CHRISTMAS MARKETS IN IASI (ROMANIA) – CHISINAU (MOLDOVA) – ORHEI (MOLDOVA) - ODESSA (UKRAINE)

6 days / 5 nights
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DISCOVER THE ATMOSPHERE OF THE WINTER HOLIDAYS IN 3 COUNTRIES: ROMANIA, MOLDOVA AND UKRAINE!

This winter tour offers you the opportunity to enjoy the Christmas atmosphere and visit the Christmas Markets in 4 cities such as Iasi (Romania), Chisinau (Moldova), Orhei (Moldova) and Odessa (Ukraine).  You will be able to taste the traditional food of each country, drink mulled wine and purchase gifts and handmade decorations for your family and friends!



Highlights

Iasi city

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Christmas Market in Iasi

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Asconi winery

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Christmas Market in...

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Cultural, Natural and...

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Sledge ride in Butuceni

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Cricova winery

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Arta Rustica Handicraft...

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Curchi Monastery

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Château Vartely winery

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Roman Catholic Church

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Christmas Market in Orhei

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Castel Mimi winery

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Aquatir Sturgeon Complex

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Christmas Market in Odessa

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Odessa city

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Itinerary A day-by-day plan to guide your journey. Download PDF

Day 1: Arrival in Iasi, Romania

On arrival at Iasi International Airport, you will enjoy a city tour in Iasi, named Open Air Museum or the Cultural Centre of Moldova region in Romania. During the city tour, you will see the Palace of Culture, one of the most remarkable buildings and a true symbol of the city’s past. The Palace was built between 1906 and 1925 on the location of the former prince’s palace and is a happy blend of several architectural styles: neo-gothic, romantic and neo-baroque. The Three Holy Hierarchs Monastery is another important attraction of Iasi included in the city tour, distinguished by its unusual quality of being completely dressed in engravings and decoration elements. The walls of this church are the reason why it is among the most valuable architectural monuments of the country.

After the city tour, you will be transferred to your accommodation in Iasi.

After checking in to the hotel, you will visit the main Christmas Market in Iasi. Lasting for the whole month of December, the Fair will be filled with more than 100 wooden huts where you can build street food, drink mulled wine, or purchase gifts and handmade decorations. You will find many presents your family and friends, and you will be fascinated by the smell of the Christmas tree or the lovely sound of Christmas carols.

In the evening, you will have dinner at a local restaurant in Iasi city where you will enjoy Romanian traditional dishes.


HIGHLIGHTS: Iasi city, Christmas Market in Iasi

Day 2: Visit of the Christmas Market in Chisinau

In the morning, you will continue your journey to a new country, Moldova and you will be transferred from Iasi to Puhoi, where you will visit Asconi winery. The winery was founded in 1994 and achieved a lot due to modern wine making technologies. Nowadays at Asconi estate European varieties are grown, but special attention is paid to indigenous varieties such as Rara Neagra, Feteasca, etc. One of the features of Asconi winery is that they pick up the grapes mechanically at night when the grapes are still cold. During the excursion, wine tasting and lunch at the winery you will be able to discover the wonders of this place.

Next, you will be transferred to Chisinau, the capital of Moldova, where you will visit the Christmas Market. The charm of the winter holidays are mostly felt on the Chisinau’s main Christmas Fair. Hundreds of lights and decorations were installed in the yard in the center of the city. There, the visitors can try traditional food, boiled wine and can buy presents for their relatives.

In the evening, you will have dinner at a traditional restaurant in Chisinau, after which you will check in to the hotel.


HIGHLIGHTS: Asconi winery, Christmas Market in Chisinau

Day 3: Cricova winery - the pearl of Moldovan wine-making

In the morning, you will set off on a time travel to Orheiul Vechi (Old Orhei) to see a natural amphitheater revealing a territory which was first inhabited 40 000 years ago. The Cultural, Natural and Landscape Reserve Orheiul Vechi includes a series of historical and cultural monuments as well as natural landscapes in the gorge of the Raut River. Ancient fortifications, cave monasteries, monks and hermits – here you can follow the history of this region. The originality of Orheiul Vechi landscape is due to the gorge of the Raut River, dug under the form of a canyon in the limestone layers of the former Sarmatian Sea, about 14 million years ago.

After visiting Orheiul Vechi, you will travel to Butuceni village where you will experience the Moldovan winter during the sledge ride through the village.

After the sledge ride, you have lunch at Butuceni guesthouse where you will try traditional dishes.

After lunch, you will enjoy the day at Cricova winery – the only wine enterprise that was awarded the highest state prize “The Order of the Republic” and has been declared by law a national cultural heritage. During the excursion at Cricova winery in the tourist train, at a depth of 80 m, you will discover the wonders of this place. Cricova underground galleries are formed by over seventy streets covering an area of nearly 120 km, each bearing Bacchic names: Sauvignon, Cabernet, Cahors, etc. The jewel of the underground treasure is the National Collection, including over 600 types of wine totaling about 1 million bottles. Here you will admire the oldest bottle of wine - "Jewish Easter Wine", dating from 1902, discover the tastes of Cricova wines.

In the evening, you will have dinner at a local restaurant in Chisinau, where you will enjoy European cuisines dishes.


HIGHLIGHTS: Cultural, Natural and Landscape Reserve Orheiul Vechi, Sledge ride in Butuceni, Cricova winery

 

What's included

  • Accommodation in a double (DBL) or twin (TWN) room at the hotel of your choice in Chisinau (3 nights) and the proposed hotels in Iasi (1 night) and Odessa (1 night);
  • Breakfast at the hotels in Iasi, Chisinau and Odessa;
  • Lunch on day 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 of the itinerary;
  • Dinner on day 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 of the itinerary;
  • Excursions on the entire itinerary;
  • Entrance fees according to the itinerary;
  • Tasting of 3 types of wine at Asconi winery, 4 types of wine at Cricova winery, 6 types of wine at Château Vartely winery and 3 types of wine at Castel Mimi winery;
  • Tasting of 2 types of caviar at Aquatir Sturgeon Complex;
  • Transportation during the entire itinerary;
  • English speaking guide.