Walking Tour In Romania

Arrive Bucharest and meet the group. Known for its wide, tree-lined boulevards, glorious Belle Époque buildings and a reputation for the high life (which in the 1900s earned its nickname of "Little Paris"), Bucharest, Romania's largest city and capital, is today a bustling metropolis. Romanian legend has it that the city of Bucharest was founded on the banks of the Dambovita River by a shepherd named Bucur, whose name literarily means "joy." His flute playing reportedly dazzled the people and his hearty wine from nearby vineyards endeared him to the local traders, who gave his name to the place.

Overnight Standard Hotel

This morning we make a tour of Romania’s capital, a remarkable blend of turn of the century elegance and communist excess. Situated on the Danube plain and set amid a series of lakes and spacious gardens, remnants of more gracious days still exist to charm the visitor. We visit many of the older parts of the city to see some of the buildings that have earned it the reputation as the ‘Paris of Eastern Europe’. We also make a visit to the fascinating Village Museum, which has assembled wooden churches, windmills and peasant dwellings from different regions of the country. After the city tour we drive to Moeciu. Time allowing, we will visit Pelisor Palace (optional), a fine exhibition of an Art Deco and Art Nouveau interior and  After the visit we continue to nearby Moeciu village where time permitting we can do a short walk in the Bucegi mountains whose forests are now protected as a nature reserve.

Overnight Standard Guest House Included meals: Breakfast

Today we start our day with a short drive to the castle at Bran. The truth behind ‘Dracula’s Castle’ is even more fascinating than its myths! Earlier this century it was the home of the remarkable British born Queen Marie of Romania, grand daughter of Queen Victoria. Vlad the Impaler, the heroic 15th century ruler of Wallachia never lived here and there is no connection with the excellent novel by Bram Stoker – who never came near Transylvania. Perched on a crag in a valley between two high mountain ranges, it controlled an international trade route, but is now a rural back-water. We continue to the medieval city of Brasov. The old town still has its medieval walls, town hall and several churches dating from the 14th- 18th centuries. There are also the ruins of an old citadel. Brasov is one of the most historic cities of Transylvania. The town is a gem of old buildings, cobbled streets and local atmosphere, all clustered within the medieval fortifications and overlooked by a magnificent 15th century Gothic cathedral. We have an option to visit the Black Church here. We then continue our journey to Bistrita with a short stop en route at a medieval town on hill top, Sighisoara.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

Leaving Bistrita this morning, we make our way through high forested hills and fertile valleys dotted with orchards and meadows. We visit the village of Sapanta, to see the ‘Merry Cemetery’, where each grave has a humorous caricature and short poem about the deceased. Later we visit the church at Bogdan Voda then continue our drive to Borsa, a small winter ski resort in the Rodna mountains.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

There are few settlements in Europe that remain so untouched that bears still roam freely in the forests. Today we enter such a region, as we take the narrow gauge railway from Viseu de Sus up the Vaser Valley to Novat. We chug slowly through the valley passing huge expanses of beech and spruce forest, that echo with the sound of mountain rivers rushing through them. We then walk up a forested valley along lonely trails, enjoying the stillness and freshness of the forest. After a stiff climb of over 600m, we reach a ridge where there are spectacular views across the Viseu Valley. We descend through hay meadows and scattered copses to Moisei, where we meet our bus (5-6 hours walk). (Please note that if the railway is closed we will take an alternative route to walk in this beautiful area.)

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Leaving Borsa by chairlift, we walk (initially steeply up onto the mountain ridge) along the top of a ridge, if possible we will stop at a shepherd’s hut where we may be invited to sample some fresh sheep’s cheese, washed down with tuica, the fiery local plum brandy. After a couple of hours of walking we meet our bus and drive east across the Carpathians to Moldavia and the northern region of Bucovina. Here we discover the remarkable medieval monasteries, founded during the reign of Prince Stephen the Great (1457-1504) and his successors. Whilst most Romanian churches have frescoes inside, what makes these so astonishing are the fantastic frescoes on the exterior walls. These vivid Biblical images were used to educate the medieval population in an exciting graphic fashion. Painted during the 16th century, the frescoes are a fusion of formal Byzantine style, with colourful folk art. The monasteries are now UNESCO World Heritage sites, but also house thriving religious communities of nuns and monks. We stop at Moldovita, which nestles beneath the forests of the Obcina Mare ridge. Among the most interesting scenes pictured here are the ‘Seige of Constantinople’ and the ‘Last Judgement’. We drive up to the Ciumirna Pass, and continue through the forest to our accommodation near Sucevita.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

We include a visit to Sucevita monastery, the largest of the monasteries in the Bucovina region, with massive towers and stone walls protecting the inner buildings, which are decorated with portraits of historical legends and biblical scenes. There is an excellent small museum showing some of the treasures of the monastery, the most valuable items being seventeenth century embroideries, icons and gold work. We then hike through the romantic countryside along paths and old cart tracks, in the lovely valley north of Sucevita. First we take a trail through the beech woods to emerge in a grassy valley dotted with the houses that form the rambling village of Putna, close to the Ukrainian border. The walk is moderately easy and we have plenty of time to complete it (5-6 hours walk). Putna monastery (founded in 1466) is the oldest in Moldavia, and inside is the tomb of Stephen the Great. We meet our vehicle and drive to Bacau where we spend the night.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch

This morning we drive to the ancient port of Tulcea, the so-called ‘Gateway to the Delta’. From here we board our ponton – a barge-style vessel resembling a large house boat – that will serve as both our transport and our floating accommodation while in the delta. Though simple, it has a sun-deck and twinberth cabins on the lower deck and provides an innovative and flexible way of seeing the abundant birdlife of the delta. From this base we can reach the smaller waterways and reedy channels and visit the tranquil and beautiful lakes hidden in the backwaters.

Overnight Standard Cabin Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

The Danube Delta – over 4,000 square kilometres in all – is one of the great glories of Europe. It is a premier wildlife sanctuary and paradise for birdwatchers and photographers alike. We spend the day aboard the ponton, with the opportunity of closer views of the many species which inhabit the delta. Apart from its rich wildlife, the Delta is simply a beautiful place to relax aboard our vessel. We make our way through a maze of channels fringed by vast reed beds and ancient willow trees. Whilst different birds are seen depending on the month of visiting, most people will see the spectacular White Pelican. Vast quantities of birds congregate here, including grebes, falcons, egrets, swans and cormorants. The marshy conditions make life difficult for the birds’ terrestrial predators, making the delta an even more attractive haven and breeding ground. Much of this can be enjoyed from the deck of our ponton. We will also take time to visit a village in the Delta. These are some of the most remote settlements in Europe, far away from any roads.

Overnight Standard Cabin Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We spend the morning sailing back to Tulcea, and after lunch drive back to Bucharest, arriving late in the afternoon.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Included meals: Breakfast