Compare Treasures of Romania & Bulgaria by Eastern European Experience vs Bulgaria Biking by Butterfield & Robinson

1st day- Bucharest

Your tour guide will be expecting you at the airport and after a short orientation tour, you will be transferred to your accommodation.

Accommodation in a 4*-5* hotel in Bucharest.

2nd day-Bucharest city tour and a stop at Cozia Monastery

Your day will begin with a visit at The House of Parliament as the 2nd largest building in the world, very close to the Pentagon After the earthquake of March 4th 1977, Nicolae Ceaușescu started a reconstruction plan of Bucharest. The People’s House was the center of this project. Named Project Bucharest, it was an ambitious project of Ceaușescu’s begun in 1978 as an intended replica of Pyongyang, the North Korean capital. A must stop is the Village Museum where you will find one of the most interesting open air museum with original peasant households from all over Romania. Another visit will include The Revolution Square and many others amazing places. On the way to Transylvania you will stop to Cozia Monastery builted by Mircea the Elder in 1388 and housing his tomb, is one of the most valuable monuments of national medieval art and architecture in Romania. You will pass along the Olt River Canyon which is crossing the mountains in Transylvania, one of the most scenic roads in Romania.

Arrival in Sibiu with a short orientation tour on your way to the hotel.

Accommodation in a 4*-5* hotel in Sibiu.

3rd day-Sibiu city tour

Be ready to discover Sibiu. Sibiu is one of the most important cultural centers of Romania and was designated the European Capital of Culture for the year 2007, along with the city of Luxembourg. Formerly the center of the Transylvanian Saxons, the old city of Sibiu was ranked as “Europe’s 8th-most idyllic place to live” by Forbes in 2008. You will begin with a walking city tour and a first stop at the Great and Lesser Square and discover the old surrounding defense walls and the remaining guild towers. The Bruckenthal Museum it was erected in the late 18th century in Sibiu, Transylvania, Romania, housed in the palace of Samuel von Brukenthal — who was Habsburg governor of Transylvania and who established its first collections around 1790. The collections were officially opened to the public in 1817, making it the oldest institution of its kind in Romania. Something you can’t miss in Sibiu is the Evangelical Cathedral, the most famous Gothic-style church in Sibiu, Transylvania. The four turrets situated on top of the steeple were a sign to let foreigners know that the town had the right to sentence to death. The Sibiu Lutheran Cathedral was built in the 14th century on the location of another 12th-century church. For three centuries it served as a burial place for the mayors, earls and other personalities from Sibiu. This practice was banned in 1796 but one exception was made in 1803 when baron Samuel von Brukenthal was laid to rest in the crypt. In 1671 a Slovakian craftsman built an organ to replace the previous one that was built in 1585. Today the newer organ is the largest in the southeastern region of Europe. During the summer, there are concerts every Wednesday night. After a delicious traditional Romanian lunch, we are heading to Cluj and on our way we will stop in Hunedoara for a visit to the Gothic Huniady Castle, one of the largest castles in Europe and figures in a top of seven wonders of Romania.

Arrival in Cluj and transferred to your accommodation.

Accommodation in a 4*-5* hotel in Cluj.

4th day-Cluj Napoca and Maramures

Enjoy a city tour of Cluj Napoca with his highlights. Fellner and Hellmer Opera House, the City Hall are just some few stops. The Banffy Palace is a baroque building of the 18th century in Cluj-Napoca, designed by the German architect Johann Eberhard Blaumann. Built between 1774 and 1775 it is considered the most representative for the baroque style of Transylvania. St Michael`s church is one of the most beautiful Gothic monuments in Transylvania. St. Michael’s Church was erected between 1350 and 1487 on the site of the former St. Jacob’s Chapel. The altar, built around 1390, is the oldest part of the church. The most recent section is the tower, erected in neo-gothic style in 1860. The star-shaped vault, the stained-glass windows and the sculptures impress with their beauty and grandeur. Repeated restorations revealed early 15th century murals. The latest restoration took place between 1957 and 1960. The tour in Cluj will end with a walk to Fortress Hill for the best views of the city and the surrounding landscape. On our way to Maramures, one of the best conserved area of Romania we will make a stop in Giulesti for its dowry tradition and Mara for the wonderfully carved wooden gates. Next stop will be in Sapanta for world most famous cemetery ”Merry Cemetery” where the crosses are vividly colored and the native paintings are moments from the lives of the buried people. Tonight you will be hosted by a Romanian family and enjoy a homemade dinner and a folklore show. Accommodation in a 4*-5* hotel in Maramures.

5th day-Maramures

You will have today the chance to visit some of the wooden churches from Maramures (Unesco World Heritage).Maramures is one of the better-known regions of Romania, with autonomous traditions since the Middle Ages – but still not very much visited. Its well-preserved wooden villages and churches, its traditional lifestyle, and the local colorful dresses still in use make Maramureș as near to a living museum as can be found in Europe. Meet some of the local craftsmen and artisans as women sewing and washing clothes at a natural washing machine or men carving the wood and running plum brandy distillery. Visit the Ethnographic Museum, structured according to the main categories of folk culture. Next is the Barsana Monastery, one of the landmarks of Maramures. The reason being that, is the beautiful church and the other wooden buildings made by craftsmen from Maramures inside of assembly. The Barsana Monastery church is one of the tallest wooden church in Romania, having 57m height. You will cross the Carpathian Mountains and arrive at your destination for the night : Gura Humorului.

