Route to Moldova

DAY 1

Bucharest to Bucovina (Moldova)

On the way to Moldova, stop for a visit at the Mud Volcanoes.

Vulcanii Noroioși, or the Mud Volcanoes, are a unique geological and botanical reserve located near Berca in Buzău County, Romania. This rare natural phenomenon is characterized by small, cone-shaped structures formed by the eruption of cold mud and natural gases from depths of up to 3,000 meters. As the gases rise through layers of clay and water, they push up salty mud that bubbles and overflows, creating a landscape that resembles a lunar surface.

Declared a natural monument in 1924 and recognized as a UNESCO geopark in 2022, Vulcanii Noroioși is one of Europe’s most significant mud volcano sites.

Later arrive in Gura Humorului.

Gura Humorului is a small town in Suceava County, northeastern Romania, nestled in the scenic region of Bukovina. It is known for its picturesque setting in the Carpathian foothills, at the confluence of the Humor and Moldova rivers. The town is a popular tourist destination, serving as a gateway to the famous painted monasteries of northern Moldavia—especially Voroneț Monastery, renowned for its vivid blue frescoes and UNESCO World Heritage status. G ura Humorului also offers year-round outdoor activities, including hiking, skiing at the Șoimul slope, and relaxation at its leisure complex with thermal pools and spas.

Founded in 1530, Humor (Hoo mor) is rather small physically, but looms large among Bucovina’s treasures with a variety of frescoes dating from 1535, including one illustrating the Return of the Prodigal Son and one with a “humorous” depiction of the devil as a woman.

The church, topped by a cross-shaped shingled roof, is without a steeple, indicating that it was built by a court official rather than a prince. The predominant hues of the frescoes are reddish brown with some rich blues and green infusions. An extremely valuable collection of icons from the 16th century is displayed in the monastery.

Overnight at hotel in Gura Humorului.

DAY 2

Gura Humorului – Sucevita- Moldovita

The Mystery of the Dragon of Voroneț – Lumea Satului, nicknamed the “Sistine Chapel of the East”, it is a medieval monastic complex built in the village of Voroneț, today a component locality of the city of Gura Humorului.

It is one of the most valuable foundations of Stephen the Great (1457-1504). The church was built in 1488 in only 3 months and 3 weeks, which is a record for that time.

We continue with a visit to one of the largest museums dedicated to the egg, the Customs Egg Museum.

The Egg Museum in Vama is the largest museum of its kind in Romania, being unique in the way it is organized and in the value of the exhibits. The museum, spread over an area of 800 square meters, brings together over 11,000 eggs, both from Bucovina and eggs from all meridians of the world. Of these, about 3500 eggs of various sizes, worked in different techniques and styles, come from 82 countries on all 5 continents.

Moldovița Monastery is one of the old monastic settlements, with an important and glorious historical past, located in the commune of Vatra Moldoviței in Suceava County.

The origin of this monastery remains shrouded in the mists of time, tradition reminding of its existence since the time of the Musatini voivodes, who protected it.

Sucevița Monastery is an Orthodox monastery in Romania, built between 1583-1586 and located in the village of Sucevița.

Tradition places on the valley of the Sucevița River, between the hills, a wooden church and a schivnicia from the beginning of the sixteenth century. Legend has it that, later, for the redemption of who knows what sins, a woman brought with her buffalo cart, for thirty years, the stone necessary for the current construction. Documentarily, the monastery is attested in 1582, during the time of voivode Petru Șchiopul.

Ceramica de Marginea is a brand of ceramics typical for the commune of Marginea in Suceava County. It is characterized both by the black color that objects acquire after burning – the result of the use of prehistoric technology, and by ornaments – the result of the use of specific techniques or by the preservation of traditional shapes.

The Cacica Salt Mine is located in Cacica commune, Suceava County, Bucovina. The rock salt deposit was formed by deposition in a lagoon-evaporative system, i.e. a portion of water is separated by a narrow strip of earth. The salt mine is one of the largest salt reserves in Romania, with estimated reserves of 238 million tons of salt.

Later in the evening arrive in Iasi.

Iași is one of Romania’s most historic and culturally rich cities, located in the northeastern part of the country. As the former capital of Moldavia and a major academic and cultural hub, Iași is home to Romania’s oldest university—Alexandru Ioan Cuza University—and numerous museums, theaters, and historical landmarks. Highlights include the stunning Palace of Culture, the Metropolitan Cathedral, and the Botanical Garden, one of the largest in Eastern Europe. Known for its vibrant intellectual life and deep-rooted traditions, Iași blends a rich past with a dynamic modern atmosphere.

Overnight at hotel in Iasi.

DAY 3

Iasi - Chisinau

Start the day with a short visit of the city.

Palatul Culturii din Iași este o clădire emblematică, construită, în perioada 1906 – 1925, în perimetrul fostei curți domnești medievale moldovenești, pe locul fostului palat domnesc. Clădirea este înscrisă în Lista monumentelor istorice. Edificiul a servit inițial drept Palat Administrativ și de Justiție. În anul 1955, destinația clădirii a fost schimbată într-una culturală, devenind gazda unor instituții culturale din Iași.

Astăzi, Palatul Culturii este sediul Complexului Muzeal Național „Moldova”, ce cuprinde Muzeul de Istorie a Moldovei (1916), Muzeul Etnografic al Moldovei (1943), Muzeul de Artă (1860), Muzeul Științei și Tehnicii „Ștefan Procopiu” (1955), precum și Centrul de Conservare-Restaurare a Patrimoniului Cultural (1975).

Depart from Iasi and head towards Republic of Moldova.

Cricova Winery, located just 15 km north of Chișinău, Moldova, is renowned for its vast underground wine cellars, which stretch over 120 kilometers and reach depths of up to 100 meters. Established in 1952 within former limestone mines, these cellars provide ideal conditions for wine aging, maintaining a constant temperature of approximately 12°C year-round.

Cricova’s cellars house the National Oenotheque, a prestigious wine collection featuring over 1.25 million bottles, including rare vintages dating back to 1902. Notably, the collection includes wines seized from Hermann Göring’s private stash during World War II.

Mileștii Mici is a renowned winery located approximately 20 kilometers south of Chișinău, Moldova. Established in 1969, it is celebrated for housing the world’s largest wine collection, officially recognized by the Guinness World Records in 2005.

The winery’s vast underground cellars stretch over 200 kilometers, with about 55 kilometers currently in use. These limestone tunnels, situated 30 to 85 meters beneath the surface, maintain a constant temperature of 12–14°C and humidity levels of 85–95%, creating ideal conditions for wine aging.

Mileștii Mici’s “Golden Collection” comprises nearly 2 million bottles, including rare vintages dating back to 1969. The collection features a variety of wines, predominantly reds, along with whites and dessert wines.

Overnight at hotel in Chisinau.

DAY 4

Chisinau – Bucharest

Chișinău, the capital of Moldova, offers a charming blend of history, culture, and green spaces. A visit to the city includes strolls through leafy parks like Ștefan cel Mare Central Park, exploring landmarks such as the Nativity Cathedral and Triumphal Arch, and diving into the nation’s past at the National Museum of History. With its relaxed atmosphere, Soviet-era architecture, and growing food and wine scene, Chișinău provides a unique and authentic Eastern European experience.

Transfer to Bucharest.

Arrive in Bucharest later in the evening.

Overnight at hotel in Bucharest.