We'll pick you up from the hotel lobby for a stroll through the narrow streets, and eclectic neighborhoods and find out why our capital was formerly known as “little Paris”. This charming Old Town hides some well-hidden ghost stories! Among them, we will uncover the story of the haunted orphanage, a hospital known for organ harvesting, and the casino which is still visited by the ghosts of former players.

May we suggest an incredible place to have your first proper lunch in Bucharest? We will show you the way to Manuc's Inn, the oldest operating hotel building in Bucharest, hosting a popular restaurant, coffee house, and bars! 

We continue our exploration of Romania’s capital mysterious city in great style with the Cimitirul (Cemetery) Bellu! Being in use for almost 200 years, Bellu Cemetery is the largest and most famous one in Bucharest and one of the most bizarre cultural attractions. A subway ride will take us this, where we will do a quick intro about Romania, and then we wander through some of the most haunted graves and crypts for storytelling and investigations.  Hope you're ready for a challenge through this one-of-a-kind maze!

Early evening we return you to the comfort of the Cismigiu Hotel, where you can indulge in some free time! How about a bit of shopping in the vibrant city of Bucharest?  Tonight, the vibrant city of Bucharest is yours! 

🛎 Lodging: You will return to the Hotel Cismigiu. 

** 🍴 Please Note there is an Optional Group Lunch**  The tour offers an Optional Lunch today in Bucharest at the Manu's Inn.  This is the oldest restaurant kept alive in Bucharest where you'll understand the different influences in our fusion cuisine. ($20/pp);   Go to OPTIONS to pre-pay for this. 

PLEASE NOTE: Itineraries are subject to changes depending on availability or weather & travel conditions. 

Never will you realize an ancient monastery as you will this morning, Our first stop is Snagov Monastery, built by the famous Vlad the Impaler in 1364! Currently located on a tiny island in a lake just outside of Bucharest,  the Romanian ruler added thick defending walls and a dungeon! Let’s look for a plaque on the floor inside the church that marks the grave with the presumed remains of the world-known count!  Many believe it is a curse, so prepare to feel a vibe here!

.After visiting Snagov monastery we are heading towards one of the most bizarre castles in the country, the Iulia Hasdeau Castle in Campina.  It is a place well known and feared for its documented appearances of Iulia Hasdeu, a child prodigy who died too young. The story, as well as the appointments and artifacts, are mesmerizing!  

We have earned a delightful lunch break while protecting ourselves from the evil spirits that may be forthcoming. (After all, we are traveling towards Bran Castle!) We will treat ourselves to a local favorite, a garlic soup, and goulash stew at the incredible Restaurant Alex. Wait til you see the view of Sinaia from here! 

We will now go to our accommodations, only fit for royalty! The Hotel Palace Sinaia will greet us with welcoming arms! Palace Hotel opened its doors in 1911, after being built in just 8 months (at the same time as Peles Castle), following architect Petre Antonescu’s plans. 

Considered a very haunted establishment, it was built on the same spot where a medical spa facility burned down in the late 1800's. The thermal waters were used together with electricity for experimental treatments and many people died in agony due to misuse of these early technologies. Now the hotel is bringing back the style and charm of its glorious days, but maybe also some of the former residents during the night…

 🛎 Lodging: Hotel Sinaia: This used to be a former communist resort for the working class. Even though newly renovated, this hotel still hosts the souls of those workers who lost their lives on the construction site with few safety regulations back in the day. The good thing is that's located right by the park, in the historic area of Sinaia, and might be the perfect place to relax after an adventurous day. Spa access is included, but needs to be booked in advance! Additional spa services are available on request, also if booked in advance.

** 🍴 Please Note. There is an additional LUNCH OPTION**  The tour offers an Optional Lunch in Lavender Restaurant in Sinaia. This hidden gem is located in an old communist side of the town but offers excellent local dishes and a cozy atmosphere.  ($20/pp)  Go to OPTIONS to pre-pay for this. 

PLEASE NOTE: Itineraries are subject to changes depending on availability or weather & travel conditions. 

