10-Day Best of Romania Small Group Tour 2021

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What you need to know about this Romania small group tour:
- A 10-day small group tour (Covid-19 safe). 2021 departure dates: 28 May and 24 September
- A unique, authentic and complete Romanian travel experience: visit famous cities of Transylvania, popular landmarks and sights, see the beautiful Carpathian Mts, watch bears in the wild, discover Romanian and traditional rural culture, experience local life and enjoy delicious organic food!
- Included: 9 nights in selected 4* accommodation (incl. breakfast), 3 lunches, 2 dinners, tickets for all sights and activities in the itinerary, transport with modern minivan adapted for tourism, Romania-wide licensed guide with 8+ years of experience, water and snacks for the road
- Not included: flights, other meals, insurance, personal expenses. Available at extra cost: transfer from/to Otopeni Airport, accommodation on night before tour starts
- This itinerary was designed for SLOW and responsible travel, to balance time on the road, visits and free time on your own. We want you to enjoy and understand Romania, not rush through it :)
- Please read page 2 for more details. Contact us with any questions or to get a full description of the itinerary!
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Additional information
30% deposit required when booking. Refundable if canceled with 14 days before the departure date.
Balance to be paid before tour starts.
Moments to expect & itinerary for the 7-day Romania group tour:
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Day 1+2: Arrival. Bucharest Old Town & City Landmarks
On your arrival day we arrange your transfer to a centrally-located 4* hotel in Bucharest. The next day we start the tour by visiting the Old Town Lipscani area to learn the city’s history. Many charming 19th-century townhouses have stories to tell. We then go for a walk on the famous Victory Avenue where the city’s major landmarks can be admired: Revolution Square where the 1989 anti-communist movement started, the superb Romanian Athenaeum and the National Art Museum, former Royal Palace.
We finish the evening with a welcome dinner at one of Bucharest’s restaurants serving traditional Romanian food! Accommodation at a 4* hotel in Old Town area. -
Day 3+4: Romanian castles, Brasov & bear watching
We travel to Sinaia to visit the Peles Castle, a masterpiece of German Neo-Renaissance style from the late 1800s built as a summer residence for the Romanian Royal Family. Bran Castle is also on our itinerary, the #1 tourist attraction in Romania also known as Dracula Castle. I'll tell you the real story of this impressive medieval citadel and if there's any connection to Dracula. We visit the charming city of Brasov (overnight) and participate in a special bear watching activity.
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Day 5: Authentic agro-tourism in a Transylvanian village
We travel to Cobor village for an agro-tourism experience: stay in a farmhouse converted into a deluxe guesthouse (ensuite), enjoy a delicious lunch with local produce and learn about the natural environment and species of the area, and the importance of protecting them. See what a day in a typical Transylvanian village looks like!
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Day 6: Charming Transylvania & life in Viscri village
Time to understand why the region of Transylvania is so famous! We travel to the picturesque village of Viscri, the most representative of the Saxon Villages where Prince Charles bought a house! We vist the famous UNESCO Fortified Church, enjoy a delicious lunch with locally-sourced products and then go on a horse-dragged cart ride to visit a local craftsmen in his workshop. Next, we travel to the heart of Transylvania to Sighisoara Citadel, the best-preserved medieval fortress in Europe, part of UNESCO heritage! We go for a walk to see the Clock Tower, Main Square and then on Scholar’s Stairs to reach the best viewpoint of the Citadel!
Lunch in Viscri. Overnight in Sighisoara Citadel at a medieval guesthouse. -
Day 7: Cultures of Transylvania: Romanian, Saxons and Rroma
After breakfast, we leave for a nearby village to visit a typical Rroma family. We learn about the culture and lifestyle of this 3.8 mil ethnic group also known as Gypsies living across 12 states in Europe. In the afternoon we drive to Sibiel, a typical Transylvanian village. We visit the Painted Icons Museum and then go to a local family's house to enjoy a traditional lunch prepared with home-grown products. After the feast, you can relax in their huge backyard and admire the beautiful scenery before we move on to Sibiu where we spend 2 evenings visiting the major sights in the city.
Lunch in Sibiel. Overnight in a medieval guesthouse. -
Day 8: Sibiu & ASTRA village museum
After a guided tour of Sibiu, we have some downtime to wander at your leisure and relax, with an optional afternoon visit to the ASTRA Museum; the largest open air museum in Europe! It showcases traditional architecture and crafts with over 400 reconstructed buildings of wood, stone & brick.
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Day 9: Driving on the Best Road in the World!
Let’s switch gears: from Transylvania’s mellow hills we go to 2,300m altitude on a thrilling ride on the spectacular Transfagarasan Road (ONLY in July-Oct). Also called Ceausescu’s Folly, this road crosses the impressive Fagaras Mts. rewarding us with breathtaking views! Up at the glacial Balea Lake we might still see snow! We drive on to Vidraru Lake, Curtea de Arges Monastery and end the tour in Bucharest.
Outside July-Oct we drive on the beautiful Olt Valley and stop at the UNESCO Horezu Monastery.
Accommodation at a central 4* hotel in Bucharest.
Day 10: free time, transfer to airport and departure. -
Included: premium & themed 4* accommodation
The guesthouses we selected for this trip are all top-notch: 4* services with comfortable beds in spacious rooms serving delicious and filling breakfast. Location: either with great views or in the heart of the city. Most importantly: they are representative for the tour's theme.
Hilton Garden Inn (Bucharest), Samedru (Magura), Fronius Residence (Sighisoara), Levoslav House (Sibiu)
Location details
- Starting point: Bucharest
- Nearest airport: Bucharest Otopeni 'Henri Coanda' Airport
- Nearest train station: Bucharest North Train Station
- Landscape: Urban, hills, countryside
Reviews from travellers


Bogdan is a true professional. He is professional yet so personable. All of the sites and experiences were excellent. This is one of the best tours I've ever taken and I'm lucky I found it on Romanian Friend! It had the perfect mix of driving, outdoor activities, history and fun. Romania is a beautiful and interesting country and Bogdan is an expert in the history and has just wonderful anecdotes and jokes. He has a great relationship with the proprietors of the beautiful accommodations and the experiences he set up for us. The best for me were the meals at the homes of local families. The Romanians are so warm and welcoming. I felt like family before I left. I'm already planning to return again soon.

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