930 Irwin Street, Suite 222, San Rafael, CA 94901

Phone: 415-381-5861 ◆ 888-367-6147 inquire@originalworld.com ◆ www.originalworld.com

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Bulgaria and Romania GuaranteedDepartures2018

April6-23,May9-26,May29-June15,June10-27,June22-July9,July11-28,August2-19,August24-September11,September7-25,October1-18

April6tourincludesOrthodoxEasterinBulgaria;May8tourincludesWhitSundayinRomania;May29tourincludes

RoseFestivalinBulgaria;June22tourfollowsourAlbaniaToursOctober1tourfollowsAlbania,BalkansExplorer&Comprehensivetours

ExperienceBulgarianandRomaniantraditionsandcultureinsceniccountryside;visittheuniquepaintedmonasterieswithamazingfrescoes;enjoytheexquisitetasteoftheregion’scuisineandits’finewines.

Rila Monastery Mural

HighlightsoftheTourculturalandhistoricmonuments

museums&artgalleriesBulgarianicon-paintingheritagecolorfultraditionalclothing

theuniquepaintedmonasteriesandwoodenchurchesofBucovinaMedievalTransylvania

thenaturalbeautyofthemountains

UNESCOListofWorldHeritageSitesincludedonourtour:BoyanaChurchRilaMonasteryKazanlukTomb

IvanovoRockChurchesHistoricalCenterofSibiuSighisoaraUpperTown

VillageswithfortifiedchurchesofSouthTransylvaniaWoodenChurchesofMaramures

ExteriorpaintedMonasteriesofBucovinaNeamtCitadel

Timeless Charms of Bulgaria

NestlingattheheartofCentralEuropeandoccupyingtheeasternpartoftheBalkanPeninsula,Bulgariaisalandofunspoilednaturalbeauty,wheretimehasbeenknowntostandstill.TothenorthitbordersRomania,tothewesttheRepublicofMacedoniaandtheFederalRepublicofYugoslavia,totheeasttheBlackSea,tothesouthGreeceandtothesoutheastTurkey.Thetopographyisextremelyvaried:largeplainsandlowlands,lowandhighmountains,valleysandlovelygorges.

DetailedItinerary

Day1ArrivalinSofia.Transfertothehotel,10km–30min.Day2Sofia(B,D)Youwillbepickedupatthehotelat9amanddrivetoSt.NedelyaSquarewherewestartour2.5hourwalkingcitytour.Thetourincludesthe4thcenturySt.GeorgeRotunda--afinemonumentofRomanarchitecture,theSt.SophiaearlyChristianbasilica,6thcentury,whichgavethecityitsname,andtheAlexanderNevskyMemorialCathedralwithitsgoldendomes,impressiveinterior,exquisitemurals,iconsandcolorfulmosaics.WealsovisittheSpanish-MoresquestylesynagogueandJewishMuseum,aswellasthememorialcommemoratingthe“SavingoftheBulgarianJews.”Thesynagogue,thechurchSvetaNedelya,andtheonlysurvivingactivemosqueintown-areallfacingeachother.Theafternoontourstartswithavisittothe13thcenturyBoyanaChurch,includedintheUNESCOListofWorldHeritageSites.Afterwards,avisittotheNationalHistoryMuseum,whichhousesanexcellentcollectionofBulgarianartifacts..ThisisfollowedbyatourofMountainVitosha.We’lldriveupthemountaintotheGoldenBridgesandenjoythebeautyoftheStoneRiver–aribbonofhugebouldersrunningdownthemountainsidethatwasoncethemoraineofanancientglacier.Thisevening,pickupfromthehotelat7pmfordinneratalocalrestaurant.Day3RilaMonastery-RozhenMonastery-Melnick(B,L)April8isOrthodoxEasterDrive2hrstothe10thcenturycolorfully-paintedRilaMonastery,alsointheUNESCOListofWorldHeritageSites.Weshallalsoseethe14thcenturyHrelyoTower,thefive-domedBirthoftheBlessedVirginChurch(theoriginalmonasterykitchensfromthe19thcenturyareclosedforrestoration).Themonasteryhousesarichmuseumcollectionofvaluableoldmanuscriptsanddocuments,chartersandicons,anethnographicexhibitionoffabrics,jewelry,carpetsandwroughtironobjects,andalibrarycontainingmorethan16,000books.Fourtofivemonksstilllivehere.DuringOrthodoxEaster,wewillattendtheserviceatRilaMonasteryandobservethelocalpeopledressedintheirfinest.Driveto12-13thcenturyRozhenMonastery(1.5hrs),withitsBlessedVirginChurch,decoratedwithover150biblicalscenes.Wehavelunchatalocalrestaurantontheway.Afterwards,wedriveabout30minutestothecharmingmuseumtownofMelnik,surroundedbystrangely-shapedsandstonerocks.WevisittheManolev'swine-cellar,dugintosandstonerocksontopofahillabovetown.Wewillwalkthruthecellarandsitoutsideforafineview!Forthosethatwish,severaltypesofwinescanbeentastedandbought(paydirect,approx.26euro).Day4Bansko-Plodiv(B,L)MorningvisittoKordopulovaHouse,alocalhistoricalmuseumandsometimetowalkabouttown.TheKordopulovaHousewasbuiltin1758anditisnamedafterthewinemerchantManolisKordopulovtowhomitoncebelonged.ThecuriousfactaboutthehouseisthatitissupposedtobethebiggestresidentialbuildingontheBalkanPeninsulafromtheRevivalPeriod.Thepearlofthehouseisthereceptionroom,havingtwenty-fourwindowswithVenetianstainedglassfacingthefourdirectionsoftheworld.Whatcanalsobeseenisfinewoodcarvingsanddrawnornamentsoncupboardsandceilings.AnothernotablepartoftheKordopulovaHouseistheenormouswinecellar,equippedwithspecialcanalsandventilation.Atpresent,thehouseisamuseumthatisopendailyfrom8:00am-8:00pm.DrivetothemuseumtownofBansko(1.5hrs)toexperienceBulgariancultureandancientarchitecture.We’llstrollthecobblestonestreetsandvisittheHolyTrinityChurchbuiltinthe19thcenturyandknownforitsinteriorwoodcarvingsandmuralspaintedbylocalartists.Lunchstopatatraditionalfamilyownedrestaurant,en-route.DrivetoPlovdiv(2.5hrs),famousforitsOldTownwithdistinctiverevivalarchitecturepopularamong18th-19thcentury

