Compare On the high peaks of Transfagarasan by Eastern European Experience vs Luxury Dubai: beach & desert 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: Dubai

Accommodation: Al Maha, a Luxury Collection Desert Resort & Spa

On arrival at Dubai’s airport, you’ll be met by our representatives, who’ll drive you to your hotel in the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, on the outskirts of the Arabian Desert. Here, you can settle into your private villa and perhaps enjoy the sunset over the dunes from the hotel’s terrace bar.

Day 2: Dubai

Accommodation: Al Maha, a Luxury Collection Desert Resort & Spa

Speak with your private concierge and field guide about which activities you could do today to make the most of your time in the desert. You may want to try your hand at archery, take an exhilarating 4x4 drive out among the deep-orange dunes, or ride a horse through the palmed oasis.

Day 3: Dubai

Accommodation: Al Maha, a Luxury Collection Desert Resort & Spa

This morning you could take a guided walk around the reserve to learn about the flora and fauna that thrives in this arid environment. Wildlife you might see includes camels, gazelles and Arabian oryx, which were once thought to be extinct, but now roam the reserve in large herds. This evening, take a guided camel trek out to the crest of a dune to watch the sunset while sipping on Champagne and enjoying local snacks.

Day 4: Dubai

Accommodation: One&Only The Palm

Today you’ll be driven back through the city of Dubai and across to the Palm Jumeirah peninsula along the coast. Here, you’ll stay for four nights at the One&Only The Palm, a lavish resort with sparkling pools and its own private stretch of beach. Spend the rest of the day relaxing and choose from one of the resort’s handful of fine restaurants for dinner, taking in views over the city’s growing skyline.

Day 5: Dubai

Accommodation: One&Only The Palm

Wake up this morning and enjoy a mouth-watering breakfast alfresco. You could then relax on a daybed beside the pool, taking a dip to cool off in the sun-dappled water, or stretch out on the beach to the sound of gentle waves lapping the shore. You might also like to visit the Guerlain Spa for a pampering treatment that leaves you completely rejuvenated.

Day 6: Dubai

Accommodation: One&Only The Palm

Today you could venture into the city, perhaps taking a taxi or private vehicle to the historic side of Dubai, where skyscrapers are replaced with traditional low-rise stone buildings. Wander the souqs, laden with spices, textiles and gold, taste traditional Middle Eastern dishes that you won’t find on the menus of the city’s fine-dining restaurants, or take an evening dhow boat cruise along the tranquil Dubai Creek.

Day 7: Dubai

Accommodation: One&Only The Palm

You might like to rise early this morning to join a yoga session on the beach. Then, enjoy the final day of your trip however you please: you could try some water sports in the marina, soak up the sights of Downtown Dubai, where you could head to the Burj Khalifa’s exclusive 148th floor, or simply enjoy further relaxation within your resort’s opulent surroundings.

Day 8: Return home

You’ll be driven back to the airport today in time for your flight home.