AUTHENTIC & DELICIOUS ROMANIA - A Culinary Journey Through Traditional Villages, Family Farms & Rural Life

A journey for travellers who want to taste the real Romania, meet its people and experience — rather than simply observe — traditional village life.

Romania is not simply a country to visit. It is a country to taste, discover through its people and truly experience.

This 8-day journey is designed for travellers who want to go beyond conventional sightseeing and discover Romania through its villages, family farms, shepherds’ huts, home kitchens and locally produced food.

Our guests are not merely spectators. They step inside local households, discover where their food comes from, take part in preparing traditional dishes, taste cheese directly from local producers, see how bread is baked, walk through vegetable gardens and orchards, meet farm animals and share meals with their hosts.

The journey combines these authentic rural experiences with historic villages, the landscapes of the Carpathian Mountains, Transylvania’s cultural heritage and, at the end of the trip, the elegant and cosmopolitan atmosphere of Bucharest.

For every group, we provide a professional guide who speaks the requested language.

DAY 1 – CLUJ-NAPOCA – MARAMUREȘ – BREB

A First Taste of Rural Romania

Arrival at Cluj-Napoca International Airport, meeting with the guide and departure for Maramureș.

As we approach Breb, the landscape gradually changes: rolling hills, orchards, beautifully carved wooden gates and traditional rural households begin to appear.

Breb is an ideal place to begin this journey because village life here is still visible and natural: people working in their courtyards and gardens, animals raised around the household, hay gathered for winter, orchards and old wooden houses.

Welcome to a Maramureș Household

After check-in, our guests are invited to their first encounter with the flavours of Maramureș.

Depending on the season and the host family, dinner may include:

• a selection of local cheeses;

• cured pork fat and traditionally smoked meats;

• onions, tomatoes and vegetables from the garden;

• homemade bread;

• zacuscă and homemade pickles;

• polenta;

• Maramureș-style stuffed cabbage rolls;

• stew or roast prepared according to the family recipe;

• homemade pies;

• cakes and other traditional desserts;

• homemade fruit compote, syrups or juices;

• for adults, a tasting of horincă or pălincă, where available.

This is not a formal restaurant dinner. It is the guests’ first opportunity to meet local people, sit at their table and discover their way of life.

Accommodation: Breb – carefully selected traditional/rural guesthouse

Included meal: traditional dinner

DAY 2 – BREB

A Day with a Family in Maramureș

This is one of the signature days of the journey.

We do not come to Breb simply to look at the village. We spend several hours with a local family and discover what everyday life in a traditional household is really like.

Morning at the Farmstead

Depending on the family and season, the experience may begin with:

• exploring the courtyard, barn, garden and farm buildings;

• meeting the family's cows, sheep, chickens and other animals;

• watching or taking part in milking when the household schedule allows;

• collecting fresh eggs;

• exploring the vegetable garden and orchard;

• learning how food is preserved for winter;

• tasting fresh milk, cheeses and other products prepared by the family.

From Milk to Cheese

The family or a local producer can show guests how fresh milk is transformed into traditional dairy products.

Travellers discover the differences between caș, urdă and other local cheeses and, where conditions allow, can participate in some of the simpler stages of the cheese-making process.

The experience continues with a tasting accompanied by homemade bread, fresh vegetables and preserves from the family pantry.

Cooking with Our Hosts

Rather than simply being served a ready-made meal, the group joins the family in the kitchen.

Depending on the season and the menu, guests may participate in:

• kneading dough;

• making bread;

• preparing traditional pies;

• preparing the filling for sarmale;

• cooking with vegetables picked from the garden;

• making traditional polenta;

• preparing a homemade dessert.

Maramureș Lunch in the Family Home

Depending on the season, the table may include:

Starters: local cheeses, cured pork fat, sausages or other smoked meats, vegetables, zacuscă and homemade bread.

Main course: sarmale served with polenta and sour cream, a slow-cooked stew or another traditional family recipe.

Dessert: pies, homemade doughnuts, cakes or seasonal fruit desserts.

After lunch, there is time for coffee and conversation with the family.

Afternoon in the Village

A walk through Breb reveals:

• traditional houses;

• carved wooden gates;

• working farmsteads;

• old village lanes;

• small local producers;

• local craftspeople, when available.

