Day 1: Bucharest to Magura Village
Depart Bucharest in the morning, driving north through the Prahova Valley into the Southern Carpathians. Arrive at Magura, a traditional mountain village perched on a high plateau surrounded by the Piatra Craiului mountains. Check into a family-run guesthouse and enjoy a home-cooked dinner featuring local Transylvanian specialties — sarmale (cabbage rolls), mamaliga (polenta), and palinca (plum brandy). Evening walk to watch the sunset over the Carpathian peaks.
Day 2: Pestera Village & Traditional Shepherding
After a farm-style breakfast, hike across the ridge to the neighboring village of Pestera. Visit a traditional sheepfold where local shepherds demonstrate cheese-making techniques passed down for generations. Learn about the pastoral lifestyle that has defined these mountains for centuries. Picnic lunch with fresh sheep cheese, bread, and mountain herbs. Afternoon walk through wildflower meadows with views of the Bucegi and Piatra Craiului ranges. Return to Magura for dinner and folklore stories by the fireplace.
Day 3: Bran Castle & Rasnov Fortress
Drive to Bran Castle, famously associated with Vlad the Impaler and the Dracula legend. Explore the Gothic fortress room by room — the secret passages, the torture chamber, the Queen Marie’s tea room, and the courtyard well. Continue to Rasnov Fortress, a 13th-century peasant citadel built atop a rocky hill, with a spectacular 360-degree view of the surrounding Carpathian basin. Overnight in Brasov. Evening stroll through the medieval Council Square and the narrow Rope Street, one of Europe’s narrowest streets.
Day 4: Viscri UNESCO Saxon Village
Travel to Viscri, a UNESCO World Heritage Saxon village. Visit the 12th-century fortified church, a masterpiece of Transylvanian Saxon architecture with its defensive walls and bastions. Meet a local blacksmith who still works the forge using traditional techniques. Lunch at a village home with organic farm-to-table ingredients. Afternoon walk through the village lanes where horse-drawn carts are still the primary means of transport. Learn about the King Charles III connection — he owns a property here and has championed the village’s preservation.
Day 5: Sighisoara Medieval Citadel
Journey to Sighisoara, one of Europe’s best-preserved medieval citadels and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Walk the cobblestone streets of the Upper Town, climb the 14th-century Clock Tower for panoramic views, and visit the house where Vlad the Impaler (the historical Dracula) was born in 1431. Explore the Church on the Hill with its 500-year-old frescoes and the covered Scholars’ Stairs. Free afternoon to wander the artisan shops and cafes. Overnight in a hotel within the citadel walls.
Day 6: Corvin Castle & Sibiu
Drive west to Hunedoara to visit Corvin Castle, the largest Gothic castle in Eastern Europe and one of the seven wonders of Romania. Marvel at the Knight’s Hall, the Diet Hall, the gruesome Bear Pit, and the castle’s legendary ravens. Continue to Sibiu, European Capital of Culture 2007. Walk through the Grand Square and Little Square, cross the Liars’ Bridge, and admire the distinctive "eyes" of Sibiu — the attic windows that watch over the city. Visit the Brukenthal Palace Museum. Enjoy a farewell dinner at a traditional Saxon cellar.
Day 7: Astra Open-Air Museum & Departure
Morning visit to the Astra National Museum Complex, one of Europe’s largest open-air ethnographic museums. Wander through 10 km of paths showcasing over 400 traditional houses, watermills, windmills, and churches from all regions of Romania. See craftspeople demonstrating pottery, weaving, and woodcarving. After lunch, transfer back to Bucharest for departure. End of tour.
