ESCAPE TO MARAMURES 6 DAYS CULTURAL TOUR Maramures is one of the last culture islands of Romanian traditions. The kindness of its inhabitants and gorgeous landscapes wait to be uncovered by visitors. This part of North Romania, placed between Hungary, Ukraine and the Carpathian Mountains is a real living museum of faith, traditions and welcoming spirit. Due to its extended forested area, which allowed building of wooden churches, but also wooden houses, covered with shingles, the Maramures deserves the surname "WOODLAND". Carved oak-tree gates are symbols of family’s richness, but also the guardians of the family against bad spirits. On Sunday morning, but also on holidays, all the community meets at the local church for the holy service. It’s the moment to forget hard life in week time, but also a way of socializing. After the holy service, local people walk in the main street, proud to wear their traditional costumes; they discuss price of crops, they arrange weddings… You will remember this scene for years. We propose you a memorable escape to Maramures. HIGHLIGHTS * Merry Cemetery in Sapanta * Maramures wooden churches * Traditional life * Vaser steam-engine train * Memorial Museum in Sighet OUR EVALUATION Culture***** Nature*** Comfort*** Human contacts***** Climbing and walking skills*

Day1 Arrival in Cluj-Napoca. Meet and greet at the airport and transfer to the hotel. Dinner in a traditional restaurant. Accommodation in a 3* hotel.   Day 2 Cluj-Napoca – Beclean – Salva - Dragomiresti – Iza Valley (180 km) Breakfast. Spend half a day in Cluj-Napoca for local visits: the old centre, Gothic and Byzantine style cathedrals, the Botanic garden. Lunch in a restaurant. Drive to Maramures, to discover its treasures and traditional way of life. Stop en route in Bontida ; visit the Banffy counts castle – part of it has been restored. A second stop for visiting the wooden church in Dragomiresti. Dinner and accommodation in a rural guesthouse in the Iza Valley.   Day 3 Iza Valley – Barsana - Vadu Izei - Sighetu Marmatiei - Sapanta - Iza Valley (130 km) Breakfast. Drive North-West and explore Merry Cemetery in Sapanta. Every carved painted cross shows facts of the life of the dead person. Opposite the Merry Cemetery, visit the church of the Peri monastery, actually the highest wooden building in Europe (78m). Lunch in a restaurant and visit Sighetu Marmatiei Memorial, a museum set up in one of the hardest politic prisons in the ‘50s and the Village Museum, where you may admire a collection of traditional peasant houses in Maramures. Drive to Barsana and visit the new monastery which is well known in Maramures as a pilgrimage spot. The entire complex is build out of wood and perfectly integrated in the landscape. Dinner and accommodation in the former location.   Day 4 Iza Valley – The Vaser Valley – Iza Valley (70 km) Early breakfast. Departure for Viseu to catch the steam engine train which is going to take you to the wonderful Vaser Valley. A 60km length narrow gouge rail plunges into the depths of the forests almost touching the Ukraine. Besides wood transport, the small trains are used as a shuttle for people working upstream and carrying the visitors. It’s a unique experience. This day we'll enjoy a packet lunch. Return by 5pm. On the way back, stop in Ieud and visit the wooden Greek-Catholic church (built in 1718) which houses one of the largest collections of glass painted icons in Maramures. Festive party dinner with local musicians (ceterasi) and accommodation in the former location.   Day 5 Iza Valley – Sacel – Beclean – Dej – Cluj-Napoca (180 km) Breakfast. For local people, every day, excepting holidays, is a hard work day. You’ll see lot of peasants working in the fields, but also traditional transportation: horse-drawn carts, full of hay or timber. Visit a plum brandy distiller, an artisan weaving traditional Maramures carpets in Botiza and a potter in Sacel. Lunch in a guesthouse. Departure to Cluj-Napoca. Dinner in a restaurant. Accommodation in a 3* hotel.   Day 6 Breakfast. Last visits and shopping in Cluj-Napoca. Transfer for departure.

Duration 6 days / 5 nights Lodging rural guesthouses (private bathroom) and 3* hotels Notes 1. Rates do not apply in Easter, Christmas and New year's Eve period. 2. According to the opening hours for some visited sites (e.g. museums), this programme can be applied as it is if Day 1 is Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday or Sunday. If Day 1 differs, some visits or activities will be replaced consequently. 3. Price does not include: extra taxes for cameras and filming (requested in some places - e.g. the monasteries), personal drinks off the boarding, tips (optional). 2010 RATES NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS PERIOD PRICE/ PERS SGLE SUPPL PRICE INCLUDES 2 (private tour) all year long 865 EUR 110 EUR - lodging: 3 nights in rural guesthouses (private bathroom) and 2 nights in 3* hotels (on a double room basis occupancy) - boarding: full board (as specified in the programme) - entry tickets for the visits included in the programme - transport and transfers in Romania by car, minibus or coach - all road and parking taxes - train tickets for the Vaser train - transport of luggage - English speaking attested tour guide - all taxes 8 (constitued groups) all year long 520 EUR 110 EUR 580 EUR 110 EUR Quotation on request for other group sizes or discounts for children under 12