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 Step off the beaten track on this fascinating gay group adventure through Romania, Moldova and Ukraine. Welcome to Bessarabia, a land so remote that tourism is yet to get a foothold. Escape the tourist crowds on this unique trip to Eastern Romania, Moldova and the Ukraine. From the Dracula's Castle, Carpathian Mountains – to the eerie wastelands of Chernobyl, the site of the world's worst nuclear disaster, this itinerary showcases some of the least visited sights in Europe. Get ready for an adventure.
If you want to follow Count Dracula steps, uncover the secrets of one of the least visited countries in Europe this trip is a chance to make it all at once. Three East European countries: Romania, Moldova, and Ukraine , invite you to an adventure through past and present.
Romania, with its nature, preserved medieval castles, ancient churches and vivid culture is one of the most interesting countries in Europe. The beauty of the Carpathian mountains and the ancient Dracula’s castle in Transylvania are widely known, but the country has much more to show. Many European countries advertise themselves as ‘off the beaten track’, but miniature Moldova, sandwiched between Romania and Ukraine, doesn’t even know the track exists. Only about 12,000 travellers a year visit Moldova, partly for its unspoiled natural good looks, but also for its wine.
Explore Ukraine’s atmospheric abandoned Chernobyl Exclusion Zone on a guided tour, wander the eerie streets and among the buildings of the ghost town of Pripyat. Since the devastating nuclear disaster of 1986, nature has taken over the city, and wolves, foxes and other wildlife have been seen walking down the main streets
Day 0 - Monday, April 20, 2020
Depart the USA, Canada on any regularly scheduled flight to Bucharest, Romania.
Day 1 - Tuesday, April 21, 2020
 Welcome to Romania! Airport greeting and transfer to the hotel for check in. (Additional charges may apply for private arrivals) If you arrive early head out to explore Bucharest. Romania's capital is known for its Belle Epoch architecture and communist sites. It also keeps things big – it’s home to one of Europe's biggest squares and its Palace of Parliament is the second-largest building in the world.
Hotel: JW Marriott Bucharest Grand Hotel, Bucharest, Romania, 5*
Day 2 - Wednesday, April 22, 2020
 Tour Bucharest: the Palace of the Parliament, currently, the largest building in Europe and the second largest in the world. Walk through the Old Town of Bucharest to the ruins of the Old Master Court built in the 15th century by Prince Vlad Tepes, also known as Vlad Dracula. Next to the palace is the Church of the Court, dating from 1559 and considered the oldest in Bucharest. For two centuries this church was the place where Romanian kings were crowned. Lunch at Restaurant Crama Domneasca.
After lunch visit the “Mansion Ceausescu ” which was for a quarter of a century (1965-1989) the private residence of Nicola e and Elena Ceausescu and their children. This evening meet for a Welcome Dinner at Restaurant “Caru Cu Bere”, one of the oldest and most recognized places in the historic center of Bucharest.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Hotel: JW Marriott Bucharest Grand Hotel, Bucharest, Romania, 5*
Day 3 - Thursday, April 23, 2020
 After breakfast, we will head to our next destination driving through “Valea Prahovei”, crossing the Carpathians Mountain from south of Romania to the north, to the mystical and mythical land of Transylvania. Visit Peles Castle – former royal residence, built between 1875-1883. Lunch at a local restaurant.
Continue to Brasov, a medieval town is also called “Salzburg Romanian” thanks to its wonderful location at the foot of a mountain. Walking tour of Brasov before we check in to the hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Hotel: Aro Palace Hotel, Brasov, Romania, 5*
Day 4 - Friday, April 24, 2020
 After breakfast, drive to Bran to visit the famous Bran Castle, Dracula’s Castle. Lunch at Restaurant Tea House, located at the footsteps of the castle. Continue to Rasnov and visit Rasnov Citadel. The citadel was built as part of a defense system for the villages of Transylvania exposed to external invasions.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Hotel: Aro Palace Hotel, Brasov, Romania, 5*
Day 5 - Saturday, April 25, 2020
 Drive from Brasov to Sighisoara, an UNESCO World Heritage Site. The exquisite medieval town of Sighisoara was built in several phases between the fourteenth and seventeenth centuries. This medieval citadel, emerges as a nucleus of solid houses painted with different colors and distributed narrow passageways and cobbled streets, surrounded by a defensive wall, towers, burgher houses and ornate churches. Lunch at Alte Post Restaurant. Visit the Clock Tower from where we can enjoy a spectacular panorama from Sighisoara. Dinner at Casa Georgius Krauss Restaurant.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Hotel: Mercure Sighisoara Binderbubi Hotel, Sighisoara, Romania, 5*
Day 6 - Sunday, April 26, 2020
 Breakfast at the hotel, then we continue to Praid, where we visit one of the largest Salt Mines in Europe.
