From  £2235
per person
Tour Highlights
  • History Buffs love this small group tour focusing on life under communist rule
  • Dine with a Romanian family and understand how life has changed since the end of communist rule
  • Explore Transdniestria's quirky capital; Tiraspol
  • Visit the last working collective state farm in Gagauzia
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Behind the Iron Curtain Group Tour

8 Day Tour, from £2235 per person
Itinerary Dates
2024
29 Aug  -  05 Sep

Immerse yourself in Romania and Moldova’s communist past and the communist present of the autonomous regions of  Transdniestr and Gagauzia on this intriguing 8-day group tour.
The tour combines important communist sites and experiences to transport you back in time, with the most impressive cultural highlights of the region. Kick off in the Romanian capital of Bucharest where the legacy of the former communist leader Ceausescu can be seen throughout, before heading east to Birlad and crossing the border into the breakaway republic of Transdniestr, where the spirit of the old USSR lives on. Continue on through Moldova to sample some of its exquisite wines at Cricova Winery, before reaching the second breakaway republic of Gagauzia.
Dine with a typical Romanian family in Birlad, enjoy the atmosphere of a military parade in Tiraspol, experience lunch on a collective state farm in Gagauzia and stay in a communist era hotel in Galati on the banks of the Danube.

This group tour is operated by our trusted local partner and not exclusive to Regent Holidays clients. It has the added bonus of operating with a minimum number of two. 

 

Tour Itinerary

DAY 1
FLY TO BUCHAREST
FLY TO BUCHAREST

Fly to Bucharest and transfer to your hotel. If time permits, visit some of Bucharest’s important sights. Check-in at the hotel, followed by a short presentation on Romania’s communist history.
 

 

 

DAY 2
BUCHAREST TO BRASOV
BUCHAREST TO BRASOV

Spend the morning exploring the city, visiting Bucharest’s Parliament Palace, built in the 1980’s by order of Ceausescu, and Ghencea Cemetery, where Nicolae Ceausescu, his wife Elena and their son Nicu are buried. Before leaving for Brasov, stop in a canteen mall, formally known as a ‘cantina’, where due to a shortage of food in communist times, people were forced by the authorities to eat in large work style canteens. All the cantinas are now malls, where people freely choose to eat. En route to Brasov, stop to wander around the famous Bran Castle, which is said to have been Bram Stoker’s inspiration for the residence of the vampire count in his famous novel. Overnight in Brasov. (B,L) 
 

DAY 3
BRASOV TO BIRLAD
BRASOV TO BIRLAD

A morning walking tour of Brasov will lead you to The Black Church and up Strada Prundului to Piata Unirii. Here you’ll find the beautiful Church of St. Nicholas and The First Romanian School, situated in its grounds. Depart for Birlad for an overnight stay in a soviet inspired hotel. In the evening, meet with a typical Romanian family and discuss how life has changed for them since soviet times. (B,D)
 

DAY 4
BIRLAD TO TIRASPOL
BIRLAD TO TIRASPOL

Set off today to the Republic of Moldova and to one of Moldova’s well known sights -  Old Orhei, Here, visit the 19th century “Adormirea Maicii Domnului” Church. See the remains of the Geto-Dacian fortress, a functioning cave monastery, and ruins of the old Turkish bath. After a delicious traditional Moldovan lunch in the village, continue to the capital of Transnistria - Tiraspol. Transnistria is a breakaway territory within the internationally recognised borders of Moldova. Although not recognised by any state or international organisation, it is de facto an independent state named the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic. The country’s national coat of arms still includes the traditional hammer and sickle and busts of Lenin are everywhere you look. Overnight Tiraspol. (B,L) 
 

DAY 5
TIRASPOL TO CHISINAU
TIRASPOL TO CHISINAU

Awake in Transnistria and see a communistic-type military parade. Enjoy the atmosphere as families relax and shop in the many small stalls lining the main street and pavement cafes are full with people enjoying local beer and freshly cooked shashlik. In the afternoon transfer to the world-famous wine cellars of Cricova. Here, see an underground city with obscure streets that are carrying the names of wines kept here: Aligote, Riesling, Codru, and Feteasca. The wines from this collection have an old history with bottles over 100 years old. Overnight in Chisinau and enjoy a  special dinner with wine tasting. Overnight in Chisinau. (B,D) 
 

DAY 6
CHISINAU TO GALATI
CHISINAU TO GALATI

Move on today to another autonomous region of Moldova – Gagauzia. Get a better understanding of the 'gagauz' people at the Museum of History and Ethnography and visit the last living “Kolhoz” - a collective state farm. Lunch will be served in the canteen of this “kolhoz”, where the workers also eat. In the afternoon, cross the Prut river, the border between Romania and Republic of Moldovia, at Cahul-Oncesti. In the evening reach Galati, an industrial city on the Danube, where the jewel of the communist industry was built - the Steel factory. Overnight in Galati in a communist era hotel. (B,L) 
 

DAY 7
GALATI TO BUCHAREST
GALATI TO BUCHAREST

Return to Bucharest – the 300km journey will take around 4  to 5 hours and a stop will be made en route for lunch. Spend some time at leisure in Bucharest before attending a farewell dinner (B,D)
 

DAY 8
FLY TO THE UK
Transfer to airport for flight back to the UK. (B)

Pricing Information

8 day tour, from £2235 per person
(Single person supplement + £299)

Price Includes

  • Return international flights from the UK to Romania 
  • All airport taxes and security charges
  • Accommodation in three/four-star hotels
  • Meals as specified (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner)
  • All transfers and transportation
  • Sightseeing with English-speaking guide/driver 
  • Entrance fees
  • Wine tasting at Cricova Winery

     

Price Excludes

  • Travel Insurance
  • Any meals not specified in the itinerary
  • Tips and gratuities

Price Includes

Price Excludes

Price Notes

These is a guaranteed departure tour operated in conjunction with our Romanian partners and are not exclusive to Regent Holidays’ clients. They operate with a minimum of 2 persons. 


Itinerary Dates  
29 Aug 2024
-
05 Sep 2024

Tour Route Map


  1. Romania, Bucharest
  2. Romania, Brasov
  3. Romania, Birlad
  4. Moldova, Tiraspol
  5. Moldova, Chisinau
  6. Romania, Galati
  7. Romania, Bucharest

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