Festival holidays in Transylvania, Romania

This type of tour provides you with the possibility of seeing up close the live culture of Transylvania. There’s no better way to learn more about culture or beliefs than by joining a festival, an authentic display of traditions. You can be sure that your presence will be much appreciated as these traditional festivals depend on the human factor. It is a great satisfaction for the skilled craftsmen, traditional folk singers and dancers, and talented actors to see their work appreciated by the curious eye of the tourist.

Being a small tour group, this trip allows you to interact more easily with the locals. Further more, attending a festival provides you with that direct interaction with traditional folk singers and dancers, painters, sculptors and craftsmen, giving you the possibility of learning about traditions straight from the source. One of our trips also takes you into the workshop of a skilled woodcraftsman in Maramures, Grigore Tulean. He’s always glad to welcome new guests and very happy to show everyone how the wood obeys the hand that gives it life. You’ll be able to purchase locally goods starting with food and ending with souvenirs, handicrafts, helping in this way not only the economy of the area but also support and provide a good reason for the skilled craftsmen to carry on the traditions. The Romanian guide will also advise you on local customs as well as help you to break down language barriers.

To make sure the money stays where needed we’re only using local suppliers and where the itinerary allows us we’re also using small family run business, for example in Lazarea, a typical Szekler village, and in Ieud, a beautiful traditional village located in the magical Maramures, where you’ll stay in guesthouses or even under the same roof with your hosts. Further more you’ll enjoy a home cooked traditional dinner. This is an ideal opportunity to spend more time with the locals but also ensure that the financial benefits of your visit reach the people of the area and not some large companies based outside the region.

The entry fees will help maintain and even restore the precious tourist attractions visited through out the tour: the worldwide famous Bucovina monasteries, UNESCO World Heritage Site: Voronet Monastery, Moldovita Monastery, Sucevita Monastery, the unique Merry Cemetery in Sapinta, the famous church in Bogdan Voda, Suceava Citadel, Village Museum in Suceava, Museum of Woodcraft in Cimpulung Moldovenesc, Hunting Museum in Vatra Dornei, Dogarilor Tower in Bistrita, Art Museum in Cluj, Salt Mines in Turda, Turzii's Gorges Natural Reservation, Etnographic Museum in Lupsa, Bears Cave in Pietroasa, The Palace of Culture, Lazarea Castle, Lazarea Monastery, Ciucului's Sekler Museum in Miercurea Ciuc, The Museum of Mineral Water in Tusnad, Peles Castle, Bran Castle, Rasnov Peasant Citadel, Fortified Church in Biertan, Village Museum in Sibiu and even Sighisoara Citadel, the best preserved and still inhabited medieval citadel in Europe.

We're also making a financial contribution of £1 for every person who books one of our tours to support Saint Daniel’s Foundation programme entitled 'A grand father for a nephew – A nephew for a grandfather', helping elderly and orphans, people most in need.

We encourage our guests do a little reading before coming to find out more about their host communities and the environment so that they would connect better with the locals. We provide suggestions on how best to support the local economies and communities, as well as the surrounding environment. Guests will receive a pre-trip information pack via e-mail, to minimise the use of paper, informing them of local issues, language tips and general advice. Our tour guides are well-educated multilingual people who can offer guests their skills as an interpreter and insight on current national and regional issues.