9 days / 8 nights
departures on request
Description
Highlights of Eastern and Central Europe
Day 1: arrival in Romania - Bucharest - dinner
Arrival at Bucharest International Airport.
Welcome by your English speaking guide.
Transfer to your hotel in Bucharest.
The first part of our Bucharest city tour will take us along the following route: The Arch of Triumph, Victory Square with Victoria Palace, Victory Avenue, Romanian Athenaeum (architectural masterpiece; here is the main concert hall for one of the most prestigious Classical Music Festivals on Earth: George Enescu Festival), Union Square, Romanian Patriarchal Cathedral and the old quarter of the city.
Dinner at a local restaurant.
Transfer to the hotel.
Accommodation in Bucharest.
Day 2: Bucharest - Sinaia - Brasov - breakfast, dinner
Breakfast.
We continue with the exploration of Bucharest, Europe 6th largest city with a trip back in time, to the days of Communist rule. We will see the Palace of Parliament, Revolution Square, the former Romanian Communist Party HQ and University Square, the last three were all pivotal places that marked the Romanian Revolution from December 1989.
Departure for Sinaia, known as The Pearl of the Carpathians.
Lunch on your own.
Outside visit of Peles Castle, Romania’s most beautiful castle, former Romanian Royal Family summer residence. Today a very rich museum, architectural masterpiece built in German style, between 1875 and 1914.
Arrival in Brasov, in the historical province of Transylvania.
Brasov walking city tour visiting: City Hall, Council Square, Rope Street (one of the narrowest streets in Europe), The Black Church (outside visit) the icon monument of Brasov and Catherine's Gate.
Dinner at a local restaurant.
Transfer to the hotel.
Accommodation in Brasov.
Day 3: Brasov - Bran - Sighisoara - Alba Iulia - breakfast, dinner
Breakfast.
Early departure for Bran.
Visit Bran Castle, also called "Dracula Castle", which is listed among the most famous castles on Earth and connected to the Legend of Dracula is today one of Romania’s most prestigious tourist icons.
Built at the end of 16th century, Bran Castle had many owners, including Queen Mary of Romania. Today, the owner is the Archduke Dominic of Habsburg. Among the most famous guests of the castle, was Vlad the Impaler (or Vlad Tepes, the legendary prince assimilated often with Dracula) in 1462, on his way to Visegrad, the place where he was incarcerated for 12 years.
Lunch on your own.
We continue to Sighisoara, a medieval city, considered to be the jewel of Transylvania.
Arrival in Sighisoara, where we’ll take a walking city tour of visiting: the Clock Tower, House of Vlad the Impaler (here was born in 1431, Vlad the Impaler/Vlad Tepes, the legendary prince assimilated often with Dracula), Stag House, Venetian House, School Street, Scholar's Stairs and the Church on the Hill.
This marvelous Medieval Citadel, listed as UNESCO World Heritage, remains the only medieval citadel in Europe, entirely and continuously inhabited, since its construction.
We continue to Alba Iulia.
Arrival in Alba Iulia.
Dinner at a local restaurant.
Transfer to the hotel.
Accommodation in Alba Iulia.
Day 4: Alba Iulia - Turda - Cluj-Napoca - breakfast, dinner
Breakfast.
We start the day with the city tour in Alba Iulia visiting: the Reunification Cathedral, also called Coronation Cathedral, built between 1921 and 1922. This is the Cathedral, where on October 15th 1922, were crowned Ferdinand and Mary, as King and Queen of United Romania, called Great Romania. After that, we will visit the Catholic Cathedral of Alba Iulia, Princely Palace and Equestrian Statue of Michael the Brave. We will then visit Alba Carolina, a medieval citadel, masterpiece of Vauban style.
Lunch at a local restaurant.
Departure for Turda, the site of one of the most impressive underground tourist attractions in the world.
We will visit Salina Turda, where we’ll learn about the history of the site and marvel at the spectacular underground halls and caverns.
We continue to Cluj-Napoca.
Cluj-Napoca panoramic city tour.
Dinner at a local restaurant.
Transfer to the hotel.
Accommodation in Cluj-Napoca.
Day 5: Cluj-Napoca - Budapest (Hungary) - Krakow (Poland) - lunch
Early departure by bus for Budapest, the capital of Hungary.
Arrival in Budapest, around midday.
Transfer to the jetty.
One hour and a half cruise on the Danube, buffet lunch and a glass of champagne or a glass of wine included.
We will admire the bridges across the mighty Danube, the Hungarian Parliament building, the Royal Palace and the banks of the Danube flowing right through the middle of the city.
After the buffet, you’ll be able to admire the beautiful panorama from the open upper deck of our ship.
After the cruise, we’ll enjoy a very short panoramic tour of the city.
We continue by bus to Krakow, our destination in Poland.
Late evening arrival in Krakow.
Transfer to the hotel.
Accommodation in Krakow.
Day 6: Krakow - Auschwitz - Birkenau Memorial - Krakow - breakfast, dinner
Breakfast.
Late morning, to rest after the late arrival from Budapest.
We depart for the historic site of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the most infamous place of the Holocaust.
The concentration camp became the center of extermination for more than 1.5 million people during the Second World War in Nazi Germany.
The tour here starts with a 50-minute documentary movie about the liberation of the Camp and after we’ll be introduced to the historical and political background of the camp in Auschwitz. We’ll also visit the museum that was opened in the remaining prison blocks, the gas chamber and the crematorium.
Lunch at a local restaurant.
We continue to Birkenau which was the largest Nazi concentration camp.
After our tour here, we return to Krakow.
Transfer to the hotel.
Free evening to explore on your own this marvelous city.
