Behind the Iron Curtain: Romania and Moldova

About Tour

This 8 days tour will take you through some of the most significant sites associated with Romania's and Moldova's communist history, remembering the Nicolae Ceausescu’s dictatorship, the 1989 anticommunist revolution in Romania versus Republic of Moldova Soviet Experience - who is still struggling to find its identity, embracing two post-soviet daughters – the controversial regions of Transnistria and Gagauzia.Want to learn more? Join us for this tour and learn what life was like in communist Romania and soviet Moldova, but also the consequences of the communist regime's social and economic policies for both countries. Unfortunately, Romania was the only one among the communist block of Eastern Europe where the communist regime was overthrown through violence, with many deaths and victims as a result. For Moldova, the collapse of the Soviet Union was accompanied by a number of ethnic conflicts. After declaring its Independence, Republic of Moldova faced civil unrest in the early 1990s in the southern region of Gagauzia and the armed conflict in Transnistria in the East.

Highlights:

  • Discover how the communist regime ended after the 1989 anticommunist revolution
  • Visit the Ceausescu Grave
  • Celebrating a nation that doesn’t exist – Transnistria
  • Have a look at the Ceausescu Dream Palace, today headquarter or Romanian Parliament
  • Get an insight into the link between communism and faith
  • Live the past while visiting the autonomous region of Gagauzia and breakaway republic of Transnistria.
1 st Day

Arrival in Romania

August 29 st , 2021

Included highlights:

Fly to Bucharest and transfer to your hotel. If time permits, visit some of Bucharest’s important sights. Check-in to the hotel and enjoy a short presentation about Romania’s communist history. Welcome dinner.

Included meals:
  • Dinner
2 nd Day

On the way to Brașov

August 30 nd , 2021

Included highlights:

Spend the morning exploring the city, visiting Bucharest’s Parliament Palace, built in the 1980’s by order of Ceausescu, and Ghencea Cemetery, where Nicolae Ceausescu, his wife Elena and their son Nicu are buried. Before leaving for Brasov, stop in a canteen mall, formally known as a ‘cantina’, where due to a shortage of food in communist times, people were forced by the authorities to eat in large work style canteens. All the cantinas are now malls, where people freely choose to eat. Lunch on the way. En route to Brasov, stop to wander around the famous Bran Castle, which is said to have been Bram Stoker’s inspiration for the residence of the vampire count in his famous novel. Overnight in Brasov. 

Included meals:
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
3 rd Day

Exploring Braşov

August 31 rd , 2021

Included highlights:

A morning walking tour of Brasov will lead you to The Black Church and up Strada Prundului to Piata Unirii. Here you’ll find the beautiful Church of St. Nicholas and The First Romanian School, situated in its grounds. Depart for Birlad for overnight stay in a soviet inspired hotel. In the evening, meet with a typical Romanian family and discuss over dinner how life has changed for them since communist times. 

Included meals:
  • Breakfast
  • Dinner
4 th Day

Meeting Republic of Moldova

September 01 th , 2021

Included highlights:

Set off today to the Republic of Moldova and to one of Moldova’s well known sights - Old Orhei, Here, visit 15th century “Adormirea Maicii Domnului” Cave Church. See the remains of Geto-Dacian fortress, a functioning cave monastery, and ruins of the old Turkish bath. After a delicious traditional Moldovan lunch in the village, continue to the capital of Transnistria - Tiraspol. Transnistria is a breakaway territory within the internationally recognized borders of Moldova. Although not recognized by any state or international organization, it is de facto an independent state named the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic. The country’s national coat of arms still includes the traditional hammer and sickle and a load of Lenin Statues that have not been pulled down. Overnight Tiraspol.

Included meals:
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
5 th Day

Awake in Soviet Union-Cricova Wine Cellar

September 02 th , 2021

Included highlights:

Awake in Transnistria and see a communistic-type military parade. Enjoy the atmosphere as families relax and shop in the many small stalls lining the main street and pavement cafes are full with people enjoying local beer and freshly cooked shashlik. In the afternoon transfer to the world-famous wine cellars of Cricova. Here, see an underground city with obscure streets that are carrying the names of wines kept here: Aligote, Riesling, Codru, and Feteasca. The wines from this collection have an old history with bottles over 100 years old. Overnight in Chisinau and enjoy a special dinner with wine tasting. Overnight in Chisinau.

Included meals:
  • Breakfast
  • Dinner 
6 th Day

Discovering Gagauzia

September 03 th , 2021

Included highlights:

After breakfast we depart to another autonomous region of Moldova – Gagauzia. In order to understand who, the “gagauz” are we shall pay a visit to the Museum of History and Ethnography from Besalma village. There we will learn about the history, culture and daily life of the Gagauz from ancient times to the modern days. Next, we shall visit the last living “Kolhoz” - a collective state farm. Lunch will be served in the canteen of this “kolhoz”, where also the workers eat. In the afternoon, cross the Prut river, the border between Romania and Republic of Moldovia, at Cahul-Oncesti. In the evening reach Galati, an industrial city on the Danube, where the jewel of the communist industry was built - the Steel factory. Overnight in Galati in a communist era hotel. 

Included meals:
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
7 th Day

Back to Bucharest

September 04 th , 2021

Included highlights:

Return to Bucharest – the 300km journey will take around 4 to 5 hours and a stop will be made en route for lunch. Spend some time at leisure in Bucharest before attending a farewell dinner.

Included meals:
  • Breakfast
  • Dinner
8 th Day

Departure home

September 05 th , 2021

Included highlights:

Departure home.

Prices and services:

  • All services as mentioned in the program
  • Car or MiniVan with A/C
  • Professional English speaking guide at your all days

Partner Price:

  • Price in double room/twin:        1368 Eur
  • Single supplement:                      239 Eur

 

Included meals:
  • Breakfast

What People Say

More reviews ›

Hi, Natalia! I contact you in order to thank you for your help, guidance & company while i was in your country. I will have to say, i did particularly love being with you, on those 2 trips i made. If you don’t mind me saying so, i think you are a lovely & charming person, and it was a great pleasure for me to meet you.

I could give her at least fifteen stars... Cristina is an exemplary guide, makes you know Moldova like no one ever. On a par if not better than those who work in destinations definitely more popular. Experience to be done without any doubt.

Dear Victoria,

Please accept the endosed as a token of my thanks and appreciation. I have been lucky enough, over the years, to have traveled to many destinations, and to have experienced every sort of guide. In my opinion you are right at the top, one of the select very few who manage to “get it just right”.

Like any skilled job, guiding is something that, when done well, it looks easy! You and I know that is not the case; it’s a tough, demanding profession that few individuals do adequately, and even fewer, well. Hardly any do such a great job that their clients feel cared for, safe, valued and special. You, in my view, are one of those rare tour leaders.

Please, accept my small token of gratitude. You have been kind, lightful, knowlageble (extremly), considerate, tolerant, efficient, reliable… I could go on, but to spare your blushes I will end by saying I cannot find a single criticism (this is a rare thing for me – I have very high standards!).

Your company depends for its success on your delivering what they promised. You have done professionaly this with a smile, a sense of humor, and grate dignity.

I wish you all the luck in the world for the future & thank you for leaving me with not only happy memories but with a positive impression of Moldova.

With very best wishes, Veronica.