merchants.PlovdivisBulgaria’ssecondlargestcity,oneofthemostcolorfultownsinBulgariaandoneoftheoldestinEurope.Noonecantellexactlywhenthefoundationstonewaslaidhere,althoughitmusthavebeenover5000yearsago.Its’location,astridetheMaritsaRiverandits’sixhills,whichareprominentfeaturesontheThracianplain,indicatesthestrategicsignificanceofthecity.HeretheHillsmeettheValleyandtheRiver...andirresistiblecharmofthiscityisdelightful.AsweapproachPlodivwewillviewfromtheroadtheBachkovoMonastery,risingamidstthegreenslopesoftheRhodopesMountains.Wewillvisitittomorrow.WesuggestdinneratHebros,excellentcuisine,serviceandambiance;theyoftenhavejazzinevenings(paydirect).Reservationsareamust.Tellyourguideatleast1dayinadvanceifyouwanttogoandhewillmakethereservationforyou.Day5FulldayinandaroundPlodiv.(B,L)Morningcitysightseeingincludestheoldtown,the2ndcenturyRomanTheater,EthnographicMuseum,TheHolyVirginChurchandothers.AwalkaroundtheThreeHillsisliketravelingbackintime.WewillalsohaveanexcursionoutsidethecitytotheBachkovoMonastery.Foundedin1083byGrigoriiBacuriani,amilitarycommanderintheByzantineEmpire,itboastsarichmuseumcollectionandalibrarycontainingvaluablemanuscriptsinalovelysetting.LunchinthegardenofatraditionalrestaurantcalledPuldih,builtfromtheRomanfortifiedwallinOldTown(pendingavailability,assometimestheyareclosedforspecialevents).Ifthisrestaurantisclosedwewillgotoanotherverynicetraditionalrestaurant.ThisafternoonwewillvisitworkshopsoflocalartisanstolearnaboutBulgariancrafts,especiallypottery.Afterwards,visitstoOrthodoxchurches(theSt.ConstantineandHelenaChurch).Therestofthedayisindependenttimetostrollthequainttown.Intheevening,thereareoftenspecialeventsattheamphitheaterfromlateMaythoughSeptember-October.Youmayelecttoattendsuchaneventoptionally(extrafee)shouldtherebeoneduringyourvisit.Day6Koprivshtitsa-ValleyofRoses(Kazanlak)-VelikoTurnovo(B,L)June3isRoseFestivalDepartat9amdrivingnorth(approx1.5hrs)tothevillageKoprivshtitsa,knownforitsinternationalfolklorefestivalwhichoccursonceeveryfiveyears,bringingtogetherover12,000performersfromalloverBulgaria,makingitoneofthebiggestfestivalsinEurope!Continuedriving1.5hourstoKazanlakisthemaincityoftheRoseValley,recentlyknownastheValleyoftheThracianKings.TheregionaroundKazanlakisdottedwithdozensofThracianburialmounds.Here,insummer2004Prof.KitovandateamoffellowarchaeologistsunearthedanancientgoldfuneralmaskthattheysayisasimportantadiscoveryasthetreasuresofAgamemnonandTutankhamen.Thisextremelypreciousdiscoveryisdisplayedinthelocalmuseum.SightseeingtourinKazanlakincludes:theTyulbe(small15thcenturyIslamicmausoleum),MuseumoftheRoseandthereplicaofKazanlakTombfromthelate4th–early3rdcenturyB.C.whichisontheUNESCOWorldHeritageListofSites.ThefuneralobjectsandfrescoesdepictinghuntingscenesandthefuneralsuggestthataTraciankingwasprobablyburiedhere.ThefrescoesherearethefinestmasterpiecesofTracianartdiscoveredtodate.Theoriginaltombishousedinaspecialbuildingandnotavailablefortourists’viewing.