Depending on the season, the programme may also include haymaking, gathering hay, picking fruit, working in the garden or other genuine activities taking place in the village at the time of the visit.

Accommodation: Breb

Included meals: breakfast and traditional lunch; dinner according to programme

DAY 3 – BREB – TRANSYLVANIA – VISCRI

From Maramureș to the World of the Saxon Villages

After breakfast, we leave Maramureș and travel across Transylvania.

This is the longest transfer day of the tour, but also a fascinating journey through changing landscapes — from the villages and hills of Maramureș to the historic lands of Transylvania's Saxon communities.

Stops and lunch at a carefully selected location are arranged along the way.

In the afternoon, we arrive in Viscri.

Our First Walk Through Viscri

Rather than immediately rushing from one attraction to another, we begin by slowing down and entering the rhythm of village life.

We walk along the village lanes, past colourful Saxon houses, old gates, courtyards and gardens.

We visit the fortified church of Viscri and discover the story of the Saxon community and the rural heritage of this remarkable region.

In the evening, dinner is prepared with local ingredients and inspired by Transylvanian recipes.

Accommodation: Viscri – restored Saxon house / premium rural guesthouse

Included meals: breakfast and dinner; lunch en route

DAY 4 – VISCRI

From Garden to Table – A Farm-to-Table Day

Today, lunch becomes a several-hour experience rather than simply a meal.

Inside a Family Home in Viscri

The experience can be organised together with a local gastronomic point and a family from the village.

We begin by discovering the household itself.

Depending on the host, guests may explore:

• the vegetable garden;

• aromatic herbs;

• fruit trees;

• the family pantry;

• ingredients used in the kitchen;

• farm animals, where present.

Our host explains what the family grows and produces themselves, what they source from neighbours and how their cooking changes with the seasons.

In the Kitchen with Our Host

Guests are not simply invited to sit down at the table.

Depending on the day's menu and the household's possibilities, they can watch or participate in:

• preparing sarmale;

• chopping and preparing vegetables;

• making a traditional soup or sour soup;

• kneading dough;

• baking bread or another traditional baked product;

• preparing a dessert with seasonal fruit;

• preparing pickles or other pantry preserves when the season is right.

Around the Family Table

Lunch may feature:

• local cheese with tomatoes and seasonal vegetables;

• soup or traditional sour soup;

• sarmale;

• pork dishes;

• traditional stews;

• potatoes, salads and pickles;

• homemade bread;

• fruit cakes;

• rhubarb desserts when in season;

• homemade wine or țuică for adults.

This is more than lunch. It is an opportunity to sit around the same table as local people and talk about family life, village traditions, recipes and the changes taking place in rural Romania.

Afternoon – Crafts & Countryside

After lunch, we meet one or more villagers who preserve a traditional craft or produce something locally on a small scale.

Depending on availability, the experience may include a demonstration or a small workshop.

We end the day with an easy walk through the hills and pastures surrounding Viscri.

Accommodation: Viscri

Included meals: breakfast and Farm-to-Table culinary experience; dinner according to programme

DAY 5 – VISCRI – ȘIRNEA

Into the Villages Beneath the Piatra Craiului Mountains

After breakfast, we travel towards the Bran–Fundata region and the mountain village of Șirnea.

Beautifully positioned near the Piatra Craiului Mountains, Șirnea is an ideal destination for combining local gastronomy, traditional rural life and nature.

After check-in, we begin exploring the village with a local host.

One Community, Several Families

Our concept for Șirnea is different from the other villages.

Instead of relying on a single household, experiences can be shared among several local families, with each family introducing guests to a different aspect of rural life.

Visiting a Family Who Raises Cows

We visit a local household where guests can discover:

• the family's cows;

• feeding and caring for the animals;

• milking, when timing and season allow;

• fresh milk;

• homemade sour cream, butter and cheese.

A simple tasting can be arranged with fresh milk, cheese, butter, homemade bread, eggs, jam and honey.

Village Life & Horses

Depending on the profile of the group, the programme may include:

• meeting local horses;

• an introduction to their care;

• guided activities with horses;

• an easy equestrian experience;

• or a rural outing when conditions and local partners allow.

Dinner features local products and recipes.

