7 days cultural and adventure travel program
A fairytale land whose magical beauty takes you in a time of legend, Bukovina has a spirit of its own that can not be found in any other part and that speaks directly to the soul, whispering the language of the ancestors. A land where God dripped all essences and harmonized them perfectly. A place where the traditions have been preserved, not only as a memory of past centuries, but as an integral part of the everyday life of people. People who handle the wood, the clay, the fiber, the leather, the stone, insufflating them spirit and transforming them. People of a disarming naturalness and hospitality, living in perfect communion with everything that represents Divine Creation.
The project meets the requirements of modern tourism, in terms of educational travel, cultural and eco-tourism, but the purpose is profound and daring. By trying to build a bridge between a past full of knowledge and profoundness, whose essence is extracted and developed into modernity adapted shades and expressions, and the present characterized by different needs, the project aims to transmit both these essences, as authentic as possible, and the cause of an eco lifestyle, capable of giving the due respect to the human being.
Arrival at the Suceava Airport
Transfer from the airport to "La Filuta" guest house in Malini
Accommodation in the 4**** guest house (single or double)
After the welcome dinner, you are given a short presentation of the stay in Bukovina land and of the accommodation area and its facilities. You receive a portfolio containing the details on the daily schedule and the contact data of the persons responsible. You are also offered a welcome gift, consisting of a shoulder bag, made of natural textile fibers only.
* time coordinates are to be subsequently determined, depending on air flights
08.00 - 10.00 Breakfast
10.00 - 11.00 Drive to "Voronet Monastery" - UNESCO World Heritage Site
Along the route, you receive interesting information regarding two old time guilds - skinners and weavers, as forms of traditional handicrafts in Bukovina land, historical and local specific features included.
11.00 - 12.00 Voronet Monastery tour
12.00 - 12.15 Drive to Humor Monastery - UNESCO World Heritage
12.15 - 13.15 Humor Monastery tour
13.15 - 14.15 Visit to a traditional weaving
manufactory in Humor
14.15 - 14.30 Drive to "La Nita Rotundu" tourist's sheepfold in Gura Humorului
14.30 - 17.45 Lunch
The meal is served in a traditional atmosphere, spirited by the presence of some local folk music performers. Also, for those interested, fishing or boating on the facility's small lake can be considered as ways of relaxation.
17.45 - 18.30 Drive to "La Filuta" guest house in Malini
19.00 - 20.00 Exhibition of eco-art paintings, created by the internationally acknowledged artist Tiberiu Pittner, Timisoara. Regardless the materials involved - paints, canvas or frames, they are of natural origin and the themes of Romanian traditional inspiration.
20.00 - 22.00 A return-to-nature fashion show during dinner, designer Leontina Prodan - awarded by the UNO Economical Commission with the "Woman of the Year" distinction, Geneva 2003. The collection includes both casual and evening wear, inspired by traditional folk motifs and symbols stylized according to fashion trends. All the items presented on the original "catwalk" are ecological wear, 100% made of natural hemp and flax fabrics.
08.00 - 10.00 Breakfast
10.00 - 12.00 Drive to Putna Valley. Along the route, you are given information regarding the local customs and traditions.
12.00 - 13.00 Attendance of a local fair specialized in traditional craftsmanship. You can immortalize the moment by getting photographed wearing authentic Romanian folk costumes.
13.00 - 14.00 Learn the traditional method of preparing the trout by smoking it in pine cones and pocketing it in fir tree leaves kobsa.
14.00 - 16.00 Outdoor lunch, Putna Valley. Feel the traditional atmosphere through the sounds of the ancient alphorn.
16.00 - 16.45 In summer time, you can enjoy a hay nap or you can collect different types of berries.
16.45 - 17.15 Drive to Ciocanesti
17.15 - 18.30 Get acquainted with one of the kind form of art - the skill of decorating the eggs. After learning the working techniques you can express your personal style in a decorating workshop organized especially for you. In summer time, you can also choose to enjoy rafting on the Golden Bistrita river.
18.30 - 20.00 Drive to "La Filuta" guest house in Malini
20.00 - 22.00 Dinner includes a delicious dessert prepared from the berries you have collected yourself on the hills at Putna Valley. After the meal, you can learn a lot of interesting things by taking part in a presentation of some Romanian archaic inventions.
08.00 - 10.00 Breakfast
10.00 - 11.30 Drive to Vama.
Along the route, you receive useful information regarding the Bukovina Duchy, a separate Austrian crown land of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
11.30 - 12.00 Going back in time - a visit to a 300 year-old house in Vama.
12.00 - 12.30 Drive to Moldovita Monastery - UNESCO World Heritage Site.
12.30 - 13.00 Moldovita Monastery tour
13.00 - 14.00 Drive to "La Nita Rotundu" tourist's sheepfold in Gura Humorului.
