Escorted Tours 2020 & 2021 - 2nd Edition - Mercury Holidays

For full tour itineraries, please visit us online at www.mercuryholidays.co.uk/tours DEPARTURES & FROM PRICES 2022 DEPARTURES AT 2021 PRICES CONTACT US FOR DATES • Prices based on flights from London Heathrow to Romania with British Airways • Rooms available with no single supplement. Once sold, single supplement starts from £149 • Private Tour supplement from £699 EUROPE AND THE MED 115 MEAL PLAN: 5 breakfasts & 2 dinners ACCOMMODATION Poiana Brașov 3 nights 4 ★ Hotel Ana Sport Bucharest 2 nights 4 ★ Europa Royale Hotel EXTEND YOUR TOUR DAY 1: UK TO POIANA BRAȘOV D Depart from London on your scheduled flight to Bucharest. On arrival you will be met by a representative and transferred to your hotel in the ski resort of Poiana Brașov. Relax and enjoy a welcome dinner. DAY 2: BRAȘOV B After breakfast head for nearby city of Brașov for a morning walking tour around the wonderfully well-preserved medieval and baroque old town. Start at its heart, in the venerable main square (Piata Sfatului) – also known as German Square. You can’t miss Romania’s leading Gothic church and Brașov’s most prominent landmark, the ‘Black Church’, so called after being charred in a great fire in 1689. Travel back in time at the First Romanian School museum, then marvel at the adjacent Gothic spires of the 16th century St Nicholas Cathedral. In the afternoon enjoy an excursion to the mystical, 14th century Bran Castle, built as a clifftop defensive fortress and cloaked in Dracula legend. DAY 3: SIGHISOARA & BIERTAN B This morning it’s off to UNESCO-listed city of Sighisoara for a walk around the charming, cobbled streets of one of Europe’s oldest citadels. The first thing to hit you is the riot of colour, with buildings painted in bright oranges, yellows, blues and pinks creating a dazzling and spellbinding canvas. It has a colourful history too, being the birthplace of, Vlad the Impaler. The striking 14th century Clock Tower, offers a spectacular panorama from the top and a covered stairway leads to the iconic 'Church on the Hill', a fine example of Gothic architecture. Move on to the Saxon village of Biertan. Located in a long valley surrounded by lush hills and vineyards, it is home to the finest and largest fortified church in Transylvania. DAY 4: TO BUCHAREST VIA PREJMER & SINAIA B Today we head for Bucharest, stopping first to see the impressive UNESCO-listed Saxon citadel of Prejmer. With walls 40ft high and 15ft thick, it’s perhaps no surprise that in 500 years it was besieged 50 times but only captured once. Continue on to picturesque town of Sinaia, first to marvel at the opulent Neo- Renaissance masterpiece that is Peles Castle. Then enjoy a visit to Sinaia Monastery, with a history dating back 300 years DAY 5: BUCHAREST B/D Romania’s capital city has seen some turbulent times but has re-emerged as a dynamic, vibrant and welcoming city. Today’s walking tour will give you a fascinating glimpse into its historic old town, the Lipscani District, an area that was neglected by the communist regime because of its bourgeois merchant roots and has been slowly regenerating since 1989. Besides the main arteries of Lipscani Street and Covaci Street, a warren of side streets reveal antiques stores, fashionable boutiques and hidden courtyards. You’ll also see the beautiful 18th century Stavropoleos Monastery, a masterpiece of stunning ceiling frescoes in the late Brancovenesc style. In the evening a farewell dinner can be enjoyed at a local restaurant. DAY 6: BUCHAREST TO THE UK B After breakfast, use the morning to explore at your own pace, why not visit the diverse streets of Bucharest or the mighty ‘Palace of Parliament’. Currently the world’s heaviest building, made from marble, bronze and crystal, construction of this monumental building began in 1984 and caused extreme decline within society. Absorb Romania’s communist history, including the oppressive regime of leader Nicolae Ceauşescu and the bitter legacy which remains within its walls. In the afternoon transfer to the airport for your return flight to the UK, or continue on to your chosen extension. B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner FOR YOU TO KNOW: No visa required whilst travelling to Romania. Tips: It is customary to tip your guides. This is at your discretion, but we recommend approximately 58pp Romanian Leu for the duration of your tour. Optional excursions are at an additional cost. 6 days from £669pp Sighisoara TRANSYLVANIA & BUCHAREST TOUR HIGHLIGHTS ✔ Guided walk around the medieval and baroque old town of Brașov ✔ Visit Bran Castle, a Dracula legend but in fact a fine royal residence ✔ Discover Sighisoara, ancient citadel and birthplace of Vlad the Impaler ✔ Explore Biertan and the fortified church in Transylvania ✔ See Sinaia and the Neo-Renaissance opulence of Peles Castle ✔ Marvel at the 17th century Sinaia Monastery ✔ Enjoy a tour around Bucharest Discover the birthplace of Vlad the Impaler, delve into the legend of Dracula at Bran Castle, and delight in the fairy-tale landscape of dark forests surrounding colourful towns and fortified church steeples poking through the treetops. Conclude with a visit to the Romanian capital of Bucharest. ROOMS AVAILABLE WITH NO SINGLE SUPPLEMENT PACE: 02 Mar 21 £669 09 Mar 21 £699 30 Mar 21 £739 13 Apr 21 £839 20 Apr 21 £839 11 May 21 £789 18 May 21 £839 25 May 21 £839 08 Jun 21 £869 15 Jun 21 £899 06 Jul 21 £919 10 Aug 21 £919 07 Sep 21 £869 14 Sep 21 £839 21 Sep 21 £799 05 Oct 21 £769 12 Oct 21 £739 19 Oct 21 £699 BUCHAREST 2 nights 4 ★ B&B from £119 Located on the banks of the Dâmbovița River, Bucharest is a bustling metropolis with tree-lined boulevards and Belle Époque buildings. BUCHAREST, SIBIU & PIATRA NEAMT (pre extension) 5 nights 4 ★ from £659 Discover the essence of Romania as you delve into picturesque cities filled with architectural treasures and scenic beauty DANUBE DELTA 4 nights 4 ★ from £559 Combine adventure with relaxation as you journey to where the mighty Danube meets the Black Sea. Visit our website to learn more about our extensions.