Transylvania and Maramures tour from Sibiu or Bucharest

Trip details

TOURS description

Transylvania and Maramures: We have put together Romania's must-see regions for an enriching 6 to 10 days journey. Gothic castles, quaint villages, medieval citadels, traditional crafts and picturesque natural landscape. The trip can start in Sibiu ( where we live) or in Bucharest or Cluj, depending on where you have planned to land in Romania. Depending on your time availability, the tour can be extended or shortened, in order to suit at maximum your travel plans. Also, the itinerary is flexible, we can add other places or activities, at your demand: wine tasting, cooking lessons, pottery lessons, craftsmanship workshops, nature explorations, you just have to name it and we will try to add to your journey.
Tour 1: The trip can start in Sibiu or Bucharest. If your flight connections allow, we suggest starting the trip in Sibiu, in order to avoid the hectic traffic of the capital of Romania. In Sibiu, where we can have a tour of the Old Town, strolling through the cobbled streets and romantic squares, finding out more about the hidden stories of the city. In the afternoon we can have a walk in the Open Air Museum, or a short drive through the villages in Marginimea Sibiului. Lunch or dinner can be a home-cooked meal at one of the guesthouses in the area. We will spend the night in Sibiu.
Tour 2: on this day of our Transylvanian part of the trip we will go up in the mountains on the Transfagarasan highway. We will drive up to 2000 meters altitude, we will stop many times for taking pictures and admiring the breathtaking mountain scenery. We will have a walk around Balea Lake , and then we will pass through the tunnel, to reach the south side of the Transfagarasan road. With a little luck, we will be able to see one of the cutest alpine animal: the marmot.
Tour 3: This day will be dedicated to castles and fortress. The biggest in Transylvania. I'm talking about the Corvin Castle, the imposing 15th-century gothic castle, located in Hunedoara county and Alba Iulia, the largest fortress in South-Eastern Europe still standing.
Tour 4 and 5 : We will leave Sibiu for Brasov, where we will spend 2 days, to complete our fortress and castles part of the trip. From Brasov we will discover the Bran Castle ( or the Dracula castle, as it is promoted), Peles Castle and Rasnov Fortress . Also, we will dedicate half a day to explore the beautiful Brasov, including an astonishing view from Tampa Mountain. Depending the time and your interest we can visit the largest bear reservation in the world, at Zarnesti.
Tour 6: We will leave Brasov for Cluj. On the way to Cluj, we will stop in Sighisoara, to discover by the foot the medieval citadel, UNESCO site and the birthplace of Vlad the Impaler. Overnight in Cluj.
Tour 7: It's time to head to Maramures. We will leave Cluj and drive close to the Ukrainian border, to visit the unique Merry Cemetery in Sapanta, the place where people defy death in a rather funny manner. Then we will visit the former Communist prison in Sighet , nowadays a memorial of the victims who stood up the red plague. Overnight in one of the charming villages from Maramures, at traditional house transformed in a guesthouse by the owners.
Tour 8: We will continue exploring the bucolic Maramures : we can visit a wood carver workshop, a whirlpool (ancient installation for washing clothes) or a plum brandy mini-factory. We will complete the day with one of the UNESCO wooden churches,, one of the symbols of Maramures.
Tour 9:The trip in Maramures cannot be complete without the steam train experience. So, on this day we will head to Viseul de Sus, where we will take the steam train for an unforgettable journey to the heart of the Carpathians mountains. We will return from the trip in the afternoon, when, we can decide about the next destination.
Tour 10: This part of the trip can be used either for the transfer to your airport ( the closest is Cluj), either for a 2 days extension of the trip, in Bucovina.

Book this tour

Points of interest

1. Sibiu

2. Transfagarasan road

3. Corvin Castle

4. Alba Iulia fortress

5. Rasnov fortress

6. Peles castle

7. Bran

8. Brasov

9. Zarnesti bear reservation

10. Sighisoara Citadel

11. Cluj

12. Sapanta Merry Cemetery

13. Sighet Memorial

14. Barsana Monastery

15. The Steam Train


Duration
6 to 12 days
Availability
All year round. In winter, the Transfagarasan tour will pe replaces with the Ice Hotel experience.
Price
It depends on the distance covered during this trip. For a personal offer, do not hesitate to contact us.
Link this tour with:
This trip can shortened or extended to fit your time available. Therefore, we can provide you a customised itinerary to meet your special demands and interests. For more options please return to our tour list or let us a message.
Tour inclusions
Transportation and professional private guide services for the full lenght of the trip. Plus a lot of smiles, interesting stories and good humour. At demand, we provide Wifi access and photo service.
Tour exclusions
Accommodation, the entrance fees and the meals aren't included in our tariff, but we'll arrange that for you in order to make your trip perfect. You can also ask for a all inclusive price offer.
Phisical activity
Moderate. You need to walk for about 3 to 5 kilometres per day, climb stairs and walk on an uneven surface. If you have some special medical condition you should tell us about it before the trip.
Dress code
Decent attire (if we'll visit any religious place). Confortable clothes and shoes adapted to the season.

FAQ - Here is the list of the most frequently asked questions

Is Transylvania a real country?
Transylvania is one of the main historical regions of Romania. During its long history, Transylvania belonged to the Hungarian Kingdom, Austrian Empire or Austro-Hungarian Empire. It was also a separate entity, between 16th to 18th centuries, called The Principality of Transylvania.
What airport do you fly to for Transylvania?
You can fly to Sibiu, Cluj, Targu Mures. Timisoara or Bucharest is also an option, even though they aren't in Transylvania.
What is the climate in Transylvania?
The climate is temperate continental climate, whith hot summers, long autumns seasons and cold winters. Due to its position inside the Carpathians mountains, the summers are cooler than in the south and the east part of Romania, and in winter there are no blizzards.
Is there a real Castle Dracula?
There is no real Dracula Castle, as the book written by Bram Stoker is a fictional book. The writer was probably inspired by the Bran Castle, but in the book, he positioned the castle in the north part of Transylvania, not in the south, where Bran is located.
Was Dracula a real person?
No, the vampire in the book and the movies who followed is a fictional character, but Bram Stoker was inspired by Romanian prince, Vlad the Impaler ( also called Vlad Dracula) when he created the personage.