Itinerary

1. Day 1. Bucharest – Sinaia - Bran – Brasov

   • 9.00 AM: Meet your tour guide at your hotel / address in Bucharest.
   • We’ll travel on the route to Transylvania. The road will cross the Carpathians mountains and passes scenic mountain towns.
   • In the morning we’ll visit the Peles Castle, a former summer royal residence of the Romanian kings and one of the finest castles in Europe.
   • Lunch (2 courses) will be served in the local restaurant.
   • In the afternoon we’ll visit the famous Bran castle, built in the 14th century in gothic style for defensive purposes, later known as Dracula’s castle.
   • After the visit, have some time to look over the souvenir's market and we’ll tempt you with a local dessert called „kurtos”.
   • End the day in Brasov. Time and dinner at your leisure.
   • Accommodation in a 3 / 4 hotel, located in the center of Brasov.
   • Meals included: breakfast, wine tasting, lunch.

2. Day 2. Brasov – Prejmer – Szekely County – Viscri

   • Breakfast in the hotel. Check-out.
   • In the morning we’ll have a walking tour of the medieval center of Brasov. The city of Brasov is one of the oldest in Europe, dating from 1235. During the Middle Ages, Brasov was known as a powerful fortress surrounded by high stone walls and defended by bulwarks, towers and other small fortresses. The buildings and the streets in the historical centre still preserve a medieval note. Council Square, Black Church, White and Black Towers, Weaver’s Bastion and Ecaterina’s Gate are the tour highlights. 
   • We would like to surprise you with a sweet gift: a sample of a couple of cookies made in Grandma's style. There are homemade cookies following old recipes, which are hard, if not impossible, to find in any standard cake shop. Enjoy them along the route.
   • Our Transylvania food tour will continue with the visit to Prejmer Fortified Church (UNESCO site), a unique sample of defensive and religious structures. 
   • We’ll drive north to Szekely Counties, a region with a high  Hungarian influence.
   • Lunch (2 courses) will be served in a restaurant along the route with Transylvanian Hungarian specialities. The famous palinka before eating and a local beer after will complete the taste.
   • The next stop will be a small local cheese producer which makes artisanal cheese. Find more about the cheese production and have a quick taste of the local cheeses.
   • We’ll end the day in one of the most famous and charming old villages from Transylvania – Viscri village, a place where the old architecture and the old way of life are still preserved.
   • Check-in to a local guest house. Enjoy some time at your leisure before dinner. It is a nice way to explore the Transylvanian villages and rural life, staying in a local guest house but with all the comfort of modern life (ensuite bathrooms, wi-fi, etc.)
   • A Typical Transylvanian Saxon Dinner (3 courses) will be served at the guest house.  Water, plum brandy and wine are included.
   • Meals included breakfast, lunch, dinner, cheese tasting, cookies Grandma’s style

3. Day 3. Viscri area

   • Breakfast. We’ll spend the morning in the village, walking on the cobblestone streets between the colourful houses where people try to preserve their traditions and way of life. The village looks almost the same as it was 100 years ago.
   • We’ll visit the family and workshop of a local blacksmith, where we can see him working in the traditional way and find out more about his family life. Next, his wife will demonstrate how to produce felted house shoes. You can be part of the activity anytime and try your skills. The family is a member of the Roma (Gypsy) community, so it is a good moment for our guide to tell you more about them, their traditions and history.
   • After this, we will go to one of the houses to see how it is made to taste a local delicious sweet cheese pie and to hear more about the Saxon civilization and traditions and how they were organized in Transylvania.
   • We’ll visit the Viscri fortified church (UNESCO), the oldest and most important building. The local ethnographic museum will reveal more about the locals' life.
   • Lunch (2 courses) will be served in Viscri, local food and traditional recipes.
   • After lunch, we’ll visit Rupea Fortress, built in the 14th century; it is another sample of a Transylvanian fortress called “the Peasent Citadel.”
   • Next, in the village of Saschiz, we’ll visit a local jam producer, and we can taste its jam and chutneys, all of them using local ingredients.
   • Optionals:
   • Horse ride on the hills and green area (2-3 hours). It works for people with riding experience in nature.
   • Mountain bike ride. There are several routes you can take between Viscri and the surrounding villages.
   • Truffle hunting. Available between Sep-Nov. We can organize a program with a local specialist and specially trained dog to hike and find the truffles. The success of your work hunt will be rewarded with a special dinner using the truffles as ingredients.
   • Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner, jam & chutney tasting

4. Day 4. Viscri – Sighisoara – Sibiel

   • Breakfast. We’ll start the day with a walking tour of the Sighisoara fortified medieval town (UNESCO). Points of interest: The Clock Tower. Vlad Dracula House, The Cover Staircase, The Church of the Monastery, The Church from the Hill, and the fortification system.
   • Next, we will drive into the surroundings of Sibiu City, a pastoral rural area inhabited for centuries by Romanian shepherds.
     Feel like a local farmer and have a horse-driven wagon ride through the village and its surroundings! It is a great way to see the village's architecture and way of life. We will visit a local household to see how a regular family organizes its domestic activities, domestic animals, vegetable garden, etc.
   • Participate in a short cooking class to learn how to cook a traditional Romanian dish. The ones who don’t want to cook may just enjoy an afternoon in the garden or have a local drink.
   • In the evening you’ll be delighted by a Shepherd’s Dinner style (3 courses). The menu is based on polenta, cheese, mutton meat + dessert, water, plum brandy, and local beer/wine.

   Accommodation in a local guest house.

   Meals included breakfast, dinner, and cooking class
   

5. Day 5. Sibiel – Sibiu – Bucharest.

   • Breakfast. We’ll leave our host and we’ll visit the Old Town of Sibiu, the oldest and largest medieval town from Transylvania. Highlights: Big Square, Little Square, Evangelical Cathedral, Orthodox Cathedral, Liar’s bridge, towers and fortifications.
   • Continue towards Bucharest. On the route we’ll stop for a 2 courses lunch to try “mititei”, a very popular Romanian meal, which is very popular for picnics or just a quick stop on the long drives. They are minced meat rolls with a recipe dating since 19th century, We’ll stop in one of the most famous places to have this meal – Dealul Negru.
   • Around 6.00 PM we’ll arrive in Bucharest. Panoramic tour of the city and drop-off at your hotel.
   • Optional we can provide hotel accommodation and aripat transfers before and after the tour.
   • Meals included: Breakfast, lunch.