Compare Luxury Georgia & the Carolinas self-drive by Audley Travel vs Amazing Bucovina - UNESCO by Eastern European Experience
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| Trip |
5 | Excellent
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4.5 | Great
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| Duration | 13 days | 3 days |
| Price From | $ 7,121 | $ 425 |
| Price Per Day | $ 548 | $ 142 |
| Highlights |
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| Trip Style | Private guided tour | Private guided tour |
| Lodging Level | Luxury | Premium |
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| Flights & Transport | Ground transport included | Ground transport included |
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| Meals Included | N/A |
2 breakfasts, 1 dinner |
| Description |
Oversized objects and other Americana along Route 66, the beaches and glitzy cities of California’s coast, steaming geysers in Yellowstone National Park… on a tailor-made holiday to the USA with Audley, you’ll see the highlights — and much more — your way. We’ll design your ideal trip with you, paying close attention to your interests, your travel style and your budget. Our USA specialists know the country inside out and can lead you to experiences you won’t find in a guidebook. |
Step in the land of art and culture by visiting unique landmarks, protected by UNESCO. Monasteries here have preserved their culture for centuries and the art that is covering their walls is a testimony to this. Be amazed by the Voronet Blue, the Humor Red or the Moldovita Yellow, all of them displayed in biblical scenes on the walls of these superb places. It's like the Holy Scripture in images. All would not be complete without enjoying a traditional dinner with locals in heart of a local village. |
Day 1 : Atlanta
Today you begin your journey by boarding your international outbound flight to Atlanta. Make your way from the airport to Buckhead, the heart of Atlanta's buzzy entertainment district and relax in your hotel. Buckhead's dining is amongst the best in the South if you feel like heading out for dinner.
Day 2 : Atlanta
Atlanta's glittering skyscraper core is testament to the fact it is the commercial heart of the South. Here mega-corporation Coca-Cola shows its PR side at World of Coca-Cola, a museum where you can learn their history and taste their range of over 100 products.
Day 3 : Asheville
Pick up your convertible car, drop the top and head out of the city towards North Carolina's Blue Ridge Mountains. The roads are winding, so take it slowly so you can admire the views.
Day 4 : Asheville
The Biltmore Estate was the summer retreat of George Vanderbilt, part of the dynasty that was at one time the richest in America. Biltmore House remains the largest privately-owned in America. It's easy to spend hours exploring the grand rooms of this chateau-style mansion and manicured gardens.
Day 5 : Charleston, SC
Leave the mountains behind and descend to the coast, where Charleston sits at the confluence of several rivers. Your hotel is one of the grandest in the historic district so it's worth spending time relaxing there before heading out for a look around the streets lined with mansions in all hues.
Day 6 : Charleston, SC
Charleston is both historic and very walkable so join a local for a stroll around the oldest parts of the city, including to places you would never find on your own.
Day 7 : Savannah
Charleston's big rival for most charming small city of the South is Savannah. The drive down passes many barrier islands where you could stop for a walk or swim.
Day 8 : Savannah
Savannah's squares and Spanish moss-draped oaks form its most enduring image, creating a picturesque downtown as well as providing some respite from the sun as you wander around. Savannah is also home to a small but good quality food scene, so a walking tour of the city with stops various restaurants provides a great introduction.
Day 9 : Jekyll Island
Just a short drive from Savannah finds you on the beaches of the barrier islands. On Jekyll Island you can spend time watching sea birds, strolling along the beaches looking for shells and enjoying the facilities of the historic Jekyll Island Club Resort.
Day 10 : Jekyll Island
Day at leisure: explore the natural side of Jekyll Island with a visit to the Georgia Sea Turtle Center or on a ramble around the maritime forest with the resort's park ranger. At Horton Pond you can spot turtles and alligators.
Day 11 : Jekyll Island
Day at leisure: there are numerous activities to get involved with, from croquet on the lawns to cycling the miles of trails around the island - or you could just lie back by the pool.
Day 12 : International return flight
Spend the final few hours on Jekyll taking in the sea air and views before driving south to Jacksonville and state number four of the trip, Florida, where you can put the top back up on your convertible and hand it back before flying home.
Day 13 : International return flight
Arrive home today to complete your journey.
1st day-Bucharest, Focsani, Panciu and Sucevita.
Get ready in the morning to meet your guide and to discover the beauty of Bucovina. Departure to Focsani or “The town of the Milcov Tower” as it’s called in some scripts. Stefan the Great Voivode established the boundary between Moldavia and the Romanian Country in 1482, on the Milcov River bank until 1859, when the two Romanian Principalities united. Upon arrival at Panciu, discover the Panciu Wine Cellar. Built 500 years ago, during the reign of Stephen the Great it has 1700 ha and it harvests approx. 105000 hl annual.
Arrival and overnight in Sucevita.
2nd day-Sucevita, Marginea, Vatra Moldovitei, Voronet and Sucevita.
Today you will have a full day to discover the beauty of this area, the painted monasteries. First stop will be at Marginea, a village known for its black pottery. It became a pottery center sometimes in the 16th century. The pottery was crafted for food storage and other purposes. It is crossed by the Suceviţa River and surrounded by forests and lands providing water, fire and clay for the preservation of this art. Marginea is the only place in the world where the black color is obtained without adding anything to the clay paste. The most picturesque treasures of Romania are the Painted Monasteries of Bucovina. Their exterior walls are decorated with elaborate 15th and 16th century containing portraits of saints and prophets, scenes from the life of Jesus, images of angels and demons, and heaven and hell. First stop is at Sucevita Monastery (UNESCO Heritage), built between 1582 and 1584. The architecture of the church contains both Byzantine and Gothic elements, and some elements typical to other painted churches of northern Moldavia. Both interior and exterior walls are covered by mural paintings, which are of great artistic value and depict biblical episodes from the Old and New Testament. The paintings date from around 1601, which makes Sucevița one of the last monasteries to be decorated in the famous Moldavian style of exterior paintings. Next is the Monastery of Moldovița built between 1532 and 1537 by Petru Rareș, who was Stephen III of Moldavia’s illegitimate son. It was founded as a protective barrier against the Muslim Ottoman conquerors from the East. The frescoes were painted by Toma of Suceava in 1537. They are filled with yellow accents and are well-preserved. The predominantly yellow-and-blue paintings on its exterior represent recurring themes in Christian Orthodox art. Next is Voronet Monastery, constructed by Stephen the Great in 1488 over a period of 3 months and 3 weeks to commemorate the victory at Battle of Vaslui. Often known as the “Sistine Chapel of the East”, the frescoes at Voroneț feature an intense shade of blue known in Romania as “Voroneț blue.”
Overnight in Sucevita.
3rd day- Sucevita, Neamt, Agapia, Piatra Neamt and Bucharest.
Today we will drive along the villages from Moldova and we will visit Neamt Monastery, one of the oldest and most important of its kind in Romania. It was built in the 15th century, and it is an example of medieval Moldavian architecture. A jewel of 15th-century architecture, the church was built during Ştefan the Greatest’s reign and finished in the year when the Moldavian army won the battle against King John Albert (1497). Neamt County is an area blessed with many touristic sites such as century-old monasteries, museums, fortresses and as well many natural parks ideal for hiking and wild-life watching. Monasteries Neamt (the oldest in eastern Romania) and Agapia- featuring by Romania`s best known painters: Nicolae Grigorescu at Agapia Monastery, the Ceahlau Mountain also known as the Athos of Romanian Orthodoxy.
Drive back to Bucharest and drop off to your hotel.
