Highlights of Moldova Group Tour

On arrival transfer to the hotel and check in for three nights. Enjoy a welcome dinner. (D)

• Hotel Description

Embark on a morning walking tour of Moldova’s capital. Discover shops and restaurants lining Chisinau’s main street, Stefan cel Mare, stop at the Central Cathedral, admire the Parliament building, and spend time in Stefan cel Mare Park, where granite sculptures of Romanian literary figures can be found along the Alley of Classics. This afternoon, visit Cricova Winery, an impressive underground wine city that spans over 75 miles of labyrinthine tunnels. These tunnels form an intricate network of avenues, streets, and broadways named after the wines stored there, such as Aligote, Riesling, Codru, and Feteasca. Marvel at bottles over 100 years old. The winery's historical significance is highlighted by anecdotes like that of Yuri Gagarin, who once visited and famously got lost among the bottles. Your local guide will recount such stories and the odyssey of some bottles that arrived here after WWII. Wine tasting is not included as we head back to the city for a special dinner in a wine shop, where we will taste five different Moldovan wines with a local sommelier. (B,D)

• Hotel Description

Drive to the south of the country and explore the Gagauzia region, an area comprising three towns and more than 20 villages scattered across the districts of Comrat, Ceadir-Lunga, and Vulcanesti. First, visit the National Gagauz History and Ethnographic Museum, where you will meet with the director, Lyudmila Marin-Karachoban, whose late father founded the museum in 1966. He was a Gagauz poet, artist, and teacher who dedicated most of his life to the rediscovery of the traditions of this nation within a nation. Lyudmila will share the story of the museum with anecdotes about her father’s life, a revered figure throughout the region.
Visit a collective farm and enjoy a traditional lunch with local wine. In the afternoon, enjoy a sightseeing tour of the capital of Gagauzia, Comrat. Late afternoon, return to Chisinau. (B,L)

 

 

• Hotel Description

This morning, visit Casa Parinteasca Crafts Centre in Palanca and meet Tatiana Popa, who will showcase traditional handicrafts and serve garden-fresh jam and tea. Next, explore Frumoasa Monastery, a 15th-century Moldavian architectural gem with frescoes and stone carvings. Continue to Crama Mircesti, a modern winery established in 2011 with a focus on unique terroir and wine production. The winery also restored a nearby boyar mansion and offers a 13-room guesthouse with traditional cuisine and stunning views. Enjoy a short hike to an old Soviet meteorological station before wine-tasting and dinner. (B,D)

 

 

• Hotel Description

This morning, travel to the city of Soroca, located on the Nistru River. Visit the medieval fortress, which played a key role in defending the country from the Turks, and discover the Candle of Gratitude monument, built to commemorate those who have created and preserved Moldova's national culture. Soroca is also known as the Roma capital of Moldova. On a hill overlooking the centre, you will find a unique quarter settled entirely by Roma. See their impressive mansions and, hopefully, have the opportunity to meet members of the community to learn about their culture and traditions.
Continue to one of Moldova’s most famous and impressive sights, Orheiul Vechi. This unique 13th-century cave monastery, created by Orthodox monks, is carved into a limestone cliff in this remote location. While here, visit a museum showcasing the traditional life of Moldovan farmers in the 19th century. Tonight, accommodation and dinner are at Eco Resort Butuceni. (B,D)

 

• Hotel Description

Today, explore the capital of Transdniestr, Tiraspol, a self-proclaimed independent republic 40 miles southeast of Chisinau. With its own currency and border guards, Tiraspol is a living museum of Soviet culture, featuring Lenin statues and monuments like a T-34 tank. Visit the Historical Museum on a city tour. On your return to Moldova, stop at Bender Fortress, a 16th-century Ottoman-built site with a rich history of conflict and resilience. In the evening, dine at Castle Mimi in Bulboaca, where Constantin Mimi planted the first grapes in 1893. Enjoy a tour, wine-tasting, and dinner before transferring back to Chisinau for the night. (B,D)

• Hotel Description

Today is free for you to relax and explore Chisinau at your own pace. Enthusiasts of brutalist and Soviet architecture will find Chisinau particularly appealing, with its magnificent Soviet mosaics often depicting the achievements and heroes of the time. Many of these mosaics are scattered throughout the city. Shop for local souvenirs on Stefan Cel Mare Boulevard, between the National Theatre and the Organ Hall. For local food, visit the Central Market, and enjoy more Moldovan wine at the many cafes and restaurants that dot the streets. (B)

• Hotel Description

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before a midday visit to the National Museum of Ethnography and Natural History, established in 1889 and Moldova's oldest museum. In the mid-afternoon transfer to the airport for the flight back to the UK. (B)