Bucharest airport
Arrival and Bucharest City Tour, Sibiu, Hiking to a sheepfold – Sibiu, Balea Waterfall, Hiking in The Fagaras Mountains; “The Transylvanian Alps”, Bran Castle – Peles Castle – Pestera, Hiking in Bucegi Mountains – Bucharest, Bucharest Airport
8 Days
All year
Arrival and Bucharest City Tour
Arrival in Bucharest airport and transfer to the hotel in the city.
Full day to explore Bucharest.
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.
In the morning we take a guided tour, where we will see the Arch of Triumph, pass through Calea Victoriei which is Bucharest’s oldest most charming street, discover some of the most stunning buildings in the city, including the Cantacuzino Palace, the Revolution Square, the Military Club,
National Savings Bank Palace and the National History Museum. We visit the old town, where at the beginning of 1400s, most merchants and craftsmen – Romanian, Austrian, Greek, Armenian and Jewish – established their stores and shops in this section of the city; Today, the area is home to art galleries, antique shops, coffeehouses, restaurants and night-clubs. At the centre of the historic area are the remains of the Old Princely Court, built in the 15th century by Vlad Tepes, also known as Vlad Dracula
Later we enter to the Bucharest Parliament Palace.
Built at the special request of Nicolae Ceausescu, leader of Romania’s Communist Party, the colossal Parliament Palace – formerly known as “People’s House” is the world’s second largest administrative building after the U. S. Pentagon. It took 20,000 workers and 700 architects to build this masive structure that boasts 12 stories, 1,100 rooms, a 350-ft.-long lobby and eight underground levels, including an enormous nuclear bunker. We visit also one of the oldest churches in Bucharest (with parts dating back to the 16th century and a steeple built in 1715), the Apostles’ Church. Dinner and overnight in Bucharest.
Bucharest – Sibiu
Today we travel through one of the best regions of Romania, the Transylvania, surrounded by the Carpathian Mountains.
Along the way we do an easy hike to a panoramic point known as The caves of the dragons, which has an interesting rock formations. The hike will last about 4 hours total, at max 400 meter altitude, before we reach the city of Sibiu. Traditional dinner in Sibiu and overnight.
Hiking to a sheepfold – Sibiu
This morning we will hike to a sheepfold and enjoy the picturesque pastoral lifestyle, the panoramic surrounding nature and the rural landscapes. We will have an outdoor lunch before starting our return to Sibiu. The hike today is an easy to moderate level and will last about 6 hours total.
In the afternoon, returning in Sibiu, we enjoy the guided tour, including the city highlights: Craftsmen’s Square, Huet Square and Evangelical Church, Bridge of Lies, Goldsmith Square, Great Square, Orthodox Cathedral, Roman Catholic Church, City Hall Tower. Sibiu was the largest and wealthiest of the seven walled citadels* built in the 12th century by German settlers known as Transylvanian Saxons. The city is divided in two sections, the Upper town, home to most of Sibiu’s historic sights, and the Lower town, lined with colorful houses on cobblestone streets and bounded by imposing city walls and defense towers overlooking the river Cibin. Another dinner and overnight in Sibiu.
Sibiu – Balea Waterfall
Today we will hike to about 4 hours, at a moderate level, and an altitude that goes maximum to 1120 meters. We will transfer to Balea Waterfall from where we follow a high-altitude path that offers spectacular views of the curvy road and the surrounding mountains. We will spend the overnight in wooden chalets by Balea Lake.
Hiking in The Fagaras Mountains; “The Transylvanian Alps”
The Transylvanian Alps, include some of the highest peaks of Romania, as well as numerous glacier lakes. The hike today is 6 hours and at a moderate level, taking us towards the mountains’ peaks and passing through dramatic valleys, providing some amazing landscapes. Another overnight in the wooden chalets by Balea Lake.
Bran Castle – Peles Castle – Pestera
Today will be a day with no hiking, but focused in Romanian culture, visiting 2 of the main castles of the country.
This morning we visit Bran Castle, one of the most important touristic attraction in Romania, due to its links with the legend of Dracula. The landscape in this area is a harmonious mixture of different landforms. high mountains, plateaus, the curvy shapes carved by the rivers along their banks and the valleys that cross the land. The castle was built between 1377 and 1388. We will visit the castle and pass through its narrow winding stairways that lead through some 60 timbered rooms, many connected by underground passages, which house collections of furniture, weapons and armor dating from the 14th to the 19th centuries. The castle overlooks the picturesque village of Bran, which offers an open-air Ethnographic Museum consisting of old local-style village houses complete with furniture, household objects and costumes.
Later on, we reach another castle, the Peles Castle located in Sinaia. Peles Castle is a masterpiece of German new-Renaissance architecture, considered by many one of the most stunning castles in Europe. Its 160 rooms are adorned with the finest examples of European art, Murano crystal chandeliers, German stained-glass windows and Cordoba leather-covered walls. Until 1947 it was a summer residence for the royal family. Peles Castle was the first European castle to have electricity, it even has its own power plant. It has 160 rooms and each room is decorated in a different style or theme.
There is a Concert Hall, Music Room (India), Turkish Salon, Great Salon (Italy),Council Room (Switzerland), Moor Hall, and so much more. The Royal Library has a secret door and the castle’s 60-seat Theater, with royal box, showed the first movie projection in Romania in 1906. After the visits we stop in Sinaia, a picturesque mountain resort in Prahova River valley.
In the evening we reach Pestera, a mountain village from where we can see the views of Bucegi and Piatra Craiului Mountains. Overnight in Pestera.
Hiking in Bucegi Mountains – Bucharest
Today we enjoy our last hiking trail for this tour, in Bucegi Mountains, located in central Romania, part of the Carpathian Mountains. The hiking is moderate level and last up to 6 hours total. We will cross alpine meadows and admire the rigged walls of the mountains.
In the evening we reach Bucharest, for a farewell dinner and overnight.
Bucharest Airport
Morning in Bucharest and transfer to the airport for the return flight.
