Day 1: Bucharest - Sibiu - Alba Iulia - Cluj Napoca / 460km/285miles

The tour will start from your hotel in Bucharest, early in the morning. For a full experience of the city, we recommend arriving one day earlier. Please contact our agency for the best hotel recommendations.

Crossing several regions of the country, you will admire the local architecture of the villages, but also the wilderness of the Carpathian Mountains.

Our first stop will be the medieval city of Sibiu, the European Cultural Capital in 2007. Together with your private guide, you will go for a walking tour, exploring the heart of the city and the old center.

Next, we will visit Alba Iulia citadel, one of the largest and best-preserved Vauban-style fortresses in Europe. The city has particular importance for Romanian people, as "The Big Union" took place here in 1918.

In the evening we will arrive in the city of Cluj, the unofficial capital of Transylvania, and the second-largest city in Romania.

Day 2: Cluj Napoca - Maramures / 180km/110miles

Another long day lies in front, so we will hit the road after breakfast. Today we will cross the mountains again from Transylvania into the legendary area of Maramures - the "woodland".

The first stop will be in Surdesti, admiring the second-tallest wood church in the World (we will visit the tallest the following day).

We will spend the night in a fairy-tale looking-like guesthouse, at the edge of the forest. Although comfortable, and fully equipped, don't expect 5-star in-room conditions, but be prepared for a genuine welcome and a freshly-prepared dinner, with local ingredients.

Day 3: Exploring rural Maramures / 90km/55miles

Today will try to use the car less and spend more time walking through the villages, admiring the local wood architecture, with its beautiful gates, houses, and tall, slim churches. We will step back in time and observe how locals are living here following the unwritten laws of nature and traditions coming from their grand-grand-parents.

In the first part of the day, we will visit the Merry Cemetery. Here, in the village of Sapanta, Stan Ioan Patras, a local artisan, and sculptor, has chosen to see death from a different perspective. He started to carve tomb crosses and paint them with vivid colors, adding a small, funny epitaph at the bottom.

To learn more about Romanian history, we will visit the former communist prison in Sighet, a place of a sad memory, reminding us that liberty is sometimes very fragile and hard to gain back.

In the second part of the day, we will walk between two Maramuresan villages, observing the local's simple way of life.

Day 4: Maramures - Bucovina / 210km/130miles

Today we will further explore Maramures, visiting Barsana Monastery, one of the most beautiful monastic compounds in Romania.

We will then cross the mountains, once again, into the historic region of Bucovina. Located in the top North-East part of Romania, this area is well known for its beautifully painted monasteries. These are 14th - 15th-century Orthodox churches, displaying incredibly well-preserved exterior frescoes.

Accommodation for the following 2 nights in a unique location, reminding us of the traditional villages of the area.

Day 5: The painted monasteries of Bucovina / 130km/80miles

With less distance to drive today, we will spend more time admiring 3 of the most beautiful painted monasteries in Bucovina. Build in different stages of this architectural current, they will tell us the same Christian story but revealed differently.

Besides the monasteries, we will also visit a unique collection of painted eggs, learning more about the different techniques for decorating the eggs.

Day 6: Maramures - Cheile Bicazului - Sighisoara / 300km/190miles

We leave behind the beautiful region of Bucovina and follow our way back to Transylvania.

The road will take us through Cheile Bicazului, probably the most spectacular mountain gorge in Romania.

We will also cross through the Szekely land, an area inhabited mainly by Hungarian people, located in the Eastern part of Transilvania. You will get to admire the local architecture and taste the regional cuisine.

In the evening we will arrive at the picturesque citadel of Sighisoara, part of UNESCO world heritage sites. It will impress you through its medieval vibe, with cobbled-stone streets and houses painted in vivid colors.

Day 7: Sighisoara - Brasov - Bran - Bucharest / 330km/205miles

On our last day, we will drive back to Bucharest, but there are still many to see and taste!

Our first stop will be in the Saxon city of Brasov. Surrounded by mountains, the city will delight you with its medieval urban architecture and one of the largest Gothic-style churches in Eastern Europe.

A tour in Transylvania can not be completed without a visit to the legendary Dracula's Castle. Here you will discover the truth behind the legend and learn more about this famous character.

In the evening we will arrive in Bucharest. In just 7 days, we made numerous lifetime memories, discovered unique places and tasted local dishes, met interesting people, and learned more about Romania's history. You can tell now your own Romanian story!