Accommodation: Șirnea / Fundata / Bran – premium rural guesthouse

Included meals: breakfast and dinner; tastings according to programme

DAY 6 – ȘIRNEA & SURROUNDINGS

From Milk to Cheese – A Day with Shepherds in the Carpathians

Today we follow the story of one of the most important products of Romania's mountain gastronomy: cheese.

Visit to a Working Shepherd's Hut

We travel to a working shepherd's hut or pastoral household in the Șirnea–Fundata–Dâmbovicioara area.

Here, guests discover the daily life of shepherds and the work behind the products that eventually reach the table.

Depending on the season and the actual work taking place at the shepherd's hut, guests may see:

• the sheep and flock;

• milking;

• filtering and heating the milk;

• adding rennet and curdling the milk;

• separating the fresh curd;

• preparing different types of cheese;

• traditional storage and maturation methods.

From Milk to Cheese

The experience follows the entire story:

animal → milk → fresh curd → cheese → tasting → traditional meal

Our host explains the differences between local dairy products and how centuries-old pastoral traditions have shaped the cuisine of the Carpathian Mountains.

Cheese Tasting

Depending on what is being produced at the time, guests may taste:

• fresh caș;

• telemea;

• urdă;

• brânză de burduf;

• other locally produced cheeses.

These are accompanied by bread, onions, tomatoes, cured pork fat or other local products.

Rustic Lunch at the Shepherd's Hut

The menu may include:

• bulz – polenta filled or topped with cheese;

• polenta with cheese and sour cream;

• balmoș, when available;

• traditional stew;

• dishes cooked in a cauldron over the fire;

• traditionally prepared meat;

• salads and pickles;

• pies or simple homemade desserts.

Weather permitting, lunch can be served outdoors, surrounded by the Carpathian landscape.

Afternoon in Nature

We enjoy an easy walk through the mountain countryside, with views towards Piatra Craiului and the Bucegi Mountains.

Depending on the season, the programme can also include:

• fruit picking;

• discovering or gathering aromatic plants;

• haymaking activities;

• meeting other village families;

• visits to small local producers.

The evening is free, or a special dinner can be arranged at the guesthouse.

Accommodation: Șirnea / Fundata / Bran

Included meals: breakfast, cheese tasting and shepherd's lunch; dinner according to programme

DAY 7 – BRAN – CARPATHIAN MOUNTAINS – SINAIA – BUCHAREST

From the Romanian Village to the Elegance of the Capital

After breakfast, we leave rural Romania behind.

Depending on the profile of the group, the morning may include a visit to Bran Castle.

We continue through the Carpathian Mountains towards Sinaia.

Here, the programme may include a visit to Peleș Castle, one of Romania's outstanding architectural landmarks.

Lunch en route.

In the afternoon, we continue towards Bucharest.

A Different Side of Romania

After several days spent among villages, family homes, farms and mountains, Bucharest provides a fascinating contrast.

Grand boulevards, Belle Époque architecture, cafés, restaurants, historic neighbourhoods and contemporary city life reveal a completely different side of the country.

Hotel check-in and time to relax.

Farewell Dinner in Bucharest

In the evening, a special farewell dinner can be arranged at an elegant restaurant offering a contemporary interpretation of Romanian cuisine.

It is the perfect opportunity to compare the food experienced in village homes with the way Romanian ingredients and traditional recipes are being reinterpreted in the capital today.

Accommodation: Bucharest – 4* / 5* hotel

Included meals: breakfast; farewell dinner optional or included according to package

DAY 8 – BUCHAREST

Markets, Historic Neighbourhoods & Contemporary Romania

The final day is dedicated to Bucharest.

Depending on the departure time, we can arrange a city tour including the historic centre and some of the capital's major landmarks.

For groups with a strong culinary interest, we recommend adding an experience connected to Bucharest's food culture.

This may include:

• visiting a local market;

• discovering seasonal produce;

• small tastings;

• Romanian pastries;

• coffee in a historic neighbourhood;

• discovering how traditional Romanian cuisine is evolving in a modern urban setting.

Transfer to the airport.

End of the tour.

WHAT MAKES THIS JOURNEY DIFFERENT?

This is not a tour where travellers simply visit restaurants and order traditional dishes.

It is a journey built around people.