Accommodation in a 4*-5* hotel in Gura Humorului.

6th day-Painted monasteries of Bucovina

Start your day with Voronet Monastery,a medieval monastery in the Romanian village of Voroneț, now a part of the town Gura Humorului. It is one of the famous painted monasteries from southern Bukovina, in Suceava County. The monastery was constructed by Stephen the Great in 1488 over a period of 3 months and 3 weeks to commemorate the victory at Battle of Vaslui. Often known as the “Sistine Chapel of the East”, the frescoes at Voroneț feature an intense shade of blue known in Romania as “Voroneț blue”. The legend of the origin of the church unites two men central to Romanian history: the founder of the monastery, Stephen the Great, and Saint Daniil the Hermit, the first abbot of the monastery. The tomb of Saint Daniil is located within the monastery. The church is one of the Painted churches of Moldavia listed in UNESCO’s list of World Heritage sites. Moldovita Monastery was built in 1532 by Petru Rareș and it was founded as a protective barrier against the Muslim Ottoman conquerors from the East. Next is Sucevita Monastery, an Eastern Orthodox convent situated in the Northeastern part of Romania. The architecture of the church contains both Byzantine and Gothic elements, and some elements typical to other painted churches of northern Moldavia. Both interior and exterior walls are covered by mural paintings, which are of great artistic value and depict biblical episodes from the Old and New Testament. The paintings date from around 1601, which make Sucevița one of the last monasteries to be decorated in the famous Moldavian style of exterior paintings. Sucevița was a princely residence as well as a fortified monastery. The thick walls today shelter a museum that presents an outstanding collection of historical and art objects. The paintings date from around 1601, which makes Sucevița one of the last monasteries to be decorated in the famous Moldavian style of exterior paintings. End your day with Humor Monastery, one of the first of Moldavia’s painted monasteries to be frescoed and, along with Voroneţ, is probably the best preserved. The dominant color of the frescoes is a reddish brown. The monastery was built over the foundation of a previous monastery that dated from around 1415. The Humor monastery was closed in 1786 and was not reopened until 1990. and was not reopened until 1990.

Accommodation in a 4*-5* hotel in Gura Humorului.

7th day-Piatra Neamt Synagogue, Bicaz Gorges and Red Lake

Departure from Gura Humorului in the morning and heading to the only wooden synagogue in Romania. Built in 1763, the synagogue is the only in Eastern Europe made of wood that was entirely preserved. The restoration of the monument was completed in 2009, with funds from UNESCO and the Romanian Government. Short stop at Neamt Citadel . On our way we will pass through the Bicaz Gorge, excised by the waters of Bicaz River and it serves as a passageway between the Romanian provinces of Moldova and Transylvania. Meet a local gypsy family in Valenii and enjoy a traditional lunch cooked by them. Arrival in Sighisoara. Begin your tour with a short info regarding Vlad the Impaler. The tour includes the two squares of the Citadel (Upper Town) , the Scholars Staircase, the House with Antler, the Tower with Clock, the Torture Chamber and the Weapon Museum. Enjoy your evening in Sighisoara.

Accommodation in a 4*-5* hotel in Sighisoara.

8th day-Sighisoara and Brasov

Depart from Sighisoara and heading to Brasov. First stop will be at Bran Castle, commonly known as “Dracula’s Crib” (although it is one among several locations linked to the Dracula legend). Enjoy a city tour of Brasov and visit the Gothic Black Church which stands as the main Gothic style monument in the country, as well as being the largest and one of the most important Lutheran (Evangelical Church of Augustan Confession in Romania) places of worship in the region. The tour will include a stop at the Council Square, Catherine`s gate and the Rope street. Enjoy your afternoon in Brasov.

Accommodation in a 4*-5* hotel in Brasov.

9th day-Peles Castle and on the way to Bulgaria

Take a tour at the Peles Castle and Gardens in Sinaia, one of the most beautiful summer residence in Europe. It`s the royal residence of King Charles of Romania. Its architectural style is a romantically inspired blend Neo-Renaissance and Gothic Revival similar to Schloss Neuschwanstein in Bavaria. A Saxon influence can be observed in the interior courtyard facades, which have allegorical hand-painted murals and ornate fachwerk similar to that seen in northern European alpine architecture. Interior decoration is mostly Baroque influenced, with heavy carved woods and exquisite fabrics. From Sinaia you will be going straight to Bulgaria where the first stop will be at Ivanovo Monastery, a Unesco World Heritage. Last stop for today will be in Arbanassi, for a stop at the Church of Nativity. This is the earliest and the most richly decorated church in the village of Arbanasi. It was built by stages. The oldest layer of wall-paintings is from the end of XVI c. It consists of a naos, a narthex, a gallery and a chapel dedicated to St. John the Baptist. One of the most interesting scenes is the genealogical tree of Jesus Christ with the twelve ancient philosophers. “The wheel of life” is the most impressive wall-painting in the gallery of the church. This is the earliest presentation of the scene on the walls of Bulgarian churches.

