| Starts | Bucharest, Romania |
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| Ends | Bucharest, Romania |
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| Region | Europe |
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| Duration | 7 days |
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| Tour Operator | Gadventures |
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| Tour Code | EQHT 22870 |
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| Overview PDF | Download PDF |
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Itinerary
Day 1 - Starting: Bucharest & Finishing: Bucharest
There are no activities planned until the evening welcome meeting.
Day 2 - Starting: Bucharest & Finishing: Sibiu
With time, opt to head out of town and visit the open air museum of Traditional Folk Civilization.
Day 3 - Starting: Sibiu & Finishing: Hunedoara
Come in costume to a party at Hunyad's Castle, rumoured to be one of the most haunted places in Europe. Watch Count Dracula's wedding at midnight and continue the festivities well into the night.
Day 4 - Starting: Hunedoara & Finishing: Sighișoara
Take a slow morning to rid yourself of all of the Halloween demons you may have picked up at the haunted Hunyad Castle.
Then continue on to Sighisoara, a small town with a fortified medieval centre.
Opt to sample some Romanian cuisine—the Casa Dracula (original home of Vlad) is now a restaurant specializing in hearty meat and game dishes of the region.
Day 5 - Starting: Sighișoara & Finishing: Braşov
En route to the city of Brasov, stop off to visit the Prejmer Fortress, a fortified church from the 13th century.
Get to know the city on an orientation walk and check out Bran Castle, impressively situated on a rock outcrop.
Use some free time in Brasov to explore the baroque architecture and beautiful squares.
Day 6 - Starting: Braşov & Finishing: Bucharest
Enjoy free time to explore Bucharest's many attractions, including one of its best museums, the Museum of the Romanian Peasant.
Opt to explore the Soviet-esque architecture, the beautiful cathedral, or indulge in the city's international cuisine.
Day 7 - Starting: Bucharest & Finishing: Bucharest
Depart at any time.
View Dates
More Information
What’s Included
Ruins of Dracula’s Poenari Castle visit. Sibiu orientation walk. Halloween party at haunted Hunyad Castle. Sighisoara orientation walk. Prejmer Fortress visit. Brasov orientation walk. Bran Castle visit. Peles Castle visit. Bucharest orientation walk. All transport between destinations and to/from included activities.
Highlights
Attend a special Halloween costume party in an authentic Gothic castle, take a peek into the ruins of Dracula’s castle, explore medieval towns including the Old World cities of Brasov and Bucharest, learn the true story of the infamous “Vlad the Impaler”
Dossier Disclaimer
The information in this trip details document has been compiled with care and is provided in good faith. However it is subject to change, and does not form part of the contract between the client and the operator. The itinerary featured is correct at time of printing. It may differ slightly to the one in the brochure. Occasionally our itineraries change as we make improvements that stem from past travellers, comments and our own research. Sometimes it can be a small change like adding an extra meal along the itinerary. Sometimes the change may result in us altering the tour for the coming year. Ultimately, our goal is to provide you with the most rewarding experience. Please note that our brochure is usually released in November each year. If you have booked from the previous brochure you may find there have been some changes to the itinerary.
VERY IMPORTANT: Please ensure that you print a final copy of your Trip Details to review a couple of days prior to travel, in case there have been changes that affect your plans.
Itinerary Disclaimer
While it is our intention to adhere to the route described below, there is a certain amount of flexibility built into the itinerary and on occasion it may be necessary, or desirable to make alterations. The itinerary is brief, as we never know exactly where our journey will take us. Due to our style of travel and the regions we visit, travel can be unpredictable. The Trip Details document is a general guide to the tour and region and any mention of specific destinations or wildlife is by no means a guarantee that they will be visited or encountered.
Please note that the October 29, 2013 departure will be run in reverse from the stated itinerary. All destinations and inclusions will still be provided.
Additionally, any travel times listed are approximations only and subject to vary due to local circumstances.
Transport
Train, public bus.
Solo Travellers
We believe single travellers should not have to pay more to travel so our group trips are designed for shared accommodation and do not involve a single supplement. Single travellers joining group trips are paired in twin or multi-share accommodation with someone of the same sex for the duration of the trip. Some of our Independent trips are designed differently and single travellers on these itineraries must pay the single trip price.
Accommodation
Hotels (6 nts).
