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At a glance
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Request Brochure - Bucharest & the Legends of Transylvania
To book or for more information please call: 0330 341 1117 and quote RTA
Bucharest & the Legends of Transylvania
Extraordinary, unspoilt scenery and medieval architecture, the macabre tales of the 'real' Count Dracula and one of Europe’s most fascinating capitals... Transylvania is unforgettable.Since the 1989 revolution that brought an end to brutal, communist-era rule, stunningly beautiful Romania has emerged from its shell, opening its doors to wide-eyed visitors. Prepare to be enchanted by the ancient towns and villages that dot the forested Carpathian mountains, and by the fast-changing vitality and vibrancy of Bucharest. Explore this extraordinary corner of Europe, where the old – filled with wild Gypsy music, and ancient, dark legends – mixes with the new, modern sensibilities of Bucharest’s smart cafés and coffee houses.
Holiday Highlights
A walking tour through the Saxon stronghold of Brasov, gateway to the Carpathian Mountains
Visit ‘Dracula’s Castle’ in ancient Bran
The UNESCO-listed medieval fortress at Sighisoara
Visit a village where the Prince of Wales takes holidays
Explore ancient Sibiu’s churches and painted houses
Visit fairy-tale Peles Castle
The immense Palace of the Parliament in Bucharest
What's Included
Four nights' bed and continental breakfast accommodation at a four-star hotel in Brasov
Two nights' bed and continental breakfast accommodation at a four-star hotel in Bucharest
An included tour of Bucharest
Return flights to Bucharest
Comfortable coach travel and transfers throughout
Fully escorted by a friendly, experienced tour manager
Itinerary
Day 1
Meet your tour manager in Otopeni International Airport, and transfer north towards the forested Carpathian Mountains and legendary Transylvania. This breathtakingly beautiful region is still home to wild bears, wild boar and wolves, and to a cosmopolitan mix of Magyar, Romanian, German and Gypsy peoples, who live lives rich in folklore traditions against a backdrop largely unchanged in centuries. Check in to your hotel in the Transylvanian city of Brasov, and perhaps head out to enjoy a stroll in the streets of this ancient Saxon gem, before a welcome dinner is served at your hotel.
Day 2
After breakfast, enjoy a guided introduction to the pastel-painted buildings and elegant main Council Square of Brasov’s Baroque Old Town, lined with red-roofed merchants’ houses and overlooked by the Gothic spires of the striking Black Church. Here, legend has it, the Pied Piper emerged from an underground tunnel with the children of Hamelin – the first of many legends and tall tales you’ll hear during your stay. Your second colourful stop is the Castle at Bran, deep in the Transylvanian forest. Used as the setting for Bram Stoker’s dark tale of Dracula, the castle is in fact a former royal residence set against a stunning mountain backdrop. Take a tour of the turreted 14th-century fortress, and enjot the memorable experience of dining in the castle grounds in the Castle Tea Room, a former royal reception salon, before returning to Brasov.
Day 3
Another memorable day awaits you, as you journey north to achingly beautiful Sighisoara, a UNESCO-listed medieval city laid out around a colourful main square and surrounded by ancient fortifications. Join a walking tour to see the ornate tiled roof of the city’s landmark Clock Tower, and visit the nearby house said to be the birthplace of Vlad Tepes - the 15th-century tyrant better known as Vlad the Impaler and the inspiration for Count Dracula. Climb up the Scholar’s Stair to the beautiful Church on the Hill, and visit the nine remaining towers of the city’s original Citadel. After a wonderful few hours, return to Brasov, taking in the unspoilt village of Viscri, deep in the forest, where HRH The Prince of Wales has a guesthouse, on the way.
Day 4
On today’s unforgettable excursion you’ll head to another extraordinary preserved Saxon town - the former European City of Culture, Sibiu. With its delightful old town, interconnected squares, and grand, onion-domed churches, Sibiu could easily pass as Munich, with the backdrop of the Carpathian Mountains standing in for the Bavarian Alps. Wander the beautiful, cobbled streets, perhaps enjoying lunch in one of the city’s many cafés, then return to Brasov to enjoy your last evening in Transylvania.
Day 5
Bid farewell to Brasov and head south to the Bucegi Mountains and the resort town of Sinaia, a popular skiing and hiking centre watched over by fairy-tale Peles Castle. A royal residence until 1947, the castle was returned to the ownership of Romania’s late, much-loved, exiled King Michael in 2008. Take a tour of some of the Bavarian-style castle’s richly decorated apartments, and enjoy lunch in the resort, before continuing to Bucharest. As you head to your hotel you’ll catch a glimpse of the Romanian capital’s Parisian-style grand boulevards and Arch of Triumph. And, after checking in, you’ll enjoy your first evening in the city. Why not join our optional folklore dinner show excursion for an enjoyable look at local traditions as you start to your short stay in Bucharest?
Day 6
Board the coach for a fascinating guided tour of a city that, 30 years ago, was the backdrop to the bloodiest downfall of a Communist dictator, that of Nicolai Ceausescu, and that still bears some of the scars of the period. A visit to the monumental Palace of the Parliament - the world’s most expensive (and heaviest) administrative building - provides an insight into the city’s Communist past, while the wonderful open-air Village Museum and 17th-century Patriarchal Church provide earlier, alternative perspectives. An afternoon stroll around the colourful, chaotic old town, filled with an ever-increasing number of über-trendy eateries and coffee-houses, is the best way to get to know the modern city.
Day 7
Depending on your flight time, you may have a chance for some last-minute shopping or sightseeing before you bid farewell to your Romanian hosts and transfer back to the airport to catch your flight home, at the end of a fascinating few days.
Hotel transfer times
The transfer time from the airport to your first hotel is approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes. The transfer time from your final hotel to the airport is 45 minutes.
Combining hotel transfers
We sometimes need to combine transfers to and from your hotel. We always try to keep any wait to a minimum, but you may be asked to wait at the airport for up to an hour, while other incoming flights arrive, before the transfer to your hotel. Similarly, we may need to transfer you back to the airport up to three hours before your flight home departs.
Special requirements
If you have notified us of any special requirements, please check that they have been noted and acknowledged. This is especially important with any dietary needs you may have.
Disabled access
The majority of our tours involve a certain amount of walking, including a short walk from the coach stop to the town, attraction or venue you're visiting. If you are bringing a wheelchair, please let us know at the time of booking so that appropriate arrangements can be made.
Itinerary changes
Occasionally, for operational reasons, we may have to change the order of the excursions on your holiday. The final day-by-day itinerary will be confirmed on your Final Travel Documents, which you will receive approximately three weeks prior to your departure.
Changes to your hotels
Should circumstances require, we reserve the right to accommodate you in alternative hotels, of a similar standard, nearby. Full details of your hotels will be sent with your Final Travel Documents.
Foreign Office Travel Advice
Visit www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice to find out the latest Foreign And Commonwealth Office travel advice for your holiday destination, as well as information about passports and visas.
Indirect flights
Flights from Birmingham, Heathrow and Manchester are indirect. You will be required to change aircraft en-route, where there will be a short wait for your next flight. Your luggage will be thru-checked to your final destination.