Travel Detail

Former communist leader Nicolae Ceausescu led Romania through some of its darkest times in history. Marks of his cruel regime are still visible in Romania's capital, Bucharest, today and this privately guided tour is a step back in time, offering an interesting, yet stark reminder of how dreams of glory are sometimes built on oppression and manipulation. Your tour begins with a trip to some of the metro stations built under the Ceausescu Regime. What's interesting is that the network was designed totally different from other Eastern European systems. The stations were simple, clean-cut and modern, avoiding fanciful additions such as mosaics, and other excessive decorations. The main objective was speed of transit and practicality, each station and line being assigned a color theme and laid-out in an open plan. Ignoring typical communist-style uniformity, no station was made to look exactly like any other. Despite all this, the city's energy economy in the late 1980s kept many stations quite dark and system modernization has still not managed to totally fix the problem.

To better understand a communist neighbourhood, you'll see places such as Berceni and Bucharest's western district of Drumul Taberei, the latter filled with monotonous slabs of concrete and the deafening sound of drills and car horns in the air. This was Ceausescu's idea of a centrally planned housing project, built especially for the working class. Yet this neighborhood grew initially from a genuine concept centered on the needs of citizens until the regime took over the duties of urban planning and constructed taller and bigger blocks throughout the city. You will have a chance to walk around some of these areas and get a glimpse of some quite amazing street art, rather than mindless graffiti, something that was strictly prohibited during communist rule.

Your next stop and visit could be described as the 'World's ultimate white elephant' and it certainly suggests the pinnacle of megalomania. Ceausescu had 9,000 homes demolished to make way for the Palace of Parliament, originally called the 'House of the Republic'. It was, finally, completed eight years after his execution in 1989 and became the world's second-largest administrative building after the Pentagon. Because of its weight, it apparently sinks almost a quarter of an inch every year.

After your tour around the 'Palace' a short drive takes you to the Revolution Square where you can enjoy a brief walk around a place that was the starting point of the anti-communist revolution. It was here, on December 21, 1989, that a crowd of over 100,000 people, brought in as was the fashion to cheer Ceausescu, turned the tables by jeering him on live television. It was to be his last public speech and he fled by helicopter from the roof of the building the following morning.

The final stop of your tour visits the Spring Palace, the opulent residence of Nicolae Ceausescu and his wife Elena and since 2016, a museum. The 80-room residence, designed in the mid-1960s to the specifications of the former dictator and his wife, who reportedly personally picked the chandeliers and mosaics, is a Bucharest landmark not to be missed. Upon completing the tour of the residential palace, your communist tour comes to an end, and you will be dropped back at your hotel.

This privately guided tour introduces you to an interesting piece of Romanian history by visiting Cuerta de Arges, one of its most magnificent cultural highlights, before taking you on a breathtaking journey along one of the country's most exhilarating roads, the Transfagarasan. You'll leave your hotel early in the morning and your first stop is about two hours away. Looking more like a mosque than a typical Orthodox church, the monastery of Curtea de Arges is a historical site and a wonderful example of how art and cultural influences can happily mix to represent the architectural grace of different religious faiths. Built by Wallachian Prince Neagoe Basarab, the consecration ceremony in 1517 was attended by the Patriarch of Constantinople, a testament to its religious importance. Sadly, earthquakes and fires wreaked much destruction on the edifice, and it was not until 1875 that serious reconstruction work commenced. Today it is a necropolis not only for its medieval founders, but also Romania's royal family, with both King Carol I and King Ferdinand I, as well as Queens Elisabeta and Maria buried here. The legend of Master Manole adds a tale of woe associated with the building. Prince Radu the Black hired Manolo and nine of his men to build the most beautiful monastery in the country. Curiously, the newly built walls crumbled every night and the prince threatened to kill the entire crew. One night, clearly desperate, Manolo had a dream suggesting that for the monastery to be built, a person loved by him or his masons would need to be entombed inside the walls. Manolo told his men and they agreed that the first of their wives coming to the castle bringing their lunch would be the human sacrifice. It was Manolo's wife.

