Vampire in Transylvania - Dracula Tour

  Romania

• Other Cities in Romania: 
Sighisoara

Dates: June 11, 26, July 10, 24, August 7, 21, September 11, October 29

Description: Day by day itinerary

Day 1, Friday, Bucharest
Welcome to Romania ! Our English speaking guide connects with you at the Bucharest Airport . Accommodate into a 3* hotel, centrally located and then prepare to immerge into the legend. Drive to Snagov to visit Snagov Monastery where, according to the legend, Vlad was buried after his assassination. The monastic establishment is located on a small island of Snagov Lake so you'll also enjoy a boat trip across the lake. The architectural style of the monastery follows the architectural pattern that is characteristic to the monasteries on the Holy Mount Athos in Greece . Your first day in Romania ends with a welcome dinner in one of Bucharest 's top traditional restaurants.

Day 2,Saturday, Bucharest Targoviste Sinaia Poiana Brasov
Morning drive to Targoviste, former capital of Walachia County situated on the right bank of Ialomita River , to visit the ruins of Vlad Tepes old court. Continue your journey with Sinaia, the pearl of mountain resorts in Romania . Explore the main point of attraction, the royal Peles Castle . The edifice was built in 1873 and is an architectural mixture of the German School and neo-renaissance style. The castle has 160 rooms, all of them opulently decorated in leather and wood from the most valuable tree species. Pele_ Castle is one of the best preserved and the most beautiful royal residences in Europe . Accommodate in Poiana Brasov. Situated at the foot of Postavaru Mountain , Poiana Brasov is surrounded by dense pinewood forests in a magnificent, mountainous natural setting and it is the most sophisticated winter resort in Romania . Dinner in the medieval room of an outstanding 4* restaurant; you'll enjoy excellent music and most delicious medieval treats.

Day 3, Sunday, Poiana Brasov Bran Sighisoara
Explore Transylvania's symbol, Bran Castle . The edifice owes its fame both to its unique charm and to the myth Bram Stoker created around Dracula. Documentary evidence of the castle dates back as far as 1377. Close to the castle there is a shrine set in the wall of a mountain which once sheltered her heart. Your next stop is the Medieval Saxon City of Brasov. The most famous landmark of Brasov is the Black Church , the largest gothic edifice in South Eastern Europe. Next stop, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Sighisoara Medieval Citadel. Founded by Saxons during the 12th century, Sighisoara still stands as one of Europe 's most beautiful and still inhabited fortified cities. Sighisoara is also the place where Vlad the Impaler, known as Dracula, was born. Accommodate in a charming 3* hotel located in the heart of the medieval citadel and enjoy a Saxon dinner.

Day 4, Monday, Sighisoara - Bistrita
Stroll around the streets of the old citadel; admire the Clock Tower, concentrating Sighisoara's history, the beautiful Church on the Hill and the unique Covered Stairs. You can even enjoy lunch in the very house where Vlad the Impaler was borne, turned today into a cosy restaurant "Casa Vlad Dracul" Restaurant. You'll then find the answer to a question I'm sure is eating you up inside: Does Dracula have descendants? Meet Misiuga, the Baron of Dracula who looks remarkably young for an 84 year old, and be welcomed into his windswept tower, Cooper Tower in Bistrita Citadel; you'll see an interesting puppet exhibition, receive a garlic wreath and a piece of good advice from the baron himself: to stay away from Dracula's Castle in Borgo Pass! In Bistrita you can also visit Golden Crown Restaurant and taste the very meal Jonathan Harker, the main character of Dracula Novel, served when in Bistrita Citadel. Next stopis Dracula's Castle in Borgo Pass , a 3* hotel which was built in accordance to Bram Stokers imagination. After visiting Dracula's coffin you'll enjoy a candle lit dinner at the castle followed by a fire camp near by, with all the right stories for a night to remember.

Day 5, Tuesday, Bistrita Citadel - Turda
Morning drive to visit the city of Cluj Napoca to enjoying a city tour revealing beautiful medieval buildings such as Saint Andrews Cathedral you can also delight yourself with the best Turkish Kebab. It's hard to believe, but here in the heart of Transylvania you can find the best Turkish kebab, that we strongly recommend for your lunch, in spite of the irony a Turkish specialty in Vlad Dracul's country, given the fact that he was the worst enemy the Turks could have had. Optional: How about a genuine Dracula tattoo? Should you wish to permanently remember your trip to Transylvania, you have your chance. From Cluj drive to Turda, a small town with an intimate medieval atmosphere, home to one of the oldest Salt Mine in Romania. Accommodate in a 4* hotel, often referred to as a medieval fantasy with beds. Delight yourself with a vampire menu for dinner, a delicious reason to travel to Transylvania ! Still, an evening to fear, you'll attend the killing of a vampire; you'll be part of the crowd seeking to take the bloody creature to a special place where the ritual can begin! The Ritual of Killing of the Living Dead is followed by a Masquerade Party.

