Tour riêng
Your rendez-vous with Europe's past: time-travel to Maramures, Transylvania
Tổng quát
Ngôn ngữ có sẵn
168 giờ
Vé di động
If you want see and feel how Europe was one hundred years ago, just get into this time travel tour machine and visit Maramures and Saxon Transylvania, You are about to discover amazing sceneries, the peasant Romanian culture, wooden churches and organic food of Maramures and the Saxon civilization built upon a network of fortified churches and citadels in southern Transylvania. Take this 7-day tour with overnights in the old medieval citadels of Sibiu, Sighisoara and Brasov, in the booming cities of Cluj and Bucharest, and 2 overnights at a traditional cottage in the village of Breb (Maramures) with delicious local, organic food.
Thông tin khác
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Specialized infant seats are available
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Chính sách hủy
All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.
Bao gồm
Private transportation
All Fees and Taxes
Air-conditioned vehicle
7 nights accommodation in DBL room occupancy, 3* superior hotels/guesthouses, breakfast included.
Meals, Photo fees, flight tickets
Điểm đón trả
Điểm đón
Chọn điểm đón
Cần Quan Tâm
Bucharest - Cozia Monastery - Sibiu
Lưu Trú
Overnight in Sibiu - accommodation in double room occupancy, breakfast included, in 3 star superior hotel/guesthouse.
Cozia Monastery
We meet at your hotel in Bucharest or at the airport and start our tour by car, through the scenic Olt River’s Valley. Our first stop is Cozia Monastery founded in 1388 by Mircea the Elder – a brave middle ages Wallachian Prince, and grandfather of the most notorious Vlad the Impaler.
Sibiu
After a quick lunch and a short rest, we have a guided tour of the old city of Sibiu. A great sight over Sibiu rewards our effort of climbing the medieval stairs of the Council Tower. We stroll the old streets of Sibiu and it’s most important plazas: the Grand Square, the Small Square, and the Albert Huet Square (the oldest square, dating from 12-th century). We also pay a visit to the Orthodox Cathedral (discovering the similarities with the Saint Sofia’s Basilica of Constantinople) and to the impressive Evangelical Church.
Sibiu - Alba Iulia - Cluj
Lưu Trú
Overnight in Cluj - accommodation in double room occupancy, breakfast included, in 3 star superior hotel/guesthouse.
Cetatea Alba Iulia
The second day of our tour takes us on the footsteps of a great medieval hero John Hunyadi (Corvin), regent of Hungary, and of his son, King Matthias Corvinus. A Hungarian brilliant military commander of Romanian ancestry, John Hunyadi stopped in Belgrade, in 1456, the offensive of the Ottomans emboldened by their takeover of Constantinople three years earlier. We visit the Alba Iulia fortress (Alba Carolina) where John Hunyadi was laid to rest in the impressive, ancient Saint Michael Cathedral (the construction started in 1004). We also pay a visit to the Orthodox Coronation Cathedral and to the ruins of the Roman castrum of the elite 13th Gemina Roman Legion.
Cluj-Napoca
Our next stop is Cluj-Napoca. A short tour of the city always ends at one of the restaurants or bars near the house where one of the greatest kings of Hungary was born - Matthias Rex, the son of John Hunyadi.
Cluj - Surdesti wooden church - Breb village
Lưu Trú
Overnight in Breb - accommodation in double room occupancy, breakfast included, in a traditional guesthouse.
Đồ ăn và uống
LUNCH
Lunch
Traditional, organic food provided by our hosts in Breb.
DINNER
Dinner
Traditional, organic food provided by our hosts in Breb.
Surdesti Wooden Church
From Cluj-Napoca we are heading north towards Maramures, on of the last remaining bastions of traditional peasant culture in Europe. Surdesti. Wooden church. We stop in the village of Surdesti, amazed by the local wooden church (UNESCO World Heritage monument). Built in 1766, the Greek-Catholic church of Surdesti has been until recently the tallest wooden church in the world.
Breb
Right after noon we check-in at a traditional cottage in the village of Breb which will host us for the following couple of days. We take our time to enjoy a pleasant afternoon and traditional food of our hosts.
Breb - Barsana - Sapanta - Sighetul Marmatiei - Desesti - Breb
Lưu Trú
Second overnight in Breb - accommodation in double room occupancy, breakfast included, in a traditional guesthouse.
Đồ ăn và uống
DINNER
Dinner
Traditional, organic dinner offered by our guests from Breb village.
