3 Days Tour

Bucharest, Prahova Valley, Transylvania

Itinerary

Cities are often where the museums are, but rural areas, just about everywhere, are generally known for hospitality, richer traditions, and natural beauty. This tour is about experiencing another culture, something far different from visiting museums, archeological ruins, and national monuments. Now you'll visit the locals, who will cook up a homemade dish for you in their cosy environment, while you learn about local culture and lifestyle.

You chose this tour because you are not particularly interested in standard itineraries. And we so much appreciate your choice. Now the action starts:

Day 1

Today you get a chance to see a local food market. What people eat explains a great deal about a society, the landscape, the environment of a country, the aesthetics, the rituals, as well as the general outlook on life. A traditional dish at a restaurant sometimes hardly begins to explain how a grandma goes about compiling the ingredients to make it (unless grandma is the cook).

We also get rural. Cities are often where the museums are, but rural areas, just about everywhere, are generally known for hospitality, richer traditions and natural beauty. We visit villages from the surroundings of Bucharest and we stop in a rural-peasant place to get a taste of the mouthwatering "Sarmale", a rolled cabbaged stuffed with meat, served with polenta, bacon and pepper

Free optional excursion, Village Museum.

Overnight we sleep in a guesthouse and you enjoy local food and interesting stories.

Day 2

Thousands of years of invasions, wars and revolutions couldn’t extinguish the living flame of the Romanian village. Today we will come in contact with its generative core.

As we go towards Brasov, we will stop for short coffee breaks and pictures along the way. You'll enjoy a close encounter with a traditional shepherd in Transylvania. Sheep herding is one of the oldest way of making a livelihood. Nevertheless, in most of Western Europe, the traditional way of shepherding was lost many years ago. In contrast, shepherding is still commonly practiced in Romania and shepherds have their own place in most of traditional rural societies.

We'll watch the shepherd leading his flock up the hill. The shepherd only needs a few words to command his dogs what to do and the dogs listen to the shepherd before making any move. Now you'll enjoy a feast in a fresh air, a shepherd's meal with cheese, onions, tomatoes, sheep pastry and other goodies, and how can we forget about tzuica?!

More  authentic experiences are coming up, as you will enjoy a trip with a horse-drawn cart, through the picturesque landscape of Moeciu and Pestera, we'll make stopovers at the locals and enjoy some snacks in the peasant's house. Furthermore you will learn how they make their own brandy called "tzuica" and again you will have the opportunity to test it, you will get a chance to visit the animal stables, because in this region, men take care for animals and women sew and knit wool in an old machine called "razboi/war"

In the evening we sleep in a guesthouse, but not before we enjoy a beautiful campfire and a traditional dinner. Of course, you must join us in a traditional dance called "hora"

Day 3

Traditional breakfast

Did you know Romania has the largest Brown Bear population in Europe? Well, you will find out today, because we have a very special surprise for you. We'll take you to visit "The Libearty bear sanctuary" – based in the oak forests above the town of Zarnesti, in central Transylvania. Here, the guide will show you how the rescued bears are enjoying life in the forested sanctuary areas. There are over 70 bears enjoying a new life in the Libearty Bear Sanctuary – 70 hectares of oak and hazel forest in the Carpathian Mountains.

Just before the lunch you'll get the chance to visit visit some local attractions, we will go up to visit Rasnov Citadel, an exciting adventure in a captivating fortress,  then we take a short visit to a nearby cave and, finally, you will explore the Dracula Castle in Bran, where you will have the chance to buy local souvenirs from the peasants.

After a delicious lunch in the village of Moeciu,  with full stomach and joyful soul, we head to Bucharest to end this excursion. Now you undertand, that you have not participated in a travel act, but in a real therapy experience. A therapy with joy, beauty and authenticity.