Dracula's Castle: the place to be at Halloween... Plunge into the authentic atmosphere of Transylvania during Halloween, with none less than the descendant of Bram Stoker, creator of Count Dracula! Join us at Bran Castle and we will show you around in "The Land Beyond The Forest", uncovering exciting details from literature and legend, exploring ancient traditions, superstitions and mingling with locals and fellow thrill-seekers. Get the chance to meet Dacre Stoker, great-grandnephew of Bram Stoker & international best-selling author. Delve into the fascinating world of Dracula. Learn about the history and myths surrounding the iconic vampire count, through Dacre's fascinating research in the footsteps of the great novelist. After years of digging, he has lots to share about his ancestor's famous creation. Discover the hidden gems of the area with our charming and knowledgeable local guide. From medieval castles to picturesque villages, we'll learn all about the rich history and culture of this enchanting region. Catch a glimpse of the genuine everyday life here, and enjoy the spellbinding ambience that defines Transylvania. Towns like Brasov, UNESCO World Heritage Site Sighisoara, and Sibiu unveil stories of exciting personalities, defying the passing of the centuries.
Gloria and her sister Nora, both certified local guides, work together to organize this trip. One of them will be present as a guide throughout the tour, while Dacre Stoker will be the literature expert, sharing his knowledge on Dracula and on Bram Stoker's writings. Group leader: Dacre Stoker, great-grandnephew of Bram Stoker & international best-selling author Tour manager: Nora Vintila, certified local guide Gloria & Nora work on this tour together. Both are Transylvanian born and raised travel professionals, certified local fuides in Romania, with the travel company Experience Transylvania since 2012. They've been working with planning tours since 2004, and organized several successful trips together with Dacre Stoker, great grand-nephew of Bram Stoker, in the footsteps of Dracula. Both worked as cruise director on European waterways.
Accommodation in top-rank 3* and 4* hotels, centrally located, close to attractions. All hotels we book have a local flair helping you to immerse yourselves in the local culture, and keep very high standards of cleanliness and comfort. We only pick hotels we stayed at and enjoyed. Any questions about the trip? You can let me know in the Q&A section!
What's included?
Accommodation 8 nights in double occ
8 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 3 dinners
Dacre Stoker as tour leader
Private evening at Bran Dracula's Castle
Visit of Cantacuzino Castle gardens
Visit of Corvinus Castle
Transport by private coach/minibus
Halloween Dinner in Dracula's birthplace
Visit of a fortified church
Certified local guide
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Gloria organizes trips with Dacre Stoker, who is an international best-selling author and the great-grandnephew of Bram Stoker.
You can chat with Gloria once you reserve your spot.
Trip Itinerary
1
Bucharest
Day 1-2
Welcome to Romania! Meet and greet at a central hotel in Bucharest*. We welcome you with the traditional Romanian cherry liqueur and delicious cookies. Walking with our local guide in the old town, we explore historical facts and places connected to Vlad Dracula. The welcome dinner is served at a charming local restaurant, part of a cultural heritage building with walls impregnated with memories from the 1800’s.
2
Bran Castle
Day 2-3
We leave Bucharest in the morning and head towards Transylvania. We stop for lunch nearby Royal Peles Castle and for a facade photo op at Cantacuzino Castle, filming place for ”Nevermore” in the Netflix series Wednesday, and also a perfect viewpoint for the majestic Carpathians. Further in Bran, Dacre Stoker hosts an exclusive private tour of Bran Castle, concluded with the audiovisual story ”Stoker On Stoker” and a vampire themed dinner. A sketch of Bran Castle, called Törzburg in the times of Bram Stoker, was discovered by the Irish author just as he was writing the novel Dracula and is seen as his source of inspiration in describing the fictional castle of the count. During the castle visit, Dacre will graphically explain how he discovered imagery connections between this castle and the way in which Bram Stoker described the castle exterior. Bring your gothic/victorian/vampire accessories if you wish to enhance the atmosphere!
