Compare On the high peaks of Transfagarasan by Eastern European Experience vs Bequia Beach Hotel & Barbados & Grenada by Audley Travel

1st day-Bucharest, Poienari, Peles Castle, Bran Castle and Brasov

Departure from Bucharest and drive towards the Poienari Castle, a legend and to many, a confusing mixture of truth, history and fiction due to the convolution between the novel “Dracula” and the factual history of Vlad III Dracula “The Impaler”, whose name inspired the book. Drive towards Sinaia, where you will visit Peles Castle, used as a summer residence by the kings of Romania. It was built at the wish of the first Romanian king, Carol I, after the plans of architects Johannes Schultz and Karel Liman and decorated by JD Heymann from Hamburg, August Bembe from Mainz and Berhard Ludwig from Vienna, hence the similarity to German castles. Peles Castle is a unique construction, one of the most important monuments of its kind in 19th century Europe. Discover one of the most famous legend in Romania, Bran Castle, commonly known as Dracula`s Castle and source of inspiration for Bram Stocker. First built in 1377 for safeguarding the trading route between Transylvania and the Ottoman Empire. It was restored later to finally become a gorgeous summer royal residence in 1920. For many years now, it has been an interesting medieval art museum. Fringed by the peaks of the Southern Carpathian Mountains, Brasov is one of the most visited places in Romania. Founded by the Teutonic Knights in 1211 on an ancient Dacian site and settled by the Saxons as one of the seven citadels, it has been used as a backdrop in many recent period films. The city is surrounded by legends of vampires and medieval stories. We will have a walking tour so you can discover the old town center, the Black Church, the Council Square and the Hirsche House.

Afternoon at leisure in Brasov and overnight in one of the hotels from the Old Town Square.

2nd day-Sighisoara, Biertan and Sibiu

Departure from Brasov and move drive towards Sighisoara. One of the best preserved medieval citadel in Europe remains one of the most beautiful medieval city in Europe. It is a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. It is as well the birthplace of Vlad Dracula, also known as Vlad Tepes, ruler of the province of Walachia from 1456 to 1462. He is the one who inspired the Bram Stoker`s fictional creation, Count Dracula. After this, we will be heading to Sibiu with a short detour to visit Biertan, a fortified church built in the 15th century by the Saxons. It is part of the Unesco Heritage since 1993 and it boasts beside religious objects also a matrimonial prison. Next on our „to see list” is Sibiu, one of the oldest town in Transylvania. In 2007 was awarded with the title of European Capital of Culture. The main attractions are the Evangelical Church, the Orthodox Cathedral, the Roman Catholic Church, the Stairs tower and the Council Tower.

Overnight in Sibiu.

3rd day- Avrig, Transfagarasan, Vidraru, and Bucharest

After you have enjoyed your breakfast, we will depart towards Avrig and we will visit the summer residence of Baron Samuel von Bruckenthal. Built on Vienese model (the Schonbrun Palace), keeps the collection of 212 paintings and 129 engravings of the baron. Moving forward on our way to Transfagarasan, we will be having Fagaras Mountains on the West to East border of Romania with peaks from Moldoveanu(2544m) and Negoiu(2535m). A little bit more on the west, Olt river has managed to make a passage across the mountains, from Sibiu to Rimnicu Valcea. As this was the only road crossing the country from north to south ,it born the idea of having a road that went over the Balea lake on the north side that came all the way to south in Arges County. Before 2011, this road was the highest in Romania with its length to over 92 km. That being said, Transfagarasan is one of the most beautiful and spectacular. Next on our way is the Vidraru arch dam on the bank of the Argeş River in Romania, an engineering jewel. Built in 1966 to create hydroelectricity, it was the fifth largest dam in Europe at the time. It required 42 kilometers of tunnels, over a million hard rocks extracted from underground and nearly a million cubic meters of concrete to build, plus the loss of about 80 builders’ lives. Catch a glimpse of a statue of Prometheus watching over the dam from the top of Plesa Mountain, holding a flash of lightning in his hand to symbolize electricity. The ancient Titan—who in Greek mythology stole fire from Mount Olympus and gave it to humans—looks like a modern-day superhero back dropped by the Frunţii Mountains and Ghiţu mountains that surround Lake Vidraru.

Drive back to Bucharest and drop off at your hotel.

Day 1

Fly to Grenada. On arrival you will be met by our representative and escorted to your drive for the 20 minute private transfer to your hotel.

Day 2

Today you will be collected for a full day, private tour. Start with a drive through the steep hills and lush rainforest of Grand Etang National Park, stopping at Concord Waterfall. Heading north you will visit Gouyave Nutmeg Station where the nutmegs are still processed and packed by hand. Discover the background behind Grenada's cocoa production at Carlton's Cocoa Station and finish with a stop at Gemma's Home Garden where Gemma will guide you round the beautiful garden she's created brimming with local plants and flowers.

Day 3

Today you are at leisure to explore as you wish. You may like to head to historic Westerhall Rum Distillery. Alternatively, the capital, St George's is within easy reach of your hotel where you can get a glimpse of the island's colonial past at Fort George and Fort Frederick.

Day 4

Today, you will have a private transfer back to the airport for the 55 minute to Barbados. Here you will be met by our representative and escorted to your driver.

The private transfer to your hotel should only take about 20 minutes leaving you time this afternoon to explore a little. Little Arches is in a quiet, residential area on the south coast. A couple of minutes walk from the hotel, Enterprise Beach is popular with the locals while a little further down the road is Oistins fishing village. If you're here on a Friday, we recommend visiting the weekly fish fry where locals and visitors come together for fresh seafood and music.

Day 5

This morning you will have a private tour to St Nicholas Abbey, a 17th century plantation house, for a tour of the house and rum tasting. You will also visit Morgan Lewis Windmill, a sugar mill dating back to the 19th century, and stop at Cherry Tree Hill, one of the best viewpoints on the island.

Day 6

Today you are at leisure to discover more of the island. You might like to head into Bridgetown, take a tour of the Mount Gay Rum factory or the famous Kensington Oval cricket grounds. There are also some great catamaran trips where you may be lucky enough to snorkel with turtles.

Day 7

A private transfer brings you back to the airport where you board a small propeller plane for the 45 minute flight to Bequia in the Grenadines.

On arrival, you will be transferred by local taxi to the Bequia Beach Resort. Set on a beautiful, golden sand beach this charming property is a great base for exploring the sleepy island of Bequia. If you wander down to the end of the beach you may see local fishermen bringing in their daily catch.

Day 8

One of the best ways of exploring the island is with a local taxi driver in one of the open backed taxi trucks and the hotel will be happy to arrange this with one of their drivers. Explore the beautiful scenery of this sleepy island, passing fishing villages, artists studios and desert beaches.

Day 9

Ferries over to St Vincent take just an hour if you'd like to explore more of the islands that make up St Vincent & the Grenadines. Kingstown, the country's capital is bustling and lively with historic buildings and regular markets. Or if you'd prefer to stay on Bequia, why not explore some of its beautiful beaches, we particularly recommend Princess Margaret Beach.

Day 10

Another day at leisure and you may like to take a boat trip to incredibly blue waters of the lagoon at Tobago Cays which are fantastic for snorkeling.

Days 11 - 13

At leisure. 

Day 14

Today you will have a local taxi transfer back to the airport for your flight home.