Escorted Tours 2022-23 2nd Edition

Europe Day 4: Bucharest via Prejmer and 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, plus endowed with bastions, drawbridges and its famed ‘death machine’ several weapons which could shoot simultaneously, it’s perhaps no surprise that in 500 years it was besieged 50 times but only captured once. Continue onward to picturesque town of Sinaia, first to marvel at the unashamedly opulent neo- Renaissance masterpiece that is Peles Castle, commissioned by King Carol I in 1873 as a summer residence. Then enjoy a visit to Sinaia Monastery, with a history dating back 300 years, a dual function as a shelter for the needy and a strategic lookout over the Prahova River valley below. 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 reveals 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, the morning is yours to explore, at your own pace, the diverse streets of Bucharest, maybe visiting 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, or continue on to your chosen extension. Extend your tour Bucharest city stay, 2 nights, 4 H B&B from £129 Danube Delta experience, 4 nights, 4 H from £649 Bucharest, Sibiu and Piatra Neamt*, 5 nights, 4 H from £729 *Please note this is a pre-tour extension Tour includes • 5 breakfasts and 2 dinners • 4 H accommodation: Poiana Brașov-Hotel Ana Sport, Bucharest- Europa Royale Hotel • Flights from London Heathrow with British Airways Tour pace: Intermediate No Single Supplement Rooms available with no single supplement. Once sold, single supplement starts from £219 Danube Sighisoara Peles Castle Bucharest Brașov Departures & from prices 28 Feb 23 £799 13 Jun 23 £1,049 7 Mar 23 £899 4 Jul 23 £1,049 28 Mar 23 £1,199 8 Aug 23 £1,049 4 Apr 23 £1,149 5 Sep 23 £1,049 25 Apr 23 £1,149 12 Sep 23 £989 9 May 23 £999 19 Sep 23 £949 16 May 23 £1,049 3 Oct 23 £899 23 May 23 £1,049 10 Oct 23 £849 6 Jun 23 £1,049 17 Oct 23 £799 2024 DATES AVAILABLE • Upgrade to a Private Tour from £449 147 Hundreds more escorted tours are available on our website www.mercuryholidays.co.uk