Barsana Monastery
Built in early '90s, the large Orthodox monastic complex at Barsana is a great example of modern ecclesiastical architecture deeply rooted in the local tradition.
Merry Cemetery
In 1935, a local popular artist has started to carve and paint in vivid colors the wooden crosses of his defunct neighbors from the village of Sapânta. Then, the artist added an ironic epitaph resuming the life of the deceased or the conditions of his death. It has resulted in a joyful collection of naive drawings and funny, short stories -- the Merry Cemetery of Sapânta. The funniest epitaph reads as follows: “My poor mother-in-law Under this heavy cross you lie, And yet, if you had three days more, You’d be here too see me die. So, passer-by, do not disturb her, For if she were to come again, We’d never stop her tongue for wagging Her words and curses fell like rain. I will keep quiet, please do so too, And she’ll not wake to curse all you.”
Memorial of the Victims of Communism and of the Resistance
The dreaded Communist prison of Sighet has been converted in a Memorial to the victims and the resistance against dictatorship. At this prison located on Romania’s northern border with the USSR, the Communist regime tried to exterminate the political, religious, academic and cultural elite of the country. From 1950 to 1955, 211 of the most important Romanian statesmen, former prime-ministers and political leaders, respected intellectuals, 22 members of the Romanian Academy, all the bishops and many priests of the Greek-Catholic and Roman Catholic Churches, high ranking army generals, most of them old or already sick, were imprisoned at Sighet in dreadful conditions.
Desesti
The wooden church of Desesti - UNESCO World Heritage monument - is famous for its naive, well preserved old picture.
Breb - Ieud - Biertan - Sighisoara
Lưu Trú
Overnight in Sighisoara, accommodation in double room occupancy, breakfast included, in 3 star superior hotel/guesthouse
The Wooden Churches of Maramures
From the core of the Romanian rural Maramures we head South, to the Saxon heartland of Transylvania. It is a long drive. We have a short stop at Ieud village, in the heart of Maramures. There are two traditional wooden churches in the village of Ieud. The ”church on the hill” (Orthodox, XVII century) is an UNESCO World Heritage monument. As for the ”church in the valley” (Greek-Catholic), its slenderness and well-balanced proportions earned it the fame of the "The Wooden Cathedral". Ieud Valley Church was erected in 1718, after the last invasion of Tartars in Maramures and their stunning defeat in 1717 at the hands of a local army of Romanian peasants led by a priest. The church was never painted, yet it hosts a rich collection of glass icons.
Biertan Fortified Church
After a long drive we arrive in the village of Biertan. The village's fortified church is a UNESCO World Heritage monument. Built from 1486 to 1524, Biertan church has impressive defense walls, a beautiful nave ceiling, and a collection of tombstones of former bishops and notabilities.
Centrul Istoric Sighisoara
We end our day in the medieval citadel of Sighisoara – UNESCO site. We enjoy the late afternoon and evening visiting the citadel, the birthplace of the famous Wallachian ruler, Vlad the Impaler.
Sighisoara - Viscri - Brasov
Lưu Trú
Overnight in Brasov, accommodation in double room occupancy, breakfast included, in 3 star superior hotel/guesthouse.
Đồ ăn và uống
LUNCH
Lunch
Traditional, organic lunch in a Viscri household.
Viscri Fortified Church
This day is mostly dedicated to discovering the rural Saxon Transylvania and seeing another two UNESCO Wold Heritage monuments – the fortified churches of Saschiz and Viscri. In our way from Sighisoara to Brasov we enjoy our lunch time in Viscri, the remote village Prince Charles fell in love with. This Transylvanian region of fortified churches became a famous tourism attraction after he bought an old Saxon household in Viscri -- no. 163, a blue house built in 1753. Prince Charles use to come here every few years, to ride horses, and to travel.
Saxon Church
In our way from Sighisoara to Brasov we gaze at Saschiz fortified church - UNESCO World Heritage monument - built at the end of XVth century with a tower reminding us the Clock Tower of Sighisoara.
Cetatea Rupea
In our way from Sighisoara to Brasov, after Saschiz fortified church, we also catch sight of the Rupea fortress, one of the oldest fortifications in Romania (built over preexisting Roman and Dacian fortresses).
Brasov Historical Center
With a strong industry during the past century, Brasov was a magnet for people from all around the country and has become one of the most vibrant Romanian cities. This booming city has been developed around the initial fortress established in 1211 by the Teutonic Knights and later on, after a quarrel between the knights and the king, by German settlers. Once in Brasov, after the check-in, we visit the impressive Black Church – a 14-th century Gothic monument, the fortifications, bastions and towers of the medieval fortress, the curious Rope Street (one of the narrowest in Europe).