Peles Castle
 

In the morning we explore the fairytale Peles Castle in Sinaia, the royal palace built in Neo-Renaissance style, discreetly nested in the mountains. This summer residence was built for the first king of modern Romania and boasts impressive interiors, being also the world's first castle fully powered by electricity.

We will travel towards Bran, where we will have a surprise team bonding activity, followed by a lunch break in Bran! We have arrived at Dracula’s village!  Let’s take a few minutes to check in at Casa din Bran, a most charming inn with authentic local appointments. It is extremely close to Bran, where we can view its spooky image. What an experience!

Bran Castle and Halloween Party

After we awe at how modern kings and queens used to live at Peles Castle, we get a different feeling when we arrive at Bran Castle. With a rich and controversial history, we try to debunk the real mystery behind the fortress commonly known as “Dracula’s Castle”. 

Tonight, you will also get to experience Halloween at Bran Castle, the most exciting Halloween Party in Europe (or perhaps the world)!  So, bring your best costume and let's party together! Our extravagant experience includes: 

• (PRIVATE) Gourmet Dinner in the Castle Restaurant. At 07:00 PM night creatures are invited to experience a tasting menu dinner of 4 courses.  (This is Optional with a cost of $200/pp.)
  OR
  4-course Vampiric Dinner at a selected Restaurant near the castle.  (This is an Optional Cost of $55/pp.)
• (PRIVATE) FOR ALL: Halloween Tour by Night with Magic Time Tunnel at 10 PM. Included in the tour's package.
• (PRIVATE) FOR ALL: The most incredible Halloween Party (limited to 100 people) in the Castle! Stay as long as you want for this the ultimate celebration of Dracula’s Halloween!  Included in the tour's package.

No curfew tonight, lovelies! Tonight will be the best Halloween Celebration you've ever gone to! 

🛎 Lodging: Count Vladimir & Villa Siana (split into 2 locations); Both locations have spacious rooms with a lobby bar, cozy fireplace, and terrace kept in natural colors with rustic stone elements. Here you will experience the Transylvanian hospitality at its best, staying in charming, family-owned guesthouses. They are each located 15-20 minutes walking from the infamous Bran Castle.

** 🍴 Please Note**  The tour offers an additional Lunch Option at Restaurant Alex.   Protect yourself from the evil spirits before traveling to Bran Castle with a local favorite: the garlic soup and goulash stew based on Transylvanian traditions. ($20/pp)  Go to OPTIONS to pre-pay for this. 

PLEASE NOTE: Itineraries are subject to changes depending on availability or weather & travel conditions. 

After spending an exhilarating night at Dracula’s Castel, we will have a late morning departure from our hotel as we head towards Brasov!  On our way, we will stop and visit the recently restored Lutheran fortified church in Prejmer, first built by the Teutonic Knights 1000 years ago and today part of the UNESCO heritage list. 

We then head towards Brasov, and upon arriving we will have a delicious lunch. With satisfied appetites and a bit of rest, we will take on foot and explore this magnificent city. We will stroll through more than 800 years of living history, as Brasov is a former trading outpost located right in the middle of the mountains. 

Imagine walking through the narrowest street in Eastern Europe! How about touring the breathtaking Black Church? This structure holds the fame of being one of the most important turning points in religious affairs during medieval times! We continue our discovery of this medieval city by peeking into the city’s Catacombs the city said to be haunted by ghosts of German prisoners from WWII. 

We will find our comfortable accommodations waiting for us at the Residence Hirscher in Brasov. This former Saxon house is located right in the city center, steps away from Council Square, the heart of Brasov, making it the perfect location to walk to restaurants or to landmarks around it. 

🛎 Lodging: Return to the Count Vladimir & Villa Siana (split in 2 locations)

🛎 Lunch:  On your own.

** 🍴 Please Note: Dinner Option**  The tour offers an Additional Dinner option at the Transylvanian Feast! A local guesthouse will prepare mouth-watering farm-to-table specialties and a special celebration of Romanian hospitality. ($40/pp)  Go to OPTIONS to pre-pay for this. 

PLEASE NOTE: Itineraries are subject to changes depending on availability or weather & travel conditions. 