Leaving Curtea de Arges behind, your journey takes you up the first part of the splendid highway up the Carpathian Mountains until you pass Poenari Castle, sitting on top of an isolated and eerie cliff, 2,800 feet above ground. Unlike Bran Castle, Poenari can lay claim to being one of the key residences of Vlad Tepes, who repaired and consolidated the original structure back in the 15th century. The fortress is, currently, under renovation and cannot be visited for some time to come.

Shortly afterwards, you'll reach the truly riveting part of the trip. The Transfagarasan, also known as Ceausescu's Folly, is one of the most spectacular roads in the world. It is roughly 90 km (56 miles) long and has more tunnels and viaducts than any other road in Romania. It's been written up in numerous magazines and the well-known British Television motor show Top Gear filmed here in 2009. They were, apparently, highly impressed. It was built between 1970 and 1974 by the military on orders from Nicolae Ceausescu. 6,000 tons of dynamite were used to clear a path for the road on the northern side of the mountains and 40 soldiers, apparently, lost their lives during construction. Many people claim that the loss of life was, actually, in the hundreds. The drive is spectacular, featuring numerous curves and switchbacks that provide brilliant views back from where you started your ascent and you should ask your driver to stop whenever a magic photo opportunity presents itself, which is virtually every two minutes.

You have a chance for lunch (not included) around an area called Valea cu Pesti and from there it's approximately an hour before you reach Balea Lake, a natural wonder in its own right with crystal-clear, icy water surrounded by gorgeous mountain peaks. This is the northernmost point of the trip and you can enjoy some time by the lake or going for a short hike, before you return to Bucharest.

Bucharest - Oras to Brasov

Kronwell Brasov Hotel

3 Night Stay

The highlights of the Saxon villages of Transylvania are yours to discover today. The introduction of Saxon culture to Transylvania dates to 1153 when Hungarian King Geza II recruited mercenaries and craftsmen from what is today's Moselle area, to guard his borders against attacks from foreign invaders. In exchange, they received permanent rights of settlement. During their time, they built almost 200 fortified churches, scattered throughout the southern part Transylvania, Sighisoara, UNESCO-listed for its Historic Centre, and quaint Viscri, which is UNESCO-listed for its fortified church are the two stand-out features on this trip.

After meeting your driver-guide at your hotel, you'll first visit the citadel at Rupea, the focus of a major renovation project and opened to the public in 2013. Historians believe that the fortress was built on old Dacian ruins since archeologist have found pottery, urns and tools from that period. As you approach, you see that it is almost shaped like a snail shell, consisting of three smaller fortresses each one of them built in a different time.

Leaving the citadel, you are now an hour's drive away from a very special place. Does it simply have the best-preserved medieval citadel in Europe, or is it one of the last genuinely medieval towns on the planet? Undoubtedly, Sighisoara is the pearl of Transylvania. The location of its magnificent historic center is on a hill, surrounded by thick, fortified walls and towered over by a gorgeous, bewitching-looking 14th century clock tower. Steps away, on the citadel square, Tin Street No. 1 is an address of serious significance. It is the house where Vlad Dracul and his pregnant wife stayed between 1431-35 and thus the birthplace of another Vlad, namely Vlad Tepes, the Impaler. Today, the ground floor opens to a medieval-style restaurant, while the first floor houses a small weapon museum. The citadel square is a busy place during the summer season with lots of al-fresco restaurants, and here your guide can help you find a suitable place for lunch (not included).

After lunch, head to Viscri is to walk the unpaved roads of a village where time appears to have stood still. Virtually all were built several hundred years ago, the faded colors of window shutters adding their own peculiar charm. Meanwhile, Viscri's famous church continues to keep a protective look down upon the village rooftops.

