Behind the Iron Curtain Group Tour 2024

Day 1 - Arrival in Bucharest

(Thursday 29th August 2024)

Arrival in Bucharest Transfer from the airport to your hotel. If time allows we will visit some important sites in Bucharest. Check in and a short presentation about the history of communism in Romania. Accommodation in central hotel.

Day 2 - Bucharest - Bran Castle - Brasov

(Friday 30th August 2024)

Spend the morning exploring Bucharest, including a visit to the Parliament Palace built by order of Ceausescu and Ghencea Cemetery, where Nicolae Ceausescu, his wife Elena and their son Nicu are buried. Before leaving for Brasov, stop in a canteen mall, formally known as a 'cantina', where due to a shortage of food in communist times, people were forced by the authorities to eat in large work style canteens. All the cantinas are now malls, where people freely choose to eat. Lunch is included along the way. Enroute to Brasov, we will stop to visit Bran Castle, which is said to have been Bram Stoker's inspiration for the residence of the vampire count Dracula in his famous novel. Overnight in Brasov.

Day 3 - Brasov to Birlad

(Saturday 31st August 2024)

After breakfast, a morning walking tour of Brasov, including a visit to the Black Church and St Nicholas Church. Free time for lunch in Brasov. Departure to Birlad for an overnight stay in a Soviet style hotel. In the evening we will meet and have a simple dinner with a Romanian family, chat with them about their daily life and the issues they face, the communist period they witnessed in the past, etc. Accommodation will be in a 3* Hotel, reminiscent of the communist period.

Day 4 - Birlad - Old Orhei - Tiraspol

(Sunday 1st September 2024)

Today we leave Romania and enter Moldova, with our first stop the historical site of Old Orhei - a functioning cave monastery and ruins of the old Turkish bath. After a delicious traditional Moldovan lunch in the village, we continue to Transnistria and its capital Tiraspol. Transnistria is a breakaway territory within the internationally recognised borders of Moldova. Although not recognised by any state or international organization, it is de facto an independent state named the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic. The country's national coat of arms still includes the traditional hammer and sickle and is home to a load of Lenin Statues that have not been pulled down. Overnight in Tiraspol.

Day 5 - Transnistria - Cricova winery

(Monday 2nd September 2024)

Here, in Transnistria, the old USSR is still alive and well. This morning we will watch a communistic-style military parade and stroll the streets of stalls, cafes, shashlik and local beer bars. In the afternoon we drive to the world famous Cricova wine cellars for a tour of their impressive undergound wine city. Return to Chisinau, where we will stay overnight and enjoy a special dinner with wine tasting.

Day 6 - Chisinau - Gagauzia - Galati (Romania)

(Tuesday 3rd September 2024)

This morning we leave Chisinau and drive to the autonomous region of Gagauzia, where we will visit the last surviving 'Kolkhoz' collective state farm and eat lunch in the canteen with the workers. On the way we will visit the Museum of History and Ethnography in Besalma village. We shall cross the Prut River, the border between Romania and Republic of Moldovia, at Cahul-Oncesti. Accommodation and dinner at Galati, an industrial city on the Danube where the jewel of the communist industry was built, the Steel factory! Tonight we will stay in a communist era hotel!

Day 7 - Back to Bucharest

(Wednesday 4th September 2024)

Drive to Bucharest - the 300 km will take around 4/5 hours and we will stop for lunch en route. We will have free time in Bucharest for shopping or some further sightseeing before our special farewell dinner. Overnight in Bucharest.

Day 8 - End of the tour

(Thursday 5th September 2024)

Transfer to airport for flight home or onward flight.

• 2,208 EUR per person = based on two people sharing a double/twin room
• 2,551 EUR per person = staying in a single room

• 29th August to 5th September 2024

• All services as detailed in the itinerary above
• Transport is by air-conditioned minivan.
• Our local guide will be with you throughout the itinerary.

• Please note flights are NOT included in this package. If you wish to add flights to your booking please contact us, or you are welcome to book them yourself.
• If required, we can book additional nights at the start or end of your tour, or arrange an add-on pre/post tour to any of our other destinations.