The idea of Dracula, and of vampires in general derives from many films and a few books. You may be well informed, but naturally, there are likely to be many unanswered questions on the subject. For example: Why did the Irish novelist Bram Stoker baptise his vampire-count with the name of a 15th Century Romanian prince? Who was this man? What was he like? How much did Bram Stoker really know about him? You will have the opportunity to discover where the legend of Dracula comes from and follow the Prince's footsteps through Transylvania and Valachia.
Vlad Tepes was the son of Vlad Dracul, one of the most important landlords of Valachia. On the first two monetary coins, Vlad used his emblem; the dragon, therefore, the Romanians whose word 'stock' is mainly Latin, nicknamed him Dracul - Dracula (from Latin Draco - onis). In Romanian, "Drac" means Devil, which confused things even more. This nickname turned into surname for his descendants, Vlad, his son being known as such. Vlad Tepes ruled Valachia from 1456 to 1562 and nowadays he is known also as Prince Dracula.
Therefore, this tour of the most important places related to Vlad the Impaler, best known under the name of Count Dracula, is not meant to be a scary horror tour, but a pleasant, enjoyable walk through the history of Romania.
During this trip we'll also focus on the monuments and historical places that were mostly connected with Vlad the Impaler, but also other cultural monuments of the country. We'll walk through the medieval towns of Brasov, Sibiu, Sighisoara and Cluj -Napoca. We'll visit the castles of Bran and Rupea, the Royal Palace of Peles, Poienari Castle ruins and many more!
According to your wishes, we can offer two different tours:

- 7 day tour following the foot steps of Dracula - legend and history
- 5 day tour following the foot steps of Dracula

7 day tour following the foot steps of Dracula - legend and history

Day 1 - arrival in Oradea;
- transfer to Cluj-Napoca;
-city tour of Cluj-Napoca: church of St. Michael, the Equestrian Monument of King Matei Corvin, Banffy Palace - The Art Museum, the Orthodox Cathedral, Tailors' Tower, the Reformed Church (1436), St. George statue, and many others.
- accommodation and dinner in Cluj-Napoca.

Day 2 - visit the Salt Mine in Turda;
- city tour of Sighisoara, the only medieval citadel inhabited today, designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
- visit Biertan, one of the many fortified churches in the nearby Saxon villages;
-optional dinner in "Dracula House" restaurant; Vlad the Impaler was born in this house in 1430.
-accommodation and dinner in Sighisoara.

Day 3 - departure to Brasov;
- city tour in Brasov, a very well preserved medieval town, former named Korona: Black Church (1385), the City Hall Tower (1417), the Citadel, the Councilor Square, St. Nicholas Chirch.
- visit Harman and Prejmer fortified churches;
- Peles Royal Castle, built by Carol I in Bavarian Style, situated in Sinaia in a beautiful landscape
- accommodation and dinner in Brasov or Sinaia city.

Day 4 - visit Bran Castle, the most famous " Dracula Castle".
-departure to Curtea de Arges Monastery, where the Mason Manole entombed his beloved wife into the monastery walls to make the construction last forever;
- visit the Princely Court
-departure to Poienari - the ruins of historical Dracula Castle, on the top of a hill, 1450 steps to climb (climbing is optional!);
- crossing the Southern Carpathians, either via the Transfagarasan Highway or along the Olt River Valley
- accommodation and dinner either at Balea Hut or Sibiu city.

Day 5 - sightseeing tour of Sibiu, enchanting medieval city mentioned for the first time in documents dating 1192.
-drive to Hunedoara and visit the Hunedoara Castle built by Iancu de Hunedoara, by combining gothic, renaissance and baroque elements to a fairy tale like castle style
-visit Alba-Iulia Citadel, the Cathedral and the Union Museum
-accommodation and dinner in Cluj-Napoca

Day 6 - hiking trip in the Apuseni Mountains
- Rimetea village, Piatra Secuiului ( or, alternatively Scarisoara Ice Cave)
- lunch either at Rimetea or Scarisoara village
- accommodation and dinner in Cluj-Napoca

Day 7- departure to Oradea
- optionally you can choose to go to Felix thermal baths.

Tour information:
- duration - 7 day tour; flexible according to your wishes and tour alternatives;
- validity - thoughout the year;
- minimum people required - 2.
- transport - The tour usually originates in Oradea, but we can often accommodate dfferent requests.

