GROUP TOURS
Below are some suggested itineraries for groups of people wishing to travel together on one of our rail tours. The minimum group size should be no less than 36 people. These might be friends, extended families, business associates, clubs, university groups, or stag parties. Aspects of these tours can be modified or combined to suit particular interests.
| 4-Day Tour |
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Although this is the shortest tour to Transylvania from Bucharest, it is also very intensive. We suggest departing on a Friday afternoon and arrive back in Bucharest on Monday morning to make this a very special weekend tour.
Tour BUH4
Highlights of Transylvania
4 Days / 3 Nights
We operate this route with the Romanian Royal Train and also with regular Romanian Railways rolling-stock. A steam locomotive can be added between Bucharest and Sinaia.
After leaving Bucharest on Day 1, the first stop is Sinaia, where you will visit the Royal wine-cellars, followed by a welcome dinner with wine-tasting, before returning to the train around midnight.
On Saturday morning Day 2 you will arrive in the medieval saxon city of Sibiu - the 2007 Cultural Capital of Europe. After a tour of the citadel there will be a private concert performance given by the Targu Mures Philharmonic Orchestra. Lunch will be taken on your train as you travel to your next destination, Sighisoara, where there will be off-train tours of the historic citadel, including a visit to the birthplace of Vlad Tepes - the basis of Bram Stoker's mythical Dracula. Then you will visit a historic village where you will be entertained by traditional musicians and dancers before taking dinner in a medieval-style restaurant.
Sibiu Citadel
On Sunday Day 3 you will wake in Brasov and tour the citadel. Your lunch will be taken in the city. In the afternoon you will visit Bran Castle - the former home of Romanian Queen Marie - the grand-daughter of Queen Victoria. In the evening, here will be a farewell dinner in Brasov hosted by "Count Dracula" and his "draculettes". The train arrives back in Bucharest mid-morning on Monday.
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| 5-Day Tour |
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This extended itinerary allows for more stops, and helps to create a greater sense of the various cultures that exist in Transylvania.
Tour BUH5
The Transylvania Experience
5 Days / 4 Nights
We operate this route with the Romanian Royal Train and also with regular Romanian Railways rolling-stock. A steam locomotive can be added between Bucharest and Sinaia.
After arrival on Day 1 in Bucharest you will board your private train for Royal Sinaia, the first stop. Here you will visit the Royal wine-cellars, followed by a welcome dinner with wine-tasting, before returning to the train around midnight.
After breakfast on Day 2 you will visit the Royal Palace of Peles before departing for the medieval saxon city of Sibiu - the 2007 Cultural Capital of Europe. Lunch will be served on the train. On arrival in Sibiu you will tour the citadel and attend a private concert performance given by the Targu Mures Philharmonic Orchestra. After dinner in Sibiu you will return to your train.
Peles Castle
On Day 3 you will tour historic Sighisoara, including a visit to the birthplace of Vlad Tepes - the basis of Bram Stoker's mythical Dracula. Then you will visit the saxon World Heritage fortified village of Biertan before taking lunch in a medieval-style restaurant. In the afternoon you will welcomed at a typical hungarian village near Augustin with traditional music and dance, followed by a banquet as the guest of a Hungarian Count.
You will wake on Day 4 in Brasov, a medieval market town. In the morning you will visit famous Bran Castle - the former home of Romanian Queen Marie - the grand-daughter of Queen Victoria - with lunch in a nearby restaurant. The afternoon will be free to explore Brasov. In the evening, here will be a farewell dinner in Brasov hosted by "Count Dracula" and his "draculettes". The train arrives back in Bucharest mid-morning the next day.
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| 7-Day Tour |
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This is one of the longest train tours we offer from Bucharest, which provides an in-depth experience of the people and culture of Transylvania. You will visit a broad spectrum of towns, villages and historic monuments throughout the region.
