Vlad the Impaler is the historical figure upon which Bram Stoker based his fictional character Count Dracula. Those Hammer horror cinematic images really do still exist in the Gothic citadels and ancient villages of Transylvania. So yes, we are actually going to Dracula’s birthplace in Sighisoara and also on a guided tour of Dracula’s Castle located in the small town of Bran in the Carpathian mountains in Romania, where we will be assisted by a English speaking local tour guide who will escort us throughout our seven day stay in Romania.
Our tour starts with us travelling through Germany with an overnight near Cologne followed by a night in historic Nürnberg, where our hotel is well located for a stroll out in the evening.
It's then on to Vienna (see pics) where we will spend two nights on the lovely outskirts of the city (centre easily accessible) in a former fairy tale eighteenth century hunting lodge! The surrounding park is pleasant for a walk and the winter garden or the terrace offer a breathtaking view over Vienna.
We say goodbye to Austria and our Romanian adventure starts today as we head to the border, and meet up with our Romanian guide who will be with us until we leave the country. Our first night in Romania is spent in the town of Arad, and our motorcycling itinerary takes us through the Șureanu Mountains to out next hotel in Targu Jui. The next day sees us ride the Transalpina (see pic - Romanias highest road, and suposedly better than the Transfaragan) to a night in medieval Sibiu – a place that made such an impression on our first visit that we resolved to stay there upon our return.
Of course, a motorcycle trip to Romania wouldn't be complete without a ride on the Road to Nowhere - the Transfaragan Highway (see pic) is rated as one of the most exciting motorcycle rides in Eastern Europe! Yet another city to admire is Brasov - not just for its baroque architecture and spooky Gothic Black Church but because it has such a cosmopolitan town centre and some great bars and restaurants - and a Hollywood-style sign up in the mountains overlooking the city! It is from our ski resort hotel near heare here we have a ride out to Peles Castle (see pic) - an amazingly well preserved gothic folly - as well as Draculas castle (see pic) in Bran!
On the way home we will spend two nights in Budapest (see pic), where a visit to the Gellert Baths is a must (see pic), with a couple more overnight stops breaking up the journey home.
This is a fairly high mileage tour, with 4 days of over 300 miles, and something you can really get your teeth into! Come and join us on this fifteen day motorcycling adventure, staying in good quality three and four star Hotels with secure parking in Romania for additional peace of mind.