The Holy Week in Romania

Day 1 - Wed 15 Apr. Bucharest

Arrival in Bucharest, capital of Romania. Transfer from airport to the Athenee Palace Hilton hotel 5*. Short sightseeing tour that will give you an overall impression of the most significant sights in Bucharest. Relax with a welcoming drink - get to know one another and discuss the travel program. In the evening, you may decide to savour a traditional 4-course dinner in the renowned Caru cu Bere Restaurant, Bucharest's oldest beer hall, dating from 1875, with Romanian folk music and dances.

Day 2 - Thu 16 Apr. Sibiu

Drive to Horezu Monastery, situated in an idyllic mountain setting, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visit the pottery masters in Horezu and admire their esquisite ceramics. Enjoy the fantastic scenery as we travel across the Carpathian Mountains towards Sibiu, one of the most beautiful and well preserved historical towns in Romania and European Capital of Culture in 2007. Enjoy a walking tour of the historic center, dating from the 12th century. Overnight at the hotel Ramada Sibiu 4*. (B)

Day 3 - Fri 17 Apr. Sighisoara

We make our way into the heart of Transylvania to find fascinating medieval towns, legendary castles, fortified churches and dramatic mountains peaks. Arrival in Sighisoara. The best preserved and continuously inhabited medieval city in Europe, Sighisoara Citadel will make you feel like you're floating through another time and space. We take a walking tour of the citadel to the most famous sights.

Drive north into Maramures, where you will spend three nights in tourist pensions, wonderful rural retreats offering relaxing accommodation and great home-cooked food. (B, D)

Day 4 - Sat 18 Apr. Easter Eve in Maramures

After breakfast, tour of the wooden churches of Maramures. These extraordinary, towering wooden churches have remained remarkably intact over the centuries and today are UNESCO World Heritage sites. Inside, fascinating wall frescos provide a window on the world of medieval folk Christian beliefs. Stop to admire Vadu Izei, famed for its immense carved wooden gates that illustrate the social status of the inhabitants. Continue to the Merry Cemetery of Sapanta. With exuberantly coloured and beautifully crafted wooden headstones, is one of Romania's most unusual attraction.

After lunch, visit craftspeople and enjoy the spectacle of weaving traditional carpets, dyed in vegetal colors according to an ancient secret recipe specific to this land. At midnight, attend the Resurrection Celebration in Barsana Monastery, a memorable experience. (B, L, D)

Day 5 - Sun 19 Apr. Holy Easter Sunday

Festive Easter meal with traditional specialties and drinks. Time at leisure to enjoy the fairy tale atmosphere of Easter in Maramures. Admire the display of colourful folk costumes, a natural part of every celebration and discover the local traditions. 

A choice of optional activities is offered: horse-cart driving through the rolling hills, horseback riding without ever crossing a road or a fence, hikes in areas of scenic beauty, traditional picnic on the nearby hills. (B, L, D)

Day 6 - Mon 20 Apr. Painted Monasteries of Moldavia

We cross the remote Prislop Pass - the highest in Romania and reach Moldavia, a region that rivals Maramures when it comes to rich folklore and natural beauty. Visit the painted monasteries of Suceavita, Moldovita, Voronet and Putna, among the greatest artistic monuments in Europe and UNESCO World Heritages Sites. Far from being merely wall decorations, the paintings represent complete cycles of religious murals on all facades. Their outstanding composition, elegant outline and harmonious colours blend perfectly with the surrounding landscape. Spend the night at the Best Western Bucovina hotel 4* in Gura Humorului. (B, D)

Day 7 - Tue 21 Apr. Bicaz Gorges and Brasov

We travel down Moldavia's bucolic landscape, towards Bicaz Gorges on one of Romania's most stagering and spectacular road. The gorge twists and turns steeply uphill, cutting through sheer, 300m-high limestone rocks on its journey through the mountains. Breathtaking scenery await at the Red Lake resort. 

Continue to Brasov. Nestled below steep, craggy, tree-clad mountains, this beautiful town is the most visited city in Romania after Bucharest. Tour of the old town, a blend of centuries-old buildings and trendy chill out bars. Overnight at the Bella Muzica hotel 3*. (B)

Day 8 - Wed 22 Apr. Bucharest

Return to Bucharest. A last opportunity for city sightseeing and shopping (your own arrangements). Transfer to the airport for your flight home. (B)