Romania, Moldova and Ukraine
Flavours of Eastern Europe
A trip through Romania, Moldova and Ukraine
Romania ‘s natural beauty and variety of landscapes, its melting pot of different people and turbulent history draws us there. Its major towns, Bucharest where we arrive, Brasov, beautiful Sighisoara and medieval German town of Sibiu, have a diverse history, but Romania‘s charm essentially lies in the remote, less visited regions. Exploration of Saxon villages with their fortified villages and churches, the magnificent wooden churches with their sky scraping gothic steeples in the almost forgotten area of Maramures, the magnificent painted monasteries of Bukovina and the little fishing villages built of reed in the Danube Delta are the most interesting parts of our trip. Romanians trace their ancestry back to the Romans, and have a noticeable Latin character and language. In addition to ethnic Romanians, one and a half million Magyars pursue their lifestyle while dwindling numbers of Transylvanian Germans (Saxons) reside around the fortified towns and churches their ancestors built in the 12th Century when they migrated from Middle Europe. Romania’s rich cultural past was all but destroyed by the draconic regime of dictator Nicolae Ceaucescu during more than two decades of rule. Romania is only slowly and still recovering from the disaster caused by the Soviet influence and then the Ceaucescu regime.
Ukraine We enter Ukraine from Romania through the northern part of Maramures in the Carpathian mountains where there are signs of the Hutsul, an ethnic group who live in the Ukrainian highlands . The nation is like a jigsaw put together of numerous different people and different historical influences. The dominant culture is Slavic, but people’s origins and language are a mixture of combined influences of the neighbouring countries of Slovakia, Poland, Hungary and Romania in the west of Ukraine, and Russian influences in the East. In the area we are visiting you can find in Lviv (Unesco World Heritage site) the riches in Rokoko and Baroque architecture in buildings along the cobble stoned alleyways, golden Domes of Ukrainian Orthodox Churches, ornate Roman Catholic churches, and Armenian churches. We visit Kamyanets-Podilsky (infamous through happenings in WWII) a fortress perched high on a rock, the medieval fort in Khotyn situated high over the Dnister , the old town of Chernivtsy belonging to the Habsburg Empire, which til WWII was centre of German, Jewish and Armenian communities. Odessa is our next stop. With its long and varied history, Odessa still houses a lot of sights which are witness to its turbulent past. The Potemkin stairs, the catacombs where partisans hid in WWII and the Opera and Theatre in Habsburg Baroque style.
Moldova, a country barely known in Europe and even less in Australia, has a remarkable wine industry with the largest underground wine cellars of the world. In between the vineyards are remote monasteries cut into limestone cliffs, sunflower fields and pastoral lands. Chisinau the capital of Moldova has a reputation as one of Europe’s most ‘party happy’ capitals! An excursion to Transdnistria, a self styled breakaway republic of Moldova is a living museum of Soviet Union and a weird experience.
Flavours of Eastern Europe, our recent trip
A trip through Romania, Moldova, Ukraine
15 May – 9 June 2011
Day 1: Sunday 15 May 2011.
Departure Melbourne MH 1048 03.00 pm
Arrival Kuala Lumpur – 09.10 pm
Departure Sydney - MH 122 02.00 pm
Arrive Kuala Lumpur - 08.30 pm
From Kuala Lumpur the group travels together
Departure Kuala Lumpur - MH 0030 12.30 am (16.5.)
Arrival Istanbul - 06.00 am
Departure Istanbul - TK 1043 08.30am
Arrival Bucharest - 09.45 am (16.5.)