En route we pass through the Bicaz Canyon, which is excavated by the waters of the Bicaz River and serves as a passage between Transylvania and Moldova. The walls of the limestone cliffs hide impressive caves. Lunch at local restaurant by the Red Lake. We continue our trip to the northern part of Romania, more precisely to Suceava. Suceava is one of the oldest and most important settlements in Romania. For more than four centuries (1359-1775) was part of the Principality of Moldova, of which for two centuries was the main residence (capital), and between 1775-1918, after the Austrian territorial reservation, became the city of the Austrian Empire (the lands the Crown of Galicia and Lodomeria and the Duchy of Bucovina). Dinner and accommodation at Hotel Sonnerhof.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Hotel: Sonnenhof Hotel, Suceava, Romania, 4*
Day 7 - Monday, April 27, 2020
 Today’s day justifies the whole trip to Romania: the PAINTED CHURCHES & MONASTERIES of Bucovina. This wonderful testimony is inscribed on the List of World Heritage Sites of UNESCO to be considered as masterpieces of Byzantine Art. The great majority of them were built under the principality of Esteban el Grande (1457 to 1504). We will visit Sucevita Monastery, the Monastery of Moldovita, and the last visit is to the Monastery of Voronet. Return to Suceava and enjoy some free time before dinner at restaurant Casa Bucovineana.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Hotel: Sonnenhof Hotel, Suceava, Romania, 4*
Day 8 - Tuesday, April 28, 2020
 We will be heading to Iasi, another metropole of Romania. Here we will have a panoramic drive through the city passing by the most important sites of the city like: Vasile Aecsandri National Theater, The Palace of Culture and the Central University Library Mihai Eminescu. Lunch at restaurant La Castel (The Castle) – Iasi. After lunch we will continue our trip and cross the border to Moldova and head to the capital city, Chisinau. Dinner and accommodation at Hotel Nobil Luxury Boutique
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Hotel:
Nobil Luxury Boutique Hotel, Chisinau, Moldova, 5*
Day 9 - Wednesday, April 29, 2020
 After breakfast a panoramic drive of the city, passing by Arch of Triumph, the Statue of Stefan the Great, Valea Morilor Park, Dendrariu Park, Water Tower, Art Museum and the National Museum of Ethnography and Natural History of Ciuflea Monastery. Visit Casa Pushkin, the house where he lived in Basrah Tarista. The house, nowadays a museum, belonged to General Inzov, who hosted the “founder of modern Russian language.” Wine tasting and lunch at Castle Mimi. Legends are written by great men with passions for beautiful things. One of these personalities is Constantin Mimi, the last governor of Bessarabia during the Tsarist rule, but also an illustrious winemaker of the 20th century. He managed to build the first Chateau in the country. Enjoy free time in the afternoon.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Hotel: Nobil Luxury Boutique Hotel, Chisinau, Moldova, 5*
Day 10 - Thursday, April 30, 2020
 Early in the morning drive to the airport and fly to Kiev, Ukraine.
Upon arrival at the airport in Kiev, drive to The Golden Gate of Kiev. It is a historic gateway in the ancient city walls of Kiev, the capital of Ukraine. It was reputedly modeled on the Golden Gate of Constantinople, from which it took its name. We will examine magnificent mosaics and frescoes of St. Sophia Cathedral, the oldest temple in the Eastern Slavonic states built in the beginning of XI c. to glorify the victory of Prince Yaroslav the Wise over Pechenegs’ tribes. Afterwards visit the monument of Prince Vladimir, the Baptist of Rus and the monument of Bogdan Khmelnitsky, know as the city monument. Lunch at a local restaurant and transfer to the hotel and check-in. Afternoon at leisure.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Hotel: Opera Hotel, Kiev, Ukraine, 5*
Day 11 - Friday, May 01, 2020
 Early in the morning drive to the airport and fly to Kiev, Ukraine.
