Citadels of Transylvania & UNESCO painted monasteries

Arrive in Bucharest, meet up with your guide, and rejuvenate after your flight at the sleek Berthelot hotel, situated right in the center of town. It’s a wonderful starting point for an investigation of the deep history and diverse culture of the city.

Traditionally a center for intellectualism, the arts, and avant-garde thought, Bucharest experienced a significant interruption with the advent of Communism in Romania. The present-day capitol still holds obvious remnants of this epoch in the form of Ceausescu-related monuments constructed on a grand scale. Surviving French-influenced architecture exists side-by-side with cool, modern office buildings to complete Bucharest’s current incarnation.

Follow your guide on an expansive city tour, and glean an exclusive perspective on the daily life of this outstanding city.

*should you travel to Bucharest on a flight that arrives late in the afternoon or evening, the city tour can also be done the next morning

After breakfast, depart directly for Transylvania. Stop off at Peles Castle, the magnificent 19th-century royal palace. The original outfitting of the décor left no stone unturned, and today, it remains exactly as it was: dripping with marble, crystal, and priceless accoutrements carved of exotic wood. Next, take a small side trip to view the Sinaia monastery, the Romanian Orthodox church that inspired the name of this high resort town.

Next, discover the picturesque city center of Brasov on a guided walk through the Old Town. Explore the vast Black Church and the Old Town square, surrounded by beautifully-preserved medieval houses. A visit to the old city walls and fortifications completes your experience; spend the remainder the day and evening at your leisure, perhaps sipping tea in one of the city’s excellent cafés.

This morning, you’ll have the chance to tour one of Romania’s most loved and renowned sites: the breathtaking Bran Castle (widely associated with the fictional Dracula, despite the warm 1920s décor instituted by Queen Marie). After your tour, be sure to check out the wares of the souvenir merchants surrounding the castle and sample some of the culinary specialties of the region: cheeses, pálinka (plum and pear brandy), and meats preserved in the traditional way.

Next, press on to Bucovina by way of the heart-stopping Bicaz Gorges. The view is truly unbelievable, and you may stop along the way to peruse the offerings of the local souvenir shops.

Arrive in Gura Humorului in the late afternoon.

After breakfast, set out to discover Romania’s kaleidoscopic painted monasteries, each celebrated for the use of a certain predominating color. Begin at the monasteries of Humor, celebrated for its vibrant reds; and Voronet, where you’ll learn about Saint Daniil the Hermit.

At midday, you’ll stop at a local museum, established by a world-renowned egg-painting artist. This for of art, exacting and complex, remains one of the most important traditional art forms in Bucovina. You’ll discover how to identify both secular influences and religious symbolism within the intricate designs.

Later in the day, you’ll tour the remaining two monasteries: Moldovita, dominated by the use of yellow, and Sucevita, featuring extensive medieval fortifications.

Return to Gura Humorului in the afternoon.

Before leaving Bucovina, diverge from the beaten path to discover the extraordinary Nicolae Popa Ethnographic Museum, located in the home of the renowned Naïve sculptor. The incredible collections document Romanian peasant tradition, and represent a cultural labor of love carried out by the artist.

Next, you’ll set out in the direction of southern Transylvania. On the way, stop for a fascinating cultural adventure in a Roma (Gypsy) village. Learn more about these enigmatic, sometimes misconstrued nomads as you are welcomed at the home of the Gabor family. It is truly uncommon for Gypsies to open their lives to outsiders, but you will be given the exclusive opportunity to discover the details of their cultural history, day-to-day lives, customs, and traditional costume—which you’ll be invited to try on. As the afternoon progresses, you may find yourself deep in conversation over coffee and cake as you receive explanations to all of your queries about Gypsy life.

Following this rare and wonderful experience, proceed to medieval Sighisoara, where you’ll be taken on an abbreviated orientation walk before dinner.

When you awaken, delight in a guided walk through the center of the UNESCO World Heritage Old Town in Sighisoara. You’ll find yourself in the middle of a perfectly-preserved medieval citadel, surrounded by fortifications and filled with the secrets of the past. Visit the History Museum inside the Clock Tower, and climb the unusual, centuries-old covered staircase to the Church on the Hill, a lovely surviving example of the Gothic architecture of the Middle Ages. Sighisoara is also known as the 1431 birthplace of Vlad the Impaler, merciless warlord and fierce defender of Transylvania against the Ottoman Turks.

Next, take an engrossing tour of the Biertan Church, a significant UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Saxon townspeople did not skip steps when it came to the protection of their villages, and through a complex system of fortifications, thick doors, and multiple locks, they were able to successfully secure both themselves and their valuables. Today, you’ll witness Biertan, a gorgeous example of the “peasant fortified church” and the very last of its kind.

Afterwards, drive on to exquisite Sibiu, arriving in the late afternoon. After you check into your hotel, meet your guide for a relaxed walking tour of the medieval old town, the most heavily fortified of all Saxon cities. As a critical trading post, Sibiu experienced frequent assaults, and the townspeople responded ingeniously.

Today, you’ll strike out for Bucharest – you’ll travel along the breathtaking Transfagarasan road, which crosses the Carpathians at an altitude of over 2000 m (6000 ft) –  making two fascinating stops along the way.

First, climb more than a thousand steps to the ruins of Poenari Castle, the evocative cliff-side home of Vlad the Impaler. The cruel prince of Wallachia chose the location for its inaccessibility, used forced hard labor to fortify it, and ended up with an eagle’s eye view of any oncoming attacker.

Next, take a small expedition to the monastery at Curtea de Arges, a living architectural phenomenon and the dreamlike inspiration for local archetypes, myths, and legends.

Continue to Bucharest, arriving in the afternoon.

*please note that you will travel on the Transfagarasan road between June and September. Outside this period, the road is closed due to snow for the rest of the year, and you will use the road going along the Olt river valley

This will be your last day in Romania. You will say good-bye to the friends you’ve made here and head on to the airport for your flight home.