Day 2: Monday 16 May:
Arrival Bucharest , transfer to Hotel centrally located, followed by the panoramic city tour of Bucharest and some sight seeing O/N and Dinner in Bucharest
Day 3: Tuesday 17 May:
Continue city tour to view the main points of interest: Lipscani Old District, Palace of Parliament – former Palace of Socialism during Ceaucescu’s dictatorship – Royal Palace (Art Museum) , Revolution Square and Village Museum; After city tour departure to Brasov via Sinaia where we visit Peles, the former Royal Palace. O/N and Dinner in Brasov
Day 4: Wednesday 18 May:
We will start to discover Brasov (the medieval German town called Kronstadt founded in the 13th Century) with a visit of the Old City Centre. The main attractions are the Black Church (the symbol of Brasov), the Weaver’s Bastion, the Black and White Towers, Ekaterina’s gate and Council Square. In the afternoon we will visit two fortified Churches named Prejmer (Tartlau) and Harman (Honigberg). After return we have planned to arrange an organ concert in the ‘Black Church’ – the largest organ between Istanbul and Vienna.O/N and Lunch or dinner in Brasov
Day 5: Thursday 19 May:
Today we travel to Sibiu (Hermannstadt). On the way we visit the Simbata monastery in the beautiful valley of the Sambata river. We arrive in Sibiu ( named the European Capital of Culture in 2007) around lunch time. In the afternoon we have planned a walking tour of the Old City and visit the ‘Big Square, the Small Square, The Ursuline Church, the Franciscan Church, the staircase Tower, the Tanners Tower, the Lier’s Bridge and the Bruckenthal Museum. Accommodation and dinner in a small traditional village near Sibiu with folk music. O/N and Dinner in Sibiel
Day 6: Friday 20 May:
We depart Sibiu in the morning and travel to Medias to visit the famous Margareta Church built in the 14th Century then we visit Biertan (Birthalm ) the biggest of the fortified German churches (included in Unesco Heritage Listing). We continue our travel through the beautiful rolling hills of Saxony and arrive in Sighisoara. Our accommodation will be within the old citadel. Sighisoara, one of the best preserved medieval cities in Europe, was founded by German immigrants in the second half of the 12thCentury. O/N Lunch or Dinner / Sighisoara
Day 7: Saturday 21 May:
We do a walking tour of the citadel in the morning which includes visit of the clock tower, the Monastery Church, Wooden Covered Stairway, Church and School on the Hill and Dracula’s Birthplace. In the afternoon we visit Corund, which is famous for the Szekely pottery and continue to drive through the wonderful Bicaz Gorge in the Carpathian mountains to our accommodation close to Targu Neamt in an orthodox monastery; O/N and dinner at the monastery.
Day 8, Day 9: Sunday 22 May, Monday 23 May:
Today we approach Bukovina, the area where most of the Moldovian monasteries have been built. Among the most picturesque treasures of Romania are these painted Monasteries. Their painted exterior walls are decorated with elaborate 15th and 16th century frescoes featuring portraits of saints and prophets, scenes from the life of Jesus, images of angels and demons, heaven and hell. Today and the next 2 days will be spent in this area to visit the monasteries of Moldovita, Humor, Arbore, Voronets, Sucevita ( all Unesco projects) built in the 15th and 16th century by great Moldavian rulers ; in between visiting the monasteries we will organise visits to local crafts, pottery and egg painting workshops. Lunch or dinner provided. 2 nights O /N Moldovita or Voronets
Day 10: Tuesday 24 May:
Today we are leaving the Moldovian Monasteries and return to the Carpathian mountains and travel west via the Prislop pass towards the area of Maramures, famous for the wooden churches and wooden carved gates. On the way we visit the churches in the Iza Valley, i.e. Bogdan Voda, Ieud, Botiza and Barsana. O/N Maramures/ Dinner or Lunch
Day 11: Wednesday 25 May:
Today all day will be spent in Maramures, in the morning we drive to Sapanta to visit the famous ‘Merry Cemetry’. In the afternoon, visit of the wooden churches along the Cosau Valley, i.e. Sat Sugatag, Desesti, Harnicesti. O/N Maramures/ Dinner or Lunch
Day 12: Thursday 26 May:
We leave Romania today and travel north into Ukraine via Ivano Frankivsk to Lviv. On the way we discover the Hutsul folk art in the area of Kolomyia. A sightseeing tour of Ivano-Frankisk will include the Market Square, Armenian Church, church of the Holy Resurrection, Church of Virgin Mary and the Town Hall. We continue our trip to Lviv.O/N and Dinner in Lviv
Day 13, Day 14: Friday 27 May, Saturday 28 May:
During our time in Lviv we will have an organised city tour which will include the main sites of the city as well as a walking tour and some time on your own to explore part of the city by yourself. There is an optional visit to the Opera House planned for one of the two nights. O/N and Dinner in Lviv
Day 15: Sunday 29 May:
Visit to Zhovka ; a half-day excursion to a unique Renaissance town in Western Ukraine with lots of architecture of 17th – 2oth Centuries. Visit the Ukrainian-Catholic monastery in the village of Krekhiv, an interesting example of a fortified monastery construction of 17th century, located in the wood, a very quiet and peaceful place. Return to Lviv. Afternoon free to visit the museum of brewing or enjoy a typical coffee house . Traditional farewell dinner with folklore music and traditional Ukrainian cuisine. O/N and Dinner in Lviv
Day 16.: Monday 30 May:
This morning we leave Lviv to travel south-east via Ternopil to Kamianetsk-Podilsky, a medieval fortress towering on rocks above a deep ravine. We visit the fortress and the old town rich in history. We stay o/n in Kamianetsk or continue to Cernivtsi which is only ½ hr away.O/N Cernivtsi or Kamianetsk
Day 17: Tuesday 31 May:
This morning is planned to visit Cernivsti which has an important past as centre of Jewish, Armenian and German communities until the 2nd WW. Now these communities are only ghostly presences; however, we shall make a short visit to its sad past.
