Slovakia
Round tour through the Carpathians countries. Visit Hungary, Slovakia and Romania.
Trip Highlights:
- Visit to Spiska Sobota - the place famous for its former fairs
- Cable car ride to Atiol Peak (1610 m above sea level) in the Rodna Mountains
- Visit to the beautiful 16th century painted monasteries of Bucovina, Suceviþa, and Moldovita
- Visit to the House of Vlad Tepes - The Impaler (Dracula)
- Visit to Cris - one of the most beautiful Transylvanian renaissance residences - the castle of the Hungarian family Bethlen
- Visit to Oradea - the city of secession and the gate to Transylvania
Itinerary:
1st day Krakow - Tatranska Lomnica - Kiezmarok - Poprad (PL - Slo 161 km)
morning Departure for the Polish-Slovak border in Lysa Polana. Arrival to Tatranska Lomnica. Going by cable car to the Lomnica Peak (2634 m above sea level)- the second highest peak of the Tatras and the Carpathians.
afternoon Tour of Kiezmarok - talking about the castle legends... A visit to the Evangelic Church, the new Evangelic Church, the castle, Saint Peter and Paul' Church, the Old Town square. Arrival to Spiska Sobota - the place famous for its former fairs. Strolling through the spisz style town: the spindled market square, burgher houses, St. George' Church and the Evangelic Church.
evening Night in Poprad. The Spisz stories - meeting and discussion with Ivan Chalupecky - an expert at the Spisz region. Dinner at the hotel.
2nd day Poprad - Kosice - Eger (Slo - Hu 233 km)
morning Check-out from the hotel. Tour of the historic center of Kosice with the market buildings, the Town Hall, St. Mary' column, St. Elisabeth' Church.
afternoon Passing the Slovak-Hungarian border in Tornyosnemeti. At the gate of the Beech Mountains and the Bulls Blood - on to Eger where the orient mixes with the west, charming streets rich in monuments and the flavor of coffee and wine. Guided tour of the town: the Basilica, the High School, baroque palaces, Minoryts' and Minarets' Church, the castle.
evening A visit to the Valley of the Beautiful Lady where there are wine-cellars, known for the production of Bulls Blood wine. Dinner in a local restaurant - the Hungarian cuisine. Night in Eger.
3rd day Eger - Satu Mare - Borca (Hu - Ro 400 km)
morning Passing the border in Satu Mare and then through the Lapuº Mountains to Sãpynþa. A visit to the so-called Merry Cemetery - the cemetery with colorful gravestones depicting the death scenes of the deceased.
afternoon Passing through Valea Iziei - the folklore center of Romania. Visiting Ieud village for its interesting architecture, folklore costumes, and customs. A short stop in Boroa-Complexul Turistic (Tourist Complex). Going by cable car to Atiol Peak (1610 m above sea level) in the Rodna Mountains. There is the highest mount in the Eastern Carpathians - Pietrosul (2303 m above sea level).
evening Dinner and night in Borsa-Complexul Turistic.
4th day Borsa - Suceviþa - Voroneþ - Suceava (Ro 205 km)
The art and religion of the Romanian Orthodox. A window on God - the aim and the sense of icons.
morning Check-out from the hotel. Arrival to Bucovina. Visit to the beautiful 16th century painted monasteries of Bucovina, Suceviþa, and Moldovita.
afternoon A tour of Suceava - the former capital of Moldavia: the Romanian Orthodox Episcopal cathedral dedicated to Saint George, the fortress, the defensive complex of the Armenian monastery fortified by the king Jan III Sobieski.
evening Night and folklore dinner in a hotel.
5th day Suceava - Lacu Rosu - Sighisoara (Ro 271 km)
morning Route through the Eastern Carpathians. On the way passing through calcareous Bicaz gorge and the biggest lake in the Carpathians - Lacu Rosu.
afternoon A visit to Sighisoara. Tour of the town - the 14th-century clock Tower, the Church on the Hill, the monastery church, the school’ stairs, the House of Vlad Tepes - The Impaler (Dracula), the home of Hermann Oberth, the Cemetery, the defensive walls, and towers.
evening Night in Sighisoara. Dinner in a local restaurant - Transylvanian cuisine.