14.00 - 15.30 Lunch.
15.30 - 16.00 Drive to Cacica.
16.00 - 18.00 The underworld - take the downstairs path right into the heart of Cacica salt mine. You can start your underground journey by saying a prayer in the Roman Catholic chapel dedicated to Saint Barbara and located in the first room, 25 meters below the ground. After the guided tour, you are invited to learn a traditional Romanian folk dance, in the old ball room of the salt mine. The local artistic dance group is there to show you how, and live music to put your steps on rhythm. Afterwards you continue your descend at 44 meters deep, where the volley course awaits you. For those who want to relax, no worries! Just take a seat on the original 1791 benches and breathe in the salty air which makes miracles for you lungs and your whole respiratory system.
18.00 - 19.30 Drive to "La Filuta" guest house in Malini.
20.00 - 23.00 Open air dinner-party around the fire. Feast yourself with a menu that includes barbecue, mulled wine, live folk music, dancing and a lot of fun. We promise you a night to remember!
08.00 - 10.00 Breakfast
10.00 - 11.30 Drive to Voivodeasa Woods natural reservation.
Along the route, you receive information regarding the wood civilization in Bukovina.
11.30 - 13.00 Take a relaxing walk in the Voivodeasa Woods natural reservation and observe the regional wildlife. In winter time, you will be "dashing through the snow on a two-horse open sleigh", in these fairy tale woods.
* In case of bad weather, the walk in the woods will be replaced with a visit to the Museum of Folk Customs in Gura Humorului.
13.00 - 13.20 Drive to Marginea, home of the world-wide known black burnt-clay pottery.
13.20 - 14.20 Learn the prehistoric pottery techniques and witness how the clay is given shape by the skillful hands of a potter, in his workshop.
14.20 - 14.40 Drive to "The Beech Land" guest house, Sucevita.
14.40 - 16.10 Lunch.
16.10 - 16.40 Drive to Putna.
16.40 - 17.00 Traditional welcome at Putna.
17.00 - 17.20 Enjoy the beautiful landscape on your way to Daniel the Hermit's cell by horse carriage.
17.20 - 17.40 Visit the small rock carved cell of Daniel the Hermit, a 15th century monk and the spiritual father of Stephen the Great. The cell is now used as a chapel according to the rules of Mount Athos. While meditating at the simple life and the great spiritual wisdom of Daniel the Hermit, pay attention to some ancient characters which have miraculously appeared from the depths of the forest. Or is it the depths of time? Dacian scene.
17.40 - 18.10 As soon as you get back to the carriage, you will follow in the footsteps of Stephan the Great, for the horses know the way to Putna Monastery, whom the Prince built to give thanks to God for conquering the Kilia citadel. The Monastery is a place of pilgrimage, as it houses the tombs of Stephen and several of his family members.
18.10 - 19.00 Putna Monastery tour.
19.00 - 20.30 Dinner at Putna Monastery
20.30 - 22.00 Drive to "La Filuta" guest house in Malini.
08.00 - 10.00 Breakfast
10.00 - 11.00 Health and Beauty come on a natural way - you are invited to take part in a Favisan cosmetic line presentation. Patented by doctor Virginia Faur, member of the International Pharmaceutical Federation (she was rated as the third woman inventor in the world in 1988, received the special prize "The woman who contributed to her nation's development" at an international contest held in Italy in 1997, and the American Biographical Institute awarded her the "Woman of the year" distinction in 2000), the cosmetics you are about to put to your test are obtained from plants grown in unpolluted regions and processed at international standards. Learn the invaluable benefits of proper and complete information, efficient natural products and a holistic therapy and delight yourself with these high quality products.
11.00 - 13.00 00 In summer time, a "turca" contest is meant to keep your body in shape and your spirits high. Learning the rules of this ancient traditional Romanian game is awarded with beautiful pieces of black Marginea pottery. In winter time, you can either enter the magic world of the unique Romanian winter holiday specific folk customs or adventure yourself in a skiing session on the nearby slope.
13.00 - 14.00 Witness how woodworking requires not only skillful hands, but also a free and powerful spirit. Meet Mircea Tibulca, a local craftsman who can hear the wood's whispers.
14.00 - 16.00 Lunch
16.00 - 17.30 Spare time - leisure activities.
17.30 - 19.00 Drive to "Hanu Ancutei", the famous 18th century inn located in Neamt county.
19.00 - 21.00 While pleasing your senses with tasty food, flavored wine and good music, you get to admire an original parade of Romanian traditional masks, created by Ioan Albu, member of the Romanian Traditional Arts Academy. Used in rituals concerned with fertility, rainfall, hunting and for initiations in ancient times, they are remains of a strange, symbolical world. Today they are still used to represent characters from folk mythology at special holidays.
21.00 - 22.30 Drive to "La Filuta" guest house in Malini.