3
Sibiu
Day 3-4
Passing into ”The Land Beyond The Forest” we stop in quaint Sibiu, a town founded by German settlers in the Middle Ages, then named Hermannstadt. We take you on a pleasant and very interesting guided walk of the ”town of 1000 eyes”, as it is called. Except for the rich local history, we discover the work of the Scottish writer Emily Gerard, who lived here between 1893 and 1895, writing the essay Transylvanian Superstitions. Gerard is the one who introduced the term ”Nosferatu” into mainstream literature and inspired Bram Stoker in the writing of his novel. There will be a few hours of free time for lunch on your own, as well as shopping after the tour. A homemade dinner is served at a local sheep farmers’ family, who reveal their rough way of life and their constant fight against their eternal fiend: the wolf. We are accommodated at a comfortable hotel surrounded by the medieval walls of Mühlbach, now called Sebes. We watch the documentary film ”In Search Of Dracula”.
4
Castelul Corvinilor (Corvins' Castle)
Day 4-5
We visit iconic Corvinus Castle, built by John Hunyadi. We then travel towards Sighisoara after breakfast. Along the way we pass by colorful villages with their fortified churches, dominant features in the medieval structure of most Transylvanian-German places. We learn about the disciplined way in which the German settlers organized their life, in order to survive in front of enemy attacks throughout the centuries. Picnic lunch on the way. We arrive to Sighișoara, the birthplace of Vlad Dracula. During a guided walk, we get to know the UNESCO walled city, one of the last remaining medieval citadels still inhabited to this day. We sleep in a heritage building, nowadays a comfortable hotel, but still keeping the architectural charm of centuries past. Free time for dinner.
5
Sighișoara
Day 5-6
Today we see the charming colorful town of Sighisoara in a new light. Take your time to stroll down the cobblestoned alleys, explore an exhibition dedicated to the personality of Dracula, or visit a museum presenting medieval life. Free time for lunch on your own, and for leisurely walks. We are served Halloween dinner in the house marked with the emblematic Order of the Dragon. Dacre Stoker gives an audiovisual presentation: ”What’s Vlad Got To Do With It?”
6
Brașov
Day 6-8
Leaving Sighisoara, we head towards the Carpathians again. We stop by at a peaceful fortified church to immerse ourselves into the lifestyles of the German Saxons under siege. In Brasov later on, our local guide takes us on a guided walk through the old town. Brasov or Kronstadt was also founded by German settlers in the early 1200’s. Legend has it, it was the children abducted by the Pied Piper of Hamelin who were the first Germanic settlers here. We are passing by the Black Church, as well as by the house of Katharina, known as Vlad Dracula’s mistress, for whom he’s said to have nurtured eternal love. Free time for shopping and lunch on your own. We gather in the evening for a churchyard visit to understand the genuine real-life tradition of ”Ziua Mortilor” - Day of the Dead, and how it’s still kept by Transylvanians. We dine together.
7
Cantacuzino Castle
Day 8
Enjoy a leisurely day in beautiful Brasov. If the weather is fine, you could hike up to the Tampa Hill just across the piazza from our hotel. The town museum offers deep insights into the history of the personalities of the local community. The Black Church tells stories of religion, reformation and big fires. In the evening, you could optionally travel to Bran Castle again (an only 25 miles ride away), to join the big annual public Halloween Party (tickets to be purchased separately, not included, we can assist you with booking).
8
"Snagov" Monastery
Day 8-9
On our way to back to Bucharest, we conclude our adventure with a visit to Snagov Monastery*, where some historians state that Vlad Dracula be buried. After a goodbye lunch in the Mogosoaia Palace, we check in at a spa hotel close to the airport (spa entrance optional, not included). Take your time to pack for your return journey and perhaps grab a goodbye drink with Dacre Stoker in the hotel bar before a good night’s sleep. La revedere! Individual departures after breakfast. Our local guide is happy to help with recommendations on tour extensions. Thank you for celebrating Halloween in Transylvania!
Trip Summary
Accommodation
Hotel & Bed & Breakfast
9 days trip
Bucharest, Bran Castle & 6 more
Transportation
Car, Train
What's excluded?
Flight
Drinks
Gratuities / tips
Travel insurance
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Romania
Private evening at Dracula's Castle 
Accommodation 8 nights in double occ 
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