Rila Monastery, Bulgaria
Rural Romania
DAY 4 • Sofia • Rila Monastery • Plovdiv
Today we’ ll visit Rila Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, then enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. Next, we’ ll continue on to the ancient city of Plovdiv.
Meals: B, L | Doubletree By Hilton Plovdiv Center or similar
DAY 5 • Plovdiv We’ ll explore the ancient city of Plovdiv today. We’ ll tour one of the city’ s most well-preserved Ottomanstyle homes, walk the cobblestone streets, and stroll past an ancient Roman amphitheater.
Meals: B, D | Doubletree By Hilton Plovdiv Center or similar
DAY 6 • Plovdiv • Kazanlak • Veliko Tarnovo This morning, we’ ll depart Plovdiv and head to our next destination: Veliko Tarnovo. Along the way, we’ ll stop to discover the town of Kazanlak, nestled in the middle of Bugaria’ s Valley of Roses.
Meals: B, L | Gurko Hotel or similar
DAY 7 • Veliko Tarnovo • Home-Hosted Dinner This morning, explore Veliko Tarnovo, starting with a visit to Samovodska Charshiya, a market square dedicated to the town’ s artisans. Then, head to the town’ s hilltop medieval fortress before spending the rest of the afternoon at leisure. Tonight, we’ ll enjoy a Home-Hosted Dinner with a local Bulgarian family.
Meals: B, D | Gurko Hotel or similar
DAY 8 • Ruse • Bucharest, Romania Embark on a scenic drive to Bucharest, Romania this morning. Along the way, we’ ll stop in the city of Ruse, for an included lunch.
Meals: B, L, D | Grand Hotel Continental Bucharest or similar
DAY 9 • Bucharest • Conversation about the 1989 Romanian Revolution • Optional Ceausescu Palace tour
During a guided tour of Bucharest today, a local will give us his personal account of the 1989 revolution. This afternoon, you may choose to join an optional visit to Ceausescu Palace, also known as the Spring House.
Meals: B, D | Grand Hotel Continental Bucharest or similar
DAY 10 • Bucharest • Palace of the Parliament Today, take a tour of the Palace of the Parliament, the seat of Romania’ s national government.
Meals: B | Grand Hotel Continental Bucharest or similar
DAY 11 • Pitesti Prison visit • Sibiu Transfer to Sibiu today. En route, visit Pitesti Prison, infamous for its reeducation experiments between 1949-1951 during Communist rule in Romania. Later, get to know Sibiu, known as“ the city with eyes” due to the unique shape of its buildings’ attic windows.
Meals: B, L, D | Ramada Sibiu Hotel or similar
DAY 12 • Sibiu • Astra Museum Explore Sibiu on a city tour this morning. Then, step back in time during a visit to the open-air Astra Museum. This immersive, interactive folk museum celebrates the rich history and enduring heritage of Romania.
Meals: B, L, D | Ramada Sibiu Hotel or similar
DAY 13 • Sibiu • Farm house visit Journey to the rural village of Sibiel today to visit a farm house owned and operated by a local Romanian family.
Meals: B, L | Ramada Sibiu Hotel or similar
DAY 14 • Controversial Topic: Preserving Roma culture • Sighisoara • Brasov
Depart Sibiu and begin the drive to Brasov today, stopping at the medieval fortified village of Brateiu, where we’ ll visit a local Roma family and discuss the Controversial Topic of what it’ s like preserving the traditional Roma way of life in today’ s modern world. Then, make another stop to explore the UNESCO World Heritage-protected town of Sighisoara before arriving in Brasov.
Meals: B, L, D | Hotel Atria Brasov or similar
DAY 15 • Brasov • Optional Vulcan Church tour Enjoy a guided tour of Brasov this morning, walking through Council Square. Later, you may choose to take an optional tour of Vulcan Church, including a private organ concert and dinner.
Meals: B | Hotel Atria Brasov or similar
DAY 16 • Brasov • Bran Castle Today we’ ll visit Bran Castle, often referred to as Dracula’ s Castle.
Meals: B, L | Hotel Atria Brasov or similar
DAY 17 • Brasov • Peles Castle • Bucharest Today we’ ll visit Peles Castle, completed in 1914 for the first Hohenzollern king of Romania, Carol I, and set dramatically in the hills above Sinaia. Late this afternoon, we’ ll arrive in Bucharest. Tonight, enjoy a Farewell Dinner.
Meals: B, L, D | Grand Hotel Continental Bucharest or similar
DAY 18 • Return to U. S. Transfer to the airport for your flight home, or to begin your post-trip extension to Undiscovered Romania: Moldavia, Bucovia & Maramures Regions.
Meals: B
Want to know more? Find the full itinerary and dates & pricing at www. oattravel. com / rbg
CUSTOMIZE YOUR EXPERIENCE
OPTIONAL EXTENSIONS
Thessaloniki & Mount Olympus PRE-TRIP: 5 nights from $ 1,995
Undiscovered Romania: Moldavia, Bucovina & Maramures Regions
POST-TRIP: 6 nights from $ 1,895
ARRIVE EARLY We recommend that you relax after a long flight or explore more in depth before your trip. Prices shown include accommodations and private airport transfer.
• Arrive early in Thessaloniki before your pre-trip extension from $ 180 per room, per night
• Arrive early in Sofia before your main adventure from $ 190 per room, per night
CENTRAL EUROPE & THE BALKANS
Information & Reservations 1-800-955-1925 www. oattravel. com / rbg 183