Behind the Romanian Iron Curtain Group Tour (8 Days)

Holidays in Romania, Eastern Europe- Tour Itineraries

An 8 day Special Group Tour 18 - 25 August 2007. Journey into Romania’s recent past from £1199 per person

This is a journey into the recent past. Unfortunately in Romania there are still many places, which remind us of those times and this tour shows you how was the real life in the communist times. During the trip you will watch on the video different TV shows from that time, you will listen to poems dedicated to Ceausescu and you will be told a lot of 'interesting things' about the relation between past, present and future.

You will visit various places in the country; see with your own eyes the 'communist paradise', how the people lived in those times, and experience a stay in classical communist hotels, enjoying the way we were served during those times! You will have also the opportunity to see the modern Romania, enjoy also real four-star western hotel standards, and see the way the things have improved.

Suggested Itinerary
Day 1	FLY TO BUCHAREST Fly to Bucharest, transfer to hotel for overnight stay. Welcome cocktail and presentation of the “basis” of communism and the Romanian situation. A University history professor specialised in Communist History of Romania will give a small talk. If the time permits, see a ?lm about the rise and fall of Ceausescu. Dinner in a nice restaurant in Bucharest.
Day 2	BUCHAREST Morning city tour of Bucharest including a visit to the Parliament Palace, former Palace of Socialism, see the outside of the former residence of Ceausescu family and other typical buildings from the communism times, visit the Museum of Romanian Peasant and the Mausoleum of the communist rulers of Romania. Depart to Brasov and en route we stop in Campina and meet a political convict who was in prison during the communism regime. Dinner in a nice restaurant in Brasov. Check-in hotel for 3 nights
Day 3	BRASOV In the morning meet with the president of the Anticommunism Association “15th November 1987” and find out about the strike against communism and Ceausescu that took place in on that day and also what had happened after. There will also be an opportunity to discuss about their present day activities. Also visit the factory in Brasov where the strike started. Afternoon city tour of Brasov, followed by dinner.
Day 4	DRACULA CASTLE Morning visit to Dracula Castle and afterwards drive outside the city to visit an ex-Kolhoz, an old collective farm. In the afternoon we will take part to the annual meeting of the anti-communism Association “15th November 1987” and join the celebrations.
Day 5	DEVA AND PETROSANI Depart to Deva. Stop en route in Hunedoara, a place where the 13th century castle is falling apart because of the surrounding heavy industry developed without any consideration to the environment. Lunch in Deva in a typical communist restaurant. Depart to Petrosani, a famous coalmine city. Dinner and overnight stay in a typical communist hotel in Petrosani.
Day 6	TARGU JIU This morning travel by local train along the Jiu Valley to Targu Jiu. This train line was built in the 1950’s by the communists using political convicts and forced labour. In Targu Jiu see the 3 art works of the famous Romanian sculptor Constantin Brancusi, then visit the house where he was born and hear his story, especially the last part of his life when he was banned by the communists. He died therefore in France and gave all his works to his new country. We will also enjoy wine tasting in Segarcea, one of the best vineyards of Romania, which belonged once to the royal family from Romania, now in private hands. Accommodation in the “Republic of Socialist Romania Hotel” in Craiova.
Day 7	PITESTI TO BUCHAREST Morning visit to a typical communist flat in a 1960’s building in Pitesti and then one of the famous chalets that Ceausescu had. Near Pitesti, visit the Bratianu Family House. Bratianu family is a famous Romanian family from the 19th and 20th Century (akin to the Kennedy’s in USA), who were destroyed by the communists and their houses taken and transformed into offices. Drive to Bucharest and stop in Mogosoaia and meet “two Lenins”. Dinner in a traditional restaurant in Bucharest, reminiscent of the glory days of Bucharest before World War II. Check-in hotel for overnight stay.
Day 8	DEPART BUCHAREST Free morning before transfer to airport for flight back to the UK.

Prices
Per person twin-share	£1199
Single room supplement	£130
Included in Cost of Itinerary
· Return flights in economy class with British Airways direct
· All airport taxes and security surcharges
· Accommodation in three/four-star hotels on half board basis (breakfast and dinner)
· 2 lunches as specified
· All transfers and transportation through out
· Sightseeing programme as specified with English-speaking guide
· Lecturer in Bucharest and Brasov
Not Included in Cost of Itinerary
· Travel Insurance
Bookings
To confirm a booking, we require a deposit of £100 per person plus a signed booking form
Prices valid for departures up to 31 Dec 07 subject to availability
ITINERARIES MAY BE SUBJECT TO CHANGE AT SHORT NOTICE DUE TO LOCAL CONDITIONS
Please note that all prices shown are subject to availability at time of booking.