12-Day Storybook Romania
Women Only
Max group 12
Lifetime Deposit
Solo traveller friendly
5 good reasons to do this trip!
FAIRYTALE VILLAGES GALORE:
You’ve never seen anything quite like the enchanting villages of Transylvania, where misty pine forests and cobbled streets have ‘storybook-come-to-life’ vibes. To the point where you’ll half-expect a goblin or unicorn around every corner!
LONG STANDING LOCAL TRADITIONS:
Basket weaving. Pottery. Glass painting. Explore these centuries-old crafts under the guidance of local artisans whose skills are well and truly part of their DNA. Plus, you’ll come home with your very own ‘thumbprint’, or unique piece, made by you.
TUCK INTO LOCAL GRUB:
Dine with local families and devour home-cooked meals that go way beyond the usual tourist fare. Think homemade zacuscă spread on fresh bread, and sarmale (stuffed cabbage rolls) that will make your taste buds dance with joy. Yum!
MEET THE ROMA:
Spend a day with a Roma family and get a personal glimpse into the lives of a community often misunderstood. It's an exclusive, eye-opening experience and you'll come away from it with stories to hold on to – long after your trip ends.
LEGENDS AND LORE:
Ready for some serious mystical vibes? Transylvania is the land of Dracula, and the spooky stories here are spine-chilling. Visit Dracula's castle, explore ancient monasteries and dive into tales of mythical creatures and ghostly apparitions. You'll want to sleep with one eye open!
Trip Details
| Dates | Price AUD (per person twin share) |
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Twin Share: we’ll match you with a roomie if you’re travelling solo – most of our Patchies take this option.
- $1,650 AUD deposit.
- 2-week cooling-off period applies
- Lifetime Deposit. If you need to cancel, your deposit is transferable to other trips.
- Tip Kitty: TBC
Private supplement available: If you’d prefer to have your own private room, this is your option. Add $1,741 AUD, max 4 spots.
Please refer to our payment terms in the FAQs.
Trip length
12 days, 11 nights
Meeting point
Capitol 4* Hotel, Bucharest
Ending point
Capitol 4* Hotel, Bucharest
Group size
Maximum 12
Participation requirements
Please see our “Is this trip right for you?” section to see the participation requirements.
Included
- Meals: 11 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 1 brunch and 9 dinners
- Private vehicle transportation
- 11 nights boutique and premium accommodation
- A top-rated and English-speaking Tour Leader
- All listed activities and more!
Not included
- International Flights and travel insurance (necessary)
- Additional hotel nights & late checkouts
- Drinks and other other personal expenses
- Tip kitty
Our accommodation
All of our accommodations have a focus on character, with many memorable stops along the way. We are looking at mostly 4 star accommodation.
Click the tabs to find out more
Day 1: Welcome to Bucharest!
Buna ziua and welcome to Romania! You’ll be welcomed at the airport with open arms by your guide who’s about to whisk you off to your first of many delicious meals alongside your new Patchie friends. Meet up in the heart of Bucharest’s Old Town for Romanian classics like slow-roasted pork knuckle and baked trout at a restaurant that’s over 130 years old. This is just a glimpse of the foodie treats you can expect over the next few weeks. End the meal with a toast of tuica, traditional plum liquor, to your next 12 days in Romania.
Accommodation: Hotel Capital (or similar)
Included: Dinner
Day 2: Bran Castle
Rise and shine! It’s your first morning in Romania and what better way to kick off the day than with a visit to not one, but two castles? Start in the Baiului Mountains, just two hours outside of Bucharest, where misty pines hide the Neo-Renaissance Peles Castle, speckled with spires. Built by the first King of Romania, this was actually the first castle in Europe to have central heating and electricity. Talk about an update.
But Peles was just a warm up for what’s next — Dracula’s castle! Romania is synonymous with dark fairy tales and mythology and no trip here is complete without seeking out the famous vampires residence. In all truth, Vlad Dracule never actually lived in this castle, but it isn’t difficult to see why Bram Stoker decided to claim it as his home after a glimpse of the timbered halls and grand fireplaces. Your final destination of the day is the Medieval epicentre of Romania, Brasov.
Accommodation: Hotel Chitic (or similar)
Included: Breakfast
Day 3: Brasov
Discover Medieval Brasov and its beautiful architecture this morning with a guide. This is one of the most well preserved cities in Europe, with a UNESCO World Heritage centre—so you know it’s worth your while! You’ll step back in time in the little hamlet of Sacadate later in the day as you pick your way through villages and rural outposts, travelling deeper into Transylvania. You’ll be serenaded by a merry band of locals and get the chance to visit the Association Vatra Satului Sacadate, an artistic coalition that’s as impressive as their name and dedicated to Romanian heritage.