After breakfast visit Oleg Antonov Aviation Museum, one of the greatest museums in Ukraine – the Aircraft Museum. The only collection of nuclear bombers TU-22 is here as well as the airplane from the movie “Old Men Go To Fight.” Lunch at a local restaurant. During the second part of the tour, visit Kiev Pechersk Lavra. The unique monastery complex and historical-cultural sanctuary is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Take a comprehensive tour of the lavra, a type of monastery consisting of a cluster of cells or caves for hermits, with a church and sometimes a refectory at the center. Visit the most significant places, including an ancient cave monastery founded in the 11th century. Enjoy picturesque views from the observation deck. Return to the hotel. Dinner is in a local restaurant this evening.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Hotel: Opera Hotel, Kiev, Ukraine, 5*
Day 12 - Saturday, May 02, 2020
 NOTE: The tour to Chernobyl & Pripyat is optional. Those not wanting to visit can remain in Kiev for a day at leisure. Only the safest areas are visited on the tour. A complete safety briefing is provided before we set off for the day.
Depart Kiev and journey to Chernobyl, famous as the site of the 1986 nuclear disaster at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. Learn the rules of radiation safety and watch specially prepared video material about the disaster en route to the exclusion zones. Learn how the city, while largely abandoned, is still populated with local workers and policemen along with shops, a post office and café. See sights such as the museum, St. Elias Church, the Park of Glory, river port and memorial to the liquidators who rushed to reactor number 4 in the immediate aftermath of the explosion.
Visit reactor number 4, where complex engineering solutions are underway designed to transform it into an ecologically safe system. Discover the secret facility of Chernobyl 2 and go to the Soviet over-the-horizon radar station of Duga, where foreign radio stations were blocked and espionage took place.
Next, go to the ghost town of Pripyat and see the abandoned amusement park and the Ferris wheel that no child ever got the chance to ride. See abandoned boats and ships in the port, and feed the giant catfish in Pripyat River. Lunch at a local restaurant. Return to Kiev. Tonight, we meet for a Farewell Dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Hotel: Opera Hotel, Kiev, Ukraine, 5*
Day 13 - Sunday, May 03, 2020
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for flights home.
Meals: Breakfast
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• 12 nigts Accommodations in 4* & 5* hotels as listed in the itinerary:
- 2 nights at JW Marriott Bucharest Grand Hotel in Bucharest, Romania;
- 2 nights at Aro Palace Hotel, Brasov, Romania;
- 1 night at Mercure Sighisoara Binderbubi Hotel in Sighisoara, Romania;
- 2 nights at Sonnenhof Hotel in Suceava, Romania;
- 2 nights at Nobil Luxury Boutique Hotel in Chisinau, Moldova;
- 3 nights at Opera Hotel in Kiev, Ukraine
• Service charges, room taxes, and baggage handling fees
• All meals
• Sightseeing excursions and entry fees as stated in the itinerary
• English speaking local guides
• Bottled water and cold towels in vehicles during sightseeing
• All land transfers as required by the itinerary;
• Private transfers for arrival & departure if required;
• Private, air-conditioned vehicles
• Coda Tour Manager on minimum participation
• Pre-departure assistance and Information Portfolio
• Intra-Tour airfare (quoted separately)
• Trip cancellation and Interruption insurance (highly recommended)
• Personal meals, drinks, telephone, gifts, and expenses not outlined in the itinerary
• Any optional sightseeing excursions or additional visits not outlined in itinerary
• Gratuity for local guides, drivers and Tour Manager
JW Marriott Bucharest Grand Hotel, Bucharest, Romania
 JW Marriott Bucharest Grand Hotel offers finest European elegance and comfort with 402 deluxe rooms, 6 restaurants, a convention centre, a health club and spa, a shopping gallery and the Grand Casino. Free WiFi is offered in public areas.
The rooms and suites of JW Marriott Bucharest Grand Hotel are fitted with flat-screen TVs with cable and satellite channels, including HBO and CNN. Bathrobes, slippers and free toiletries come standard.