Joining Hotel
The Rin Hotel
255 A, Calea Bucurestilor Street,
Otopeni, Ilfov
Bucharest Romania
040213504110
Joining Instructions
Please note that day 1 is an arrival day and no activities have been planned on this day. Upon arrival to the city on day 1 (or earlier if you have booked pre-accommodation with us), please make your way to the joining hotel (note that check-in time will be in the afternoon). Once you arrive at the hotel, look for a note or bulletin board in the reception with a note from your CEO. This note will give the details of your Welcome Meeting on day 1 (usually between 5pm and 7pm), where you will get a chance to meet your CEO and other travellers, as well as learn more about how the tour will run. If you don’t see a note, please ask reception for details!
If you are arriving later and will miss the Welcome Meeting, your CEO will leave a note at reception for you with any information you may need, and with morning instructions for the next day.
GETTING TO HOTEL ROYAL BUCHAREST:
Arriving on Bucharest International Airport.
After collecting your baggage on the arrivals terminal you’ll pass the sliding doors to get into the waiting area. Use the elavators or escalators to go down in the domestic flights terminal. Then cross the covered parking (about 50m) and you’ll arrive at “T” parking.
Find the hotel shuttle bus which will have the inscription “RIN Hotel”. There are regular transfers at every hour (10.30, 11.30….17.39, 18.30, aso).
The rate for a taxi from the airport should be no more than 3.5 RON per km or about 60 RON in total, which is between 14 and 15 EUR. BEWARE of the scammer taxi drivers! If you choose to take a taxi, make sure that the price is marked, the meter is on, and ask for a receipt before agreeing to go. Most drivers are ok. There are, however, several that approach on the arrivals level who are not authorized and will try to rip you off. Make sure to exit the airport on the arrivals level to find the authorized drivers.
Checklist
Suggested Items:
•Fleece top
•Light windproof/waterproof jacket
•Small towel and swimwear
•Sun hat
•Personal clothing for mild to cold weather (See also “What to Take” and “Local Dress” sections of this dossier)
•Sturdy walking shoes
•Sunblock
•Sunglasses
•Toiletries (biodegradable)
•Watch or alarm clock
•Water bottle
•Money belt
•Halloween costume
•First-aid kit
Optional Items:
•Camera and memory cards
•Reading/writing material
•Binoculars
•Cover for backpacks
Documents:
•Passport (with photocopies)
•Travel insurance (with photocopies)
•Airline tickets (with photocopies)
•EUR cash
•Credit or debit card (see personal spending money)
•G Adventures vouchers, pre-departure information and dossier
•Any entry visas or vaccination certificates required
Laundry
Laundry facilities are offered by some of our hotels for a charge. That said, keep in mind that as a fast-paced trip, there may not be adequate time for laundry service to be completed. There will be times when you may want to or have to do your own laundry so we suggest you bring non-polluting/biodegradable soap.
Spending Money
Every traveller is different and therefore spending money requirements will vary. Some travellers may drink more than others while other travellers like to purchase more souvenirs than most. Please consider your own spending habits when it comes to allowing for drinks, shopping and tipping. Please also remember the following specific recommendations when planning your trip.
Emergency Fund
Tipping
Although not compulsory, tipping is expected and is an expression of satisfaction with the people who have assisted you throughout your tour. Although it may not be customary to you, it is of considerable significance to the people who will take care of you during your travels. There will be several occasions during this trip where there is the opportunity to tip the local guides that we use. You may do this individually, or your CEO will offer to collect the money and tip as a group. Recommendations for tipping local guides range from USD/EUR 3-5 per person per day depending on the quality and length of the service. Ask your CEO for specific recommendations based on the circumstances and culture. Also, at the end of your trip, if you felt that your G Adventures CEO did an outstanding job, tipping is appreciated. The amount is entirely a personal preference, however as a guideline USD/EUR 20-25 per person, per week can be used.
Optional Activities
OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES ON TOUR
All prices are per person, in Romanian New Lei, and amounts and are subject to change as services are provided by third party operators.
Bucharest:
Bucharest’s National Art Museum- RON 10.00
Open-air Village Museum- RON 6
Museum of the Romanian Peasant – RON 8.00
Palace of Parliament – RON 25.00
Sibiu:
Brukenthal Palace, European Art Gallery – RON 20.00
Museum of Traditional Folk Civilisation – RON15.00
Hundedoara:
Bucura lake – free
Retezat national park – free
Sighisoara:
History museum – RON 10
Breite oak tree reserve – free
Brasov:
Rasnov Fortress – RON15.00
Black Church – RON 6.00
Safety and Security
Many national governments provide a regularly updated advice service on safety issues involved with international travel. We recommend that you check your government’s advice for their latest travel information before departure. We strongly recommend the use of a neck wallet or money belt while travelling, for the safe keeping of your passport, air tickets, travellers’ cheques, cash and other valuable items. Leave your valuable jewellery at home – you won’t need it while travelling. Many of the hotels we use have safety deposit boxes, which is the most secure way of storing your valuables. A lock is recommended for securing your luggage. When travelling on a group trip, please note that your CEO has the authority to amend or cancel any part of the trip itinerary if it is deemed necessary due to safety concerns. Your CEO will accompany you on all included activities. During your trip you will have some free time to pursue your own interests, relax and take it easy or explore at your leisure. While your CEO will assist you with options available in a given location please note that any optional activities you undertake are not part of your itinerary, and we offer no representations about the safety of the activity or the standard of the operators running them. Please use your own good judgment when selecting an activity in your free time. Although the cities visited on tour are generally safe during the day, there can be risks to wandering throughout any major city at night. It is our recommendation to stay in small groups and to take taxis to and from restaurants, or during night time excursions.