The atmosphere on this privately guided program will be further enhanced by the castle's 'nightshift', dressed in capes and holding aloft lanterns as they lead you up spiral staircases and along narrow corridors to ensure that you are fully immersed in a medieval experience. This is a great 'behind-the-scenes' tour of the castle.

Importantly, though, you should imagine the evening as if you are temporarily on a movie set, playing out scenes for a Count Dracula story. The reason for this is simple: Bran Castle, despite its suggestive looks, is not Dracula's Castle. Although many a myth connect the real Vlad Dracula, more widely known as Vlad Tepes or Vlad the Impaler with Bran, virtually all historians agree that he never set foot in the place. Knowledge of this should, of course, not deter you from enjoying a potentially spooky, vampiric evening.

History buffs might be interested to know that the partially ruined castle was offered as a gift to Romania's Queen Maria who restored and modernized the old fortress, transforming it into one of her favorite royal residences. After her death in 1938, the castle was inherited by her favorite daughter, Princess Ileana. She lived here with her family until the end of 1947 when the communists forced her to leave the country. Fast-tracking to 2009, possession of the castle was given to its legal heir, Archduke Dominic von Habsburg, who opened the refurbished castle to the public as the first private museum of the country.

Brasov to Bucharest Otopeni Airport

Cluj Airport to Cluj Napoca

Platinia Hotel

3 Night Stay

The meeting with your guide for the Cluj city tour is in Museum Squere. Known as the city of arts, reminiscent of the Roman colony that settled in the second century A.D. Most of the attractions are clustered around Union Square, displaying Baroque-style architecture. Your first visit will be at the Cathedral of St. Michael, with its fantastic spire towering 262 feet high and dominating the whole market. Next, you will visit the Banffy Palace, home to the National Art Museum, and walk on the one of a kind Mirror Street where the buildings situated on the right are the reflection of the ones on the left side. You will reach the Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral placed in the middle of the square where is the statue of Avram Iancu, the leader of the Romanian revolution in 1848. Afterward, you will have the opportunity to observe the beautiful elements that characterize the National Theatre. From your tour guide, you will find many insights about the local life, like the best places to eat, where you can drink a local beer, or if you want to impress your wife with a romantic dinner.

First, we'll delve into the fascinating history of the Turda Salt Mine, one of the world's oldest and most unique salt mines. The mine has a rich history that dates back to the Roman Empire. Salt extraction from this mine began during the Roman occupation in 107 AD, and it continued to be a significant source of salt for the region for centuries. Step inside this remarkable underground world and marvel at the striking salt formations, massive halls, and impressive machinery. Learn about the mine's fascinating history and hear the stories of those who worked here centuries ago. Next, we'll make our way to the majestic Corvin Castle, one of Europe's most stunning castles. The castle was originally built by the nobleman Voicu of Hunedoara in the 14th century, but it was later expanded and transformed into a formidable fortress by his son, John Hunyadi. The castle played a significant role in defending the region against the Ottoman Empire, and it was a vital military stronghold for the Kingdom of Hungary. Step back in time as you wander through the castle's halls and courtyards, marvel at the intricate
Gothic architecture and learn about the castle's storied past. Marvel at its Gothic architecture, learn about its rich history and explore its numerous chambers, halls, and courtyards.

Lunch: At your expense

Finally, we'll explore the grandeur of the Alba Carolina Fortress, a stunning example of Vauban-style military architecture. As we explore its many courtyards, ramparts, and bastions, we'll discover its history and role in Romania's past. In 1918, Alba Iulia played a pivotal role in Romania's unification when the Great National Assembly, comprising over 1,200 delegates from all over the country, gathered in the city to declare the unification of Transylvania with Romania. This event is considered one of the most important moments in modern Romanian history and is celebrated every year on December 1st as Romania's National Day. You'll be amazed at the scale and detail of this magnificent structure. You will explore the massive walls, towers, and bastions. In the evening, you will return to Cluj-Napoca, and your day trip will end.

Cluj Napoca to Cluj Airport