Study tour to Transylvania, Romania
A Literary Dracula tour for students

Highlights

Dracula’s Castle in Transylvania - built in accordance to Bram Stoker’s imagination, on Borgo Pass where the Irish writer placed the castle of Count Dracula,accommodation, candle lit dinner and a camp fire with all the right stories.
Ritual Killing of the Living Dead - Help a haunted spirit to gain his peace - attend the ritual of killing a strigoi.  Masquerade Party afterwards to celebrate the victory or recover from defeat. learn more 
Sighisoara Medieval Citadel - the best preserved and still inhabited medieval citadel in Europe with a UNESCO World Heritage status, Vlad the Impaler’s birth place.
Bran Castle - also known as Dracula’s Castle, a legendary Transylvanian fortress dating back to 1377. 
Snagov Monastery - where, according to the legend, Vlad was buried after his assassination 
Poienari Fortress - Vlad’s old and faithful citadel perched high on a cliff, more than 1000 stairs to climb. 
Introducing Unique Characters - Emil Muresan - the only one in the world who uses spider webs for his paintings.
Vampire Treats: indulge yourself with a Vampire dinner to find out why it’s worth killing for a meal!

Day by day itinerary

DAY 1, Saturday, Bucharest 
Welcome to the study tour in Romania ! Our English speaking guide connects with you at the Bucharest Airport. Accommodate into a 3* hotel, centrally located and then prepare to immerge into the legend. Drive to Snagov to visit Snagov Monastery where, according to the legend, Vlad was buried after his assassination. The monastic establishment is located on a small island of Snagov Lake. The architectural style of the monastery follows the architectural pattern that is characteristic to the monasteries on the Holy Mount Athos in Greece . Your first day in Romania ends with a welcome dinner in one of Bucharest ’s top traditional restaurants.

Day 2, Sunday, Bucharest – Targoviste – Sinaia -Brasov (197 km, 4h driving)
Morning drive to Targoviste, former capital of Walachia County situated on the right bank of Ialomita River , to visit the ruins of Vlad Tepes old court. Continue your journey with Sinaia, the pearl of mountain resorts in Romania . Explore the main point of attraction, the royal Peles Castle . The edifice was built in 1873 and is an architectural mixture of the German School and neo-renaissance style. The castle has 160 rooms, all of them opulently decorated in leather and wood from the most valuable tree species. Peleş Castle is one of the best preserved and the most beautiful royal residences in Europe . Accommodate in Brasov, 3* hotel, centrally located. Situated at the foot of Postavaru Mountain , Poiana Brasov is surrounded by dense pinewood forests in a magnificent, mountainous natural setting and it is the most sophisticated winter resort in Romania . Dinner in the medieval room of an outstanding 4* restaurant in Poiana Brasov; you’ll enjoy excellent music and most delicious medieval treats.  Attend Dracula’s Wedding - is a show set on stage by a professional band of actors. This is a non verbal performance. It’s very easy to understand that Dracula did not need words to charm a girl. The first time they met he appeared as a respectable noble, the second meeting revealed his true dark nature… Find out if the story has a happy ending.

Day 3, Monday, Brasov – Bran – Sighisoara (168 km, 2h 40 min driving)
Explore Transylvania's symbol, Bran Castle in this Transylvanian study tour. The eddifice owers its fame both to its unique charm and to the myth Bram Stoker created around Dracula. Documentary evidence of the castle dates back as far as 1377. Your next stop is the Medieval Saxon City of Brasov. The most famous landmark of Brasov is  the Black Church, the largest gothic edifice in South-Eastern Europe . Next stop, a UNESCO World Heritage Site,  Sighisoara Medieval Citadel . Founded by Saxons during the 12th century, Sighisoara still stands as one of Europe's most beautiful and still  inhabited fortified cities . Sighisoara is also the place where Vlad the Impaler, known as  Dracula  was born. Accomodate in a charming 3* hotel located in the heart of the medieval citadel and enjoy a Saxon dinner.