Protests and Demonstrations- Protests and demonstrations, even those that are well intended, have the potential to turn violent with no warning. Counter protests can also turn violent. Action by security forces to disperse demonstrators and protesters may occur at any time. If you are in an area where demonstrators or protesters are gathering, avoid the temptation of staying for a good photo opportunity and leave the area immediately.
We take all prudent measures in relation to your safety. For ways to further enhance your personal safety while traveling, please visit:
www.gadventures.com/travel-resources/safety/
Medical Form
Our small group adventures bring together people of all ages. It is very important you are aware that, as a minimum, an average level of fitness and mobility’ is required to undertake our easiest programs. Travellers must be able to walk without the aid of another person, climb 3-4 flights of stairs, step on and off small boats, and carry their own luggage at a minimum. Travellers with a pre-existing medical condition are required to complete a short medical questionnaire, which must be signed by their physician. This is to ensure that travellers have the necessary fitness and mobility to comfortably complete their chosen trip. While our CEOs work hard to ensure that all our travellers are catered for equally, it is not their responsibility to help individuals who cannot complete the day’s activities unaided. Please refer to the physical ratings in this Trip Details document for more information.
The medical questionnaire can be found online at:
www.gadventures.com/medical-form.
A Couple of Rules
Illegal drugs will not be tolerated on any trips. Possessing or using drugs not only contravenes the laws of the land but also puts the rest of the group at risk. Smoking marijuana and opium is a part of local culture in some parts of the world but is not acceptable for our travellers. Our philosophy of travel is one of respect towards everyone we encounter, and in particular the local people who make the world the special place it is. The exploitation of prostitutes is completely contrary to this philosophy. Our CEOs have the right to expel any member of the group if drugs are found in their possession or if they use prostitutes.
Travel Insurance
Travel Insurance: Travel insurance is compulsory in order to participate on any of our trips. When travelling on a group trip, you will not be permitted to join the group until evidence of travel insurance has been sighted by your CEO, who will take note of your insurance details. When selecting a travel insurance policy please bear in mind that all clients must have medical coverage and that we require a minimum coverage of USD 200,000 for repatriation and emergency rescue. We strongly recommend that the policy also covers personal liability, cancellation, curtailment and loss of luggage and personal effects. If you have credit card insurance we require proof of purchase of the trip (a receipt of credit card statement) with a credit card in your name. Contact your bank for details of their participating insurer, the level of coverage and emergency contact telephone number.
Planeterra-The G Adventures Foundation
Through our commitment to responsible tourism we have developed the Planeterra Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to making a positive difference in the lives of people and communities around the world through support of international charities, local organizations and community projects in the places that we visit on our tours. G Adventures matches all individual donations and pays all administration costs, which means that 100% of each donation is doubled and goes directly to support our projects. For more information about Planeterra and the projects we support, or to make a donation, please visit www.planeterra.org
Planeterra Dollar-A-Day Program
Our Dollar-A-Day Program provides travellers with the opportunity to help us give back to the people and places visited on our tours by donating one dollar per day for the duration of their tour. 100% of these proceeds will go directly to support our G Adventures for Good projects.
To participate in this program please indicate at the time of booking that you would like to participate in G Adventures’ Dollar-A-Day program, either by clicking the check box online, or by advising your G Adventures specialist or travel agent. (Note: Donation will be charged in the currency of your booking)
Feedback
Newsletter
Travel Forum – The Watering Hole
Be sure to stop by The Watering Hole, our adventure travel forum. If you’re interested in meeting others booked on your upcoming trip, check out the Departure Lounge section of our forum and introduce yourself. Otherwise, just drop in at anytime to share some travel tips, ask questions, meet other travellers and quench your thirst for travel. Our forum is located at wateringhole.gadventures.com.
Max Pax
16
Group Leader
Chief Experience Officer (CEO) throughout, local guides.
