Mysteries of the Carpathian Mountains and Saxon citadels of Transylvania

After you arrive at Bucharest airport, you will get your rental car and begin your journey towards the City of the Crown, beautiful Brasov. Depending on your arrival time you could have a stop to see the romantic Castle of Peles, a dreamy architectural jewel which served as a holiday home for the Romanian Monarchs. You will spend the evening in a traditional guesthouse, in a heavenly mountain village. Dinner included.

Today you will pack up and have a short transfer with your rented car (15m) to a mountain landmark. From here on, you will have a beautiful trek in the Piatra Craiului Mountains (" the Prince’s Stone" in Romanian). Passing by the 200m high vertical walls of the Zarnesti gorges which are very beautifully coloured, you will head to the Curmatura hut, a traditional mountain hut where you will enjoy a tasty lunch. You will continue your circling trek back to where you left your car head to your next accommodation in another lovely Romanian village at the base of the Bucegi mountains. Breakfast, packed lunch and dinner included. (around 5 h, +/- 650m)

Today after breakfast you will enjoy a splendid hike into the Bucegi Mountains through secular forests and an amazing scenery. A longer walk is possible along the meadow of Gutanu and the vertical walls of the Bucegi’s ridge, who will offer you beautiful landscape and view over Piatra Craiului ridge. Make sure to have your camera ready as there will be plenty of use for it today! Breakfast, packed lunch and dinner included. (around 6h, 18 km, +650m, -900 or a shorter one, around 4h30)

Today you take the car to visit one of the most beautiful preserved medieval citadels of Europe, Sighisoara, part of UNESO World Heritage. On your way, according to your preference you could stop to visit Bran Castle, known in the West as Dracula’s castle. Once you finished you will continue towards one of Transylvania’s traditional "pearls" - Viscri’s fortified church - which has just celebrated its 700th anniversary - and its lovely authentic village. You will spend the end of the day in the medieval city of Sighisoara. Every tower of the citadel was managed by a guild of craftsmen. The tower of the dressmakers is a real masterpiece of medieval architecture. Night in a charming 3-star hotel in the centre of the citadel. Breakfast and lunch included.

This morning you have time to visit Sighisoara. In the afternoon you will leave Sighisoara to visit Sibiu, which was chosen to be the European capital of culture in 2007. This town is representative for the Transylvanian Saxon culture. On your way you will stop to see a splendid fortified church in the village of Biertan, home to many legends and a rich cultural heritage. You will spend the evening in a 4-star hotel in Sibiu. Breakfast and dinner included.

Option 1: This morning you can continue the visit of Sibiu, then, go to the traditional villages of the region. Once you finished you will have two options according to the time of the year when you planned your holiday. Up until June you will go to visit the beautiful ruins of a Cistercian church at the base of Romania’s highest mountains, then continue on to see the country’s oldest still working wool mill and then the country’s still working water mill. You will spend the evening in Brasov, in a central 3* hotel. Breakfast, lunch included.

Option 2: If you are travelling in high season, instead of following the itinerary mentioned above, after leaving Sibiu, you will have a splendid walk up in the Fagaras mountains. You will spend the evening in a traditional mountain hut. (1h30m walk). Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

If you have done the first option, today you will visit the beautiful city of Brasov and enjoy a walk on the city’s little mountain so you can have a wonderful panoramic perspective to end your holiday on before continuing on to Bucharest. If you chose the second option, you will drive on Romania’s most impressing mountain road, the Transfagarasan. Be prepared to be amazed by this road’s grandeur. You will spend the evening in a lovely central 4* hotel in Bucharest.

Today after breakfast you will give back your car and your holiday with us will have finished.