Oct. 27, DAY 1 - Little to Fear

Welcome in Romania! Our guides will meet you at the airports and railway stations, and take you to your hotel in Bucharest – for a cocktail, briefing, Q and A. Your innocence in matters dracularian will protect you – for a while. Receive your “Survival Certificate” that will be stamped along the Way (your relatives will know how far you reached).

• Diner at “Count Dracula Club”
• Overnight in Bucharest (4 star hotel)
  

Oct. 28, DAY 2 - In the footsteps of the historic Dracula

Morning: the city of Bucuresti –
from Prince Vlad Dracula’s time (1456)    to the  present day

The horse-caravans in the Middle Ages covered 60 kilometres between sunrise and sundown, in a summer day. Bucuresti is 60 km. from the Danube.
Visit the ruins of the Princely Palace and touch the vaults built by prince Vlad Dracula.
Then meander through the old shopping area around the palace – to the “Bear Wagon”, meeting place of writers and artists by 1890 (refreshments).
Visit the Treasury – a brief story of Romania in gold and gems, the royal treasury included. Then see the second largest building on earth, the Republic House, built by the late communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu.
Afternoon:  Leave the city of Bucuresti after lunch and visit the weird Castle of Hasdeu, in Campina – said to negotiate communications with Beyond (initiation step).

• sightseeing tour of Bucuresti – Society style
• lunch in Bucuresti (of your own)
• after lunch, visit Castle Hasdeu in Campina
• dinner and overnight in Sinaia, the royal resort
  

Oct. 29, DAY 3 - The historical fortress Dracula

Visit Peles – the most beautiful royal palace in Europe; Peles alone is worth your entire trip to Romania.
Drive to Targoviste, capital of Valahia under Prince Vlad Dracula. The ruins of the palace shelter dramatic stories of might, greed, justice and cruelty. Five hundred years ago, a row of boyars left Targoviste to rebuild the fortress of Poienari, as punishment for their disloyalty.

In the late afternoon, behold the ruins of Poienari. In 1462, Prince Vlad was besieged here by the Ottomans. Vlad sent for help and advice in the village of Aref, across the hill, but his wife waited no more: she threw herself into the river Arges, to avoid captivity.
The Arefeans came at night and managed to take the prince all the way to Transylvania, across the high Carpathians. Vlad rewarded them with 16 mountains as pastureland – no wonder Aref remembers Vlad Dracula 500 years apart.
Tonight, around a bonfire, in the village of Aref, 20 farmers will tell you the legends they remember about Vlad; they are the descendants of those who served the prince, and you will be their guests, in their houses – a dive in Time and Mythology.

• breakfast; visit Peles – the royal palace
• drive to Targoviste; lunch
• visit the ruins of the Princely palace
• arrive in Curtea de Arges; refreshments
• behold Poienari – the historical fortress Dracula
• initiation show  “The Night of Prince Vlad the Impaler – Dracula”
• dinner in the village of Aref
• overnight in the village of Aref  or  Curtea de Arges
  

Oct. 30, DAY 4 - Sighisoara: Secret ceremonies!

Drive to mediaeval Sighisoara, the best preserved XV century walled-town of Europe, birth-place of  Prince Vlad Dracula (the one who’s name was borrowed by Bram Stoker to baptize his vampire-count).

Tonight you may witness a secret ceremony in the life of the Transylvanian Society of Dracula – the election of Lady Transylvania 2012. Why would a serious, scholarly society concern itself with such a pageant? Because this Lady will be invested tomorrow, during the Halloween party, as Countess Dracula – to be the pair of the Count for one year. Everything comes at a price.

The location of the Secret Ceremonies in Sighisoara is, of course, secret.
The contest is open to everybody.

Overnight in Sighisoara.

Oct. 31, DAY 5 - HALLOWEEN at the CASTLE of the VAMPIRE-COUNT

Leave Sighisoara in the morning and reach Bistrita, mentioned in the first page of “Dracula” novel, by Bram Stoker. Stop to the secret laboratory of the one of the ladies of Count entourage! Taste her plum-brandy and elixir! Buy for your friends and relatives the drinks unique in the world, confirmed by the Transylvanian Society of Dracula. Leave Bistrita, after lunch for the final 45 km. to the heights of the Borgo Pass and the castle. You may turn the pages of the novel and see the very places mentioned within.

By sunset, we should be climbing into the majestic, wild, forested Pass. The farm-houses here are so rare that each has its own, private cemetery - living and dead within whispering distance.

