Bucharest - Transfagarasan – Balea Lake - Carta Abbey - Sibiu

Transfagarasan Highway - Top Gear’s Jeremy Clarkson once called it “the best road in the world” after driving on this mountain route. We begin our journey from your hotel in Bucharest, traveling by car along the picturesque Transfagarasan Road. This road was the brainchild of Romania’s last Communist leader, Nicolae Ceausescu, who, in 1968, refused to join the USSR and other Warsaw Pact nations in invading Czechoslovakia. Fearing Soviet retaliation, Ceausescu commissioned this 90 km (56 miles) road to ensure quick military access from Bucharest to Transylvania. Today, we get to explore and appreciate this expensive route that traverses the highest Romanian mountains, reaching 2,544 meters at Moldoveanu Peak.

Carta Monastery - The Transfagarasan Road concludes near Cârta Abbey, a former Catholic monastery that now serves as an evangelical church. It was constructed around 1200 by Burgundian Cistercian monks.

Sibiu - Upon arriving in Sibiu (Hermannstadt), we take a short break before embarking on a guided tour of this renowned Medieval city. Legend has it that Hermann, a 12th-century German settler and skilled furrier from Nürnberg, gave the city its name, Hermannstadt.

Le Lac Balea - We take in the stunning views at Bâlea Lake, a glacier lake situated at 2,034 meters, the highest point on the Transfagarasan mountain road.

Sibiu - Biertan - Malancrav - Sighisoara

Biertan Fortified Church - Our first stop is the Biertan Fortified Church, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Constructed between 1486 and 1524, the church boasts impressive defensive walls, a beautiful nave ceiling, and a collection of tombstones of former bishops and notable figures.

Fortified Lutheran Church of Malancrav - Next, we head to Malâncrav village, located just 25 kilometers from the Sighisoara fortress. This small village is home to the largest Gothic church fresco in Transylvania, discovered during restoration work in 1914 beneath a layer of chalk paint applied after the Lutheran Reformation. These medieval frescoes, dating back to around 1305, have miraculously survived and are a visual delight.

Centrul Istoric Sighisoara - We conclude our day in the medieval citadel of Sighisoara, a UNESCO site. We spend the late afternoon and evening exploring the citadel, the birthplace of the infamous Wallachian ruler, Vlad the Impaler.

Sighisoara - Viscri - Brasov

Viscri Fortified Church - On the third day of our tour, we delve into the life of rural Transylvanian villages and visit two more UNESCO World Heritage sites: the fortified churches of Saschiz and Viscri. This region gained fame as a tourist destination after Prince Charles of Wales purchased an old Saxon household in Viscri, a blue house built in 1753. Prince Charles visits every year or two to live, ride horses, and explore.

Brasov Historical Center - Brasov, with its strong industrial background, has attracted people from all over the country and has become one of Romania’s most vibrant cities. The city developed around a fortress established in 1211 by the Teutonic Knights and later expanded by German settlers after a dispute between the knights and the king. The Gothic Black Church, the fortress, its towers, and many narrow medieval streets stand as witnesses to Brasov’s long and storied history.

Brasov - Bran Castle - Peles Castle - Bucharest

Bran Castle (Dracula’s Castle) - On the final day of our Transylvanian tour, we visit Bran Castle, built in the 14th century to guard the strategic trade route between Wallachia and Transylvania. Perched on a rock, making it nearly impregnable on three sides, Bran Castle is famously associated with the nefarious deeds of Count Dracula.

Peles Castle - In the early afternoon, we arrive in Sinaia to visit Peles Castle, constructed in the late 19th century. The opulent Peles Castle stands in stark contrast to its founder, the austere King Carol I of Romania (1839-1914), of German descent. Dedicated to modernizing Romania, Carol I ruled for 48 years, with his Queen, Elisabeth, noting that he “wore the crown even while he was sleeping.”

• Private transportation
• Lunch
• In-vehicle air conditioning
• 3 nights accommodation in DBL room occupancy, breakfast included, in 3-star superior hotel/guesthouse
• All fees and/or taxes

• Meals, Photo fees, flight tickets

Experience a thrilling expedition and an exploration into historic and ethnic pasts on this 4-day journey through the majestic landscape of Fagaras mountains, delving into Romania’s Saxon cultural wealth. This tour is accessible during the warm summers and early fall, under favorable weather conditions, when the picturesque Transfagarasan alpine road is operational.

If you cancel at least 4 day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a full refund.
If you cancel within 3 day(s) of the scheduled departure, you will receive a 0% refund.