DuringtheRoseFestival,weskipthevisittoKoprivshtitsaasweneedtogettoKazanlakinthemorning.Wewilldepartat6:30amtoreachtherosefieldsfortherosepickingritualat8:30am.WedrivethroughtheValleyoftheRoses,alongtheBalkanRangetoBanyaandKazanlak(approx1.5hr).Wewillparticipateinrosepicking.Therewillbeafolkloricshowwithmusicintherosefields.Younggirlsdressedintraditionalattiredecorateeachguestwithrosegarlandsthattheyplaitedthepreviousnightsotheyareveryfresh.Youcanjointhe“horo”dance.WethengotothemainsquareinKazanlakwheretheRoseQueenParadewillstartat12noon.Wehavereservedseatsandwillmixwiththelocalcrowd,seethecarnivalandenjoythespiritofthefestival.Wewillenjoyapicniclunchwithwineandanotherfolkloricshow.NOTE:ofteninJunetheweatherisrainyhere-greatfortheroses,butweprayforsunforyou!

ContinueontoEtar(30min)inthetownofGabrovotovisittheEthnographicOpen-airVillageMuseum.EverythingsurroundingthevisitorbringshimorherbacktotheperiodoftheBulgarianRevivalwithnumerousworkshopswhereeventodaythecraftsmenwork,usingthesameinstrumentsandtechniquesasthepast.Youcantalktothecraftsmen,watchthemworkandcaneventrytomakesomethingyourself.DriveonwardtoVelikoTurnovo(50min),thecapitalcityofthesecondBulgarianKingdom(12-14thc.).Optional-Basedonoperation/additionalcost:AttendeveningSoundandLightshow,startsaftersunset,approx9:30pm.

Day7VelikoTarnovo,TsarevetsandArbanassi.-Bucharest(B)Departat8:30amforthetourofTsarevets,theplaceofthepatriarchalchurchandTzar'sroyalpalaces,thehillwhereBauldwin’sTowerstillrises.(BulgarianTzarKaloyandefeatedthearmyoftheLatinEmperorBaldwinofFlanders,whowastakenprisonerandkeptinthetoweruntilhisdeath.)OnwardtoArbanassi,acharmingmedievalvillagerichwith17thcenturyarchitecture.Itwasthesummerresidenceofboyars(nobility)ofthemedievalcapitalcityofTarnovo.The300yearsoldhousesfromtheperiodoftheBulgarianRenaissancetogetherwiththefivemagnificentchurchesdatingbackto17thcentury,decoratedwithuniquepaintingsandwoodcarvingareofgreatinterest.Next,wewillviewTrapezitsafromTsarevetsHill-wherethefoundationsof17medievalchurcheswerediscoveredandtheoriginalSamovodeneMarketstood.Thismarkethasbeenbroughtbacktolifeand,asinoldentimes,skillfulcraftsmenfashionandsellexquisiteobjectsinthesmallrestoredworkshops.Wewilldrive1.5hrtoRousse,en-routevisitanotherUNESCOsite-IvanovoRockchurchesnearRousse.WewillhaveashortstopforlunchinRuse(paydirect).Continue100km(approx2hrs,dependingontrafficandbordercrossingtime)toBucharest.WeplantoarriveinBucharestbyabout4pm.OurRomaniaguidewillmeetyouatreceptiondeskandfacilitateyourcheck-in.