Rates:

- 600 euros / person for minimum 2 people;
- 380 - 400 euros / person for 3 - 4 people;
- 213 - 300 euros / person for 5 - 7 people;
- 142 - 200 euros / person for 8 - 11people;
- 109 - 129 euros / person for 12 - 14 people

Prices includes:
- transfer and tour Oradea - Cluj - Sighisoara - Brasov- Curtea de Arges - Sibiu - Cluj - Rimetea - Cluj - Oradea - Cluj, by car or minibus;
- English, German, Italian or Hungarian speaking guides;
- snack and refreshments, in the car;

Prices excludes:
- All drinks and meals
- Accommodation
- Entrance tickets to all places visited
- personal expenses

5 day tour on the foot steps of Dracula

Day 1: Cluj-Napoca - Sighisoara
- city tour of Cluj-Napoca: church of St. Michael, the Equestrian Monument of King Matei Corvin, Banffy Palace, Museum of Art, the Orthodox Cathedral, Tailors' Tower, the Reformed Church (1436), St. George statue.
- visit the Salt Mine in Turda;
- A visit to the best-preserved 15th Century walled town in Europe - Sighisoara, the only medieval citadel inhabited today, designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO;
- visit Biertan, one of the many fortified churches in the nearby Saxon villages;
- optional dinner in "Dracula House" restaurant; Vlad the Impaler was born in this house in 1430;
- accommodation and dinner in Sighisoara.

Day 2: Sighisoara - Brasov
- city tour in Brasov: Black Church (1385), the City Hall Tower (1417), the Citadel, the Councilor Square, St. Nicholas Church;
- visit Harman and Prejmer fortified churches;
- Peles Royal Castle, built by Carol I in Bavarian Style, situated in Sinaia in a beautiful landscape; Peles alone is worth your entire trip to Romania. It is said to be the most beautiful royal palace in Europe!
- accommodation and dinner in Brasov or Sinaia city;

Day 3: Brasov surroundings
- visit Bran Castle, the most famous " Dracula Castle". This is the "American Castle Dracula" (since 1960), as it "looks very much like the vampires' castles in the Hollywood movies" (TSD survey)
-The peasant fortress of Rupea (also called the Citadel of the Cohalm) is situated near Brasov. It was built between the 14th and 18th centuries. Nowadays, the fortress houses the Rupea Ethnographic Museum. Inside the fortress there stands a Gothic church built in 1488. It shelters a valuable collection of Oriental rugs.
- accomodation and dinner in Brasov;

Day 4: Brasov - Valachia
- departure to Curtea de Arges Monastery, where the Mason Manole entombed his beloved wife into the monastery walls to ensure the building would last forever; visit the Princely Court;
- departure to Poienari - the ruins of historical Dracula Castle, on the top of a hill, 1450 steps to climb(climbing is optional!);
- crossing the Southern Carpathians;
- accommodation and dinner either at Balea hut (in the Summer season) or in the city of Sibiu (Autumn, Winter or Spring)

Day 5: Sibiu - Cluj-Napoca
- sightseeing tour of Sibiu, enchanting medieval city mentioned for the first time in documents dating 1192.
- visit Alba-Iulia Citadel, the Cathedral and the Union Museum
- accommodation and dinner in Cluj-Napoca

Tour information:
- duration - 5 day tour; flexible according to your wishes and tour alternatives;
- validity - thoughout the year;
- minimum people required - 2.
- transport - The tour usually originates in Cluj-Napoca, but we can often accommodate dfferent requests.

Rates:

- 507 euros / person for minimum 2 people;
- 308 - 340 euros / person for 3 - 4 people;
- 167 - 250 euros / person for 5 - 7 people;
- 109 - 168 euros / person for 8 - 11people;
- 90 - 108 euros / person for 12 - 14 people;

 

Prices includes:
- transfer and tour Cluj - Sighisoara - Brasov - Curtea de Arges - Sibiu - Cluj, by car or minibus;
- English, German, Italian or Hungarian speaking guides;
- snack and refreshments, in the car;

Prices excludes:
- All drinks and meals
- Accommodation
- Entrance tickets to all places visited
- Personal expenses;

Note: the programs are flexible according to your time of departure, the weather conditions and nevertheless, your own suggestions.