6th day Sigisoara - Biertan - Brasov (Ro 125 km)
morning Visit to Cris - one of the most beautiful Transylvanian renaissance residences - the castle of the Hungarian family Bethlen. Going to Biertan - the church city and the cathedral, which are an example of Saxons defensive churches - inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
afternoon Arrival to Brasov. The city tour includes: the Old Town square, the Black church, Hirscher’s / Merchants’ House (16th c.)- the former residence of mayor Lukes Hirscher, the Romanian Orthodox Cathedral Sfanta Adormire a Maicii Domnului (Built in a glaring Byzantine style, this church sticks out between the subdued merchants’ houses on Piata Sfatului.), the town walls: the Schei Gate, the first Romanian school museum housed on the grounds of the Str. Nicolai Church, the Synagogue.
evening Dinner and night in Brasov.
7th day Brasov - Bran - Sibiu - Cluj-Napoca - Gilãu (Ro 340 km)
morning After breakfast arrival to Bran - a town in the mountains - visit to the castle of the Teutonic Order which houses Romanian and foreign furniture and art objects from the 14th-19th centuries. The city tour of Sibiu: the town square with the Small and Big markets, the Town Hall, The Holy Trinity Romanian Orthodox metropolitan cathedral, Brukenthal Palace, the Fingerling stairs, the Huet square.
afternoon City tour of Cluj-Napoca. The program includes: the remnants of the defensive walls with the Tailor Gate, the reformed church, the university district, the Hungarian Market with St. Michael’s Roman-Catholic Church (14th-15th c.), the birth house of the king Korwin, the Rumanian Market with the Opera building and the Cathedral.
evening Dinner and night in Gilãu - located picturesquely at the artificial reservoir Lacul Gilãu. Local cuisine - fried trout.
8th day Gilãu - Oradea - Budapest (Ro - Hu 388 km)
morning Departure for Oradea - the city of secession and the gate to Transylvania. Strolling through the Union and Republic squares with the secession commercial galleries, the Town Hall, the Moon Orthodox church, the Roman-Catholic cathedral, the Bishops-Palace, the Big Synagogue.
afternoon Passing through the Romanian-Hungarian border in Boro-Artand.
evening Arrival in Budapest. Dinner and night.
9th day Budapest
morning Visit to the capital of St. Stephen’ Crown. Following the Royal Route in Buda - the royal palace, the Hungarian National Gallery, the Old Town, St. Mathiew’ Church.
afternoon “Through History...” - The Parliament - the symbol of the renascence and the Hungarian strength, secession in the downtown, the Hero Square - a short history of Hungary, the City Park with the palace complex Vajdahunyad.
evening Cruise on the Dunaj River (admiring the wonderful illumination of Budapest) with the dinner, music, and legends about Budapest.
10th day Budapest - Vac - Zvolen - Ru¿emberok - Krakow (Hu - Pl 380 km)
morning Check-out from the hotel. Leisure time. Option: a bath in one of the thermal pools.
afternoon Drive to Krakow. Passing Hungarian-Slovak border in Sahy.
evening Arrival in Krakow.
Services included:
- 1 night's accommodation in Poprad in a hotel chosen by you on bed and breakfast basis
- 1 night's accommodation in Eger in a hotel chosen by you on bed and breakfast basis
- 1 night's accommodation in Borsa-Complexul Turistic in a hotel chosen by you on bed and breakfast basis
- 1 night's accommodation in Suceava in a hotel chosen by you on bed and breakfast basis
- 1 night's accommodation in Sighisoara in a hotel chosen by you on bed and breakfast basis
- 1 night's accommodation in Brasov in a hotel chosen by you on bed and breakfast basis
- 1 night's accommodation in Gilãu in a hotel chosen by you on bed and breakfast basis
- 2 night's accommodation in Budapest in a hotel chosen by you on bed and breakfast basis
- All transfers as per above mentioned itinerary
- Private English speaking guide as per the itinerary
- Entrance fees for all sightseeing
- Meals as per the itinerary
Services not included:
- The journey to Poland and from Poland
- Tour guide
- Public transport
- Insurance
- Personal expenditure, tips, etc.
- All other services not mentioned in the itinerary
Price on request.