Day 6, Wednesday, Turda - Sibiu
Prepare to descent to the heart of one of the biggest saline in Romania , the Salt Mines of Turda, with impressive halls named after kings and queens. The Salt Mines are the place where you'll put your existence to test! The Mine ends in a narrow tunnel at the end of which a mirror is placed. Should you see your reflection in the mirror, you will know you still have a soul to worry about! Drive next to Medias. Here you'll become acquainted with a unique artist, the only one in the world who uses spider webs for his paintings. As you probably know, spiders are creatures happily tolerated by the count, so you'll have further proof of how they are not merely reminiscent of delights' past. Evening in Sibiu , the European Cultural Capital for 2007. The fortified town of Sibiu has been the centre of Romania 's German minority since medieval times and it is one of Romania 's most beautiful cities. The city contains the largest concentrations of tourist attractions in Romania . Accommodate in a 4* hotel, enjoy a traditional Saxon dinner in one of the best restaurants in Sibiu. Attend a witch trial after dinner. You'll meet "Galdius Dei", the famous medieval Knights of Sibiu. They'll introduce you to medieval rituals and, should you be well prepared, turn you into a knight.

Day 7, Thursday, Sibiu - Bucharest
Your last Romanian morning. Enjoy a morning visit of Poienari, to visit the ruins of Vlad's old and faithful fortress. The fortress located close to Fagaras Mountains , on a canyon formed by Arges Rives is perched high on a cliff, in fact a steep precipice. To visit the impressive fortress and admire the unique and breathless view from the top you'll need to climb over 1000 stairs. Late afternoon arrival in Bucharest , past 5:00 pm. (Should you wish to, we can complete your staying with an add-on programme in Bucharest)

Highlights:
Dracula's Castle in Transylvania - built in accordance to Bram Stoker's imagination, on Borgo Pass where the Irish writer placed the castle of Count Dracula,accommodation, candle lit dinner and a camp fire with all the right stories.
Ritual Killing of the Living Dead - Help a haunted spirit to gain his peace - attend the ritual of killing a strigoi. Masquerade Party afterwards to celebrate the victory or recover from defeat.

Sighisoara Medieval Citadel - the best preserved and still inhabited medieval citadel in Europe with a UNESCO World Heritage status, Vlad the Impaler's birth place.
Bran Castle - also known as Dracula's Castle, a legendary Transylvanian fortress dating back to 1377

Witch trial - the famous medieval Knights of Sibiu we'll introduce you to medieval rituals.

Snagov Monastery - where, according to the legend, Vlad was buried after his assassination

Poienari Fortress - Vlad's old and faithful citadel perched high on a cliff, more than 1000 stairs to climb.

Introducing Unique Characters - Meet Dracula's descendents - pay a visit to Misiuga, Baron of Dracula in his windswept tower in Bistrita Citadel and make the acquaintance of a unique spider web painter in Medias!
Vampire Treats: indulge yourself with a Vampire dinner to find out why it's worth killing for a meal!

Cost in US$: 1679

Transportation: transfer from/to Bucharest airport, all transfers inside the tour by coach, minibus or car - air conditioned, depending on the number of travelers and boat transfer to Snagov Monastery.

Meals: 6 breakfasts, 6 dinners (3 special dinners: dinner with vampire menu in Hunter Prince Restaurant in Turda, candle lit dinner in Dracula's Castle, medieval dinner in Poiana Brasov) and Masquerade Party in Turda.

Entry fees to: Snagov Monastery, Tirgoviste Citadel, Peles Palace, Bran Castle, Horror Castle in Bran, Dogarilor Tower, Dracula's Castle, Dracula's Coffin, Salt Mines in Turda, The Ritual of Killing of a Living Dead in Turda, Spider Web Painter in Medias, Witch Trial, Poienari Citadel.

* The Halloween edition of the tour departing on October the 29th also includes the Halloween Party in the Medieval Citadel of Sighisoara, Dracula's birth place 3 course dinner and the alcoholic drinks in accordance with the menu, dessert and the Halloween programme and excludes the Masquerade Party in Turda.

Not included: plane ticket, airport fees, photo & video tax and other not mentioned.

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants.

Application Process Involves:

• Written Application

Transylvania Live, Tour Operator and Member of American Society for Travel Agents's Mission Statement: Transylvania-Live it is simply the most spectacular way to discover Transylvania. Our aim is to introduce you to genuine Transylvania. Helping preserve beautiful traditions, thousands of years old, keeping alive the culture of different areas by introducing you to locals, assuring that Transylvania will always welcome you with pine flavor and thick forests, making sure that in a village "grandmother" waits you with a slice of traditional pie is not at all difficult. We are the only Romanian tour operator offering the possibility of enjoying Transylvanian Festivals live, both making use and preserving Transylvanian traditions and mythology! Our offer includes cultural holidays that take you to genuine Transylvanian Festivals to celebrate together our songs, dances, see the work of the shepherds, admire the mastery of our craftsmen. Transylvania Live appeals only to the help of local guides both in Romania and Hungary; we work only with local suppliers, so that money will stay where needed. We're supporting "Saint Daniel's Foundation" program which already built a house for the elderly and now is trying to build the second one for both old people and children in the program entitled - "A grandfather for a nephew - A nephew for a grandfather". Sustaining our region through involvement in civic projects is another priority for us. Transylvania Live is co initiator of the "Tourism Information Centre" in Turda, sponsor of belles-lettres national magazine "Echinox" and student's theatre festival "Alterego" as well as sustainer of "Transylvania Riders" motor club.

Year Founded: 1995