 The classical building located next to the Parliament Palace is frequented by heads of state and royalty. This "city within a city" houses everything the most demanding travellers may expect: a luxurious health centre and spa providing for optimal relaxation after a busy day, enhanced services, 6 restaurants offering gourmet cuisine and facilities to handle all banquet needs with the Iasi meeting room suitable for board meetings and presentations.
Aro Palace Hotel, Brasov, Romania
 Overlooking the Tampa Mountain and the medieval historic quarter of Brasov, the traditional Hotel Aro Palace faces the Central Park. It features spacious and luxurious accommodation and free internet access.
The rooms have air conditioning, cable TV and bathrobes. They are designed in warm colours and have carpeted floors.
Aro Palace Spa & Wellness Centre offers various treatments and beauty procedures. It features a swimming pool, saunas, massage areas and a gym.
 Guests can sample Romanian and European cuisine at the hotel's restaurant and enjoy the views over Brasov's Citadel from the Belvedere Club, which is on Hotel Aro Palace's top floor.
The hotel's Night Bar is decorated with marble, wood and Art Deco elements. The chandeliers and large mirrors create a special atmosphere where guests can sip their favorite beverages.
Mercure Sighisoara Binderbubi Hotel in Sighisoara, Romania
 Found a 6 minutes' walk from the Piata Cetatii Medievale in Sighisoara's centre, the Mercure Sighisoara Binderbubi Hotel & Spa has a Tyrolean-inspired décor and a vaulted wine cellar. It offers free internet access and free parking.
Room comes with air conditioning and a TV, and their design is inspired by the Tyrol region. A safe is also provided.
 The hotel houses the Lorelei Restaurant which serves Romanian and international cuisines, as well as the La Pastorella wine cellar with live music entertainment.
Mercure Sighisoara Binderbubi Hotel & Spa features the Blumengarten wellness area with a jacuzzi, wet and dry saunas, aromatherapy and various massages.
Sonnenhof Hotel, Suceava, Romania
 Hotel Sonnenhof offers air-conditioned rooms and free WiFi throughout the property. A summer garden and a restaurant are located on site.
The Hagigadar Monastery is 950 m away. You can find a Metro Cash&Carry within 1.7 km, while Iulius Mall Suceava is 6.8 km from this property. Suceava Fortress can be reached within 5.8 km.
 Rooms are all decorated in green tones and with floral motifs and offer a flat-screen TV and a minibar. A desk and a safety deposit box are also available. Private bathroom provides a bath tub and free toiletries.
Breakfast buffet is served every day and room service is available. The summer garden provides a perfect oasis to enjoy outdoor meals or relax while sipping a drink.
Nobil Luxury Boutique Hotel, Chisinau, Moldova
 This elegant 5-star hotel is located in Chisinau city centre. Nobil Luxury Boutique Hotel offers an exclusive cigar lounge, and a luxury spa with gym and beauty salon. The View Café on the 8th floor offers European meals and great panoramic views.
Nobil Luxury Boutique Hotel features classic interiors with crystal chandeliers, marble floors and rich carpets. All rooms include air conditioning and a flat-screen TV.
 Guests can relax in the Nobil Restaurant that offers fine cuisine and panoramic views of the city. The Nobil Spa offers a Turkish steam bath, beauty treatments and Oriental massages.
The Nobil Boutique Hotel is set in the heart of Chisinau’s cultural and shopping area, and is a 10-minute walk from the Nativity Cathedral and the National Memorial Museum.
Opera Hotel, Kiev, Ukraine
 Located in the heart of Kiev, this boutique hotel offers elegant rooms with antique furniture and satellite TV. Facilities include a spa. Free private parking is possible on site.
The Diva SPA & Beauty Salon offers a wide range of health and beauty treatments, including full body wraps and aromatherapy. Hotel Opera also has a sauna, a gym, and a spa bath.
 All rooms of the Opera Hotel are equipped with free Wi-Fi, a minibar, and a work desk. Some rooms have a flat-screen TV and a seating area.
Guests can enjoy Mediterranean gourmet cuisine in Teatro Restaurant. Looby Lounge offers local and international drinks, snacks and cigars.
Opera Hotel is just a 10-minute walk from the National Opera House and St. Volodymyr’s Cathedral. St. Sophia’s Cathedral is a 20-minute walk away.
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