Try to commit the museum’s ethnographic materials – like traditional clothing, handicrafts and ceramics – to memory. This cultural tapestry reveals hundreds of years of heritage and sets the scene for the rest of your trip! Doze off in a traditional wooden bed tonight in the countryside hamlet of Cinscor, with visions of horse-drawn carts, piled high with heaps of hay, dancing in your head.
Accommodation: Casa de Oaspeti (or similar)
Included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day 4: Malancrav & Biertan
Romania’s fortified churches are scattered throughout the countryside, dotting tiny towns and villages you might otherwise pass through without thinking twice. Pay a visit to two of the most famous, including one that’s right in the town that you’re staying in! Malancrav and Biertan are waiting, off in the distance, just a short drive away. Some similar features in all of these architectural mammoths include impossibly thick stone walls and other battlements that (attempted) to keep out intruders from the Mongols to the Ottomans. One feature that really sets the Malancrav church apart is its striking rainbow of murals, hidden in its inner sanctum.
Head back to the hamlet of Cincsor for dinner this evening and be warned – it’ll be late in the evening! As with most dinners a la Europe, the meal won’t start until 8:00 but there will be plenty of time to grab a snack or two in town during your free time beforehand.
Accommodation: Casa de Oaspeti (or similar)
Included: Breakfast and Dinner
Day 5: Sighișoara
Rise and shine early for a full day of roadtripping and creating. Head out from Cincsor through rolling pastoral landscapes to reach the Mândra Chic Workshop, otherwise known as the Museum of Fabrics and Stories. You’ll get an inside look at weaving traditions in the museum’s permanent exhibit and the chance to visit the workshop where the village women hand-make souvenirs.
This afternoon is all about rubbing shoulders with royalty. You’ll pit stop for an afternoon coffee at King Charles country home here in the small town of Viscri where he frequently comes to escape his kingly duties. Tonight is a special stay in Vlad Dracula’s hometown. You’ll be catching some zzz’s in a 300-year-old Saxon mansion with all the charm and grandeur to match!
Accommodation: Sighișoara Hotel 3 (or similar)
Included: Breakfast and Lunch
Day 6: Gura Humorului
Can you believe you’re already halfway through the trip? Celebrate with a very unique opportunity today – the chance to meet a Roma family. The culture and lifestyle of most Roma is vastly different from the rest of the country. Although many traditional communities don’t invite outsiders, you have special permission to meet up and swap stories with a third-generation Romani woman and her family who’s paving the way for the future of the community with her online business.
Getting your hands dirty in clay is also on the docket today. There are many different types of traditional ceramics in Romania but this particular one is characterised by intricately carved and painted motifs. You’ll also have the chance to stretch your legs this afternoon at the pine-swarmed Lacu Rosu and one of Romania’s geologic wonders, Bicaz Gorge. Celebrate the halfway point tonight with a wee drop of tuica, Romanian brandy made from fermented plums
Accommodation: La Roata Guesthouse
Included: Breakfast and Dinner
Breakout: Putting the Roma in Romania
The Romani people are one of Romania’s largest minority groups and the largest ethnic minority in all of Europe. Thought to have migrated to the region over a thousand years ago from Northern India, the Roma were traditionally a nomadic community and settled throughout the continent with the largest communities in Eastern Europe.
Often referred to as “gypsies”, a derogatory slang term, Roma or Romani is the correct verbage and actually has nothing to do with the country of Romania and everything to do with distant ties to India. Many Roma people are skilled workers and artisans and heavily entrenched in the creative community. Their culture is unique and distinctive with strong ties to tradition and preserving their traditional way of life and language.
Today, most Roma have settled down into small villages or have completely integrated into mainstream Romanian society. Unfortunately, much of the community is still marginalised and faces rampant discrimination.
Day 7: Voronet Monastery
Today’s itinerary is jam-packed with incredible monasteries to see and local artisans to meet. Start off with the Voronet Monastery, surrounded by dense pine forests. If you think the outside is fascinating, poke your head inside to reveal a kaleidoscope of colour. Surprisingly, mythical creatures, like double-finned mermaids, happily swim alongside biblical motifs. This is just one of three perfectly preserved monasteries that you’ll see today. Is your stomach growling yet? At the guesthouse where we will be staying, you’ll have the opportunity to learn how to prepare a traditional meal with the family who owns it, right in their own kitchen. And guess what? This is your dinner tonight!
You’re off to meet up with Andrei Vladimir this afternoon. Despite being a young millennial he’s devoted to traditional arts like loom weaving and spinning. His modern perspective is a fascinating window into the past. A pottery demo is also on and you’ll be entranced by the method in which they make the famous Marginea black pottery.
