2009 TOURS
A Unique Opportunity
We offer the unique opportunity of touring one of the least explored regions of Europe from the comfort and security of your private train. Transylvania has some of the richest history in Europe. The Ottoman Turks, Austro-Hungarians and Wallachians have all left surviving examples of their culture here. Many castles and fortified villages have barely changed since medieval times.
The Dracula ExpressWe are currently arranging our tour program for Summer 2009. In the meantime we are arranging a special tour for Halloween 2009 which will include a ride on a private train with a carriage formerly used by Romanian Royalty - which we have named "The Dracula Express" for this tour.
Flights are not included in the tour prices, because there are several ways of connecting with our trains in Transylvania, depending on your personal interest. The main gateways are Bucharest, the Transylvanian city of Cluj-Napoca, and Budapest. We can arrange your ticketing to Bucharest via various scheduled airlines, including Romanian Tarom, Malev Hungarian Airlines, Air-France, Alitalia, British Airways, KLM, Lufthansa, and Delta Airlines from the USA. Many European cities are also linked to Bucharest and Cluj-Napoca by low-cost airlines such as Blue Air, EasyJet, MyAir, and Wizzair.
Finally, there are also regular international trains that link Western European cities with Bucharest - for example, the ISTER overnight sleeper-train from Budapest.
Our 5-day action-packed Dracula Weekend from Cluj-Napoca offers a fun-oriented introduction to the local history which includes travel on your private train which was formerly used by Romanian Royalty. On this tour we will combine cultural tours with some light-hearted Dracula-related fun. Although a work of fiction, there are strong parallels with the real-life Transylvanian ruler Vlad Dracul who impaled his victims on stakes. Apart from exploring the Dracula legend, there will be tours of many other historic citadels and castles, and we will include some wine-tasting. The tour is full-board.
Tour Code: REGDM5
Halloween & Transylvania History Tour
5 Days / 4 Nights
This is a special tour for those who are seeking a superior Halloween experience. Each day will be spent exploring Transylvania.
Day 1
Arrive Cluj Napoca airport. Private bus to medieval citadel of Sighisoara, the birthplace of Vlad Dracul - on whom the mythology of Count Dracula is based - with a relaxed tour of the historic citadel. Dinner in the citadel. Overnight in the 3-star Casa Wagner located in the heart of the Sighisoara citadel.
Vampire winesDay 2
Private air-conditioned bus from Sighisoara to the UNESCO World Heritage fortified village of Viscri - where HRH Prince Charles has bought a house. In Viscri a choice of plum brandy or morning coffee will be served, along with traditional cakes, followed by a tour of the saxon-german fortified church. There will also be a talk on
traditional herbal medicines. You can buy various herbs, locally-produced honey and jams to take home with you. Private bus to Brasov. Tour of the medieval Saxon city of Brasov. Private steam-hauled train from Brasov to Bran Castle. Refreshments and entertainment included. Late lunch in a traditional local tavern - the "Queen's Rest" Tavern, Bran. Tour of historic Bran Castle - (notoriously where Vlad Dracul was imprisoned) also known as Castle Dracula. The Castle is the former home of Queen Marie of Romania - the grand-daughter of Queen Victoria of England who married King Ferdinand of Romania. Vlad Dracul was imprisoned here.
Private train from for the return trip to Brasov. Refreshments and entertainment included. Overnight in the 4-star Hotel Alpin, Poiana Brasov. Dinner with folklore entertainment.
Bran CastleDay 3
Private bus to Sibiu. Tour of historic old town with visit to the Bruckenthal Museum. Lunch in the medieval citadel of Sibiu. Private bus to old hungarian city of Targu Mures. Vampire Ball in the Targu Mures citadel with visit by "Count Dracula". Here you will become Knights of Transylvania. Overnight in 3-star Hotel Continental, Targu Mures.
Day 4
Private bus to Sangeorgiu de Padure (St George in the Forest) to visit the tomb of Hungarian Countess Claudine Rhedey - the great-great grandmother of HRH Prince Charles who lived and died in this
Transylvanian village. Private bus to Ganesti, Tarnaveni. Lunch with tasting of wines from local vineyard. Private bus to Cluj Napoca. Dinner in traditional Cluj Napoca restaurant with entertainment. Overnight in 4-star Hotel Agape, located next to Piata Unirii, in the heart of the city.
Day 5
Transfer to Cluj Napoca airport.
More details...
rick@spurway.com
