Key details
• Private tour: only for you and your partner/family/group
• In English: with a guide or driver (other languages upon request)
• Dates: you decide the dates
• Services: you choose the type of services and options
• Location: it starts and ends in Bucharest
• Duration: 8 days in total
• No flights included
Short description
A relaxed tour, seeing and experiencing the most beautiful sights in the Carpathians and the capital. A program that offers all the time necessary to discover, explore and enjoy. An optimal combination of active tourism, special visits and relaxation.
What you will do
• Explore Sinaia, “the pearl of the Carpathians”: time for the complete tour of Peles Castle, visit the Sinaia Monastery, walk, stroll and relax
• Options of active tourism: hiking, trekking, cycling routes
• Enjoy a meal at the Cantacuzino Castle and a sparkling wine tasting at the royal cellars (optional)
• Get to know Brasov, ancient "city of the Crown"
• Discover: Prejmer - UNESCO fortified church; Bran Castle - "Dracula's Castle"; Rasnov (Update 2021: temporarily closed) - legendary medieval citadel; Poiana Brașov - ski resort.
• Visit Bucharest (unique capital city and new European destination)
Advantages
Why Santiago Tour?
1. Local experts and excellent guides
2. Local prices and selected services
Why a Private Tour?
1. It's flexible - you decide when to travel and how
2. It's personal - a trip for you and according to your preferences
Price
This is a private tour, adaptable to your travel dates and preferences, organized only for you and your partner / family / group.
| Number of participants |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 or more |
Price* / person |
€1279 |
€964 |
€959 |
€859 |
€774 |
* Discount: up to - €200/person, in case of choosing English-speaking driver-guide instead of proficient tour guide (see below in options)
Services
What is Included:
• Accommodation: 7 overnights according to the program, in double room with breakfast included, 3* Smart type (see below).
• Transportation by modern vehicle according to the program, with related expenses and 2 airport-hotel and return transfers included
• Assistance: English speaking proficient tour guide, as per program
• Guided visits mentioned in the program and 6 attractions with entrance fee included: Peles Castle (standard tour approx 1h) and Sinaia Monastery (Sinaia); Prejmer fortified church; Rasnov Citadel (Update 2021: temporarily closed); Bran Castle; Village Museum (Bucharest).
3* Smart Type Accommodation: mainly 3* superior hotels with quality services
or similar, depending on availability.
• Single room supplement: + €180.
What is Not included:
• flights and travel insurance
• personal expenses, such as: mini bar, phone calls, porterage etc.
• photo / video fees during the visits (if applicable)
• in general, all services not specified in "what is included"
• tips for the guide and/or driver.
Options
1. Accommodation
• 4* Comfort type - mainly 4* hotels with quality services: Sinaia - International 4* Hotel (center 1); Brasov - Armatti 3*- superior Hotel / Belfort 3*- superior Hotel (center 1); Bucarest- K+K 4* Hotel (centro 0). Or similar, depending on availability. Total extra charge: approx. + €120/person in double room and the single supplement changing to: €265.
• 5* Premium type - mainly 5* hotels with quality services: Sinaia - Ioana 5* Hotel (center 2); Brasov - Aro Palace 5* Hotel (center 0) / Kronwell 4* Hotel (city) / Grand Teleferic 4* Hotel (mountain resort); Bucharest - Intercontinental Hotel 5* (center 0) / Epoque Relais-Châteaux 5* Hotel (center 1). Total extra charge: to be communicated on request.
• 3* Economy type - mainly 3* standard hotels and pensions, with quality services. Total discount: approx. - €35/person in double room and single supplement changing to: €155.
Notes on accommodation
• Confirmed hotels can be communicated only after making the reservations on specific dates
• center 0 / center 1 / center 2 means: 0-5 / 5-15 / 15-25 minutes walking distance from the center (the important tourist area of the city)
• Some 3* boutique hotels and pensions don't have an elevator or air conditioning (because it is not usually required). If these are essential requirements, please let us know or choose the 4* Comfort option.
2. Assistance
A. With a proficient tour guide. Option included in the price.
• English-speaking tour guide, offering detailed explanation, presentations, and guided tours. The tour guide also makes all necessary arrangements, as well as restaurant and meal recommendations.
• a tour guide for the entire program, no local tour guides being used in general. Some attractions only allow guided tours (their own staff); if the included tour is not available in English, our tour guide will join you and translate or even make the tour by himself (if allowed).
• depending on availability: a tour guide who also drives (1 person), or a tour guide plus a driver (2 people), with fee, meal allowance, and accommodation included.
B. With a driver-guide. Discount: up to - €200/person.
• English-speaking driver-guide, facilitating the visits, the entrances to attractions, the check-ins and other details. The driver-guide is also able to make restaurant and meal recommendations.