As you enter the gate of the castle ("freely, of your own will") remember what the Count said to Jonathan Harker: "The old centuries had, and have, powers of their own, that mere 'modernity' cannot kill".

You will be told the rules of survival at Castle Dracula. Visit the public parts (you do not wish to see the others) and answer the invitations of the guide only (no-one's else's).

True, things at Castle Dracula get often out of hand (that's why the castle has its own , private cemetery), but rarely on society tours.  Will the Count be at the Halloween party? Yes, to meet his new Countess (the newly-elected Miss Transylvania) - under some disguise or another.

The contents of a TSD Halloween are generally reserved for the attendees, but we can tip you on a few things: the Little Shop from Hell (opened one night per year) will again offer the rare "After-Life Insurances" and especially the "Indulgences" - for 5 sins each; there is a prize for the  "Halloweenest" costume and mask; sale and auction of exquisite Count Dracula Treasures; book a dance with Countess Dracula (if you dare); use the services of the Fortune-teller of the Count; reception ceremonies of new members into the TSD (one way to get away with it); the purifying fire.

• look at mediaeval Bistrita through the eyes of Jonathan Harker
• optional lunch in Bistrita
• proceed to the Borgo Pass and Castle Dracula
• Halloween at Castle Dracula, dinner included
• overnight at the castle

Nov. 1, DAY 6 - WAS IT ALL TRUE? OR...

To find out, the survivors of the night should rush to stamp their "Transylvanian Diplomas" (and passports) with that unique castle-stamp.
Some of you may have lost your shadow, or reflection in the mirror - minor inconveniences of your new status. Others may loose them later.
Globe-trotters of fame said that the castle is emplaced in one of the most beautiful spots on earth. Take your last snapshots and leave the heights of the Borgo Pass for mediaeval Brasov, in another corner of Transylvania.
Your initiation continues - with more wondrous disclosures about the roots and meaning of the supernatural - of the kind treasured by the TSD. Questions and personal experiences will be invited - as we drive away from the Centre of the draculistic world.

• late departure from Castle Dracula
• lunch in Targu Mures
• overnight in Poiana Brasov
  

Nov. 2, DAY 7 - SNAGOV MONASTERY

On the way back to Bucuresti, the Capital of Romania, which is waiting for you for the last night and a farewell dinner, in Romania, we shall stop for a short visit at the most controversial place related to Vlad the Impaler: Snagov Monastery.

Free for stroll. Visit more interesting and secret sites of this mediaeval city (modern and historical places – at request).

Accommodation in 4 star hotel.

Nov. 3, DAY 8 / WEDNSDAY / HOW ABOUT A GRADE 2?

"La Revedere" means "See you again".
Departure to the airport.

P.S. What about a Level 2 society tour on Dracula?

----------
The price includes  the cost of the “Classic” tour, of  the pageant  and of the Halloween party.
The land price covers: transfers upon arrival/departure; transport by a/c deluxe bus; accommodation; half-board; guide service; shows – as mentioned in the programme; museums.

Land price:
The price includes the cost of the "Classic" tour, of the pageant and of the Halloween party.

The price per person is: Euros 895 (sharing a double); single suppl. Euros 155.
The price includes:
* transfers from / to the airport (railway station)
* land transport by de-lux bus
* accommodation in 4 and 3 star hotels (as described in the itinerary)
* breakfast and dinner (available for vegetarians too and for any request)
* Halloween party
* museums fee
* shows as mentioned in the itinerary
* guide and driver expenses (accommodation, meals, fee)

The price does not include:
* optional ("Order of Transylvanian Knights" ceremony and investiture - Euros 70 per person, minimum 4 pers)
* optional (reception ceremony in The Transylvanian Society of Dracula - Euros 77 per person: membership kit, silver pin, TSD yearly fee)
* lunch
* drinks
* refreshment

The land price covers: transfers upon arrival/departures; transport by a/c de-luxe bus; accommodation; half-board; guide services; shows - as mentioned in the program; museums.




Excerpt:
The Company of Mysterious Journeys will penalize the tourists who renounce their bookings as follows (subtracting bank-transfer charges):
1) for cancellation of 30 and more days before the tour start: full refunding (minus banking charges)
2) for 29-21 days cancellation: 30% penalty
3) for 20-14 days cancellation: 50% penalty
4) for 13-7 days or less cancellation: 100% penalty in favour of the CMJ.