Fairytale Castles & Railways of Transylvania by Air
Fairytale Castles & Railways of Transylvania by Air
Fairytale Castles & Railways of Transylvania by Air
11 Days Starting and ending in Bucharest, Romania
Visiting: Bucharest, Sibiu, Turda, Castle of Huniade, Alba Iulia, Cluj-Napoca, Baia Mare, Săpânța, Bogdan Vodă, Bârsana, Bistrița, Moldovita Monastery, Voronet Monastery, Brașov, Târgu Mureș, Bran Castle, Sinaia
Tour operator:
Age range:
0-99
Special diets catered:
Vegetarians
Tour operated in:
EnglishInterests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
Join us on an exciting journey by coach and rail into the heart of Transylvania. Uncover a tumultuous history as we walk through the streets of beautiful medieval cities. Discover a fascinating multi-cultural heritage and UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Venture into the wilderness aboard historic steam trains and explore timeless rural landscapes for a gentler glimpse into the ancient Romanian way of life. Surrounded by breathtaking nature, Transylvania’s fairytale castles lend an aura of legend and mystery to this magical tour.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 London – Bucharest
Location: Bucharest
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Hotel Mercure Hotel Mercure Unirii
Meals Included: Dinner
Today we fly to Bucharest where we’ll meet our local guide and transfer by coach to our hotel for an overnight stay. This evening’s dinner, including wine, will be served in a local restaurant where you can enjoy traditional entertainment.
Day 2 : Sibiu & The Steam Train Museum
Location: Sibiu
Accommodation: Hotel, Hotel
Accommodation Name: Hotel Golden Tulip
Meals Included: Dinner, Breakfast, Dinner
After breakfast we transfer by coach to the town of Calimanesti and board the train for the first of our rail journeys. Sit back and enjoy views of the Olt River and beautiful scenery of the Carparthian mountains as the train heads to Sibiu, one of the largest cities in Transylvania. On arrival we’ll experience some locomotive history
at Sibiu’s Steam Train Museum, now home to a collection of retired standard-gauge and narrow gauge steam locomotives and engines. We travel by coach to your
hotel where we will stay for two nights
Day 3 Sibiu
Location: Sibiu
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Hotel Golden Tulip
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Founded by German colonists at the end of the 12th-Century, Sibiu is one of the oldest cities in Transylvania. Its Old Town has many famous squares and we’ll enjoy a guided walking tour. This evening, we board our coach and travel to Sibiel where we join the locals for a traditional dinner
including homemade wine and brandy.
Day 4 : Hunyadi Castle, Alba Lulia & Turda
Location: Turda, Castle of Huniade, Alba Iulia, Cluj-Napoca
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Golden Tulip Ana Done
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
After breakfast, we board our coach and travel to Hunyadi. Once the residence of Hungarian Kings, Hunyadi Castle is often called one the of the ‘Seven Wonders of Romania’. This fairytale castle, with towers, balconies and oriel windows, is a place where legends turn to life. After a fascinating visit, we’ll journey by coach to Alba Lulia and enjoy free time to explore this city steeped in history, with a star-shaped Citadel at its heart. Our next stop is Turda where we visit one of the world’s oldest salt mines. Tonight’s dinner is served in our hotel in Cluj-Napoca.
Day 5 : Cluj-Napoca, Baia Mare & Sapanta
Location: Baia Mare, Cluj-Napoca, Săpânța
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Hotel Gabriela
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
During the 18th and 19th centuries, Cluj-Napoca was the capital of Transylvania when it was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. We travel there by coach and join our guided walking tour, taking in the two main squares. We will see the Catholic Cathedral of St. Michael, the equestrian statue of King Mathias Corvinus, the Orthodox Cathedral and National Theatre.
We continue by coach to the famous region of Maramures and enjoy a short panoramic tour of Baia Mare. In the small village of Sapanta we visit the ‘Merry Cemetery’, where the small wooden crosses are painted in bright colours with scenes from the life of the deceased.
Tonight, we'll enjoy a traditional dining experience in the village of Vadu Izei, where you’ll also sample homemade brandy. For 2024 departures, we’ll enjoy dinner in the hotel.
Day 6 : Narrow-Gauge Steam Train Ride & The Wooden Churches Of Maramures
Location: Bogdan Vodă, Bârsana, Bistrița
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Hotel Metropolis
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today we travel by coach, board a narrow-gauge steam train and journey on the last remaining forestry railway in Europe. The Vaser Valley winds its way through a wilderness passing over bridges and through tunnels along the river. We’ll enjoy
a barbecue lunch before visiting the wooden churches of Barsana and Bogdan Voda. Tonight, we stay in Bistrita.
Day 7 : Moldovita Monastery, Narrow-Gauge Steam Train Ride & Voronet Monastery
Location: Moldovita Monastery, Voronet Monastery
Accommodation: Hotel, Overnight Stay
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
This morning we travel by coach to visit Moldovita Monastery, one of eight painted churches included on the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites. Its external walls, covered with frescos representing complete religious cycles, are a masterpiece inspired by 15th and 16th century Byzantine art. We then enjoy a leisurely ride through gorgeous mountain scenery on the newly restored, narrow-gauge steam train that runs alongside the Moldovita River.