Romania Myths and Magic

Castles, Painted Monasteries & Folklore

Day8Bucharest(B,D)

ExploreBucharest’shistory,architectureandculturalsites.Inthemorning,apanoramictourincludingavisittotheoutdoorVillageMuseumandtheMuseumoftheRomanianPeasant,whichhasawonderfulcollectionoftraditionalcrafts,folkarts,ceramicsandtextiles.WewillalsovisittheGreatSynagogue,builtin1845,restoredin1945.ItnowadayshostsanexhibitionentitledTheMemorialofJewishMartyrs“ChiefRabbiDr.MozesRosen”.Duringthelate1980s,justlikemanychurchesinthearea,thissynagoguewasvirtuallysurroundedbyconcretebuildings,soastohideitfrompublicsight.Itstillhostsweekendreligiousservices,beingoneofthefewactivesynagoguesinthecityandinRomania.Thisafternoon,avisittothePalaceofParliament,RevolutionSquare,Patriarch'sCathedralandawalkinthehistoricarea.Pleasenote:weoftenhavetowaitabittogetintoPalaceofParliamentastoursareconductedingroupsandthereisa

limitednumberofEnglishspeakingguides.Weappreciateyourpatience.Welcomedinneratalocalrestaurant.Day9Bucharest–Sibiu(288km,179miles)(B)CrossingtheCarpathianstoSibiu,wedrivealongthepicturesqueOltValleytotheCoziaMonastery,oneoftheoldestmonasteriesinRomania,builtin1386.ArriveinSibiu,aroundnoon.Checkinandlunchonyourown.SibiuisoneoftheoldestSaxontownsinTransylvania-formerlyHermannstadt–foundedbytheSaxoncolonistsandoncetherichesttownofTransylvania).

Day10Sibiu(B,L)

Thismorningaguidedwalkingtourofthemedievaltown,averyprettytownwithcobblestonestreetsandpastelhouses;15-16thcenturytownsquares,PodulMincinosilor(theLiars’Bridge)andoldcitywalls.WeshallviewtheEvangelicalChurchfromtheoutside,visittheoldestartmuseuminthecountry,theBruckentalPalaceMuseum.Weshallhaveanearlylunchandenjoyahorseandcarriageridethrutheopen-airmuseumofAstra,alsoknowastheMuseumofTraditionalFolkCivilizations(largestopenairmuseumofRomania).ThisafternoonwewillvisittraditionalvillagesnearbyincludingCisnadie&CisnadioarawiththeirbeautifulfortifiedSaxonchurchesandthemountainvillageofSibieltovisitthepaintedglassiconmuseum–auniqueRomanianart.Day11Sibiu–Biertan–Sighisoara(B)DeparturetoSighisoara,en-routewevisitthevillageofBiertanwithitslocalfortifiedSaxonChurch,aUNESCOsite.Sighisoaraisoneofthegreatestmedievalcitiesleftintheworld,withawalledcitadelonthehilltop,secretgatewaysandpassages,a14thcenturyClockTowerandalsothebirthplaceofPrinceVladTepes(Dracula).Itisthebest-preservedandcontinuouslyinhabitedmedievalcityofEurope.Uponarrival,freetimeforlunchonyourown.Therearemanyoutdoorcafes,allwithinablockortwowalkingdistancefromourhotel.Intheafternoon,weenjoyaleisurelywalkingexplorationofthesights.OvernightaccommodationinsidetheoldfortresswallsinSighisoara.Day12VaduIzeiVillage-(IzaValley)(B,D)(May20WhitSunday)

TourwithWhitSunday:PentecostisaprominentfeastintheChristianliturgicalyearcommemoratingthedescentoftheHolySpirituponthedisciplesofChristaftertheResurrectionofJesus.ThefeastisalsocalledWhitSunday,Whitsun,orWhit.Pentecostiscelebratedsevenweeks(50days)afterEasterSunday,henceitsname.PentecostfallsonthetenthdayafterAscensionThursday.PentecostishistoricallyandsymbolicallyrelatedtotheJewishharvestfestivalofShavuot,whichcommemoratesGodgivingtheTenCommandmentsatMountSinaififtydaysaftertheExodus.WeshallvisittheSighisoaraOrthodoxChurchinthemorningtowitnessabitoftheservices.