Accommodation in a 4*-5* hotel in Arbanassi.

10th day-Veliko Tarnovo and Kazanlak Thracian Tomb

Discover Veliko Tarnovo with your private guide. One of the most picturesque cities you will ever visit in Bulgria. It has been named “the city of the countries”. The old town is situated on three hills and it has been the capital of medieval Bulgaria. Here you can find the amazing Tsaravets Fortress which is situated on the Tsaravets hill known as the location of Execution Rock, an outcropping over the Yantra River from which traitors were pushed to their deaths and their bodies fell into the river. After this, you will be heading to Plovdiv with a stop at the Kazanlak. The town of Kazanlak is located in the center of Bulgaria, in the western part of the Kazanlak basin. Kazanlak is the center of the Valley of the Roses, the home of the Thracian kings. The country’s largest and best preserved Thracian tombs are found here, and they are included among the UNESCO World Heritage Sites, along with the Museum of Roses. There are two nature reserves and five protected areas in the vicinity of Kazanlak, preserving natural wonders and age-old forests. The town neighbors on the largest and stunningly beautiful reserve in the Stara Planina mountain range, Dzhendema, which is part of the Central Balkans National Park. The park extends almost to the Kazanlak’s western town limits. The Rosa Damascena, known as the Damask or Castile rose, is the greatest treasure in the region of Kazanlak. The rose was imported into Bulgaria centuries ago, and today it is one of the nation’s symbols. Under the influence of the country’s unique climate and soil, this rose gradually developed into a Bulgarian strain distinct from Damask roses elsewhere. After a short ride you will get to the Shipka monastery, which was dedicated to the Russian, Ukrainian and Bulgarian soldiers who got the country back from the Ottoman rulers.

Accommodation in a 4*-5* hotel in Plovdiv.

11th day-Plovdiv and Rila Monastery

In the morning you will explore the second largest city from Bulgaria. It is one of the oldest city of Europe. It has been initially Thracian settlement, before becoming a very important Greek and Roman city and in the central square you can see the ruins of a Roman forum. The city itself remains a source of inspiration for many contemporary artists. After this, you will be visiting Bachkovo monastery. The monastery is known and appreciated for the unique combination of Byzantine, Georgian and Bulgarian culture, united by the common faith.Although the monastery survived the first waves of Turkish invasion in Bulgarian lands, it was then looted and destroyed, but restored near the end of the 15th century. The refectory, whose mural paintings by an anonymous painter bear a significant artistic value, was reconstructed in 1601 and the Church of Mary, still preserved today, was finished in 1604. The most valued item here is the 14th century icon of Virgin Mary Eleusa which can heal just by touching it. Next stop is at Rila Monastery , the largest and most famous orthodox monastery from Bulgaria. Built in the 10th century, is considered to be one of the most important cultural, historical and architectural monuments in Bulgaria and all over Southern Europe and figures on Unesco World Herritage List. The Museum of the Rila Monastery is known especially for the cross of Rafail, a wooden cross made of one piece of wood (81 Å~ 43 cm). She was carved by a monk named Rafail with fine raindrops and a magnifying glass to create 104 religious scenes and 650 miniatures. Work on this lasted at least 12 years and was completed in 1802 when the monk lost sight.

Accommodation in a 4*-5* hotel in Sofia.

12th day-Sofia

The capital of Bulgaria and the middle of the Balkans and one of the oldest towns from Europe. Very close to her there are several hot water springs and that’s why the Romans after they conquered her they have transformed her into a typical roman settlement becoming one of the most prosper area from the Balkans in that time. Visit the National History Museum.Boyana Church listed as Unesco Heritage Site is one of the most beautiful Bulgarian historical treasure.

Afternoon at your leisure. Accommodation in a 4*-5* hotel in Sofia.

13th day-Departure

You will be picked by your driver and transferred to the airport in Sofia.

Day 1:

After a scenic introduction to the landscape by bike, we'll wade into the history and culture with a vineyard visit and an immersive exploration of Plovdiv.

Day 2:

Ride from 'The Real Middle Forest' to the Rose Valley as we village hop to meet our charismatic and knowledgable local friends along the way.

Day 3:

Deep in the Rhodope Mountains, we'll cycle along a reservoir wall with incredible views (a teaser for our lunch experience) before we discover the unique bagpipe tradition.

Day 4:

As we ride through Gela today, we'll stop to embrace the local highlights and discover the delightful culinary traditions first hand with a cooking class.

Day 5:

Ride among diverse flora and fauna to a centuries-old Ottoman stone bridge before we land in the wine region of Melnik for a delightful tasting.

Day 6:

Explore surrounding vineyards and farmland by bike then, get a closer look at sandstone formations and the Rozhen Monastery on foot. Tonight, we'll celebrate our spectacular trip together.

Day 7:

Before we say farewell, we'll make one final visit to the must-see Rila Monastery (home to roughly 60 monks). From there we'll part ways, until next time!