A Homecooked Feast in Viscri

Part of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites, this village managed to preserve its rural charm so much that King Charles bought a property here and spent his summer holidays in the Transylvanian countryside.

The highlight here will be a delicious lunch prepared by local villagers with farm-to-table ingredients, including traditional drinks.

Sighisoara, Birth Place of Vlad Tepes the Impaler! 

After checking into the beautiful Central Park Hotel in Sighisoara, you will start enjoying the wonder of one of the most beautiful preserved inhabited citadels in the world! This UNESCO gem is home to medieval buildings, hidden chambers, burgher houses, towers, and ornate churches full of myths and legends. 

What makes this city historically spectacular, it is here that Vlad the Impaler was born! Tepes served as inspiration for one of the biggest legends in international folklore, Count Dracula. We will walk around the cobbled streets and find out more about this medieval town which is one of the few that have been left intact in Europe! 

Night investigation at Casa Vlad Dracul (The BIrthplace of Vlad Tepes!)

Step into the chilling heart of darkness at Vlad the Impaler's birthplace – a wretched haven for malevolent spirits. Dare to unearth the secrets of this accursed dwelling on your paranormal quest. We'll have 2 hours for investigations, during which you might find that the ethereal presence of Vlad himself still lingers here.

Will you survive the night and confront the sinister souls that dwell within?

🛎 Lodging: In Sighisoara.

** 🍴 Please Note: Optional Dinner Option**  The tour offers an additional Dinner in Sighasora at the Casa Vlad Dracul.  This location is the actual birth place of Vlad Tepes, the Impaler! With a menu inspired by Bram Stoker's novel and from Vlad the Impaler's reign, this location will provide a culinary preview during the day for our late-night investigation.  ($40/pp)  Go to OPTIONS to pre-pay for this. 

PLEASE NOTE: Itineraries are subject to changes depending on availability or weather & travel conditions. 

Before we reach Cluj, which holds the most spectrally ignited forest in the world, The Hoia Baciu, we will treat ourselves to a wine-tasting experience! This region produces some great wines and we will get a chance to taste the product of local grapes. Enjoy a visit to the vineyards and a special wine tasting led by the vintner, accompanied by cheese and meat platters.

Before we reach Cluj, which holds the most spectrally ignited forest in the world, The Hoia Baciu, we will treat ourselves to a wine-tasting experience! This region produces some great wines and we will get a chance to taste the product of local grapes. Enjoy a visit to the vineyards and a special wine tasting led by the vintner, accompanied by cheese and meat platters.

A short walk in Cluj

Enjoy a walking tour of this ancient city that stirs the envy of Bucharest as the capital of Transylvania. Passing by iconic landmarks such as the Banffy Palace or St Michael's church, the baroque architecture will take you on a travel back in time. 

After a Linnerbreak (yes, where lunch meets dinner!), we prepare for our escapade into the bowels of the mystical Hoia Baciu Forest in the early evening. What better way to welcome the night that holds the thinnest veil between the living and the dead?

Evening hike (and Investigation) in notorious Hoia Baciu Forest

Hoia Baciu Forest was named by many as the most haunted in the world. It is also known as the Bermuda Triangle of Romania, and was named after a shepherd who went missing in the forest with a flock of 200 sheep! The Hoia Baciu came to international attention in 1968 when Emil Barnea, a military technician, photographed what he claimed was a UFO hovering over The Clearing, which got the Communist regime paranoid over it. 

Today, visitors to the forest report strange symptoms – nausea, anxiety, the feeling of being watched – and the failure of electronic devices. “Ectoplasms” are routinely seen by joggers brave enough to enter. We will try to separate facts from fiction during our walk with a local guide specialized in both physics and psychology.

🛎 Lodging: Campeador Inn: Being located away from the central noise of the town, this newly refurbished, sophisticated boutique hotel is encompassing the up-and-coming nature of Cluj itself.

** 🍴 Please Note**  The tour offers an Optional Lunch in Cluj at the Garlic Bistro. Garlic soup is a must, as it's very different to the one in Sinaia. We gotta stay protected! ($25/pp)  Go to OPTIONS to pre-pay for this. 