Tour BUH7
In-Depth Transylvania
7 Days / 6 Nights
We operate this route with the Romanian Royal Train and also with regular Romanian Railways rolling-stock. A steam locomotive can be added for the return journey between Sinaia and Bucharest.
On departure from Budapest on Day 1 the train heads for the most northern region of Romania. A gala dinner will be served on the train, followed by evening entertainment. You will wake on Day 2 in Bucovina, and spend the morning exploring the World Heritage monasteries with their amazing external paintings. After lunch in a village, you will visit a nearby salt mine with an underground church carved in the salt. Dinner will be in a local restaurant, accompanied by traditional music and dance.
After breakfast on Day 3 the train departs for Lunca Ilvei - deep in the Carpathian Mountains. The scenery en-route is spectacular. On arrival you will be greeted by a musical ensemble before riding in horse-drawn carriages to the village for a buffet lunch. In the afternoon there will be a visit to the Borgo Pass with breathtaking views across Transylvania. Horses will be available for those with riding skills. Tonight there will be a barbecue and other traditional entertainment around a village bonfire.
Sucevita Monastery
Day 4 begins with the train weaving its way through the mountains to Bistrita, where Bram Stoker's "Dracula" is staged. After lunch at the Golden Krone restaurant the train continues to Cluj Napoca, the capital of Transylvania. The evening will be free to explore the city before dinner at Agape, a traditional hungarian restaurant.
Following breakfast on Day 5 you will tour the medieval citadel of Sighisoara, including a visit to the birthplace of Vlad Tepes - the basis of Bram Stoker's mythical Dracula. Then you will visit the saxon World Heritage fortified village of Biertan before taking lunch in a medieval-style restaurant. In the afternoon you will visit medieval Viscri, another World Heritage site where you will enjoy locally produced plum-brandy. After a short journey to Brasov, you will take dinner in the medieval saxon citadel.
Sighisoara Tower
On Day 6 you will visit famous Bran Castle - the former home of Romanian Queen Marie - the grand-daughter of Queen Victoria - with lunch in a nearby restaurant. The afternoon will be spent visiting Peles Royal castle. In the evening, there will be wine-tasting at the Royal wine cellars at Azuga, followed by a farewell banquet. The train arrives back in Bucharest early-morning the next day.
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| 4-Day Tour |
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This is the shortest trip we arrange from Budapest to Transylvania, and it takes you to the Saxon towns of Southern Transylvania. It is a Friday to Monday special weekend tour.
Tour BUD4
Highlights of Transylvania
4 Days / 3 Nights
We operate this route with the Royal Hungarian Express. A steam locomotive can be added between Budapest and Szolnok.
The Transylvania Express departs from Budapest on Day 1 and heads out across the Hungarian plain for Transylvania. After evening dinner, and some after-dinner entertainment in the piano-bar, you will retire to your sleeping accommodation.
The train arrives in Sighisoara during breakfast on Saturday morning Day 2, and there will be off-train tours of the historic citadel, including a visit to the birthplace of Vlad Tepes - the basis of Bram Stoker's mythical Dracula. After a hearty lunch in a medieval-style restaurant in Biertan you will visit a historic village and be entertained by traditional musicians and dancers. After a short train ride, the evening will be spent in Brasov - with its many lively restuants and bars. You will also be taken on a tour of the citadel.
Bran Castle
On Sunday morning Day 3 you will visit Bran Castle - the former home of Romanian Queen Marie - the grand-daughter of Queen Victoria. Lunch will be taken on the train, as you head for Sibiu - the 2007 Cultural Capital of Europe. After a tour of the citadel there will be a private concert performance given by the Targu Mures Philharmonic Orchestra, followed by a farewell dinner hosted by "Count Dracula" and his "draculettes". The train departs for Budapest after midnight, and arrives mid-morning on Monday Day 4.