TodaywedrivetoMaramures,thelandofwoodenchurchesandcarvedwoodengates,uniquefolkcostumesandtraditions,whereancientRomaniacoexistswithmoderntimes.Duringourdrive,wewillseelocalpeopledeckedoutintheirfinesttraditionalclothing.Thewomenintheirpuffyskirtsandkerchiefsallwalkingtogetherareawonderfulsight!Ontheway,wevisitThePalaceofCultureandthestunningstainedglasswindowsinTarguMuresandstopatalocalrestaurantforlunch(paydirect).ThedrivecontinuesthroughtheenchantingcountrysidetothevillageofVaduIzei,IzaValley,whereyoucanexperiencelocalpeasantlife.Thisevening,adinnerwith"ceterasi"-localviolinplayers.Overnightatacharmingguesthouseinthevillage.NOTE:Ifyoudonotfancystayinginavillageguesthouse,thereisanoptiontoovernightinasmallhotelabout20minutedrivefromthevillage.AdditionalSurcharge.Youwillstillvisitthevillageandenjoydinnerandmusic.

Day13Maramures(B,D)

AttendWhitSundayservices/theMondayfollowingatthevillagechurch.Maramuresisthebestplacetoseeallthecelebrations.Villagersdecoratetheirhomesandgateswithlindentree,poplarandoakbranches.Theymakecrownsmadeofelderberryandwheat,whichyoungsterswilllaterwearattheirweddings.Theyarealsointhehabitofcrackinglindentreeleaves(makinglotsofnoise)toscareawaythebadspirits.Therearecelebrationsforthedead.Wecannotsayforsurehowmanyofthesecustomswewillsee,butwewilldefinitelygetintothecelebratoryatmospherewiththelocals.

Morning:awalkingtourofthevillageincludingavisittoanicon-on-glassworkshop(learnaboutthetechnique),thelocalancientplumbrandydistilleryandatypicalwhirlpoolstillusedbythelocalwomentowashheavywoolenblankets.VaduIzeihasabrand-newOrthodoxchurchthatisquitefascinating.Afterwards,wedepartforafulldaytouroftheMaramuresregionincludingtheSighetulMarmatiei,CalinestiandDesestiwoodenchurches(partoftheUNESCOWorldCulturalHeritagesites)aswellastheuniqueMerryCemeteryinSapantaVillage.Wevisitoneofthelocalmarketsandminglewiththecolorfulcrowdswearingtraditionalfolk-costumesandobservetheircenturies-oldtraditions.ReturntoVaduIzeifordinnerandovernight.Day14Maramures-Bucovina:GuraHumorului(B,L)DrivethroughthescenicOrientalCarpathians(currentlyPrislopPassisverydamaged)totheBucovinaregion,renownedforthewondrouslydetailedexteriorfrescoesonthewallsofitsmonasteries/churches.Ontheway,wewilladmirethesuperbwoodenarchitectureofBarsanamonasteryandthe18thcenturyRozavleawoodenchurch,withitsbeautifullypreservedinteriorpaintings.WewillstopforluncheitherinBistritaortheBorgoPass.BasedOnAvailability:WevisitthehomeofLetitia,averytalentedeggpainter.LetitialivesinthevillageofVama.Sheisadesignerbytrainingandalsoteachesschool.BorninVama,shegraduatedfromuniversityinIasiandlivedinBucharestforatime.Shereturnedtohervillagemanyyearsagoandlearnedhowtopainteggs,thisbeingalocalcustom.Sheisverytalentedandhereggs,threeorfourtimesthepriceoftheaverageones,areofthefinestquality.Shehasgainedinternationalrecognitionandhasacollectionofpaintedeggsfromallovertheworldexhibitedatherhome.Transfertohotel.Eveningatleisure.Day15Bucovina(B,L)VisitthefamouspaintedmonasteriesofnorthernMoldova-partoftheUNESCOWorldCulturalHeritageSites-intheirconstructionandpaintingorder,followingtheevolutionofthearchitectureandpainting:Voronet,Moldovita,SucevitaandHumor.TheVoronetMonastery,builtin1488,isoneofthemostbeautifulanddubbedthe"SistineChapeloftheEast.”MoldovitaMonasteryiswheretheUNESCOGoldenAppleawardiskeptthatwasgiventothepaintedchurchesbackin1975.OnthesouthfacadeofMoldovitaisTheSiegeofConstantinople,belongingtothe24episodesoftheHymntotheHolyVirgin.Sucevitaisthelargestofall,lookingmorelikeamightyfortressthanamonastery.TheLadderofJohnofSinaiisconsideredoneofthebestofthefrescoesofSucevita,rarelypresentinmedievalRomanianart.HumorMonasterywaspaintedbyTomaofSuceavain1530,andlacksthetower.Additionally,weshallvisittheBlackPotteryWorkshopinMargineaVillage.LunchatPopasTuristicBucovina,acharmingandexcellentMoldavianrestaurant,3.5km(2.2miles)southofSucevita,intheheartoftheCarpathianMountains.Day16Bucovina-TarguNeamt-PiatraNeamt-Brasov(B,L)

