Itinerary

Trip Itinerary

Price Includes:

Eight nights in 3-4 star accommodations
Breakfast each morning
Family style dinner each evening
Maps
Train transfers
Luggage transports during treks
Bus transports
International travel insurance
Entrance fees

Price does not include:

Airline tickets
Transfers to/from hotel in Bucharest
Lunches/Snacks
Souvenirs, Alcohol
Medical or evacuation expenses not covered by travel insurance

September 25--Depart the US and fly to Bucharest, Romania

September 26--Arrive in Bucharest and meet as a group in the hotel lobby for dinner and introductions. Hotel Elizeu (str. Elizeu nr 11-13, close to train station)
Tel: 0040 (0)21 3191735 / 36   http://www.hotelelizeu.ro/

September 27--Bucharest to Suceave and onto Moldovita
We will depart the hotel and take a short walk to the train station. We will spend the majority of the day traveling the Romanian country side to Suceava, and then we will catch a transfer to the Putna Monastery. We will spend two nights in the very beautiful Arhondaric (guesthouse at the monastery). We will be welcomed by Brother Dosoftei, who speaks English and enjoy this beautiful monastery and the hospitality, all within the Arcadian setting.

Putna Monastery
Tel.: 0040 (0)230 414055  (monastery - land line)          
Mob.: 0040 (0)753 020679 - Father Dosoftei (speaks English) http://www.putna.ro/

September 28--Round trip walk from Putna
Visit the Putna monastery, a foundation of Stefan the Great. It is the most important spiritual center of Romanian Orthodoxy and played a significant role in the Romanian history. We will visit the museum with priceless artifacts and treasures. During our trek, we will visit the Sihastru Monastery and will have a beautiful birds' eye view from one of the hills of the impressive Putna Monastery.

The trek could last from 1-4 hours depending on the energy of the group. 

September 29--Putna to Sucevita
From Putna we take the old monastery path to Sucevita Monastery. The undercoat of emerald green on which the superb frescoes are painted (1596) gave the monastery the name ‘a Poem in Green and Light'. The iconostasis is supposed to be the most beautiful one in the country. Sacherverell Sitwell wrote in 1938: "The first view of the painted church of Sucevita is among the most impressive revelations of the Byzantine world". The little museum houses the most precious collection of medieval art in Moldovia, including medieval embroidered portraits and an epitaph with 1000 pearls. We will spend two nights in a welcoming guesthouse with great food (served with quality local wine).

Trekking time is approximately 5 hours, 10 miles or 16 km--elevation gain 300m, elevation loss 300m

Casa Cazac Felicia (600 m from monastery):
Tel.: 0040 (0)745 560253 (Felicia Or Trandafir Cazac, speak French)
0040 (0)230 417083

September 30--Moldovita and round walk Sucevita
A bus takes us over the Ciumirna pass with astounding panoramic mountain views. We will visit the Moldovita Monastery, famous for its warmth and brilliance of its frescoes. The blue undercoat for its tree of Jesse gave the monastery the name ‘a parchment dipped in blue color'. Very beautiful is the Ladder of Paradise, which has the ascetical mystic of John Klimakos as a theme and the depiction of the ancient philosophers. We may be able to meet Sister Tatiana (she speaks some English) who will provide a brief tour of the surroundings. The little museum contains valuable icons and miniatures, in addition to a priceless silver-cased Evangelistary presented by Catherine the Great of Russia. Back in Sucevita we will take a trek and enjoy the birds eye view upon the impressive, fortified monastery.

Trekking time is approximately 3 hours, 6 miles or 10 km

October 1--Sucevita to Humor
There will be a short transfer to the Solca village, then we will walk through pastoral scenery passing friendly Polish villages founded during Austrian-Habsburg times to Humor. We will be greeted by horse wagons loaded with hay. People are still working with sickles and scythes on the fields. The 16th Century Humor Monastery, which exudes friendliness and tranquil charm, is painted in warm blues, greens and reddish browns (from oriental madder pigment). We will spend two nights in a very pleasant guesthouse (English speaking) in Humor. 

Trekking time is approximately 4.5 hours, 10 miles or 16km  

Vila Andreea (400 m to monastery)
Tel.: 0040 (0)330 080021 (Mihaela Motoc, speaks English) 

October 2--Humor - Voronet - Humor
Today we will visit the Voronet monastery. "Voronet-Blue" is the key word. Its superb frescoes gave it the name ‘the Sistine Chapel of the East'. Architecturally it combines Gothic and Byzantine features. Petru Comanescu still holds its truth: "...here in the clear mellow light of those parts of the walls of the church seem to have stolen the sparking blue of the sky, the green of the trees and the pastures, the gold of the sun and the red of the flowers growing in the peasants gardens". We'll walk up to the Objina with which provide views over the valley and scattered villages until we reach Humor.

Trekking time is approximately 4.5 hours, 8 miles or 12 km; elevation gain 300m, elevation loss 400m

October 3 --Humor to Bucharest
This morning will have a really early departure back to Bucharest. On the bright side, we will arrive at the hotel early enough to spend the afternoon sightseeing and then gather for a final group dinner. The trip concludes after dinner.

October 4--Departure to wherever you may go.
Today you are on your own. You may decide to stay in Bucharest, travel somewhere else, or decide to head back to the US. We just want to remind you that you are responsible for your transportation back to the airport today.