After lunch with homemade blueberry brandy, we’ll visit Voronet Monastery. Built at the end of the 15th century in less than 4 months, it is also known as the ‘Sistine Chapel of the East’ for its magnificent fresco ‘The Last Judgement’. We then travel by coach to our hotel for an overnight stay.
Day 8 : Targu Mures
Location: Brașov, Târgu Mureș
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Hotel Kronwell
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Today we travel by coach to one of the most interesting towns in Transylvania, Targu Mures. The baroque-style Apollo Palace, 18th century Old Prefecture building, Teleki Palace and Orthodox Cathedral are just some of the city landmarks we’ll see during our guided tour. After seeing the birthplace of Count Dracula and the Church on the Hill, we’ll board a local train to Brasov. We are then transferred by coach to our hotel.
Day 9 : Brasov & Bran Castle
Location: Brașov, Bran Castle
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Hotel Kronwell
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
This morning we enjoy a walking tour of Brasov, known as the ‘Crown of Transylvania’. We’ll explore the beautiful centre on foot starting in Council Square. See narrow Sforii Street and the impressive Gothic-style Black Church seriously damaged by the great fire of 1689 that destroyed much of the city. We continue to Bran by coach and visit the castle widely known as the setting of Bram Stoker’s Dracula. Dinner is served in Bran Castle Tea House. We then transfer by coach back to the hotel.
Day 10 : Sinaia & Bucharest
Location: Sinaia, Bucharest
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Hotel Kronwell
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Today we are transferred by coach to the train station and travel by rail to the mountain resort of Sinaia, alighting at the Royal Train Station, which is also a stop for the famous Orient Express. We’ll visit this masterpiece of German new Renaissance architecture, undoubtedly one of the most stunning castles in Europe. After time at leisure in Sinaia, we continue by coach to Bucharest for a panoramic tour, showing us the Arch of Triumph and Kisseleff Boulevard. At a local restaurant in the Old Town, we’ll enjoy a farewell dinner with entertainment and a glass of wine.
Day 11 : Bucharest & Return Home
Location: Bucharest
Meals Included: Breakfast
After breakfast we include one final visit to Parliament Palace. We then transfer by coach to Bucharest Airport for our return flight to London.
What's Included
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Accommodation
As detailed in the itinerary
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Additional Services
Travel from a wide range of convenient joining points across the UK is included within your coach holiday price; some carry a supplement. Please contact us for our full list of joining points.
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Airport Transfers at Destination
Yes, airport transfers are included
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Fully Guided
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International Travel
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Meals
As detailed in the itinerary
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Transport
Comfortable, air-conditioned motorcoach
What's Not Included
Accommodation
You will stay for one night at the Hotel Mercure Hotel Mercure Unirii in Bucharest, one night at the Hotel Golden Tulip in Sibiu, one night at the Golden Tulip Ana Done Cluj, one night at the Hotel Gabriela of Viseu des sus, three nights at the Hotel Metropolis Bistrita, and then three nights at the Hotel Kronwell in Brasov.
Exact hotels will be confirmed in your final travel
documents.
Check out our Q&As
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Are flights included in this tour?
Return flights are included on any Leger Air Holidays
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What is the fitness level required to do this tour?
Low
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Is the tour coach air conditioned?
Yes
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Are airport transfers included in this tour?
Airport transfers are included on any Leger Air Holidays
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What type of coach will be used?
You will travel on either our Luxuria Coach or our Silver Service Coach
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Are all the relevant entry visa’s included in the price of the tour?
No
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Is there a limit to luggage that can be brought on the tour?
On Leger Coach Holidays, your allowance is one medium sized suitcase per person, which should weigh no more than 20kg when full.
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Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?
Yes
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Will I know the names and details of all the accommodation before I depart?
Yes
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Is there a supplement for solo travellers?
Some tours carry a supplement for solo travellers, please ask for details if the Single price is not shown
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Will there be an escort accompanying this tour?
Fully escorted by our experienced drivers/crews. And in most towns and cities we either include or offer optional sightseeing tours with expert local guides to help you get the most from your visits.
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Is there any free time to explore places during the tour?
As detailed in the itinerary
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How long has the tour company been trading?
40 years
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Sole use of your own room on all Single Traveller holidays: means you still get your privacy and time out from the group.
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
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Battlefield Tours - Will it be possible to visit a particular cemetery whilst on the tour?
Please contact us and we will check to see whether you can visit a particular cemetery on any of our Battlefield Tours, if we are not able to fit it into our itinerary then you could take some time out of the tour and do this independently by taxi or public transport.
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What policies are in place for Covid-19?
Please contact us for latest Covid-19 policies
Reviews of this operator
Book with Confidence
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Low Deposit
Barrhead Travel requires a minimum deposit of 200 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 98 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of barrhead travel charges.
Up to 98 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 97 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 74 days before tour starts: Forfeit 75% of booking price.
At 28 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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Terms and Conditions
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