Visitthe15thcenturyNeamtCitadel(15minwalkuphill)andthe15thcenturyNeamtMonastery.DepartureacrossthemountainstoBrasovthroughthespectacularBicazGorges-BicazLake(largestlakeinRomaniaandabreathtaking25miledrive)–theRedLake–MiercureaCiuc.LunchatLacuRosuRestaurantbyRedLake.ArrivalinBrasovaround6pm.Eveningstrollandrelaxonthepedestrianonlyplazaofoldtown.Therearemanygreatrestaurantsandbeergardenstochoosefrom.Day17Brasov-Bran-Sinaia-Bucharest(210km)(ThepageantofJuniisApril15)(B,L)EnjoyaguidedwalkingtourinthehistoricalcenterofBrasov(formerlyKronstadt)includingtheBlackChurch,thelargestgothicstructurebetweenViennaandIstanbul;admiringitsgreatcollectionoforientalcarpets.Afterwardsabrieftimetoexploreonyourown.

JunitakesplaceintheScheiQuarterofBrasov-thisiswheretheRomaniansusedtoliveintheMiddleAges.Itstartsinthemorningandcontinuesthroughtheafternoon.Theeventincludesaprocession/ceremonywhichblendselementsofmyth,rites,ceremonyandmagic.Thereare7categoriesofJuni,thatarepartofthiscarnival,allinverycolorfulcostumes,mostofthemonhorseback.TheyproceedfromSchei-theoldRomanianQuarterandridetothecenteroftownandintotheGreatSquare.ItisaveryoldcustomfromthetimesoftheDaciansandisrelatedtoanoldpaganritualwhenwinterisoverandspringbegins.Thechangingofcycles:sunwinsoverfrost.

Next,a30minutedrivetovisit“Dracula’sCastle”inBran.LunchinBranatPopasulRegineiRestaurant.WethendriveonehouracrossthemountainstoSinaia,awell-knownskiresortnicknamedthe“PearloftheCarpathians,”admiringtheoldSaxonfortifiedchurchesen-route.WewillvisittheSinaiaMonastery,theoldestbuildingintown(1695)andbuiltinthetypical"Brancovenesc"architecturalstyle(reminiscentofMogosoaiaPalace).Afterwards,ashort15minutedrivetovisitthefabulousPelesCastle–formersummerroyalresidenceofKingCharlesIofRomaniaandknownasoneofthemostbeautifulsummerroyalresidencesinEurope(groundflooronly/bestpart).Note:Visitorsarerequiredtojoinanofficialguidedtour,onecannotgothroughindependently.Therearealimitednumberofguidesatthepalaceandwearenotallowedtomakereservationsinadvance.Hencetherecanbeawaittoenter.Afterthistour,it’sabouttwohoursdrivesouthtoBucharest.Day18DepartBucharestTransfertotheairport.(B)

Price:$4045perpersonbasedonmin4people.SingleRoomSupplement:$485SupplementOptionofhotelintownratherthanguesthouseinvillage:$65perpersontwinshare.Singleroomsupplement:$48.RoseFestivalsupplement:$45includesrosepicking,reservedseatingfortheparade,folkloreshow

