Accompanied by a true local expert, who has written 6 books about his region and has been guiding for almost 20 years, you will visit the region's famous landmarks (such the Merry Cemetery, Barsana monastery, the wooden churches or the Memorial Museum and Elie Wiesel House) but also places off the beaten path: local markets, little known artisans, great landscapes and viewpoints and meet the friendly locals in their homes.
On request, you can ride the Vaser Valley steam train and/or hike in the surrounding mountains.
A truly private and memorable experience!
What's included
Professional local guide
Private transportation
All Fees and Taxes
3-star accommodation (2 nights)
Breakfast
The meals, drinks and snacks
Travel insurance
Tips, souvenirs, other expenses
What to expect
Day 1: See Săpânţa's Merry Cemetery and Monastery, Sighetu Marmaţiei's museums and the food market
Merry Cemetery
1h 30m · Admission ticket included
The world-famous cemetery is unique due to its lively, beautifully wooden crosses, carved with epitaphs and images of the deceased and painted in vivid colours, dominated by ‘Săpânța blue’. The epitaphs, some of them showing some humour, make up a veritable chronicle of the community in verse, proclaiming the virtues of the villagers, but not forgetting their vices.
Sapanta-Peri Monastery
30m · Admission ticket included
This is the tallest wooden church in the world (75 metres high), placed in a beautiful place.
Memorial of the Victims of Communism and of the Resistance
1h 30m · Admission ticket included
This is one of the most interesting and best documented Museums in Romania and it is considered the third Museum of the Memory of Europe after the memorial of Normandy and the memorial of Auschwitz.The Memorial of the Victims of Communism - Sighet is an old prison that has been turned into a museum. The cells are now exhibits in which you learn the recent history of Romania from 1945 to the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. It offers an analysis of the totalitarian phenomenon and the nature of Communism.
The Elie Wiesel Memorial House - The Museum of the Jewish Culture in Maramures
30m · Admission ticket included
Visit the house where was born the famous Nobel Prize for Peace winner and the author of "Night" book. The place today hosts the Jewish Museum of Sighet, most displays being focused on Holocaust. If wish, visit also the Sephardic Synagogue, the Jewish Cemetery and the Holocaust Monument.
Day 2: See Barsana Monastery, a wood carving workshop and meet craftspeople and farmers on different villages along Iza Valley
Barsana Monastery
1h 30m · Admission ticket included
The most impressive monastery of Northern Transylvania, a huge complex all built in wood; beautiful landscape and flowers. In the same village, visit the largest wood carving workshop.
Botiza
1h
We will visit a lady who weaves woollen rugs coloured with dyes produced from plants and decorated with antique motifs. Inscribed in 2016 on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, the traditional wall-carpet craftsmanship is still practiced in Maramures. In the same village, we will meet people working on the fields, and see a mineral spring
Sacel
1h 30m
Visit the only ceramist who still makes Dacian style unglazed pottery. In the same village, meet another special person, if available, who makes wool and sheepskin ritual masks. Plus meet a wood carver and a lady living in her 100 years old wooden house.
Day 3: Meet Breb local inhabitants, see a medieval wooden church, visit the best water mills and see an optical illusion.
Breb
1h 10m
Meet some friendly Breb locals, including the village poet, visit a crafts workshop
Sarbi
1h
Visit the best farm machines pulled by water, still operating for community needs: a fulling mill, a carding mill, a whirlpool, and an alcohol distillery.
Budesti
1h
See the Romania's most weird optical illusion. And a fine medieval wooden church.
After that, return to Cluj-Napoca, where the tour ends.
Meeting and pickup
Meeting point
Meet you at the entrance of Sf. Michael Church
End point
Meet you at the entrance of Sf. Michael Church
Additional information
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Cancellation policy
If you cancel at least 3 full day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a full refund.<br>If you cancel within 3 day(s) of the scheduled departure, you will receive a 0% refund.
