Arrival in Bucharest. You’ll be transferred to your hotel where you’ll receive more details about your tour. The rest of the day is at your leisure.
Overnight in Bucharest: 4-star hotel
Day 2
BUCHAREST – SIBIU 320km/6h
In the morning, we’ll set off to Sibiu. On the way, we’ll stop to admire the monastery at Curtea de Arges, one of the most beautiful Orthodox churches in Romania. It is here where the former kings of Romania are buried.
It’s time to cross the Carpathian Mountains by taking one of the most beautiful roads in the world. Known as the Transfagarasan Highway, the road is the second tallest in the country, but with no doubt, the most beautiful. Be ready to admire the stunning landscape, to take pictures of waterfalls and enjoy the fresh air. This road is open only 4 months each year, during July 1st and October 30th. For the rest of the year, the route will be changed. You’ll take the valley of the River Olt where you’ll enjoy the scenery and some remote villages.
Sibiu is the final destination for today. It is perhaps the most beautiful city in Romania, and perhaps the reason it was chosen as the European Cultural Capital in 2007. Built by German colonists who had been brought to Transylvania by the Hungarian kings, Sibiu is a stunning medieval city. It boasts wonderful architecture: towers, old churches, cobblestone streets and alleys, passages, staircases and cast-iron bridges. Therefore, the morning should be a wonderful occasion for some street photography.
Overnight in Sibiu: 4-star hotel
Day 3
SIBIU – SAXON VILLAGES – SIBIU 70km/1h50min
The area around Sibiu is known for its rural life, beautiful villages, traditions kept untouched and great landscapes. In the morning, you’ll get up before breakfast to shoot the villages during the sunrise. In the afternoon, you’ll discover the local life in these villages.
Overnight in Sibiu: 4-star hotel
Day 4
SIBIU – ALBA IULIA – TRANSYLVANIAN VILLAGE 160km/3h30min
In the first part of the day, you’ll drive through rural parts of Transylvania. You’ll get to discover the daily life of the locals.
Alba Iulia is known for its fortress built in the first part of the 18th century and is one of the best-preserved Vauban fortifications in Romania. You’ll enjoy a walking tour of the citadel and you’ll visit buildings such as the Orthodox Cathedral and the Roman Catholic Church.
In the afternoon you’ll reach an amazing rural area inhabited by the Hungarian minority. There are several villages located at the feet of the mountains. You’ll take an afternoon walk along the roads of these places and photograph the landscape, the people and the local architecture.
Overnight in Transylvanian village: 4-star traditional hotel
Day 5
TRANSYLVANIAN VILLAGES AND LANDSCAPES 160km/3h30min
Get ready for beautiful sunrise early in the morning and after breakfast, you’ll enjoy a short day-trip to Geamana Lake, a former area destroyed by a cyanide reservoir. You’ll have the chance of taking pictures of the church’s steeple surrounded by the cyanide lake, the only proof that the reservoir was once a village. Despite the pollution, life continued to exist around the lake. You’ll see how the local farmers try to live, working their plots with wooden carts pulled by cows or horses.
In the afternoon you’ll go back to the Transylvanian village where and you’ll enjoy a photo evening tour.
Overnight in Transylvanian village: 4-star traditional hotel
Day 6
MARAMURES 260km/5h
In the morning, the photo tour continues with a sunrise. Then, you’ll be driven to Maramures, a place where the purity of nature blends with the beauty of the old villages, a place where the locals keep their traditions untouched, and where carved wood represents a common way of building.
You’ll go up in the mountains where you’ll roam the roads of a remote village, a place far from the tourist groups, where life has a totally different rhythm.
Further on, you’ll have your first contact with a spectacular wooden church. Located in Surdesti, built in 1724, this UNESCO site, made of evergreen oak beams, impresses because of its very high steeple, which reaches 54 meters (177 feet).
Then you’ll continue your journey through the villages of Maramures. You will walk and take many pictures of this forgotten corner of Europe.
In the afternoon, you’ll reach your destination, a traditional guesthouse.
Overnight in Maramures: local guest house
Day 7
SIGHETU MARMATIEI – SAPANTA 150km/3h30min
The morning starts with a sunrise photo session. There is no photo tour without an excursion to a local market and the market in Sighetu Marmatiei is one of the best. It is here where you can photograph the farmers while they sell their fresh products, and then you’ll be going to see a cemetery, which is unique in the world. The Merry Cemetery, founded in the 1930s by a local carver, is a place of mourning like any other cemetery but it is also a place of black humor. The crosses, painted in bright colors and describing the deceased one in words and images, not always complimentary, will be a great subject for your pictures.
The convent of Peri is one of the highest wooden structures in the world. Part of a large complex, the church is a great example of the local art and architecture.