Over eight days, guests may:

• enter authentic family households;

• meet families living in Romanian villages;

• meet and feed farm animals;

• take part in milking when conditions allow;

• collect fresh eggs;

• explore vegetable gardens and orchards;

• discover what a Romanian family keeps in its pantry;

• see how fresh milk becomes cheese;

• taste caș, urdă, telemea and brânză de burduf;

• knead dough;

• prepare bread and traditional pies;

• help prepare sarmale;

• cook together with their hosts;

• sit around the same table as a local family;

• visit a working shepherd's hut;

• enjoy a meal surrounded by nature;

• taste dishes cooked outdoors in a traditional cauldron;

• meet small producers and craftspeople;

• participate in seasonal agricultural activities;

• explore traditional villages on foot or through rural experiences;

• spend time in the Carpathian Mountains;

• and finally discover the gastronomy and vibrant urban life of Bucharest.

WHAT CAN YOUR CLIENTS TASTE?

The exact selection depends on the season and each household, but the journey may include:

Dairy products: fresh milk, caș, urdă, telemea, sour cream, butter and brânză de burduf.

Farm and garden produce: eggs, vegetables, herbs, potatoes, fruit, honey, jams and preserves.

From the family pantry: zacuscă, pickles, fruit compotes, syrups and homemade preserves prepared for winter.

Traditional meat products: cured pork fat, sausages, smoked meats, pork dishes, stews and slow-cooked recipes.

Traditional dishes: sarmale, polenta, bulz, balmoș, stews, soups and cauldron-cooked dishes.

Bread & pastries: homemade bread, traditional pies, doughnuts and regional baked specialities.

Desserts: homemade cakes and desserts made with apples, plums, forest berries, rhubarb and other seasonal fruit.

Drinks: homemade syrups, fruit compotes and juices, wine and, for adults, traditional Romanian spirits such as țuică, pălincă or horincă where offered by authorised producers.

EVERY SEASON TELLS A DIFFERENT STORY

One of the most important elements of this journey is that we do not artificially stage village life.

Activities are adapted to what is genuinely happening in local households at the time of the visit.

Spring may bring newborn farm animals, fresh dairy products and work in the vegetable garden.

Summer means haymaking, abundant gardens, fresh fruit, outdoor meals and life at the shepherd's hut.

Autumn brings harvests, plums, apples and walnuts, as well as the preparation of zacuscă, pickles, preserves and other foods for the winter pantry.

This means that no two journeys need to be exactly the same. Experiences evolve with the seasons and can be adapted to each group.

RURAL AUTHENTICITY + PREMIUM SERVICES

Authenticity does not mean sacrificing comfort.

The journey can be organised with:

• modern private transportation;

• professional driver;

• professional guide throughout the tour;

• a guide who speaks the language requested by the group;

• carefully selected traditional guesthouses;

• premium countryside properties;

• 4* or 5* hotel accommodation in Bucharest;

• airport transfers;

• privately arranged culinary experiences;

• coordination with local families and producers;

• operational assistance throughout the journey.

A JOURNEY CREATED FOR EACH GROUP

This itinerary is a sample programme and a starting point.

We adapt it individually for each travel agency and each group according to:

• travel dates and season;

• number of participants;

• guests' ages;

• interests;

• preferred activity level;

• accommodation category;

• budget;

• meal plan;

• dietary preferences or restrictions;

• desired level of comfort or luxury.

Experiences in family households are arranged and coordinated in advance, while specific activities depend on the season, weather conditions and the genuine day-to-day work taking place in the village at the time of the visit.

This allows the experience to remain authentic rather than becoming a performance staged for tourists.

FOR TRAVEL AGENCIES & TOUR OPERATORS

For our B2B partners, Yoter Tov Group can arrange the complete journey in Romania:

itinerary planning, accommodation, private transportation, professional guides, rural experiences, meetings with local families, culinary workshops, farm and shepherd's hut visits, meals in family homes, restaurants, reservations, transfers and operational support.

The programme can be adapted for:

• private groups;

• couples;

• families;

• senior groups;

• incentive groups;

• culinary groups;

• cultural groups;

• premium travellers;

• themed tours for clubs and associations.

Language is not a barrier: for every group, we can provide a professional guide who speaks the requested language.

Romania is discovered with the eyes.

But authentic Romania is understood around the tables of its people.

8 days. Three different rural worlds. Dozens of flavours. And encounters your clients will never find in an ordinary restaurant.

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.

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