Behind the Iron Curtain: Romania and Moldova

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

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

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

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

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 

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

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

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