• offers basic information about the main attractions and the country but not detailed explanation or presentations. Some attractions only allow guided tours (their own staff); if the included tour is not available in English, our driver-guide will join you and translate or even make the tour by himself (if allowed).
• his fee, meal allowance, and accommodation are included.
C. With a tablet. Discount: to be communicated on request.
• tablet with Internet access that serves for navigation purposes and to facilitate the trip, with apps and useful information; a travel guide in English; a road map (all to be returned at the end of the trip).
• implies transportation by rental car and 2 transfers, airport-hotel and return, included.
• accommodation is optional (can be added or not) and visits will be done freely, without asisstance.
3. Meals
• lunches and dinners will be organized freely or with the help of your assistant.
• breakfasts are included with the accommodation
Read the General Conditions for a Private tour by clicking here
How it is organized
• 7 Overnights: Sinaia (3) - Brașov (3) - Bucharest (1)
• Itinerary: Bucharest Airport - Sinaia (the "pearl of the Carpathians") - Sinaia (Peles Castle and the Monastery) - Bușteni (hiking and / or Cantacuzino Castle) - Sinaia - Azuga (hiking and / or the Royal champagne cellars) - Prejmer (UNESCO fortified church) - Brașov (“Crown city”) - Brașov (full day) - Bran (Dracula's Castle) - Râșnov (Update 2021: temporarily closed) (medieval citadel) - Poiana Brașov (ski resort) - Brașov - Bucharest (the capital)
• The tour has 7 overnights and 8 days: 2 days for arrival & return and 6 days of program with activities such as: visits, city tour, active tourism (optional hiking, trekking, bicycle routes), sparkling wine tasting (optional) and free time.
Short description
Concept:
• 8 days in total and planned to take place from Saturday to Saturday. It can be adapted to your flights and preferred dates while taking into account the visiting hours of the attractions included in the program.
• The program can be slightly customized to match your preferences and ideas, or it can be the draft for a tailor-made trip made from scratch.
Custom-made:
• Adapt: if the return flight is in the afternoon, there is enough free time in Bucharest. Otherwise, we recommend adding 1 more day in the capital city.
• Adapt: if desired, days 3 and 4 can be merged into one, thus giving the option of adding a day in Bucharest or even reducing the program to seven days. That means, of course, reducing the activities and the free time planned for these two days.
• Adapt: several optional activities and visits are offered to customize the trip based on your preferences.
Program
Day 1 of 8. Arrival in Romania
Bucharest - Sinaia Airport ☾. 110 km
Program: transfer to Sinaia, free time (if possible)
Arrival at Bucharest Airport and meeting with Santiago Tour’s guide or driver.
Transfer to Sinaia (approx. 1 hour and a half), a mountain resort considered the pearl of the
Carpathians. Accommodation check-in and free time depending on the arrival hour. Possible activities: stroll through the center and its beautiful park, walk the steep streets dotted with chalets, or relax in the hotel's spa.
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Day 2 of 8. The Pearl of the Carpathians
Sinaia ☾. 5-10 km
Program: visit Peles Castle and Sinaia Monastery; free time
Breakfast. In the morning we visit Peles Castle, the last royal residence in Europe built in neo-Renaissance style. Time for the standard tour: approx. 1 hour, visiting the most impressive and monumental rooms on the ground floor, or the complete one: approx. 2 hours, also including the first floor, with the concert hall, the living room and the exquisite royal apartments (the complete tour is optional and available except Monday or Tuesday).
There is also the option of adding a visit to Pelisor Castle, a smaller romantic residence marked by very original decoration elements, chosen by Queen Maria herself.
Time to recharge your batteries, perhaps enjoying a coffee and a cake on the terrace with beautiful views over the castle and its surroundings. We then continue with the visit of the Sinaia Monastery and its two jewels of religious art: the old and the new Church, learning about the interesting history of this special convent.
Time for lunch and possible trekking in the afternoon, 2-3 hours up to a point with panoramic views over the entire valley. Overnight accommodation.
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Day 3 of 8. "The Carpathian garden"
Sinaia - Busteni - Sinaia ☾ 25 km
Program: hiking to “Urlatoarea” Waterfall and / or time at Cantacuzino Castle; optional: the plateau of "Babele"
Breakfast. We leave for Busteni mountain resort to start a hiking route. We recommend a hike with low difficulty to “Urlatoarea” Waterfall (round trip approx. 2 hours and a half). Later, we continue by car to Cantacuzino Castle, a beautiful neo-Romanian-style building with a splendid garden and terrace, and unparalleled views towards the Bucegi Mountains. Time to have lunch and return to Sinaia in the afternoon.
Alternatively, you can go on a hike with medium-high difficulty to Babele Cabin (approx. 4 hours each way). Once you are there, admire the natural monuments of “Babele” (the grandmothers) and the Sphinx, rock formations with/of original shapes, modeled in time by the weather conditions.
