Best of Transylvania Tour with a Rally at the End

  Romania

• Other Cities in Romania: 
Cluj-Napoca

Dates: June 12, July 10, August 14 2009

Description: Day by day itinerary:

Day 1, Friday, Cluj  Turda
Welcome to Romania! Our English speaking guide, a motorcycle enthusiast and a 100% Transylvanian, collects you from Cluj Napoca Airport. A city with an outstanding medieval atmosphere, one of the oldest settlements in Transylvania, dating back prior to the Roman period, Cluj will surely impress you with its beautiful old architecture. To better capture the essence of the area enjoy the local cuisine, a traditional Romanian lunch is strongly recommended. From Cluj ride to Turda, a small town with an intimate atmosphere founded by the Romans under the name Potaissa. Prepare to descend to the heart of one of the biggest salt mines in the country  Turda Salt Mines, with impressive halls named after kings and queens. Accommodate in a 4* hotel.
Optional: You'll then attend the Ritual of Killing of the Living Dead. This live re-enactment is housed in the cellar of a 4* resort, designed in a genuine rustic Transylvanian style. Performed according to the old rituals of burying in Transylvania, the event is intended to reveal the fact that Transylvania, and in fact entire Romanian had no knowledge of vampires until Bram Stocker created his famous novel Dracula.

Day 2, Saturday, Turda  Medias  Sibiu Sibiel
Morning ride to the charming town of Medias with its beautiful medieval centre where you'll make the acquaintance of a unique artist, the only one who uses spider web for his paintings. Continue your journey with Sibiu, the European Capital of Cultural for 2007. The fortified town of Sibiu has always been the centre of Romania's German minority since medieval times and it is one of Romania's most beautiful cities. It contains the largest concentrations of tourist attractions in Romania. Visit one of its major highlights, The Village Museum  an outdoor exhibition of peasant settlements from all over the country offering a complete picture on Romania's rural architecture. For accommodation ride to the traditional Saxon city of Sibiel located 20 kilometres away from Sibiu

Day 3, Sunday Sibiel  Fagaras -Bran  Brasov
Visit in the morning Transylvania's symbol, Bran Castle. Unrightfully called Dracula's Castle, Bran owes its fame both to its unique charm and to the myth Bram Stoker created around Dracula. A former fortress guarding a commercial road, Bran dates back to 1377. In 1920, Queen Mary, the niece of Queen Victoria of Great Britain, turned the castle into a beautiful summer residence. Close to the castle there is a shrine set in the wall of a mountain which once sheltered her heart. A lunch in Bran is a delicious experience. A cheese tasting is strongly recommended as the village is part of the Rucar - Bran corridor renowned for the delicious traditional home made cheese assortments produced here (the ones smoked in pine tree bark are particularly delicious). Ride next to Rasnov to visit The Peasant Citadel. Standing on top of a hill and overlooking an incredible Transylvanian landscape, Rasnov is the best preserved peasant fortification in Transylvania and the largest one in Eastern Europe, first documented in 13 century. In the evening transfer to the medieval Saxon city of Brasov. Accommodate in a 3* hotel.

Day 4, Monday, Brasov  Sighisoara
Explore today Brasov, a city with an outstanding medieval atmosphere which has played a vital role in Romania's history, both old and new. Three quarters of the city is surrounded by mountains, and it is one of the best preserved medieval cities in Europe. Visit the most famous landmark of Brasov, the Black Church  the largest gothic edifice in southern Europe datingback to 14th century. It hosts the largest bell in the country as well as a collection of oriental carpets dating from the 15th and the 18th centuries..Next stop is the medieval citadel of Sighisoara. Founded by Saxons during the 12th century, Sighisoara still stands as one of Europe's most beautiful and still inhabited fortified cities with UNESCO European heritage site status. Sighisoara is also the place where Vlad the Impaler, known as Dracula, was born. Accommodate in a 3* hotel located in the heart of the medieval citadel.Initially called St. Virgin Mary the Church was renamed after the great fire in 689 that blackened its walls.
Optional: For a unique experience you're invited to enjoy a helicopter ride over Bran Castle.

Day 5, Sighisora  Bistrita  Borgo Pass
Submerge yourself in the medieval atmosphere by visiting Sighisoara's main attractions: The Clock Tower - built in 1360 and standing 60 meters tall on top of the citadel's hill, it hosts a museum and offers a great view over the citadel, The Torture Room, The Medieval Weapon Collection, Covered Stairs, the Church on the Hill.
Drive next to Bistrita Citadel. Make the acquaintance of a unique character, Misiuga, the Baron of Dracula. He'll welcome you in his windswept Dogarilor (Coopers') Tower. Head next for Dracula's Castle on Borgo Pass, built in accordance to Bram Stoker's imagination on the border between Transylvania and Moldavia. To test your courage, visit Dracula's Coffin in the dungeon of the castle. Accommodation in a 3* Hotel.

Day 6, Wednesday, Borgo Pass  Sacel  Sighetu Marmatiei  Ieud
Explore today the magical traditional land of Maramures, renowned for the art of wood carving.
Ride to the picturesque village of Sacel and visit the work shop of a renowned woodcraftsman.One of the highest wood constructions in Europe, Barsana Nunnery is located in gorgeous natural setting close to the banks of Iza River.It is considered one of the most beautiful monasteries of Maramures. In the evening transfer to Ieud village, accommodate in traditional guesthouse. The first documentation of the village dates back to 1365. A charming village, proud of its ancient traditions, Ieud is also home of a UNESCO Heritage Site, the Church on the Hill.

Day 7, Thursday, Ieud  Sapanta  Baia Mare  Cluj Napoca
Explore in the morning the merriest cemetery in the world, transfer to Sapanta to visit the renowned Merry Cemetery. It owns its name to the vivid colours of the headboards on which are painted scenes narrating the biography of the deceased. The images are accompanied by lyrical, ironic simple rhyming stanzas. Ride next to Baia Mare, the capital city of Maramures County, located at the foot of Eastern Carpathians, one of the most important urban centres in North Romania. With a lot of memories and surely some regret say good bye to Romania.

Highlights: Bran Castle also known as Dracula's Castle, a legendary Transylvanian fortress dating back to 1377.

Rasnov Peasant Citadel - the largest peasant fortification ever built in Eastern Europe
Brasov City tour explore the Medieval Saxon city of Brasov with its outstanding medieval atmosphere, one of the best preserved medieval cities in Europe
Sighisoara Medieval Citadel one of Europe's most beautiful and still inhabited fortified cities with a UNESCO World Heritage status.

Merry Cemetery - discover in the picturesque and traditional area of Maramures how a cemetery can be merry.

The European Capital of Culture for 2007 - the fortified town of Sibiu containing the largest concentrations of tourist attractions in Romania.

Stay in Dracula's Castle on Borgo Pass a hotel built in accordance to Bram Stockers's imagination on the border between Transylvania and Moldavia

Cost in US$: 1424

Not included: gas, road taxes, parking, entry fees to the mentioned tourist attractions, lunches and dinners, beverages, individual activities, 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