Combined tour of Moldova Republic and Bucovina – region of Romania. Moldova is a country where dreams come true, a place where fairy tales turn into reality. Old monasteries, slumberous forests, famous vineyards and cellars, endless hills, fair sky and friendly sun give a special charm. Bucovina is world known for outdoor painted monasteries, included in UNESCO – Heritages List.
People from Moldova and Bucovina are famous for their hospitality.
Anywhere
3 Hours Before Flight Time
The guide will meet you at Chisinau International Airport and tranfer you to the hotel.
Check-in at hotel. Depending on arrival time you will have time for a fresh-up before dinner.
Welcome evening in the typical Moldovan restaurant „La Taifas“ .
The day will start with the city tour, and you will visit the most popular spots from the downtown. The Nativity Cathedral and its park, then another beautiful central park named by the greates Moldavian king – Stephen the Great. Also have a stop at the postal office, city hall, the alley of painters etc.
Next we drive to Orhei Vechi region, visiting the unique cave monastery (13th cent.), carved in limestone rock – the part of the picturesque landscape. Visiting the house-museum of traditional life of Moldavian farmers (19 century) in the village Butuceni.
Lunch with folk program in the rural pension which includes national Moldovan dishes, home-made wine.
The day will end with the tour of Cricova wine cellars. The Sparkling and Fine Wines Enterprise “Cricova” is the founder of production of high-quality elite wines and is truly considered the pearl of Moldovan winemaking. There is one story always told in this place about the Russian pilot Yuri Gagarin, who during a visit in 1966, after getting tipsy, got lost and missed the exit. In one of Cricova’s luxurious tasting halls, a couple years ago the former Russian president Vladimir Putin celebrated his 50th birthday.
Transfer back to hotel.
Our morning drive takes us from Chisinau to Transnistria. After passing the customs first stop would be in Bender, where we will have a short tour of the town and visit the Bender fortress where Charles XII stayed with his army, but now this territory is used by 14 Russian army.
Lunch in a local restaurant with traditional cusine. Or by wish we can go to a cantine for a truly back to URSS experience.
Continue by exploring the capital of Transnistria – Tiraspol. In Tiraspol you will have the opportunity to travel in time back to USSR. You will start by visiting the monument of Vladimir Lenin and tanks left from the Second World War. The city seems to be a ghost of the Soviet past.
Overnight in Tiraspol.
A wine day which will bring you many pleasant moments. The south of Moldova its the most popular wine region from the country, and we will visit two of the most famous wineris.
Chateau Purcari – the oldest winery, it’s wines were delivered to the Queen’s court, and you will be the lucky one to taste them. Purcari wines are considered to be the best wines produced in our country, winning the most prestigious trophies at international competitions.
Then we continue exploring the south by visiting the small family winery – Et Cetera, where the owner and winemaker it meets the guests and runs the wine tasting. The Luchianov Family started growing grapes in 2003. The land was purchased in 2002 by Alexandru Luchianov, who named the estate Et Cetera. After the adventurous life travelling he decided to settle down where the roots come from. With a brief experience in this field, Alexandru, having as a background the faculty of mathematics, professional Scuba Diver and Skydiver, started a new journey of Life, not less Extreme than previous occupation, through the world of grape growing and winemaking. He became fanatically enthusiastic with his new passion, traveling to wine countries, adopting experience from foreign specialists, learning about vineyards and tasting wines, all of that to find the perfect taste.
Today we pass the border into Romania, exploring Bukovina region.
On the way to Gura Humorului we will have a stop in Iasi for the Bus City Tour. Also there will be free time for lunch in the city.
Then we head to Gura Humorului and check-in at Best Western Bukovina hotel for 2 nights.
Start to explore the Bucovina region – the land of World famous Painted Monasteries. Visit Voronet Monastery (UNESCO heritage) called “the Sixtine Chapel of the East’, due to its interior and exterior wall paintings, this monastery offers an abundance of frescoes featuring an intense shade of blue commonly known as ‘Voronet blue.’ This monastery is the most important in Bucovina, being one of the symbols of Bucovina.
Visit Moldovita Monastery (UNESCO heritage). One of the scenes most suggestive of the monastery of Moldovita is that of the “Siege of Constantinople”, monumental composition, the subject seems you it was treated only in Moldavia (Bucovina). Visitors to the Painted Monasteries will often witness a nun or a monk beating a long beam with a mallet, tapping out a call to prayer. The tradition started during the siege of Moldova by the Ottoman Empire when the Turks forbade the ringing of bells.
Arrival in Sucevita, the heart of Bucovina, the land of painted monasteries. Visit Sucevita Monastery (UNESCO heritage), built between 1582 and 1584.
Suceava City Tour visit at Saint John the New Monastery
Transfer from Suceava back to hotel in Gura Humorului. Dinner in the restaurant in of the hotel.
On this last day after breakfast and check-out you will be transfered to airport in Iasi or Chisinau, depending on your flight ticket.
