decapitated body was found in the woods around Bucharest by the monks of the Snagov monastery and brought here to be buried since both Vlad and his father had donated money to the church. But Snagov was also a place of punishment. In a small cell, Vlad the Impaler invited his victims to kneel in front of an icon of the Virgin Mary. Suddenly a trap door would open and his guest would be sent to a ditch below where stakes stood erect ready to pierce his body. Decapitated skeletons found here stand as proof of these horrific crimes.

      Another legend says that after the battle with the Turks in 1476, after which he died, the body of Vlad the Impaler was secretly buried in a Christian manner inside either of the churches. In one version of the story, Vlad was murdered in a nearby forest, and the monks of the monastery found the body. Perhaps the monks felt indebted to Vlad for the additions he insisted be added to their abode, most bizarrely, the prison and the torture chamber. Whatever the reasons, the monks dressed the body richly and put it to rest in front of the church altar.

      The Legends of Snagov Monastery

      Peasants talk about the โ€œhidden treasuresโ€ of the Impaler. Sensing death, Vlad had them make cast-iron barrels in which he placed silver, gold, and precious jewels; he then ordered the course of a river to be diverted by a dam (perhaps the Dambovita river) after getting rid of the riches, he gave free flow to the river and all the peasants involved were IMPALED!

      Visitors who cross the lake by boat or over the bridge, reach the quiet, remote monastery that brings the legend alive! One can pay his respects at Draculaโ€™s tomb, located at the altar footsteps, and admire the beautiful frescoes, some of which go as far back as the 15th century. Locals tell stories about a different church that existed here, which fell into the lake together with its steeple, during a storm. When the wind blows they say you can hear a chime rising from the bottom of the lake.

      Nevertheless, people are superstitious and the monastery has had its fair share of bad luck: floods, earthquakes, the burning of the bridge connecting it to the mainland during the 1821 revolution as well as being transformed into a prison in the 19th century. Although there has been a lot of debate around the real tomb of Vlad the Impaler and whether you are a Dracula fan or not, the monastery of Snagov is worth a peek! It was once an important hub of the cultural and monastic life: it hosted a printing shop as well as a mintโ€ฆWhen coming here travelers understand why it was used as a refuge as well as a prisonโ€ฆ As for the vampire huntersโ€ฆwhat better place to end a trip to Romania than the legendary burial place of the count of all counts: Count Dracula?!

      Transfer to your Bucharest hotel or OTP International Airport.

+12
Experience Style

Experience Style

Mixed

There will be challenging activities such as hiking, biking, canyoning and trekking, but youโ€™re also going to have other means of transportation and relaxed moments to just chill.

Accomodation level

Accomodation level

Medium

This accommodation includes essential services like a hot shower, electricity, and a nice and comfy bed.

Experience Type

Experience Type

Personal

Youโ€™ll be just with your guide or pilot. Examples of these activities are paragliding, sky diving, personal mountain climbing, etc.

Physical Rating

Physical Rating

Average

There are several physical activities that last from 2 to 6 hours in easy terrains, low altitude flats, or water experiences. Please ask if youโ€™re not sure this applies to you.

Age range

Age range

Min: 6 / Max: 99

Age range allowed for this experience.

Select a country to define if the visa is required