We continue our trip into the Republic of Moldova via Balti and Orhei, on the way we will lunch in Trabujeni village in a local house with folklore show before we visit the most amazing cave monastery of the 13th Century in Orheiul Vechi., where we will dine and spend the night.
Day 18: Wednesday 1 June:
Today we will venture into a different political scene. The republic of Transnistria is a breakaway territory within the internationally recognised borders of Moldova. We will visit the town of Tiraspol (capital of Transnistria) before we pay a visit to the best Cognac Factory in the Ex-Soviet Union. In the evening we will organise an optional tour to the underground wine city Milestii Mici, registered in the Guiness Book of Records for being the biggest Wine Collection in the world. Return to Hotel and Dinner O/N and Dinner Chisina
Day 19: Thursday 2 June:
Finally after all this wine tasting we can enjoy a city tour of the green and very architecturally eclectic (?) mixed town of Chisinau. In the afternoon we visit the Purcari winery in the south eastern part of this small Republic. We will stay the night – which is probably a good idea after yet another wine tasting….O/N and Dinner Purcari winery
Day 20: Friday 3 June:
From Purcari it is not far to Odessa - only about 2 hours travel – time for the border crossing needs to be added – from Moldova into Ukraine. We check into our hotel and start our city tour sometime in the afternoon. O/N and Lunch or dinner in Odessa
Day 21: Saturday 4 June:
Odessa all day to visits sights. O/N and Dinner in Odessa
Day 22: Sunday 5 June:
Drive from Odessa to Tulcea/ Danube Delta/ Romania (about 7 hrs drive) O/N and Dinner in Fishermen village
Day 23: Monday 6 June
Explore the Danube Delta, the biggest delta in Europe which ‘houses’ a great variety of plants, fish etc. and its channels by motorboat . Dinner and O/N as above
Day 24: Tuesday 7 June :
Return to Bucharest by bus (about 4 ½ hrs drive) and free afternoon in Bukarest with time for visiting Museums or shopping. Dinner and O/N and Breakfast
Day 25: Wednesday 8 June: transfer to airport for flight to Istanbul and connecting to return flight to AUS/ or connecting to Crimea option.
Departure Bucharest TK 1044 – 10.45 am
Arrival Istanbul - 12.10 pm
Departure Istanbul - MH 0031 - 03.00 pm
Arrival Kuala Lumpur - 07.05 am
Departure Kuala Lumpur - MH 0129 - 10.05 am
Arrival Melbourne 07.40 pm (9. 6)
Departure Kuala Lumpur – MH 141 - 09.00 am
Arrival Sydney 06.50 pm (9.6.)
Duration of trip 25 days in May 2011 Accommodation in 2/3* Star Hotel, Pension or Home-stay including half-board (Breakfast and Lunch or Dinner based on twin share
Minimum number of travellers is 10, maximum is 15 (including escort)
Price** for Land programme and airfare (Economy Class)with Malaysian AL and Turkish AL which have good and short stopover and connection time. Currently advertised for about A$ 8350.-
** Please note: Prices in Europe are based on Euros. Confirmation of land programme and airfares (plus taxes) may need adjustment to the final price (depending on exchange rate, inflation etc.)
Prices are provided on current information, as a guide only. They may vary, for such reasons as changes or additions in surcharges, fees or taxes, and currency fluctuations. The price of your tour may change at any time up to 30 days before your departure and even after you have paid all or part of the published price of your trip if you have paid before the 30th day. If we have to change any part of your booking for reasons beyond our control, for example an airline changes its schedules, or a hotel withdraws, or, there are any changes in applicable surcharges, fees, taxes, or pricing you will be notified.
Additional Cost: Travel Insurance is compulsory and can be organised by R.J Travel Pty. Ltd.
Visa for Moldova and Ukraine can be organised by us;
Single supplement available, A$ 800.-
Personals You will need to pay for the meals not provided by the tour - can be lunch or at times dinner – plus all drinks, sweets, personal items & souvenirs, tips for driver/guide and portage. Euros can be changed everywhere, you will be informed about the use of traveller’s cheques and credit cards.