 PLEASE NOTE: Itineraries are subject to changes depending on availability or weather & travel conditions.  

Walking tour of Alba Iulia Citadel

The first stop of the day is the Vauban citadel of Alba-Iulia, one of the most ancient settlements in Romania, and a location that was selected by the Romans for a military camp. We will take a guided tour that depicts 2000 years of history, from ancient Roman times up to Romania’s Union Day (hence the name similarity). People consider it the spiritual capital of the country with numerous historical events that have taken place here.

Discover the stories behind the tombstones of the builders of Corvins Castle, located in the Roman-Catholic church located inside the citadel.

We will take a lunch break in Alba Iulia Citadel! Ever wondered how it feels like to eat in a medieval wine cellar? If this sounds intriguing to you, we know just the place.

Prepare for luxury! We will be checking in to the Werk Hotel in Hunedoara. This establishment recalls every step of its recent history, carrying it into the future through industrial architecture, minimalist furniture, and simple unsophisticated appointments.  When you get into your room, open the drapes, and behold the view of one of Europe’s most beautiful castles… Corvin! 

Corvin Castle

After a short rest, we head across the bridge to the magnificent Corvin (Hunyad) Castle. She is the largest medieval castle in all of Romania. Built over six centuries ago in Renaissance-Gothic style, many say Corvin Castle is also one of the most beautiful in Europe.

There are many legends linked to this place, one of them is the place where Vlad the Impaler was held prisoner by the Hungarians, leaving behind his phantom that lurks within its dungeon.  No wonder it constantly features in ghost documentaries and horror movies (most recent ones: The Nun series). 

Could it be we have been provided exclusive access to a paranormal investigation? Wait and see...  

🛎 Lodging: Werk Hotel:  The new Werk Hotel, recalls at every step the recent history of Hunedoara, carrying it into the future through industrial architecture, minimalist furniture, and simple, unsophisticated ornaments. Gorgeous views over the castle and spa  (saunas and heated pool) access included!

** 🍴 Please Note: Optional LUNCH**  The tour offers an additional Lunch option at the Alba Lulia Citadel at Pub 13. Ever wondered how it feels like to eat in a medieval wine cellar? If this sounds intriguing to you, we know just the place.  ($25/pp)  Go to OPTIONS to pre-pay for this. 

** 🍴 Please Note: Optional DINNER**  The tour offers an additional Dinner option at the Werk Restaurant.  Werk is bringing good taste right in front of Corvin Castle, with reinterpreted traditional dishes and a mix of international cuisine. Don't miss it!   ($35/pp)  Go to OPTIONS to pre-pay for this. 

PLEASE NOTE: Itineraries are subject to changes depending on availability or weather & travel conditions. 

Enjoy a walking tour of Sibiu:  Sibiu is one of the most important cultural centers in the country, being named the European Capital of Culture in 2007, Europe’s 8th most idyllic place to live in by Forbes, and the European Gastronomy Capital in 2019. 

Here witness unique architecture (the buildings have eyes!), different churches, and medieval walls, towers, and bastions. It was formerly the center of Transylvanian Saxons and has a rich history as a major trading center. 

We take a walking tour of the town’s many squares to observe its unique architecture (the buildings have eyes!), different churches and medieval walls, towers, and bastions.

Drive on Transfagarasan Road

Today we go back to Bucharest and cross the mountains on Transfagarasan highway, the passage between Wallachia and Transylvania. This thrilling entwined road cuts right through the mountains and was voted by Top Gear as the best road trip in the world!

Lunch break near Balea Glacier Lake

At the top, we find Balea Glacier Lake where we stop to revel in the breathtaking landscape around us. It's the perfect spot for a stroll through the farmer's food stalls where you can have a delicious alpine lunch. 

Stop at Vidraru Lake

After descending from the mountain top, we stop at the biggest artificial lake in Romania, passing by a few friendly bears along the way. 

