Maramures - The Living North of Romania - The Land of Woodcarvers

The Journey

The Living North of Romania is a premium, comfortably paced journey for American and discerning European travelers. It explores the country beyond the familiar highlights: mountain landscapes, Saxon towns, working villages, remarkable wooden architecture and the enduring traditions of Maramures. The experience is built around authentic encounters and excellent comfort, with only four hotel bases across eleven nights.

Ideal Audience

Adults 45+, cultural and affinity groups, premium escorted-tour clients, small private groups and travelers who value landscape, craftsmanship, food and living heritage. Recommended group size: 18 to 32 guests, plus one tour leader.

Included Service Standard

11 nights in carefully selected 4-star minimum hotels, with 5-star upgrades in Bucharest, Sibiu and Cluj-Napoca.

Daily breakfast buffet and 11 dinner buffets. Private group buffet arrangements are used where a property does not operate a public buffet.

Private air-conditioned coach, professional English-speaking national tour director and local English-speaking specialists where useful.

Entrance fees and guided visits listed in the itinerary, subject to final operating schedules.

Baggage handling at hotels, bottled water on the coach and a welcome briefing on arrival.

Day by Day Itinerary

Day 1 | Welcome to Bucharest

Arrival at Bucharest Henri Coanda International Airport. Meet the English-speaking tour director and transfer to the hotel. Welcome dinner buffet and orientation.

Bucharest | Grand Hotel Bucharest 5-star or equivalent | Dinner buffet

Day 2 | Bucharest Then and Now

A relaxed discovery of Romania’s capital: Revolution Square, the Romanian Athenaeum, Old Town and the Palace of Parliament area. Time remains for a museum, café or personal exploration before dinner.

Bucharest | Grand Hotel Bucharest 5-star or equivalent | Breakfast and dinner buffets

Day 3 | Into Transylvania and Sibiu

Travel north-west to Sibiu, one of Romania’s most elegant historic cities. On arrival, take an easy orientation walk through the Grand Square, Small Square and Bridge of Lies. Settle in for a three-night stay.

Sibiu | Hilton Sibiu 5-star or Ramada Sibiu 4-star | Breakfast and dinner buffets

Day 4 | Sibiu and the Villages of Marginimea

Explore Sibiu’s historic heart and the ASTRA open-air folk museum. Continue into the Marginimea Sibiului villages for a hosted encounter with local food traditions, crafts and rural life.

Sibiu | Hilton Sibiu 5-star or Ramada Sibiu 4-star | Breakfast and dinner buffets

Day 5 | Biertan and Medieval Sighisoara

A day journey through Transylvanian landscapes to Biertan’s fortified church and the medieval citadel of Sighisoara. Return to the same Sibiu hotel for a relaxed evening.

Sibiu | Hilton Sibiu 5-star or Ramada Sibiu 4-star | Breakfast and dinner buffets

Day 6 | Across the Carpathians to Maramures

Depart Sibiu for Baia Mare, the comfortable base for the living heritage of Maramures. The drive becomes part of the journey, revealing changing landscapes as Transylvania gives way to the north.

Baia Mare | Hotel Carpati 4-star or equivalent | Breakfast and dinner buffets

Day 7 | Wooden Churches and Village Life

Discover the extraordinary wooden churches of Maramures, including a UNESCO-recognized example, and visit the traditional village of Breb. A local family or craft encounter brings the region’s daily rhythms to life.

Baia Mare | Hotel Carpati 4-star or equivalent | Breakfast and dinner buffets

Day 8 | Mocanita and the Mountain Valleys

Travel to the Vaser Valley for a nostalgic ride on the Mocanita narrow-gauge steam railway, subject to seasonal operating dates. The day combines mountain scenery, heritage engineering and time in the landscapes that define northern Romania.

Baia Mare | Hotel Carpati 4-star or equivalent | Breakfast and dinner buffets

Day 9 | Sapanta and Cluj-Napoca

Visit the Merry Cemetery at Sapanta, famous for its hand-carved, brightly painted memorial crosses and human stories. Continue south to Cluj-Napoca, a dynamic university city, for a three-night stay.

Cluj-Napoca | Radisson Blu Hotel Cluj 5-star or Grand Hotel Italia 5-star | Breakfast and dinner buffets

Day 10 | Cluj Culture and Turda Salt Mine

Discover Cluj’s historic center, including Union Square and St Michael’s Church, followed by a visit to Turda Salt Mine - a striking underground world created by centuries of salt extraction. Return to the same Cluj hotel.

Cluj-Napoca | Radisson Blu Hotel Cluj 5-star or Grand Hotel Italia 5-star | Breakfast and dinner buffets

Day 11 | Rimetea and a Farewell to Romania

Spend the day in Rimetea, one of Transylvania’s most picturesque heritage villages, beneath the dramatic limestone ridge of Piatra Secuiului. Enjoy a relaxed village experience before a farewell dinner buffet in Cluj.

Cluj-Napoca | Radisson Blu Hotel Cluj 5-star or Grand Hotel Italia 5-star | Breakfast and farewell dinner buffets

Day 12 | Farewell Romania

Breakfast buffet at the hotel, followed by a private transfer to Cluj Avram Iancu International Airport for the return flight. End of services.

Cluj-Napoca | Breakfast buffet

Signature Experiences

The village landscapes, wooden churches and traditional craft culture of Maramures - a part of Europe where heritage is still lived, not simply displayed.

The Mocanita steam railway through the Vaser Valley, a memorable mountain experience for the group.

Sibiu, Sighisoara and Biertan: Transylvania’s finest blend of Saxon architecture, history and atmosphere.

Rimetea and Turda Salt Mine, two highly visual and distinctive experiences near Cluj-Napoca.

Why This Program Works

It offers a lesser-known Romania with real depth, while retaining premium hotel standards and dependable service.

Only four hotel bases for eleven nights: a significant comfort advantage for long-haul American guests.

It balances small villages and mountain landscapes with refined cities, giving the itinerary variety without rushing.

Open-jaw routing: arrive in Bucharest and depart from Cluj-Napoca, avoiding unnecessary backtracking.

IMPORTANT NOTICE

Every itinerary is only a starting point. We will be pleased to adapt and refine it to your group’s age profile, interests, preferred travel pace, number of days, budget, hotel style and level, and any other wishes. Together, we will create a personal, thoughtfully designed journey that meets your expectations and turns Romania into an unforgettable experience.

#TheLivingNorthOfRomania #LivingNorth #DiscoverRomania #VisitRomania #RomaniaTravel #ExploreRomania #NorthernRomania #AuthenticRomania #HiddenRomania #RomanianHeritage #LivingHeritage #CulturalHeritage #CulturalTravel #HeritageTravel #PremiumTravel #LuxuryTravel #SlowTravel #MeaningfulTravel #AuthenticTravel #GroupTravel #EscortedTours #Transylvania #Maramures #Sibiu #Sighisoara #Biertan #BaiaMare #ClujNapoca #Rimetea #Sapanta #Breb #MarginimeaSibiului #CarpathianMountains #Carpathians #Mocanita #VaserValley #TurdaSaltMine #SalinaTurda #MerryCemetery #WoodenChurches #SaxonHeritage #SaxonVillages #MedievalRomania #TraditionalVillages #VillageLife #RomanianTraditions #RomanianCulture #LocalCrafts #FolkCulture #RuralRomania #TravelEurope