Accommodation in Krakow.
Day 7: Krakow - Czestochowa - Warsaw - breakfast, dinner
Breakfast.
We will begin our city tour in Krakow, the former capital of the Kingdom of Poland visiting the most important highlights of the city: the Old Town, the Jewish District, St. Mary’s Church and the Wawel Hill.
We depart Krakow for Czestochowa.
The city of Czestochowa is known for it’s tourist attractions, mostly for Jasna Gora Monastery, a popular pilgrimage site that is famous for the Black Madonna of Czestochowa, a religious icon to which miraculous powers are attributed.
Lunch at a local restaurant.
After our visit in Czestochowa, we continue North-East, to our destination: Warsaw.
Arrival in the evening in the capital of Poland.
Transfer to the hotel.
Accommodation in Warsaw.
Day 8: Warsaw - breakfast, dinner
Breakfast.
We will visit the most important locations that Warsaw has to offer visiting: the Old Town, the Royal Castle, St. John’s Cathedral, the former Jewish Ghetto along with the Memorial to the Heroes of the Ghetto, the Royal Route and the Royal Park.
Lunch at a local restaurant.
Transfer to the hotel.
Free afternoon for leisure activities.
Accommodation in Warsaw.
Day 9: departure from Warsaw - breakfast
Breakfast.
Transfer to Warsaw Chopin Airport, for your departure flight.
Departure from Warsaw Chopin Airport.
Price details
Price per person in (€) EURO, at 5* hotels / 4* hotels / 3* pensions, available on demand for a group of 15-20 tourists:
in double room shared 1169 EUR/person
in single room 1449 EUR/person
Price includes:
- 8 nights accommodation in double or single room, breakfast included (except on the 5th day in Cluj-Napoca, Romania due to the early departure to Budapest, Hungary), in indicated hotels or similar:
- Bucharest - 1 night;
- Brasov - 1 night;
- Alba Iulia - 1 night;
- Cluj-Napoca - 1 night;
- Krakow - 2 nights;
- Warsaw - 2 nights.
**5 / 4 / 3 star service at hotels or pensions/guest houses in Romania and Poland, the exact locations to be confirmed upon your firm request and availability;
**the hotels, pensions/guest houses are rated by local standards.
- Transportation in dedicated modern air-conditioned minibus/bus, from your arrival in Bucharest, Romania, till your departure from Warsaw, Poland.
**transportation in modern, comfortable 20-30 seater (according to the actual number of passengers) minibus/bus with room for luggage;
**no transportation during periods with time at leisure / free time (morning, afternoon or evening, all applies for all countries).
- Meals:
- 7 breakfasts, at the hotels or pensions/guest houses;
- 4 lunches, at local restaurants or during the cruise on Danube (1 lunch buffet during the Danube cruise in Budapest, plus a glass of champagne or glass of wine);
- 4 dinners, at local restaurants.
**international/traditional meals will consist of 3 course menus (entry plateau or soup, main course and desert), plus one bottle of water 0.5l per person, and a coffee;
**the restaurants will provide medium to top service and meals.
- English speaking guide / tour leader, from arrival in Bucharest, Romania, till your departure from Warsaw, Poland.
- City tours or panoramic tours and visits in the following locations:
- Bucharest (Romania);
- Sinaia (Romania);
- Brasov (Romania);
- Bran (Romania);
- Sighisoara (Romania);
- Alba Iulia (Romania);
- Turda (Romania);
- Cluj-Napoca (Romania);
- Budapest (Hungary);
- Auschwitz-Birkenau (Poland);
- Krakow (Poland);
- Czestochowa (Poland);
- Warsaw (Poland).
- All excursions as per program;
- Entrance ticket fees for the sights to visit (subject of opening hours, changing of schedule, closing days, closure due to maintenance or restoration works, etc.).
- Insurance for the European part of your trip (from the moment of your arrival in Romania till your departure from Poland).
- Local and government taxes (except the taxes issued by Immigration authorities);
- Travel assistance.
**all services will be accommodated by professional staff that will try to ensure a great experience for the inspection of the sites to be visited!
Price does not include:
- International air tickets and their airport taxes to Bucharest, Romania and from Warsaw, Poland;
**this tour package is adapted to your flight schedule, do please share with us your complete air passage itinerary for a precise optimization of the tour in terms of logistics;
- The drinks, except drinks expressly mentioned;
- Personal expenses;
- Any optional tours;
- Transportation during periods with time at leisure / free time (morning, afternoon or evening, all applies for all countries).
- Camera and video camera fees, where applicable;
- Visa fees and visa arrangements;
- Tips/gratuities;
- Any cost element which is not express mentioned in the chapter “Price includes”.
***Important notes
Please remember that it’s your responsibility to carry the proper travel documents. Also, make sure to see your doctor before your trip for a check-up and ensure that you have valid travel insurance.
1. All visa requirements, if needed, must be fulfilled and these are entirely your responsibility.
**Ciel Voyages travel agency is not responsible in the case a person is not allowed entry or exit of a certain country/territory.
2. Make sure you have your passport with you at all times, some visits require presenting it upon arrival!
3. Most European Museums, Memorials, Castles, Palaces, etc. are closed on Mondays.
4. This program will act as a contract between parties and/or will be considered as an addendum to a contract already valid.
5. The offer presented above and all the services proposed are subject to availability upon your firm request.
6. All the reservations for the requested travel services are made only after the payment confirmation is sent to us. Please note that no services can be guaranteed without receiving the full payment at least 15 days in advance before the arrival of the clients (group).
7. The rates presented above are subject to change without prior notice according to the regulations, currency, availability and season fluctuations.