Accommodation: La Roata Guesthouse (or similar)
Included: Breakfast and Dinner
Day 8: Maramureș
You might groan a bit at skipping breakfast this morning but we promise we’ll make up for it with brunch in a beautiful spot – we’re keeping it under wraps for now. Besides, you’ll hardly notice the stomach rumbles because you have the Vama Egg Museum to see! Not only does this collection showcase Romania’s long tradition of intricate egg painting, it also displays styles from over 80 countries. Take part in painting these delicate shells in traditional designs, or maybe something from the heart.
After brunch you’ll make your way over Prislop Pass with its mountain meadows and high alpine lakes. A special place lies on the other side of the pass. A land frozen in time. Maramureș. You’ll pop in to your headquarters for the next few days, the charming Doina Guesthouse, before taking part in a wood carving workshop and a visit to Barsana Monastery. This day is truly straight out of a fairytale.
Accommodation: Doina Guesthouse (or similar)
Included: Brunch and Dinner
Day 9: Breb
Start your morning by getting hands-on with local cuisine as you learn to make a traditional cheese pie. It’s a real treat, especially when enjoyed warm with a refreshing glass of sana—just the way it’s loved here in Romania.
Now that you’ve had a taste of local cuisine, it’s time for a wonder of Maramureș. The Merry Cemetery is the perfect homage to Romania’s knack for mixing culture and crafts. Each gravestone tells a life story through poetry and decor. Let’s just say that the good, bad and ugly are displayed for everyone to see! Sneak off to one last storybook village this afternoon, the town of Breb. Here you’ll uncover the ancient art of basket weaving and visit a traditional hat maker. No, you’re not living out a Disney fantasy – this is real life! Savour one last night of countryside peace. It’s back to the city tomorrow.
Accommodation: Doina Guesthouse (or similar)
Included: Breakfast and Dinner
Day 10: Sibiu
Wave goodbye to the charming Maramures region today because you’re headed to the fairytale town of Sibiu and its views of the snow-capped Carpathians. Stop in the village of Sibiel along the way to visit the Museum of Glass Icons, one of the largest collections of painted glass in the region. This unique form of art was adopted by locals following a miracle that occurred here in the 17th-century, involving, you guessed it, painted glass!
You’ll notice that the theme here is locals’ deep Orthodox heritage, with most artists painting images of Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary. Roll up your sleeves and create your very own icon, a special souvenir and ode to your time in Romania. Before the day is done, you’ll arrive in the “City with Eyes”.
Accommodation: Hotel Împăratul Romanilor (or similar)
Included: Breakfast and Dinner
Day 11: Bucharest
Before leaving Sibiu, you’ll have the opportunity to walk its lovely streets with a local guide. It’s easy to appreciate the striking Mediaeval architecture on your own, but having someone to explain the finer details will make them come to life—including the iconic “eyes”!
After a slow morning strolling the cobblestones of the Historic Centre, you’re full steam ahead to your last stop of the trip, Romania’s capital – Bucharest. The four hour drive will slip past mountains and villages, before you arrive back in the hustle and bustle. Get gussied up later on for a farewell dinner with the Patchie gals. Whether you’re lamenting your arrival back in civilization or happy as a clam to have landed in Romania’s epicentre, this one will be a night to remember!
Accommodation: Capitol Hotel (or similar)
Included: Breakfast and Dinner
Day 12: Farewell Friends
It’s time to say “farewell friends” and La revedere! to the beautiful country of Romania. Aren’t those goodbyes always so bittersweet? Grab your gal pals, snap a few last photos and swap info so you can plan your next adventures together. Your suitcase and heart will be filled with creative memories. See you next time Patchies!
Included: Breakfast
The Essential Info
Romanian culture is warm and hospitable! Each person you meet on our tour will be delighted to welcome you and share their world with you.
Please be assured that we are committed to providing a memorable trip. If you encounter any issues, however, please inform your group leader promptly.
Visas
Australian and NZ citizens do not need a visa to travel to Romania.
Currency
The Romanian currency is the leu (RON), subdivided into 100 bani. Notes are issued in denominations of RON 500, 200, 100, 50, 10, 5, and 1. Coins come in RON 1 and smaller values of bani. Money exchange is straightforward in cities like Bucharest, Cluj-Napoca, and Brasov, and at major airports. While Australian dollars might not be widely accepted, US dollars are commonly exchanged. Rural areas may have fewer exchange facilities. ATMs are available in most cities and accept major credit cards, though some may have compatibility issues.
We advise carrying a mix of cash and cards. Credit cards are useful for significant purchases but are not universally accepted. Cash is often required in local markets, smaller hotels, and restaurants. Always exchange money through banks or authorized exchangers and keep your receipts.
