Day 1: Bucharest

Arriving in Bucharest, meet your English-speaking tour guide and transfer to your three-star city centre hotel accommodation to get ready for a week in Romania. After settling in you’ll be driven to Snagov before taking a short boat ride on Lake Snagov to the island monastery which is reputed to be the final resting place of Vlad the Impaler. Snagov Monastery is also well-known for its architectural style which mirrors the monasteries to be found on Mount Athos in northeast Greece. This evening you’ll get to enjoy a welcome meal in one of Bucharest’s top vegan restaurants.

Day 2: Targoviste

Your first full day in Romania finds you taking a drive to the city of Targoviste on the banks of the River Lalomita whereupon you’ll be invited to inspect the ruins of Curtea Veche, the former princely residence of Vlad the Impaler. After exploring the courtyards and museum exhibits you’ll continue onwards to Sinaia, one of Romania’s top mountain resorts, which features one of Europe’s best-preserved royal residences, Peles Castle. Tonight you’ll be staying in the mountain resort of Poiana Brasov which is situated at the base of Mt Postavaru surrounded by pine trees and boasting magnificent views.

Day 3: Brasov

Today we head to Bran and the famous medieval castle which sits atop of a tree covered hillside surveying the land below. Bran Castle is closely linked with Bram Stoker and the Dracula story and also contains a shrine dedicated to Romania’s Queen Maria. After exploring Bran Castle it’s off to the Saxon city of Brasov and one of southeast Europe’s largest Gothic structures, the Black Church, before finally transferring to Sighisoara to settle into your three-star hotel accommodation in the centre of Brasov.

Day 4: Sighisoara

This morning you’ll be able to stroll around the old cobbled streets of Sighisoara and find out more about Vlad the Impaler’s birthplace. With a history going back toi the 1100s, not to be missed are

• The Clock Tower, which not only has great views, but also a neat little museum inside.

• The Church on the Hill (which you walk up to via a cool Covered Staircase), which is an old Gothic-style church. Also check out the nearby German graveyard.

• The Church of the Dominican Monastery (and it's cool organ), which is centuries old.

• The Torture Museum and Weapon Museum also both come highly recommended.

Day 5: Cluj Napoca

Today we drive to Cluj Napoca for a city sightseeing tour which includes some fine examples of medieval architecture, including the cathedral of St Andrew.

Cluj-Napoca, is the unofficial capital of the Transylvania region. It's home to universities, vibrant nightlife and landmarks dating to Saxon and Hungarian rule. Surrounding its central square, Piața Unirii, is the Gothic-style St. Michael's Church and the dramatic Matthias Corvinus Statue of the 15th-century king. The baroque-era Bánffy Palace is now a museum showcasing Romanian art.

Day 6: Turda

Turda’s vast salt mines provide this morning’s unique excursion where huge halls and colossal chambers help you piece together parts of Romania’s history as well as unveiling an interesting test of your inner soul, right at the very end. After exiting into sunlight you’ll transfer to the city of Medias in Sibiu County where preserved fortifications and fascinating structures, including St Margaret’s Church and the Tower of the Buglers, provide plenty of talking points alongside a unique local artist known for his paintings of spider webs. Then we head for the town of Sibiu which is one of the most beautiful cities in Romania and well-known for its German heritage-laden town squares and surrounding ringed fortifications.

Day 7: Poenari Citadel

Your week in Romania draws to a close today as you head back to Bucharest after taking the morning to visit the ruined fortress of Poenari Citadel that can be found perched over the River Arges close to the foothills of the Fagaras Mountains. If you’re feeling fit there are nearly 1,500 stairs leading up to the castle but fortune favours the brave as the views from the top are quite stunning. Your return to Bucharest will be made in the late afternoon, around 5pm, where the option to stay on for one or more days in the capital is always a great idea for those who have the time.