Brasov - Bran Castle - Pele Castle (Sinaia) - Bucharest
Lưu Trú
Overnight in Bucharest - accommodation in double room occupancy, breakfast included, in 3 star superior hotel.
Bran Castle (Dracula's Castle)
We leave Brasov for the Bran Castle, identified with Count Dracula legend and enjoy the breathtaking scenery at Bran Pass over Piatra Craiului and Bucegi mountains.
Peles Castle
Early afternoon we arrive at Sinaia, just in time to visit the Peles Castle, built at the end of 19-th century. This flamboyant castle is in such a stark contrast with the austere character of its founder: the first King of Romania, the sober Carol I of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen (1839-1914), of German origins.
Stavropoleos Monastery
In late afternoon we arrive in Bucharest. After check-in, you can take your time to allow your Transylvanian impressions to settle down. We would not miss yo visit in Bucharest the elegant Stavropoleos Church (built in 1724), a monastery in the heart of the city.
Tùy chọn
Your rendez-vous with Europe's past: time-travel to Maramures, Transylvania
Pickup included
Đánh giá
11 đánh giá
Tổng số đánh giá và xếp hạng từ Viator & TripAdvisor
Wonderful Romania a d guide -Oct 2025
286kll,
27 thg 11, 2025
- Đánh giá từ Tripadvisor
5.00Gelu was our local guide for the 10day trip in Romania. We were so lucky to have a local folk who relates very well their country cultures and values, and also an experienced journalist to tell us more about their history, He even shared his personal experience on the street protest during government changing time, that really brought the country history to life to us!! Apart from the beautiful scenery in Brasov he brought us to, and the very special Sibui houses with 'eyes' on the roofs, he told superb stories about the history and meaningful wall paintings in those churches we visited, and the highlight was at the merry cemetery at maramures,. He took the effort to explain or translate those script on the stones to allow us to appreciate the special culture there. We were like a true family during the trip!! We thoroughly enjoyed his tour.í
The best way to experience the real Transylvania
RonM497,
26 thg 11, 2025
- Đánh giá từ Tripadvisor
5.00Having Gelu as our guide in Romania was like travelling with a very knowledgeable good mate. That is a real bonus for the personalised tours he operates. We took this tour whose main focus is in the province of Transylvania. This region is so beautiful with much of the area in an enormous and gentle landscape but bounded by the massive Carpathian Mountain range that transcends the whole country. Its cites including Sibiu, Sighisoara and Brasov are as beautiful, historic, vibrant and welcoming, and well and truly comparable to their Western European cousins (but often without the hoards of tourists). The region's architectural highlights include remarkable sites like Peles Castle, the fortified churches of Carta and Viscri, the renowned Bran Castle, and many outstanding orthodox churches, each part of a unique European heritage. Gelu’s extensive knowledge of Romanian history, including his insights living during the Soviet era, provided a very personal perspective. Also a keen hiker, he guided us on lovely walks to the top of the mountain overlooking Brasov and walks around the stunning Balea Lake. We were treated to safe encounters with wildlife including Romania's famous bears sometimes seen even at the side of local roads. His driver George ensured comfortable transport in his spacious SUV, allowing Gelu to spend additional time commenting about life in Romania and its recent rapid modernization. Another delightful part of our journey was that several times Gelu pleasantly surprised by detouring from the planned itinerary to visit small towns or very recent renovations such as to walled town fortifications that had just opened to the public. Culinary experiences were another part of the tour, with Gelu providing expert recommendations for traditional and modern cuisine at local restaurants and cafes and we even dined with local families. Finally, with Gelu's keen enthusiasm for his job, you might find long travel days so make sure you are well rested before you start your travels! ;o)
Passionate, Knowledgeable and Truly Dedicated Guide
huiyliew,
28 thg 10, 2025
- Đánh giá từ Tripadvisor
5.00We were so lucky to have Gelu as our guide in Romania! He is incredibly passionate about his country’s culture and history, and his stories brought every place to life. In Brasov and Sibiu, he seemed to know every nook and corner — from hidden alleys to the best photo spots. At the Merry Cemetery, Gelu patiently interpreted the witty tombstone inscriptions for us, helping us understand the deeper meaning behind this unique tradition. He was always patient, dedicated, and helpful — even assisting us with our luggage without hesitation. Thank you, Gelu, for making our Romania trip so memorable. Highly recommended to anyone who wants to experience Romania with a guide who truly loves and knows his country! 🇷🇴✨
Traveling with Gelu
LoveTravel311037,
1 thg 10, 2025
- Đánh giá từ Tripadvisor
5.00If you plan to visit Romania, your first step is to contact Gelu. Gelu is an ideal guide: knowledgeable, personable, articulate, and flexible. His enthusiasm in relating the remarkable history and culture of Romania, his love of nature, his ability to connect with a wide variety of people are all evident and contagious. As a bonus, Gelu's journalistic background adds significantly to what he has to offer. In sum, your journey in Romania will be greatly enhanced by Gelu's companionship.
