A Glimpse of the Northern Romania

Arrival airport transfer to the hotel in Cluj-Napoca. Lunch at the hotel. Afternoon sightseeing tour of Cluj-Napoca including visits to the Orthodox Cathedral and to St. Michael Catholic Church. Welcome dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight in Cluj-Napoca.

Morning departure to Maramures area, land of almost one hundred beautiful wooden churches and extremely artful carved porches, where authentic rural culture and life with important touches preserved from the Dacian ancestors may be experienced. Stop over to visit the churches in Surdesti and Desesti villages, two of the eight Wooden Churches of Maramureş listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage. Lunch en route. Dinner and overnight in Sighetu Marmatiei.

Morning departure to Sapanta village, where the local spirituality, mostly people religious and beliefs are more obvious. Since ancestors considered that death it’s just a new beginning, they had a special way of honoring the deceased in the unique Merry Cemetery. Here, blue wooden crosses feature carved scenes and humorous lyrics that describe the personality, both good and bad sides, of those who passed away. A stop here would not be complete without visiting the Sapanta-Peri Churchthe tallest wooden church in the world, 78 meters high.Head east and after a short ride reach the impressive Barsana Monastery Complex, an important cultural and religious center. Have a traditional lunch with local flavors. Afternoon return to Sighetu Marmatiei for dinner and overnight.

This morning continue your journey through remote villages of the Maramures area with a couple of stops for visiting representative art expressions of the local craftsmen. Early afternoon cross an invisible threshold to Bucovina, land of the outdoor painted monasteries mostly included in the UNESCO World Heritage, a realm where religious beliefs, tradition and old history are mostly expressed. Stop over for lunch in Tihuta pass, the actual area of Bram Stoker’s Borgo pass, the place of Count’s Dracula presumed Castle. Continue on to the heart of Bucovina for dinner and overnigh.

Today, enjoy the gentle hills, the luxurious nature wrapped in a warm light of this blessed territory. Bucovina presents itself like an art album, with time and space dimensions discovered by getting acquainted with the exquisite frescoes painted on the monasteries, with the impressive walls of the citadels, with the vivid colours from the enchanting popular costumes. Monasteries Moldovita which received the Order “Pomme d’Or”, Sucevita, “a Poem in Green and Light”, Voronet, surnamed “the jewel of Bucovina”, Humor, one of the best preserved monuments of its kind, are a must on your visiting list. While touring the monasteries you may want to stop in Marginea village famous for its black pottery, unique in the world, being a ceramic center since the 16th century. The tasty Moldavian cuisine will be experience during your today lunch. Late afternoon return to your yesterday’s accommodation place for dinner and overnight

Morning head south. Stop over for visiting the picturesque Neamt Citadel dating back the 14th century and Agapia Monastery painted by our greatest painter Nicolae Grigorescu. Continue on to Sighisoara, crossing the Eastern Carpathians through the impressive Bicaz Gorges.Short stop in Lacu Rosu (Red Lake) to admire the landscape, listen of the story of the crimson waters and have lunch. Dinner and overnight in Sighisoara, the best preserved still inhabited mediaeval citadel in Europe, included in the UNESCO Heritage site.

This morning enjoy a walking tour of Sighisoara including the very house where Vlad the Impaler was born, turned in a museum-like restaurant. Count Dracula, Bram Stoker’s famous character, was inspired by this harsh Romanian ruler. Wandering through the citadel’s narrow streets, with original architecture, cobbled alleys, steep stairways and secluded squares is like going back in time. About noon will take you to Turda for visiting the amazing and huge salt mine, 209 m underground, situated on the 22nd place of the world’s top spectacular tourist destinations. Now restored as a museum and center for halo therapy, it has a futuristic feeling being more like a “playground’ with bowling, mini golf, table tennis, basketball hoops, boat rowing facilities. Farewell dinner and overnight in Cluj-Napoca

Departure airport transfer for 11:50 AM charter flight. Airport departure transfer.