Prices in Romania
Romania’s cost of living can surprise some visitors as it’s not always low-cost, particularly with the rise in tourism. Dining out at local spots can be affordable, but tourist-centric restaurants tend to be pricier. Include tips and shopping, and costs add up. Plan your budget accordingly, and do not expect Romania to be a low-budget destination.
Emergency Funds
Please make sure you have access to an additional $500 to be used when unforeseen incidents or circumstances outside our control (e.g., a natural disaster, civil unrest, strike action, or an outbreak of avian flu) necessitate a change to our planned route.
Your tour includes meals as indicated in the itinerary. You will therefore need additional funds to cover all additional expenses not included in your tour cost. Credit cards are accepted in most goods shops and restaurants, though smaller outlets will generally only take local currency.
Shopping is a personal thing that varies enormously. On average, people spend between 100-200 euro on knick-knacks, ceramics, and other souvenirs.
You should carry sufficient funds for shopping and any additional sightseeing/optional activities you may wish to undertake.
Clothing & Footwear
Romania’s weather can be diverse. Rain is possible, and temperatures vary by region and season. Laundry facilities are available in some locations.
Choose appropriate footwear, especially for walking tours and hikes. Comfortable, supportive shoes are crucial.
Is This Trip Right For You?
You love travel but don’t like being herded around B-grade attractions… just the mere idea of joining a ‘big bus’ tour makes you want to run for the hills.
You also know, however, that some places are worth the wait.
You’re open-minded and open-hearted. You try to embrace the little things. You understand that even in the best vehicles, the air-con sometimes breaks. This is just part of the adventure, and you choose to be gracious.
You also love the idea of living a day fully, and then returning to unique, interesting accommodation!
You enjoy trying new food, visiting new places, and making new friends. You make a great travel buddy and you love to share experiences with others. You understand that to fit in with local cultures, sometimes that could involve trying something you haven’t tried before, or sitting on the floor to eat with a nomad family.
If that sounds like you, you’d make a great Patchie.
Frequently Asked Questions
Prior to the payment of your full balance, the final price may change if there is significant variation in the AUD:USD exchange rate. Our trip pricing is determined by what the exchange rates are at the time of publishing the trip.
The pricing on these trips is based on the following exchange rates:
1 AUD : 0.60 EUR
A deposit of $1,650 is required to hold your spot. Payment can be made by credit card (fees apply) or bank deposit.
There is a cooling-off period of 2 weeks.
We have implemented a ‘lifetime deposit’ guarantee. Deposits are not refundable, but they are transferable at any time, right up until the first day of the trip.
The final balance of the trip is required 120 days in advance of the departure date. Our suppliers require upfront payment well in advance to guarantee availability..
Please refer to the full terms and conditions for further information.
This is the most frequently asked question we get!
Nearly everyone is in their 50s and 60s, with some people above and below (but of course, everyone is welcome!)
Most Patchies come alone and are matched with a room-mate. Remember, you don’t need to pay for a single supplement if you come solo. We will place you with a similarly-aged roommate.
The typical Patchie has travelled a LOT, is a well-seasoned adventurer, and is not easily thrown by small things. However, many Patchies tell us that this is their first ever group tour. Many of our guests have avoided tours to this point as they’re not attracted to being herded around in large groups.
Oh, and one last thing:
Patchies are warm, generous, and kind. We knew it would be like this, but we weren’t expecting it to be *quite* like this. We’re so blessed as a business to have the customers we do; we consider ourselves to be some of the luckiest people in the world.
We recommend being prepared to spend around 600 euros during your stay in Romania. It’s possible to spend less, but many travelers find themselves purchasing souvenirs, gifts, or indulging in local treats. Bank cards are widely accepted in Romania, and ATMs are readily available, especially in cities and major tourist areas. For convenience, consider exchanging some money upon arrival or withdrawing from ATMs before venturing into more rural areas where banking facilities might be less accessible.
Level 1 or Easy
So long as you have a general level of health and fitness, you’ll be fine. However, to enjoy this trip, you’ll need to be able to spend time on your feet and regularly walk for 2-3 hours. Daily activities might include walking on uneven and hilly ground, getting on and off various forms of transportation and occasionally climbing some stairs. You may also encounter over-the-bath showers in some of the accommodations.
All activities are optional, meaning that if you don’t feel like it, you can skip it, but it will be impossible to enjoy your trip if you’re not able to do a walking tour for a full afternoon. Unfortunately, this tour cannot accommodate people requiring walking aids.
In the unlikely event of a health or security related incident during a trip, we’ve engaged a local partner to assist. From our experience, there is not one framework that fits all, and every incident is unique and requires a different approach. With all trips, your guides are your day-to-day support. While behind the scenes, there is an active line of communication – between your guide, the on-ground support team, and Australian Ops.