Includes:

airporttransfersonarrival/departuredatesofthetour)alltransportationduringtheprogram:4-6people8seatMercedesmini-van;7-13peoplein17-19seatcoach.escortedthroughoutthetour:driver-guidefor2-6people,driverwithseparateguide7-13peopleentrancefeesaccommodationsin3-4starhotels(weuse3starhotelsonlywhenthatisthebestavailable).Meals:dailybreakfast,9lunches,4dinners-asindicatedinitinerarybottledwaterduringdrives(1litrebottleperpersonperday).DoesNotInclude:internationalflight,tips,personalexpensessuchasdrinks,laundry,phonecalls,insuranceHotelsAslistedorsimilar:Locationofallhotelsarewithineasywalkingdistanceofthecitycenters.Sofia:ThraciaPremierHotelBestWestern,4*,centrallocationnearcafesandshops,pleasantrooms,excellentservices;

oneofthebestdowntownhotelshttp://www.thraciahotel.com/Melnick:DespotSlavHotelisaquaint,traditionalhotel.Theambianceiswarm/homey.http://www.despotslav.com/index.php?l=enPlodiv:Renaissancehotelisasuperb19thcenturytraditionallocatedintheOldTownofPlovdiv.http://renaissance-bg.com/www4/en/VelikoTarnovo:GurkoHotelisasmall,3-star,inoldtown,a5minutewalktothecitycenter.http://www.hotel-gurko.com/index_en.phpBucharest:HotelBerthelot,brandnewfourstar,locatedinaquietareaintheverycentreofBucharest,veryclosetotheRevolutionSquare,museum,qualityshops,Amzeifruitandvegetablemarketandanarrayofqualityrestaurants,someoutdoors.http://www.hotelberthelot.ro/en/Sibiu:HotelImparatulRomanilor,locatedintheoldpartofSibiunearthemainsquare,ina16thcenturybuildingbuiltinthetraditionalTransylvanianrenaissancestyle,aformermerchant'shalltransformedintohotelinthe18thcentury,withmanyfamousguests:emperorFrantzJosephII,composersFrantzLiszt,JohanStrauss,PrinceCharlesamongothers.http://www.imparatulromanilor.ro/Sighisoara:CasacuSerb(akaHousewithAntler)http://www.casacucerb.ro/en/orHotelWagnerhttp://www.casa-wagner.com/ro/-3star,locatedinthebestpreservedandfortifiedtowninSoutheastEurope,surroundedbyhistoricalbuildingsandcobblestonestreets.ThebuildingofCasacuSerbwastheformertownhallinthe19thcentury,beautifullyturnedintoahotelwhilepreservingtheoldarchitectureandcharm.Maramures:CovaciuGuesthouse,twomodernvillas,eachwith3roomsand2bathrooms,TVandaudio-videosystem.Thelocationisexcellent,inaquietneighborhood,farawayfromthemainstreet.Theterracesofferabeautifulviewofthevillage.Thehostisawell-known"ceteras”(traditionalviolinplayer)soheiswellconnectedtothevillagemusichappenings.Wemayperhapsbeinvitedtoattendaneveninglocalmusic/dance,eventorprivategatheringofCovacius'friendsandneighbors(notguaranteed.)http://www.ruraltourism.ro/maram/pensmar/vaduizei/covaciu%20ioan/html/covaciuen.htmlhttps://www.facebook.com/Pensiunea-Covaciu-Guesthouse-Covaciu-503645626398259/photos*OROptiontostayatHotelinSighet,HotelCasaLurcahttp://casaiurca.ro/orGradinaMoriiHotelhttp://www.hotelgradinamorii.ro/Thisisa20minutedrivefromthevillage;doesnotincludedinners.Additionalsurcharge.Bucovina(GuraHumorului):BestWesternhttp://www.bestwesternbucovina.ro/Centrallocation,goodstandardqualityofBestWesternchain.orLaConachttp://laconacinbucovina.ro/Smallboutiquestyle,localarchitecturalstyle&ambianceBrasov:CasaWagner,aboutiquehotelrightintheCouncilSquare.http://www.casa-wagner.com/ro/*WeplannedthetourwithtwonightsstayinatypicalvillageinMaramuresregiontohaveinteractionwitharealfamilyandnotanotherbed&breakfastexperience.TheMrs.isaprofessionalcookandthemealsareamazingandabundant.TheMr.isatraditionalviolinist.Theyarewond4fulpeople.Thehomeiscleanbutdonotexpecthotelamenities.

Sequencingoftheactivitieseachdayissubjecttochange.

Extension to Moldova follows Romania Tours. Please request details