Fairytale Castles & Railways of Transylvania

Day 1

To Heathrow and our flight to Bucharest, where we meet our local guide and transfer to our hotel. This evening's dinner will be served in a local restaurant and includes wine & traditional entertainment.

Day 2

After breakfast we transfer by coach to Calimanesti and board the train for the first of our rail journeys. Relax and enjoy the views of the Carparthian mountains as the train heads to Sibiu. On arrival we visit Sibiu's Steam Train Museum, before continuing to our hotel for dinner.

Day 3

We'll enjoy a guided walking tour. Tonight, dinner is in the village of Sibiel.

Day 4

Once the residence of Hungarian Kings, Hunyadi Castle is often called one the of the 'Seven Wonders of Romania' and was built in a Renaissance-Gothic style. We journey via Alba Lulia to Turda where we visit one of the world's oldest salt mines. Tonight's dinner is served in our hotel in Cluj-Napoca.

Day 5

Cluj-Napoca was the former capital of Transylvania. Today, our guided walking tour takes in the two main squares where we'll see both the Catholic and Orthodox Cathedrals. We continue to the small village of Sapanta where we visit the 'Merry Cemetery'. Tonight, we'll enjoy a special candlelight dinner on board the Carpathia Express Train Restaurant at Mocanita Train Station before an overnight stay in Viseul de Sus.

Day 6

Today we board a narrow-gauge steam train for a journey on the last remaining forestry railway in Europe. The Vaser Valley line winds its way through a fascinating wilderness native to both wolves and bears. We'll enjoy a barbecue lunch before visiting the wooden churches of Barsana and Bogdan Voda. Tonight, we stay in Bistrita with dinner served in our hotel.

Day 7

This morning we visit Moldovita Monastery and enjoy a leisurely ride through gorgeous mountain scenery on the newly restored, narrow-gauge steam train that runs alongside the Moldovita River. After lunch visit Voronet Monastery, also known as the 'Sistine Chapel of the East' for its magnificent fresco 'The Last Judgement'. This evening's dinner is served in our hotel.

Day 8

Enjoy a guided tour of Targu Mures before continuing to Sighisoara a town founded by Transylvanian Saxons in the 12th century. After seeing the birthplace of Count Dracula and the Church on the Hill we'll board a local train to Brasov. Dinner is served in our hotel this evening.

Day 9

This morning visit Brasov, where we explore its beautiful centre on foot before driving to Bran and visit the castle widely known as being the place where Bram Stoker's fictional creation Count Dracula is set. Built by the German Saxons in the 14th century, the castle became a royal residence in 1920. Dinner is served in Bran Castle Tea House.

Day 10

We travel by rail to the mountain resort of Sinaia alighting at the Royal Train Station, which is also a stop for the famous Orient Express.
We visit Peles Castle - a masterpiece of German new-Renaissance architecture and undoubtedly one of the most stunning castles in Europe. In the afternoon we continue by coach to Bucharest. At a local restaurant in the Old Town we'll enjoy a farewell dinner with entertainment and a glass of wine to toast our holiday.

Day 11

After breakfast we include one final visit to Parliament Palace, before we transfer to Bucharest Airport for our return flight home.