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Undiscovered Countries, beautiful countryside and Dracula
Take a journey through two of Eastern Europe’s least explored countries and see them before too many others discover their charms. This tour escorts you to the old & the new, the cities & the countryside and along the picturesque coastline of the Black Sea.
We visit Transylvania with its medieval towns, rolling hills and Dracula castles; central Romania homeland to Ceausescu’s communist regime; Bucharest a thriving modern-day city and finish up by the beach on the Black Sea coast; and that’s just Romania.
In Bulgaria see the home of its first kingdom and today its historic centre in Veliko Tarnivo; learn about how and where 70% of the worlds Rose Oil production comes from; taste wines and brandy as we tour a prestigious Bulgarian winery before finishing up in its most rural corner for two geographical wonders.
During 30 days of adventure, you will experience the real countries and throughout enjoy local cuisine with an above average amount of group meals included, certainly don’t expect to be cooking much whilst on this tour.
Campsites in Romania and Bulgaria are basic and this tour will be best enjoyed by those with a sense for adventure and an open mind to camping facilities.
Day One – Tuesday 3rd September 2024
Welcome to Hungary where we meet at a good quality campsite. You should plan your arrival early afternoon as this evening we have a welcome drinks reception and tour briefing with the Tour Directors.
Day Two – Wednesday 4th September
Our drive today brings us to our first stop in Romania, near to the city of Arad. This evening we have a welcome to Romania get together. 150 milesDay
Three – Thursday 5th September
Today we visit the enchanting city of Timisoara, birthplace of its 1989 revolution. Throughout the morning we have a guided tour of Timisoara’s historic centre, followed by lunch in a city restaurant. Later you can choose if you wish to visit the informative but moving ‘Museum of the Revolution’ or simply have free time in the city.
Day Four – Friday 64h September
Move on to the city of Sibiu, where our camping is a simple affair but conveniently located near to the city. We are now in Transylvania. 180 miles
Day Five – Saturday 7th September
A free day and opportunity to explore the interesting centre of Sibiu.
Day Six – Sunday 8th September
An opportunity today to take your motorhome on one of Europe’s best driving roads, the ‘Top Gear’ featured Transfagarasan Pass. If driving mountain roads is not for you, there is also a direct route to our next destination of Bran, where we stay for 4 nights. 165 (Pass) or 90 (Direct) miles
Day Seven – Monday 9th September
A relaxed start for today, with a group breakfast in the campsite’s own restaurant. Later we have a ‘Dracula’ experience, with a visit to Bran castle every bit a vampire’s home.
Day Eight – Tuesday 10th September
This morning we are transported to Brasov for an English guided tour of the cities Baroque quarter. We have lunch in Brasov’s old centre followed by free time for you to explore this fascinating quarter at your own pace.
Day Nine – Wednesday 11th September
A completely free day.
Day Ten – Thursday 12th September
We travel from Bran to arrive near Romania’s capital, Bucharest. En-route there is an opportunity to visit ‘Peles Castle’ – Romania’s best-preserved palace. 110 miles
Day Eleven – Friday 13th September
Collected by coach from our camping, we have a full day in the capital. We visit Ceausescu’s Civic Centre, his monument to communism and have a guided tour of his infamous Parliament Palace. Requiring 100,000 workers to construct its 1,100 rooms, the Parliament Palace is second in size only to the Pentagon. Lunch today is in an authentic city restaurant dating from the 1800’s.
Day Twelve – Saturday 14th September
Today brings us to Romania’s coast and the Black Sea. Our campsite is ideally located in a family resort with the beach within easy walking distance. 190 miles
Day Thirteen – Sunday 15th September
A free day. The campsite has its own swimming pool and the beach is 500m away.
Day Fourteen – Monday 16th September
We go to Bulgaria today but not yet with our motorhomes. Our destination is Balchik Palace – summer residence of Queen Marie of Romania (Grand Daughter of Queen Victoria). When the Palace was built in 1924 this region belonged to Romania, only later transferring to Bulgaria. We visit the Palace with its lovely gardens before taking lunch and our first taste of Bulgarian food.
Day Fifteen – Tuesday 17th September
Now we do take our motorhomes to Bulgaria and its Black Sea resort of Obzor. Tonight we celebrate our Bulgarian arrival with an evening of traditional food and drinks in the campsite’s own restaurant. 120 miles
Day Sixteen – Wednesday 18th September
Today has been left free. Maybe you will decide to relax on the sandy beach, just 200m from our campsite.
Day Seventeen – Thursday 19th September
A later start this morning for a visit to Nesebar. Harbouring the coast’s best 19th century wooden architecture, a number of unique medieval churches and cobbled streets, Nesebar is just perfect for a few hours of leisurely meandering.
Day Eighteen – Friday 20th September
We leave the coast going inland to the city of Plovdiv. 200 miles
Day Nineteen – Saturday 21st September
Thracian fortifications, Ottoman mosques and Bulgarian renaissance mansions all mix together in Plovdiv’s old centre. Take the opportunity to explore this fascinating area throughout today.
