01

Day 1

Welcome to Romania!

Meet your hosts Dacre Stoker and Nora Vintila in central Bucharest. We welcome you with the traditional Romanian cherry liqueur and delicious cookies.

Walking with our local guide in the old town, we explore historical facts and places connected to Vlad Dracula, while getting to know the country with its recent history, touching upon the communist period and the way in which society has developed since.

Accommodation in central 4* hotel in Bucharest.

02

Day 2

We leave Bucharest in the morning and head towards Transylvania., reaching the little town of Bran in the afternoon.

Dacre explains how a sketch of Bran Castle, called Törzburg in the times of Bram Stoker, was discovered by the Irish author just as he was writing the novel Dracula and is seen as his source of inspiration in describing the fictional castle of the count.

During the castle visit, Dacre will graphically explain how he discovered imagery connections between this castle and the way in which Bram Stoker described the castle exterior.

Bring your gothic/victorian/vampire accessories if you wish to enhance the atmosphere and for unique photo ops in front of the castle!

Accommodation at a 3* hotel in Bran.

03

Day 3

Leaving the silhouette of the castle behind us, we visit the charming town of Brasov on our way to Sighisoara. Called Kronstadt or ”the town of the crown” by the Germanic settlers who arrived here in the early 1200’s, this is a place with rich history, wonderful shopping opportunities, and imposing landmarks such as the Black Church. It is also the town where Vlad the Impaler’s alleged mistress Katherina Siegel used to live in the 1400’s.

Join Nora and Dacre for a town walk to uncover legends, myths and true history passing by the colourful houses in the old town.

Continuing on the road to Vlad’s birthplace, we stop by in a quaint village and visit a peaceful fortified church to immerse ourselves into the lifestyles of the German Saxons under siege.

In the medieval citadel of Sighisoara, we are served dinner in the house said to be the birthplace of Vlad Dracula, a house marked with the emblematic Order of the Dragon.

Accommodation at a 3* hotel in Sighisoara.

04

Day 4

Today we see the charming colourful town of Sighisoara in a new light.

During a guided walk, we get to know the UNESCO walled city, one of the last remaining medieval citadels still inhabited to this day.

We sleep in a heritage building, nowadays a comfortable hotel, but still keeping the architectural charm of centuries past. Take your time to stroll down the cobblestoned alleys, explore an exhibition dedicated to the personality of Dracula, or visit a museum presenting medieval life. Free time for lunch on your own, and for leisurely walks.

Accommodation at a 3* hotel in Sighisoara.

05

Day 5

Leaving fairytale-like Sighisoara, we head towards the Borgo Pass on the border between the Romanian regions of Transylvania and Bukovina.

We pass by Bistritz in the footsteps of Jonathan Harker and continue to a little Orthodox monastery.

We enjoy a wine tasting with Romanian wines while listening to Dacre and Nora reading excerpts of the novel Dracula as well as other related literature.

Dinner is served at our hotel in Bukovina.

Accommodation at a 3* hotel in Bukovina.

06

Day 6

We start on an expedition towards the area where, according to Bram Stoker’s notes, the latitude and longitude indicate the location of the fictional castle of Dracula on the mountain top on the caldera of an extinct volcano.

This will be an outdoors experience and its feasibility depends on weather and safety conditions at the respective time. The excursion will be guided by local rangers from the Calimani Visitors’ Centre, alternatively by an experienced certified mountain guide.

We will eat a picnic lunch during the excursion. The excursion includes a transfer with off-road vehicles and a hike of a total of approximately 5 hours roundtrip, including water breaks and a longer picnic stop.

The alternative to the excursion, for those not able or not willing to hike, or in case of bad weather, will be a spa day in the resort of Vatra Dornei.

Accommodation at a 3* hotel in Bukovina.

07

Day 7

We visit the interpretive centre of the Calimani Mountains National Park, with an excellent overview over the whole region.

The visitors’ centre’s rangers, together with Dacre, reveal interesting facts about the geology, geography, fauna and flora of the place, making connections to how Bram Stoker applied all this knowledge into his descriptions of the area in the novel.

The afternoon is free for own activities and shopping.

Accommodation at a 3* hotel in Bukovina.

08

Day 8

Driving to Cluj or Klausenburg as the town is called in German, we stop by at the building that was depicted as the hotel Golden Crown hotel in the novel Dracula.

From Bistritz, we ride on to Hoia Forest, said to be one of the most haunted forests in the world. Reportedly, this is a hotspot of paranormale phenomena.

We try to analyze some of its mysteries during a short stop before reaching our hotel in Cluj.

The goodbye dinner is served at a restaurant with connections to the novel.

Accommodation at a 4* hotel in Cluj.

09

Day 9

After breakfast, it is time to say goodbye to Nora, Dacre and all fellow travelers. Our local guide is happy to help with recommendations on tour extensions.

Thank you for visiting Transylvania!