Day 1

The whole of Romania is in blossom at the time of your arrival in Bucuresti (Bucharest), its capital. The Company of Mysterious Journeys will meet each one of you – at the airport or railway station.

• Night train-ride to Suceava, the mediaeval capital of Moldova (first class sleeper car; 7 hours).
• Cocktail and briefing on board; basket dinner.

Day 2

• Transfer by bus to hotel in Suceava; take your rooms, a shower, breakfast.
• Visit the mediaeval fortress of Suceava, playground of two teenage princes in the XV century: Stephen the Great, future ruler of Moldova; and his cousin – Vlad Dracula (The Impaler), future ruler of Valahia. Visit the local Museum of History.
• Afternoon, walking (or driving) tour to the monastery of Dragomirna (1602), its miniature paintings and space ship silhouette.
• Overnight in Suceava, hotel “Continental”

Day 3

Tonight, the Christian Orthodox celebrate Easter.

• Drive to monastery Putna (1481), resting place of Stephen the Great, the one who still rules the spirituality of Moldova.
• Walk (or drive) from Putna, across hills, to monastery Sucevita (1586), to celebrate Easter (walking time: 4-5 hours). Alternative: drive there. There will be hundreds of villagers in the vast courtyard protected by 6 metre high walls; God is one, with many names, so join the celebration of the birth of Christ in a fairy-tale setting, under the great frescoes of Sucevita – at the time and place the Heaven opens.
• Overnight in private houses (bathroom, heating) or a neighbouring hotel; feast on Easter specialties, Moldovian style.
• If you booked single – this is the only night you may have to share a room; we shall advise.

Day 4

• Visit the village of Marginea and its 5000 year-old black-ceramic workshop.
• Walk (or drive) across the forested Obcina Mare (3 hours) to monastery Moldovita (1531), raised and frescoed by Stephen the Great’s son, Prince Petru Rares.
• Arrive at hotel in Campulung Moldovenesc; overnight.

Day 5

• Climb the sacred mountain of Rarau (3 hours) to a chalet at 1529 m. altitude. Learn the legends of the megaliths (The Princess’ Rocks; the Buffalo Rock; the Hawk’s; the Bats’ Cave).
• Return to hotel, to overnight.

Day 6

• Visit the unique Museum of Wood in Campulung Moldovenesc.
• Drive to Voronet (1488) – the best known frescoed monastery in Bucovina.
• Visit Homor (1530), another frescoed monastery (with no steeple, as it was not built by a prince, but by a minister of Petru Rares). Important ethnographic area – excellent shopping opportunity (at low prices) of Moldovian, hand-made carpets, Easter-eggs, fur-coats (trimmed with weasel-fur), fur caps, etc. Notice the paintings on the walls of the farmhouses – throughout Bucovina.
• Overnight at Suceava.

Day 7

• Free in Suceava, to stroll and shop.
• Fast-train to Bucuresti (Bucharest).
• Sightseeing tour (no museums).
• Overnight in Bucuresti

Day 8

• Transfer to the airport/railway station.
• Departure from Romania.

Reminder: bring plenty of films, my friends – Bucovina is a corner of Heaven on Earth.

Logistics:

This can be taken as a walking tour for those looking for one, or as a driving tour for the others (the bus accompanies us everywhere).

The tour is based on bed & breakfast, with a basket-dinner and a cocktail provided in Day One, and the festive Easter dinner (drinks included). Food, alongside everything else in Romania, is high quality and very cheap. Museums, transfers and in-land transport, guide service, mountain-guide service, tracking guide – are also included.


Excerpt:
The Company of Mysterious Journeys will penalize the tourists who renounce their bookings as follows (subtracting bank-transfer charges):
1) for cancellation of 30 and more days before the tour start: full refunding (minus banking charges)
2) for 29-21 days cancellation: 30% penalty
3) for 20-14 days cancellation: 50% penalty
4) for 13-7 days or less cancellation: 100% penalty in favour of the CMJ.

Dracula tours