The tour starts at around midday in the north-eastern town of Suceava, which sits at the heart of the historical regions of Bukovina and Moldavia. After lunch and a stroll around the town we’ll head to nearby Sucevita by way of the black ceramic workshop in Marginea Village to see the craftsmen at work. Tonight we’ll have a traditional dinner while staying in renovated traditional wooden houses.

This morning we’ll drive the short distance to Moldovita to visit the village’s Eastern Orthodox monastery, a wonderful UNESCO 16th century building that blends Byzantine and Gothic influences and which holds the distinction of being one of the few churches around to be decorated with the famous Moldovian style of exterior painting. Afterwards we’ll take an easy/moderate walk up through grassland and forest heading towards the village of Runc, a small hamlet that lies encircled by dense forests of conifers and Europe’s largest population of large carnivores. This place perfectly encapsulates William Blacker’s first impressions, as captured in his acclaimed book “Along the Enchanted Way“ of a land frozen in time. Sheltering some of the last traditional peasant communities left in Europe, this is a land where mythical beasts and fairies share the landscape with bear and wolf populations that number in the thousands. These northern Romanian villages provide a glimpse back to a Europe of legend and romance, and as we continue down through the intoxicating vistas of the Moldovita Valley we pass through a world far beyond our own. Our next visit is to a workshop to witness one of the most skilful crafts left in Romania, that of the traditional art of egg painting. Following a tradition that is meant to date back to the crucifixion, painted eggs are believed to bring luck and keep away unholy spirits, with each intricate colour and pattern dispelling a different form of evil. After a demonstration of the skill and a chance to see some samples of this exquisite art, we return to Sucevita for our second night.

Approx. 3-4 hrs walking (500m ascent, 500m descent. Total distance 10kms) 

After a visit to Voronet Monastery, another of Romania’s UNESCO treasures, we’ll make for Vanatori Neamt Natural Park for an easy 1-2hr walk and the rare chance, in the company of a local ranger to observe free-roaming European Bison, in their natural habitat. Later we’ll head for Agapia and Varatec monastic villages which are home to almost 600 nuns. These unique monastic villages extend well beyond the convents’ precincts and contain many  beautiful pastel-coloured wooden houses. Travelling further, we’ll then enter Transylvania where we’ll find our overnight stop in Lacu Rosu, in the heart of Hasmas Mountains National Park.

After breakfast we’ll set out on foot to discover the majestic beauty of Hasmas Mountains National Park. Alternatively, those who might prefer a more relaxing morning can choose instead to have a free morning in and around the hotel. In the afternoon we’ll head westwards to Cluj, Transylvania’s unofficial capital, where the evening is free for you to discover this vibrant city at your own pace.

Approx. 3-4hrs easy/moderate walking (450m ascent, 450m descent. Total distance 7kms)

After a short morning walk around Cluj’s historic centre, we’ll drive a short distance south to the spectacular salt mines of Turda, considered to be one of the world’s finest. From here we’ll head to Sighisoara,  one of the best-preserved medieval towns anywhere in Europe; a 16th century gem of cobbled streets, watch-towers and ornate churches that positively exudes atmosphere and charm. Sighisoara is the birthplace of the infamous Vlad the Impaler (the progenitor of the Dracula legends) and the town was protected by a defensive ring of 14 watch towers and several bastions, each of which was maintained and defended by a separate guild.

A short distance away from Sighisoara we discover the Saxon UNESCO village of Viscri, one of a number founded by Germanic colonists in the 12th century at the invitation of the Hungarian king. Although now mostly gone, the Saxon settlers’ descendants have left behind a cultural legacy that is still very much in evidence in the region’s wonderful architecture, especially the medieval fortified churches that pepper the countryside.  Britain’s King Charles III, who has himself Saxon ancestry, has been very much involved in the efforts to preserve the rural architecture and the nature of this area. We will take a tour of the region by horse-drawn carriage, and meet with some of the local artisans before having a traditional lunch prepared by the locals, accompanied (of course!) by home-made brandy and wine. In the afternoon we’ll then drive to Brasov, one of the most picturesque cities in Transylvania. Built in the 12th century and fringed by the peaks of the Southern Carpathian Mountains,  Brasov was one of the region’s seven Saxon medieval walled citadels. Resplendent with Gothic, Baroque and Renaissance architecture, as well as a wealth of historical attractions, its location at the intersection of the trade routes linking the Ottoman Empire and western Europe, has  made Brasov a key strategic destination throughout the ages.  

This morning we leave the crowds of Romania’s better-known sights and take a short drive westwards to the scenic and stunningly located village of Magura. Often cited as a village where ‘time has stood still’, Magura and its environs offer us the chance to take a short, but rewarding walk and to enjoy a picnic lunch in the Transylvanian countryside. We’ll then return to Brasov where they will be ample time to discover this beguiling city at your leisure.

Approx. 2-3hrs easy/moderate walking (240m ascent, 240m descent. Total distance 9kms)

Leaving Brasov, we head next to another city built by the Saxons and considered to be the capital of the Saxon minority in Romania. Straddling the banks of the Cibin River, Sibiu was designated as European City of Culture in 2007, is one of the country’s most important cultural centres and is home to some of the best preserved historical sites anywhere in Romania. After a walking tour to take in some of city’s highlights, there will then be free time for you to discover this gem for yourself.

On our last major journey of the trip (approx. 5hrs), we’ll cross the Carpathians once more en route to the capital, Bucharest. Our route will either follow the scenic winding Olt Valley or if the road is open (typically in the summer months only) we’ll take the dramatic Transfagarasan road which crosses a 2000m high pass. After an arrival arrival in Bucharest, there'll be time to settle in before we head out for our final night's dinner.

The centre of Romania’s cultural and artistic development for centuries, Bucharest is home to a rich mix of classical, Art Nouveau and communist-era architecture and includes amongst its impressive landmarks the “People’s House”. This is the world’s largest parliament building, built during the reign of Nicolae Ceausescu. Its vast structure houses the country’s Senate and Chamber of Deputies, three museums and, allegedly, the world’s largest international convention centre - we’ll take in this iconic landmark and the city’s medieval heart on our walking tour this morning before some final free-time, during which luggage can be left at the hotel, before the tour’s official end this afternoon.