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| 5-Day Tour |
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This itinerary takes you to Northern Transylvania and the areas least touched by the 21st century. You will visit many World Heritage monasteries, and experience a culture built upon timber. Spectacular mountain forests are everywhere. The tour will climax at a Vampire Ball in Targu Mures.
Tour BUD5
The Transylvania Experience
5 Days / 4 Nights
We operate this route with the Royal Hungarian Express. A steam locomotive can be added between Budapest and Szolnok.
The Transylvania Express departs from Budapest on Day 1 and heads out across the Hungarian plain for Transylvania. After evening dinner, and some after-dinner entertainment in the piano-bar, you will retire to your sleeping accommodation.
Day 2 starts in Cluj-Napoca - the capital of Transylvania. You will have some free time in the city before lunch in a typical hungarian restaurant. The afternoon is spent travelling through spectacular mountain scenery to Lunca Ilvei - where you will be met by local people in traditional costume and taken by horse-drawn carriages to the village. Tonight there will be a barbecue and other traditional entertainment around a village bonfire.
In the morning of Day 3 the train travels into Bucovina, and you will spend the afternoon exploring the World Heritage monasteries with their amazing external paintings. Dinner will be in a local restaurant, accompanied by traditional music and dance.
Targu Mures Philharmonic
The morning of Day 4 will be spent in Bistrita, before heading for the city of Targu Mures. After a tour of the citadel there will be a private concert performance given by the Targu Mures Philharmonic Orchestra, followed by a farewell dinner hosted by "Count Dracula" and his "draculettes". The train departs for Budapest after midnight, and arrives mid-morning on Day 5.
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| 7-Day Tour |
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This is an extended version of our 5 Day tour from Budapest. You will visit a broad spectrum of towns, villages and historic monuments throughout Transylvania.
Tour BUD7
In-Depth Transylvania
7 Days / 6 Nights
We operate this route with the Royal Hungarian Express. A steam locomotive can be added between Budapest and Szolnok.
The Transylvania Express departs from Budapest in the evening on Day 1 and heads out across the Hungarian plain for Transylvania. After an hour the train is "hijacked" by hungarian horsemen who request everyone to transfer to horse-drawn carriages for a short journey to a traditional Csarda - with evening barbecue and horse-show. The train then continues it's journey. There will be some after-dinner entertainment in the piano-bar before bedtime.
Day 2 starts in Cluj-Napoca - the capital of Transylvania. You will have some free time in the city before lunch in a typical hungarian restaurant. The afternoon is spent travelling through spectacular mountain scenery to Lunca Ilvei - where you will be met by local people in traditional costume and taken by horse-drawn carriages to the village. Tonight there will be a barbecue and other traditional entertainment around a village bonfire.
Cluj Napoca
In the morning of Day 3 the train travels into Bucovina, and you will spend the afternoon exploring the World Heritage monasteries with their amazing external paintings. Dinner will be in a local restaurant, accompanied by traditional music and dance.
The morning of Day 4 will be spent in Bistrita, before heading up the River Mures Valley to Brasov. This journey passes through some of the most impressive landscapes of Transylvania. After a tour of the Brasov citadel, evening dinner will be taken in a local restaurant.
On Day 5 you will travel to Bran Castle - the former home of Romanian Queen Marie - the grand-daughter of Queen Victoria. Lunch will then be taken on the train, as you head for Sighisoara, where there will be tours of the historic citadel, including a visit to the birthplace of Vlad Tepes - the basis of Bram Stoker's mythical Dracula.
A Sibiu Piazza
After breakfast on Day 6 you will visit the World heritage site of Biertan, followed by a hearty lunch on the train to Sibiu - the 2007 Cultural Capital of Europe. After a tour of the citadel there will be a private concert performance given by the Targu Mures Philharmonic Orchestra, followed by a farewell dinner hosted by "Count Dracula" and his "draculettes". The train departs for Budapest after midnight, and arrives mid-morning on Monday Day 7.
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