Outstanding 12-Day Tour with Jello – Highly Recommended!
Inspire64865233688,
24 thg 9, 2025
- Đánh giá từ Tripadvisor
5.00Dear Jello, Thank you for planning and guiding such a wonderful 12-day trip through Transylvania, Maramureș, and Bukovina. Your professionalism, vast knowledge, and engaging style—always with patience, humor, and warmth—made the journey unforgettable. We especially enjoyed visiting unique villages, painted monasteries, palaces, and Jewish heritage sites, all while experiencing Romania’s breathtaking landscapes. Every detail, from local guides to hotel arrangements, was perfectly organized and tailored to our wishes. We will always remember you (and George the driver!) with great appreciation and warmly recommend you to anyone looking for an exceptional travel experience in Romania.
The best ever
RussKr1,
25 thg 7, 2024
- Đánh giá từ Tripadvisor
5.00We had the pleasure of traveling with Gelu for 6 days through Wallachia, Transylvania, and Maramures and had an absolutely wonderful time. Gelu has a very warm and welcoming personality, always doing his best to make sure we were comfortable and having an enjoyable experience. Gelu has an amazing knowledge of the history of Romania. We had such a great experience that we are already planning another trip next year with Gelu. There is no one better to show the beauty of Romania.
Wonderful Romanian Trip
劍斌 鍾,
26 thg 3, 2024
- Đánh giá từ Tripadvisor
5.00This is an excellent Romanian Travel. The tour guide Gelu and the driver Vlad gave us a wonderful trip. Gelu is very knowledgeable and helpful which he care every details of our tour. You can tell that he has the passion being a tour guide. We know a lot now about Romania and its people from Gelu. We visited the local people in Maramureş and we really enjoyed it. What an experience! This is an unforgettable trip and hopefully we can go to the North East of Romania and Danube Delta next time. Will definitely ask Gelu and Vlad to be our guide and driver. 👍👍
Fantastic!
Trek16109240618,
14 thg 10, 2021
- Đánh giá từ Tripadvisor
5.00Gelu is a fantastic guide, very knowledgeable and passionate about his homeland. Spent 2 weeks with a tour group that he led that traveled all over Romania. He always allowed time for questions, pictures and breathing in the experience. The last day of the trip I tested positive for Covid and had to quarantine in my Bucharest hotel room for an additional 14 days. Although I was no longer under his supervision, Gela checked in with me every day, dropping off food, supplies and speaking with the Bucharest Covid control center. He even made sure I got to the airport to return home. I don’t know how I would have managed those 2 weeks without him Gelu is a very smart, skilled, compassionate guide. I can’t recommend him more!
Romanian odyssey
Ramanuja,
23 thg 1, 2021
- Đánh giá từ Tripadvisor
5.00My recollections of thelaces we visited in Maramures and Transylvania are a bit hazy -- but what I can say that is that Gelu was an absolutely superb guide -- warm, friendly, and very well informed -- through his insightful commentary I learned so much about Romania's rich cultural heritage -- it was a great pleasure just spending time with Gelu and his lovely daughter Lucia -- both of them wonderful human beings -- If you are looking for a first-class, multidimensional travel experience, you can't do better than Gelu as your guide -- Toby Symington
Beautiful Romania!
thecherif,
28 thg 12, 2020
- Đánh giá từ Tripadvisor
5.00In September 2019, we had a wonderful tour of Romania with Gelu. He has remarkable knowledge and a love for his country which shines through! We certainly came to share that love of Romania! What a beautiful country with picturesque landscapes, wonderful architecture and amazing food. My favorite part of the trip was our stay in Breb Village. We felt so welcomed and at home. If you are considering a trip to Romania...I highly recommend you do so and you will be in wonderful hands with Gelu to guide you!
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