This plateau is also served by cable car, but we recommend using it exclusively in low season, to avoid waiting times of up to 5 hours. Another way to get to the area would be to hire a 4x4 car transport from Sinaia, and go up on Transbucegi road.
It is worth mentioning that from "Babele" you can continue on foot to the Caraiman Cross, the highest in the world of its kind, or to the Ialomicioarei Cave (Ialomitei), visiting this mystical place. Both hikes take approx. 1 hour each way.
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Day 4 of 8. A fortified Church and reach Transylvania
Sinaia - Azuga - Prejmer - Brasov ☾ 85 km
Program: visit Prejmer Fortified Church and free time in Brasov; optional: bike or trekking route and / or sparkling wine tasting
Breakfast. Optional route by bike or on foot in the first part of the day, from Sinaia. We then leave for the Azuga mountain resort. You may go on a hike for several hours, to the Azuga gondola, and go down by gondola or on foot. Then, an optional visit to the royal champagne cellars called “Rhein”, with tasting and possibly lunch. Later, we leave for Transylvania and reach Prejmer village, where we visit the Fortified Church - the most complete and best preserved in Transylvania (UNESCO). It is a church initiated by the Teutonic Knights themselves and continued by the Cistercian monks and the Saxons colonized during the Middle Ages.
In the afternoon we arrive in Brasov, a charming town located at the foot of high mountains. Overnight accommodation and free time. Without the options of the first part of the day, you gain more time in Brasov.
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Day 5 of 8. A city in the heart of the country
Brasov ☾
Program: city tour and free time in Brasov
Breakfast. Full day to explore Brasov. Walking tour admiring: the Black Church, an imposing Lutheran church housing a collection of Oriental rugs, the Council Square and its unique buildings, the beautiful Catherine’s Gate, the Synagogue in Neo-Gothic style with moorish elements, and Rope Street, one of the narrowest in the world. Time to have lunch. In the afternoon, free time to take the cable car up to Mount Tampa and enjoy the panorama over the elegant downtown, a concentration of rooftops between hills and mountains. The hours of the cable car end around 4:30 p.m. (closed on Mondays) but you can also get there on foot (medium difficulty).
Other options: visit the unconventional Church of the Trinity, in Council Square; walk to Union Square, the historical center of the Romanian community in Schei neighborhood, and visit a unique church dedicated to Saint Nicholas and the Museum of the First Romanian School; climb the White Tower, a watchtower that used to be part of the defensive system. Overnight accommodation in Brasov.
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Day 6 of 8. Dracula's Castle and medieval Transylvania
Brasov - Bran - Rasnov - Poiana Brasov - Brasov ☾. 70 km
Program: visit Rasnov Citadel and Bran Castle; free time in Poiana Brasov and Brasov
Breakfast. We leave for Rasnov (Update 2021: temporarily closed) where we visit the old medieval Citadel, with a deep water well, interesting legends and panoramic views. Go up by shuttle transport, funicular (extra cost) or on foot (walking for about 10 minutes each way, with medium-low difficulty). We then continue the route to Bran and discover "Dracula's Castle". The myth of the Count-Vampire enfolds in mystery the Castle of Bran, a great historical fortress and a romantic residence.
Time to enjoy the view from the castle’s official tea house, check the souvenir shops, and have lunch. In the afternoon, we return to Brasov making a stop in Poiana Brasov, the ski resort located 12 km from the city. Time to walk, breathe the mountain air and perhaps have a coffee at the luxurious “Grand Teleferic hotel”. Overnight accommodation in Brasov and enjoy the lively pedestrian downtown, its many shoe shops and the large number of restaurants, cafes and bars.
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Day 7 of 8. The capital
Brasov - Bucharest ☾. 170 km
Program: city tour and free time in Bucharest
Breakfast. We leave Brasov heading south and arrive after a few hours in Bucharest. City tour: the Village Museum, an open air display of the country's rural architecture; Revolution Square with the Romanian Athenaeum - one of the most iconic buildings, the Art Museum - former royal palace, and the balcony of the former Central Committee - where dictator Ceausescu delivered his last speech; Constitution Square, just in front of the Palace of the Parliament (second largest building in the world); Patriarhiei Church and the Palaces of the Romanian Orthodox Patriarch. Time for lunch during the visit, overnight accommodation, and free time in the afternoon.
Optional: Extra day in Bucharest.
If the return flight (the next day) is early, an extra day in the capital city is recommended. The city tour will take place on this full day and you will enjoy enough free time in Bucharest. Suggestions for spending the free time: The Old Town (Lipscani), the parks of Bucharest, the Treasury (History Museum), the Art Museum, the famous Obor Market or Therme (the thermal baths at the north of the city).
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Day 8 of 8. Return
Bucharest - Airport ✈
Program: free time (if possible) and airport transfer
Breakfast. Free time in the city depending on the flight and transfer to the airport. End of Santiago Tour’s services. Thank you!
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