Day 1, Thursday: Welcome in Bucuresti, capital of Romania!

• direct transfer to Curtea de Arges , 3 hours away, capital of the province of Valahia during Vlad’s grandfather, Prince Mircea the Old
• welcoming cocktail on board the coach; briefing; Q & A
• dinner & overnight in Curtea de Arges (the Court on the river Arges)

Day 2, Friday

• drive to the foot of Poienari – the historical fortress Dracula , perched on a 800 m. hill
• climb the 1456 steps to the top and listen to the many stories (some – confirmed by the old documents), still alive in the area

Besieged by the Ottomans at Poienari in 1462, Vlad sent for help in the neighbouring village of Aref, across the hill. The elderlies of Aref came to the rescue. Disbelieving that escape was possible, Vlad’s wife threw herself into the river Arges, below. Yet, the Arefeans managed to take prince Vlad out of the encirelement and hurried along the river, ever higher in the Carpathians, till Transylvania came into sight.

• cross the spectacular Gorge of the river Arges on foot
• take a boat to the far hotel of “Valea cu Pesti” to overnight
• bon-fire: legends about Vlad Dracula

Day 3, Saturday

• continue along the trail followed by Vlad Dracula , through woods, across creeks, to the crest: pick your berries, catch your trout, roast the bacon over bon-fires
• at over 2000 m altitude, the vast tableland of Transylvanian comes into sight

The legend says that the prince sat on a flat rock, asked for a rabbit-skin and wrote a donation act to the accompanying Arefeans, giving them 16 mountains as pastureland for their cattle and sheep – before parting with them.

Another document, issued 100 years later by prince Mircea Ciobanu – preserved to this day – confirmed their property over these 16 mountains, “as given from before, by prince Vlad”

• descend into Transylvania amid spectacular scenery
• arrive in Poiana Brasov
• optional: disco, cabaret, night-club, excelent restaurants

Day 4

• departure to the airport
• on the way (time-permitting) – optional visit of Peles in Sinaia – the most beautiful royal palace in Europe