 🛎 Lodging: Posada-Vidraru Hotel:  Set in an elegant Tudor-style building overlooking Lake Vidraru, this tranquil hotel on a mountainside property off the Transfăgărășan highway is a 10-minute walk from the scenic Vidraru Dam. They also have a pool and spa which is included in your stay so it's the perfect time to relax and enjoy!

PLEASE NOTE: Itineraries are subject to slight change depending on availability or weather & travel conditions. 

In the morning, we will climb up Poenari Fortress!  This is the real castle of Vlad the Impaler (Dracula's)!  It is an impressive monument that will make you work if you want to see it as it is reachable only after climbing 1476 steps. The biggest reward of this effort is the stunning view from the top of the surrounding mountain peaks covered in evergreen forests. Vlad the Impaler's wife committed suicide here, when under siege by the Ottomans and her screams are still heard from the fortress to this day.

Prepare for a long ride back to Bucharest, but take in the last views that you will have of this beautiful country.  No worries, we have a lunch break at Pitesti, before our travels continue to Bucharest. 

We will arrive in Bucharest to settle back into the Hotel Cismigiu. 

🛎 Meals:  On our own.

🛎 Lodging: Return to the Hotel Cismigiu in Bucharest 

PLEASE NOTE: Itineraries are subject to changes depending on availability or weather & travel conditions.  

We are back in Bucharest, but prepare to reveal the most chilling of all that this capital city has to offer! We have saved some of our most supernaturally-charged experiences for when the spiritual veil is the thinnest, HALLOWEEN! 

Jilava Prison

Jilava was the location of a fort built by King Carol I of Romania, as part of the capital's defense system. Later, the fort was converted into a prison intended for political opposition during communism. It is now a working facility and a historical monument.

We'll visit the old underground cells where, among others, Ion Rimaru - a Romanian serial killer dubbed the Vampire of Bucharest - was executed.

Please Note:  Part of this complex still operates as an active prison. No cell phones, sim cards, storage cards, or other electronic devices (apart from one photo camera per group) will be allowed in. May only be used only in designated areas. Due to the prison facility still being in use, entry times might change or, in very rare circumstances, even get canceled last minute.

After a lunch break in Comana, we will visit its breathtaking Monastery. 

Comana Monastery

In the lost village of Comana, we discover an old monastery that was erected by Vlad the Impaler himself, the medieval ruler who inspired Dracula's legend.

But is there another connection to him?

Do not rest, for our most incredible supernatural challenge meet us next. 

Witches' Pond

The inconspicuous Witches Pond has a fierce reputation well known amongst Romanian locals. It is not a popular site for them to visit and many believe that the pond’s water is cursed.

Though many are wary of the pond’s alleged powers, others are drawn to the area. The Witches Pond is named for the many witches who gather in the area. It has become a very popular place for Romanian witches as well as others from all over the world who have made the pilgrimage to visit the powerful pond. The pond is rumored to contain great energy that causes any spell done near it to be cast successfully. This is why the site is popular amongst the Wiccan and why it is visited on sacred celebration days.
 

🛎 Lodging: Return to the Hotel Cismigiu in Bucharest

** 🍴 Please Note: A Group Lunch is offered here as part of  your LUNCH Package. This meal cannot be carved out from the Lunch Package.**   Our Lunch will be at Casa Comana. In the lost village created by Vlad the Impaler himself, lies a resort built as if Vlad's alter ego came back to life and reconstructed it. There are many legends surrounding Comana, but we will first try the culinary ones before we dig deeper into the tumultuous history of this settlement. Go to OPTIONS to pre-pay for the Lunch Package. 

🛎 Celebration Dinner:  On Us!   

PLEASE NOTE: Itineraries are subject to changes depending on availability or weather & travel conditions. 

Saying Goodbye to Romania will be difficult, we warn you!   

Today we'll transfer you from the hotel to the airport or show you more around the city if you have a late flight.  

Together, we will bid farewell to Romania, a land we will keep treasured in our hearts forever. As they say in this magical land, "Toate cele frumoase, poartă și ponoase." (English translation: "All that is fair must fade.")

 
PLEASE NOTE: Itineraries are subject to slight change depending on availability or weather & travel conditions.