DAY 4, Tuesday, Sighisoara - Bistrita - Borgo Pass (Pasul Bargaului) (198 km, 3h 30 min driving)
Stroll around the streets of the old citadel; admire the Clock Tower, concentrating Sighisoara’s history, the beautiful Church on the Hill and the unique Covered Stairs. You can even enjoy a tea in the very house where Vlad the Impaler was born, turned today into a cosy restaurant – “Casa Vlad Dracul” Restaurant. In Bistrita you can visit Golden Crown Restaurant and taste the very meal Jonathan Harker, the main character of Dracula Novel, served when he was in Bistrita.  Next stop is Dracula’s Castle in Borgo Pass , a 3* hotel which was built in accordance to Bram Stokers imagination. After visiting Dracula’s coffin you’ll enjoy a candle lit dinner at the castle followed by a fire camp nearby, with all the right stories for a night to remember in this study tour.

Optional : Experience a carriage ride! Be in the spirit of medieval kind of transportation ( just to realize the nowadays high comfort while traveling).

Morning drive to the city of Cluj Napoca to enjoy a city tour revealing beautiful medieval buildings such as Saint Andrews Cathedral.  From Cluj drive to Turda, a small town with an intimate medieval atmosphere, home to one of the oldest Salt Mine in Romania. Accommodate in a 4* hotel, often referred to as a medieval fantasy with beds. Delight yourself with a vampire menu for dinner, a delicious reason to travel to Transylvania ! Still, an evening to fear, you’ll attend the killing of a vampire; you’ll be part of the crowd seeking to take the bloody creature to a special place where the ritual can begin! The Ritual of Killing of the Living Dead is followed by an Evening sitting, the Romanian term is Sezatoare.

DAY 6, Thursday, Turda - Medias - Sibiu (144 km, 2h 40min driving)

Prepare to descent to the heart of one of the biggest saline in Romania, the  Salt Mines of Turda, with impressive halls named after kings and queens. The Salt Mines are the place where you will put your existence to test! Drive next to Medias. Here you'll become aquianted with a  unique artist , the only one in the world who  uses spider webs for his paintings . As you probably know, spiders are creatures happily tolerated by the count, so you'll have further proof of how they are not merely reminiscent of delights' past. Evening in Sibiu , the  European Cultural Capital  for 2007. The fortified town of Sibiu has been the centre of Romania 's German minority since medieval times and it is one of Romania's most beautiful cities. The city contains the largest concentrations of tourist attractions in Romania . Accommodate in a 4* hotel, enjoy a  traditional Saxon dinner  in one of the best restaurants in Sibiu.

DAY 7, Friday, Sibiu - Poienari - Bucharest (308 km, 5h 10min driving)
Your last Romanian morning. Enjoy a morning visit of Poienari, to visit the ruins of Vlad’s old and faithful fortress. The fortress located close to Fagaras Mountains , on a canyon formed by Arges Rives is perched high on a cliff, in fact a steep precipice. To visit the impressive fortress and admire the unique and breathless view from the top you’ll need to climb over 1000 stairs. Late afternoon arrival in Bucharest , past 5:00 pm. (Should you wish to, we can complete your staying with an add-on program in Bucharest)

Testimonials Thank you very much for all of your wonderful support and assistance in ensuring we were in good hands during our time in Romania! We had a wonderful experience with Mr. Balan! He took exceptional care of us and ensured that we arrived to each of our destinations safe and secure. I truly and sincerely do appreciate all of your kind and considerate help and communications over the past few weeks and even months. A trip of this size and length requires the coordination and handling of LOTS of details. Finding folks like you make this just a little bit easier!! Wishing you all the best as you continue growing your business! Thank you again! Kelly Eddins Associate Director of Career Development McIntire School of Commerce, University of Virginia

Alin, group leader says: It’s a great satisfaction for me to guide this tour and share all my knowledge on Transylvania’s history and legends, and also create a special fairytale, funny atmosphere.

Price: 1100 €

Include one place free of charge for the teacher, if the group has minimum 10 paying participants

Departure on request