Day Twenty – Sunday 22nd September
Drive to a prestigious Bulgarian wine producer where we park overnight and use our own motorhome facilities. During the afternoon we have a guided tour of the winery with wine tasting and the opportunity to purchase those we like – you will be surprised how good Bulgarian wine is. In the evening we meet in the winery restaurant for dinner accompanied by wine and Rakiya (Bulgarian national spirit also produced in the winery). 40 miles
Day Twenty-one – Monday 23rd September
Another short journey today to arrive at Kazanluk, in Bulgaria’s Valley of the Roses where 70% of the world’s rose oil production originates. 55 miles
Day Twenty-two – Tuesday 24th September
Today starts with a visit to sights commemorating Bulgaria’s heroic 1877 victory over the Turks giving the country its independence. The remainder of the day is dedicated to the rose, where we’ll see rose oil production and learn local traditions linked to its oil. Later we have an evening of singing & dancing with dinner & wine in celebration of the rose harvest, just as in centuries past.
Day Twenty-three – Wednesday 25th September
A free day. You may do nothing or perhaps choose to visit Kazanluk. Being 3 miles from our campsite regular buses pass the campsite to the town centre, alternatively there is a direct cycle & walking path.
Day Twenty-four – Thursday 26th September
Driving the scenic Shipka Pass we can stop en-route to visit Shipka’s freedom monument and the Etar rural museum. We later arrive at Veliko Tarnovo, the first capital of Bulgaria’s Second Kingdom and the chosen location for the drafting of the Republic’s constitution. 65 miles
Day Twenty-five – Friday 27th September
Transport is arranged for spending time in Veliko Tarnovo throughout this morning, including a group visit to the Tsarevets (castle). Early evening we visit Arbanasi, Bulgaria’s most wealthy village. We have arranged some sightseeing followed by dinner in an Arbanasi Tavern.
Day Twenty-six – Saturday 28th September
We are treated to a brunch breakfast in the campsite’s own coffee bar – a perfect start to a relaxing day. Afterwards you may decide to experience some Bulgarian rural life with a wander in the nearby village of Dragizhevo.
Day Twenty-seven – Sunday 29th September
Leaving Veliko Tarnovo our route takes us North West to the rural region of Belogradchik. 180 miles
Day Twenty-eight – Monday 30th September
Today is given over to the geographical features of this fascinating Bulgarian corner. Included is a visit to Belogradchik town, centre of the region’s charming rock formations and fortifications, where we take a leisurely group meal.
Day Twenty-nine – Tuesday 1st October
A ‘Farewell Day’. We start our last tour day with a leisurely Country Breakfast in the campsite tavern. During the afternoon we visit a local organic winery for a tour and tastings, then in the evening have dinner at the campsite.
Day Thirty – Wednesday 2nd October
Our tour ends. You may make your own way back to the UK or join with the Tour Directors on another adventure. From here the Tour Directors will travel to Belgrade, Serbia (200 miles) for the start of the ‘Journey along the Danube’ tour; taking them back towards the UK whilst following the river Danube all the way to its source, with many interesting stops along the way. For full details see the tours itinerary, which can be followed on from this tour.
PRICE
Motorhome with 2 people = £0000 per person
Motorhome with 1 person = £0000
DEPOSIT £000
INCLUDED IN PRICE
- 28 Campsite nights with hook-up
- 1 night parking at winery
- Transport for Excursions/Events as per the Itinerary
- Entrance Fees as per the itinerary
- Tour information pack with suggested routes + GPS Co-ordinates
- Services of Tour Director’s travelling in their own motorhome
- Michelin Maps for Romania and Bulgaria
Excursions, Events & Meals
- Welcome Reception & Tour Briefing
- Welcome to Romania get together
- Timisoara city tour including city restaurant lunch
- Opportunity to drive the Transfagarasan Pass
- Bran Campsite breakfast
- Visit to Bran Castle
- Brasov city tour with city restaurant Lunch
- Bucharest city tour including city restaurant Lunch
- Balchick Palace visit with Bulgarian Lunch
- Welcome to Bulgaria Dinner with wine
- Trip to Nesebar
- Tour and tastings at Bulgarian winery
- Dinner with wine & rakiya at Bulgarian winery
- Rose oil tour including Dinner with wine
- Veliko Tarnivo city visit
- Visit to Arbanasi including local tavern Dinner with wine
- Campsite Brunch Breakfast
- Belogradchik visit with lunch
- ‘Farewell Day’ of Country Breakfast, Wine tour with Tastings and Dinner with wine
This tour starts in central Hungary but if you would like to travel from the UK at the same time as the Tour Director on the outward journey, please book the optional tour package so that everything can be arranged on your behalf
OPTIONAL PACKAGE
- Return Dover/Calais Ferry with a Flexible Ticket + Club Class Lounge
- 7 x additional Campsite nights with electric hook-up starting in Kent on Tuesday 27th August 2024 followed by Belgium, 3 x Germany and 2 x Hungary
- Group dinner on one of the nights
- Complementary Spa access in Hungary campsite
- Tour information pack with suggested routes + GPS Co-ordinates
- Services of Tour Directors travelling in their own motorhome
OPTIONAL PACKAGE PRICE
Motorhome with 2 people = £000 per person
Motorhome with 1 person = £000