Moldova & Romania: Highlights

Welcome to Moldova! Your journey begins in the capital city of Chisinau, where you'll be greeted by your tour guide at the airport. After settling into your hotel in the city center, you'll enjoy a welcome dinner with your fellow travelers, setting the tone for the exciting days ahead. You'll spend the next three nights in Chisinau.

After breakfast, we'll head to the Republic of Transnistria and its capital, Tiraspol. Here, we'll explore the city center, visit the local market, and observe the Soviet influences in the architecture. We'll also visit the Noul Neamt Monastery and the Tighina Fortress in Bender. The day ends with a visit to a family-run winery where we'll enjoy a delicious dinner and wine tasting.

Today, we'll travel to Rudi to visit the 18th-century Holy Trinity Church. Then, we'll head to the provincial capital of Soroca, where we'll tour the medieval fortress and enjoy panoramic views of the river and town. We'll also visit the Candle of Gratitude Monument, a tribute to Moldavian cultural heroes. We'll return to our hotel in Chisinau in time for dinner.

Our journey today takes us to the village of Clisova Noua, where we'll learn about the country's traditional craftsmanship. We'll then visit the Saharna Monastery, nestled amidst the wooded slopes of the River Nistru. Further downstream, we'll explore the Tipova Rock Monastery, one of the largest in Europe. We'll end the day in Orheiul Vechi, where we'll hike to the cave monastery and enjoy a traditional horse-drawn carriage ride. We'll spend the night in Orheiul Vechi.

Today, we'll travel to the autonomous region of Gagauzia, home to the Turkic-speaking Gagauz people. We'll tour the capital, Comrat, and visit its cathedral and Soviet monuments. In the village of Besalma, we'll visit the Museum of History and Ethnography, and in Kongaz, we'll explore the ethnographic complex. After dinner in Kongaz, we'll return to Comrat for the night.

After breakfast, we'll say goodbye to Moldova and cross the border into Romania. We'll meet our Romanian tour guide and travel to Tulcea, the gateway to the Danube Delta. Here, we'll visit the Delta Museum to learn about the region's unique ecosystem. We'll spend the next three nights in Tulcea.

Today's highlight is a full-day catamaran tour through the Danube Delta, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Europe's largest and best-preserved wetlands. We'll navigate the delta's waterways, crossing endless lakes and labyrinthine canals, and enjoy a traditional lunch with local fishermen. We'll return to our hotel in Tulcea in the evening.

We'll spend another day on the waters of the Danube Delta, this time traveling by speedboat to the village of Caraorman. Here, we'll enjoy a drive through the dense 'black forest' and, with a bit of luck, spot wild donkeys and horses. After a hearty lunch in a rustic inn, we'll return to Tulcea via the delta's waterways.

Leaving the Danube Delta behind, we'll return to civilization in Bucharest. During our city tour, we'll discover landmarks like Revolution Square and the Patriarchal Church. After exploring the old town, we'll check into our hotel for the last night and enjoy a traditional meal in a folklore restaurant.

Our unforgettable journey through Moldova and Romania comes to an end today. After breakfast, you'll be transferred to the airport for your flight home. Safe travels!