Itinerary Summary Tour map Price table How to book What to expect
Tour details
The Romania Christmas Photo Tour is a private tour for up to 8 people. It starts in Cluj-Napoca (Transylvania) on December 23 and it can have its final lap in Sibiu on December 28, but depending on your flight deals, we can rethink the itinerary, being able to start or finish the tour anywhere in Romania.
We will spend 3 days in Maramures and 3 days in Transylvania, exploring mostly the countryside, being able to experience Christmas in the areas of Romania where the traditions are the best preserved.
All the transfers, including airport transfers, are included in the tariff and transportation is made with a modern minivan, fully licensed for tourist transport. You will be accompanied the whole time by our experienced tour guide, who will provide you with all the information you need and support you during the trip.
The accommodation is in 3 or 4 stars hotels or guesthouses, that we will be chosen together. For each city, we will give you 3 options to choose from, and, if you have another preferred hotel in mind, we can choose that one as well, if available. As Christmas is one of the busiest periods in tourism in Romania, we recommend choosing the accommodation a few months in advance, in order to find rooms in the best guest houses in Maramures or Transylvania.
The price starts from 250 EUR/person Please see below the price per person, depending on the group size. The accommodation and the meals of the guests are not included in the price, as the hotels and guesthouses are having a special tariff for Christmas, a price that we will know at the moment of the booking. Depending on the final itinerary and the size of the group, the price can modify, so, so for a personalised offer please contact us.
Level of physical activity : Moderate. Our guests need to be able to walk a maximum of 5 km per day or climb stairs.
Tour itinerary
We will start the Romania Christmas photo tour in Cluj-Napoca, because the city has very good international airport connections, being also the city in Transylvania closest to Maramures. After a guided walk in the old town, to admire the special architecture of Austro-Hungarian influence and a glass of mulled wine in the Christmas Market, we will head to Maramures, where we will arrive after about 3 hours.
Accommodation: in Breb or another picturesque village in Maramures
Driving distance: 200 km
Today we will spend the day in the mountains of Maramures where we will arrive with the old steam train from Viseul de Sus. It will be a good opportunity to photograph the steam train in the winter landscape and the mountainous landscapes that are revealed in the narrow valley through which the steam train passes.
The trip by steam train (mocanita) will take about 6 hours round trip, and at the end of the line, we will be able to have a small buffet offered by our hosts.
Overnight in Maramures, at our guesthouse
Driving distance: 100 km
After we return to our guesthouse, we will attend the carols show that traditionally takes place in the villages of Maramures on Christmas Eve.
In the morning we will go to the church to see the villagers going to the Christmas service. After the service, we will be able to witness the traditional performances that recreate the birth of Jesus.
The afternoon can be used for a walk around the village to capture the beautiful rural landscape of Maramures in the wintertime.
Overnight in Maramures, at our guesthouse
On the second day of Christmas, we will explore more the Maramures area. We will go to the Merry Cemetery in Sapanta to photograph the unique wooden crosses painted in bright colours. Then we will go to other villages to photograph the wooden churches with sharp towers pointing at the sky or the wooden gates of Maramures, decorated with symbols with multiple meanings.
Overnight in Maramures, at our guesthouse
Driving distance: 100 km
Today we will leave Maramures and head to Sibiu, for the second part of our trip. It will be a long ride, of around 5 hours, so we will have a stop in Turda, to visit the incredible Salt Mine. Arrived in Sibiu in the afternoon, we will have a walking tour of the city and the Christmas Market.
Driving distance: 350 km
Overnight in Sibiu
Today we will spend more time in Sibiu and around. We can start early in the morning, capture the city under the spectacle of the first rays of light and later, we can go to the centre of Saliste, to participate in the festival of folk costumes and dances.
In the afternoon, we can drive through the villages in Marginimea Sibiului, for an impromptu opportunity to photograph different aspects of the countryside. Or, we can drive to Hunedoara, to photograph to imposing Corvin Castle, the largest one in Transylvania.
In the evening we will return to Sibiu to our hotel, for the final stage of our Christmas photo tour in Romania.
How to book
If you are interested in this tour, please send us a message with the exact number of guests, dates, changes you want to the itinerary, type of hotel. We will reply to you very fast with the exact price and detailed travel information. After setting all the details, regarding the final itinerary, hotels, dates, price, payment options and cancellation policy, we will send you the travel contract, as required by European Law. The booking becomes active after paying the deposit, which is 10% of the total price. The payment can be done via bank transfer or online payment. The payment currency can be EUR or RON. All of the amounts paid to us are guaranteed by our travel agency insurance, which can be seen here.
Tour Map
What to expect
What to buy: you can find a wide range of Christmas-specific objects at the Christmas Market: all kinds of sweets, homemade cookies, chocolate, roasted chestnuts, glazed almonds and nuts, honey, local spirits, mulled wine, fast food and traditional food stalls, local cheese, Christmas decorations and porcelain jewellery, hand-painted mugs, wreaths, garlands, globes, gloves, hats, scarfs and many more.
Concerts: Depending on the program, you can attend Christmas carols concerts and Christmas traditions shows.
Weather: daily winter temperatures in Romania are around 0 degrees C, but it can vary a lot. It is possible to have snow during the trip, but rain or sleet can occur as well. In the last 2 years, winter has been rather mild, with less snow or freezing temperatures. Please consult the weather forecast before the trip to know what type of clothes to wear. Prepare waterproof winter boots, with a non-slip sole, warm clothes and gloves.
Prices: prices in Romania are below the European average, but it varies a lot depending on the place. For example, a cup of coffee is 1-2 EUR, a beer is 2-3 EUR, the main dish at a restaurant is 6-12 EUR, a mug of mulled wine is 1-2 EUR. The entrances fees at between 6-10 EUR.
Tips: it is expected to give around 10% of the value of the bill at the restaurant. The tip is not included on the bill, it can be paid only in cash and you can choose not to give any tip if you didn’t like the service.
Currency: Romanian currency is RON (leu, plural lei, subdivision ban = 0.01 RON). Is not possible to pay with EUR or USD, but it is easy to change money at exchange offices or banks. Credit cards are largely accepted (Visa and Mastercard) but it’s good to always have some cash with you.
Safety: Romania is, in general, safer than most of the western European countries, but you always need to pay attention, especially in crowded places. Keep your money and valuable documents safe, in the interior pockets.
Price table
| Group Size | Currency | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | EUR | 250 |
| 7 | EUR | 270 |
| 6 | EUR | 320 |
| 5 | EUR | 380 |
| 4 | EUR | 480 |
| 3 | EUR | 640 |
| 2 | EUR | 980 |
| sgl supplement | ask for a quote |
*for groups larger than 8 persons, please ask for a customised offer
Inclusions
Custom tours, extraordinary experiences!
Let us be your guide and discover Romania with us!
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