In the afternoon, you’ll take a photo tour of a local village where you’ll be able to admire the old houses, ancient crafts, and daily life.
In the evening, once again, you’ll be stuffed full with plenty of excellent food and plum brandy.
Overnight in Maramures: local guest house
Day 8
MARAMURES – SZEKELYLAND 340km/6h30min
Today you will leave the rural area of Maramures, but on the way, you’ll get to see some other amazing sights of this part of the world.
Driving through the Carpathian Mountains, you’ll return to Transylvania in the heart of the Hungarian minority. This rural area is also well preserved. In the afternoon you’ll take a photo tour in several villages.
Overnight in Szekelyland: local estate
Day 9
SZEKELYLAND 100km/2h30min
As usual, in the morning, the photo tour starts with the sunrise. After breakfast, you’ll get to discover the rural part of the Hungarian minority. You’ll visit several places and you’ll have the chance of visiting the charcoal makers. Also, during the day you’ll get to visit the workshop of a blacksmith and a very old water mill, still in good working condition.
In the afternoon you’ll enjoy another sunset moment.
Overnight in Szekelyland: local estate
Day 10
VISCRI – SIGHISOARA 110km/3h
Today you’ll leave the Hungarian region and you’ll depart to Sighisoara. On the way, you’ll stop to visit a blacksmith Gypsy family. You’ll get to see their courtyard and workshop, as well as the family.
The village of Viscri has a long history. Even today Viscri is like a trip back in time. You’ll walk along the dirt road observing the locals and the animals passing by. The fortified church from Viscri, a stunning medieval UNESCO site, is perfect for a photo tour. You’ll explore it and photograph the place form several angles. From the main tower, you’ll have a great view over the entire rural area.
In the evening you’ll enjoy a blue hour moment in the medieval citadel of Sighisoara, another stunning UNESCO site. Built by the German colonists around the 13th century, the citadel is one of the best-preserved sites of this type in Europe. The public lighting in Sighisoara is awesome for a beautiful blue hour session.
Overnight in Sighisoara: 4-star hotel
Day 11
SIGHISOARA – BIERTAN – SIGHISOARA 130km/2h30min
Get up early in the morning for a great sunrise over Biertan and then go back to Sighisoara in time for breakfast.
The rest of the day will be dedicated to the former Saxon villages built around Sighisoara. Many of them boast fantastic fortified churches, unique in the world, perched on the hills. Many times, the village life looks like a hundred years ago.
In the afternoon, you’ll visit a Gypsy village where you’ll meet a lovely Gypsy family. You’ll be able to photograph their way of living, their house and their way of working.
Finally, enjoy another blue hour shot in Sighisoara.
Overnight in Sighisoara: 4-star hotel
Day 12
SIGHISOARA – BRASOV – BRAN 170km/3h
In the first part of the day, you’ll drive to Brasov. Here you’ll enjoy the German-built medieval town and you’ll discover its life. By taking the cable car, you’ll reach the top of the mountains from where you’ll have an amazing view over the old town and beyond.
Bran Castle is by far one of the most famous tourist attractions of Romania, therefore it cannot be missed. Originally built by the Teutonic nights some 800 years ago, Bran Castle became famous especially after Bram Stoker wrote his famous novel “Dracula.”
In the afternoon you’ll visit some remote mountain villages where the local traditional architecture is surpassed only by the beautiful landscape. Before the end of the day, you can stop for a blue hour picture in front of Bran Castle.
Overnight in Brasov area: 4-star hotel
Day 13
BRAN – SINAIA – BUCHAREST 210km/4h
Very early in the morning, you’ll visit some remote mountain villages where you’ll admire the nature during the sunrise.
After breakfast, you’ll drive to Sinaia where you’ll visit one of the most beautiful castles in Europe. Built at the request of King Carol I, the castle is located at the foothills of the Carpathians, in magnificent scenery, perfect for many pictures.
In the afternoon, you’ll reach the city of Bucharest.
Overnight in Bucharest: 4-star hotel
Day 14
BUCHAREST – OTOPENI AIRPORT
You’ll be transferred to the airport according to your flight time.
End of the tour
Airport pick-up and drop-off
Transport by modern car
Accommodation for 13 nights in 4/3-star hotels and B&Bs
Breakfast
Two home-made dinners
Licensed English-speaking tour guide/driver
Entrance fees to sites included in the program
Flight ticket
Hotel extras (telephone, mini bar, etc)
Drinks (other than water)
Other meals except breakfast
Photographing or filming fees at the visited sites
Tips
Travel insurance
Personal expenses
pictures by Daniel Gheorghita
© Covinnus Travel Ltd.
