Itinerary

Day 1 Chisinau
Upon arrival in Chisinau you will be met and taken to your centrally located hotel. Afternoon walking tour of the city center. See the main street of the capital, Stefan cel Mare, the Central Cathedral, the Parliament building, the alley of literature classics in the park of Stefan cel Mare. Welcome evening in the typical Moldovan restaurant “La Taifas”. Overnight in Chisinau.

Day 2 Chisinau-Cricova-Tipova- Butuceni-Old Orhei-Chisinau
Departure to the Cricova Winery. Excursion through the streets of the underground “wine-city”, “Chardonnay”, “Cabernet”, through the workshops, where the classic varieties of champagne, vintage wines, are produced, visit the National collection. Continue with a wine tasting. Visit the Tipova Monastery, the biggest Orthodox cave monastery in Moldova and in Eastern Europe, where is carved a church, a bell tower, 15 cells, a refectory, and numerous facilities, which are connected with galleries and staircases. On the way back, lunch at a rural pension which includes national Moldovan dishes, home-made wine and a small folklore program. Visit Orheiul Vechi, a unique natural and historical complex in the open air, located on a promontory formed by the bend of the Raut River. Traces of the people from the ninth century were found here. The ruins of bath-house, mosque, caravanserai and other structures of urban settlements (Shehr-al-Jadid) are well preserved. Visit the ethnographic museum in the village of Butuceni. Return to Chisinau for overnight.

Day 3 Chisinau-Dolna-Hincu-Capriana-Milestii Mici-Chisinau
After breakfast at the hotel, visit the Puskin Museum in Chisinau. Then enjoy an excursion to the house-museum of Puskin in the Dolnaland estate of Z.Ralli Arbor, where the famous Russian poet had stayed during his exile in Moldova A short visit to Hincu, the monastery located in the picturesque Codri forest, being a favorite place for pilgrims and tourists. Later, visit the Capriana Monastery (15th cent.), which is the residence of the metropolitan bishop and the symbol of national revival. Lunch at a restaurant on the way. In the afternoon you will be taken on an excursion to Milestii Mici, the largest “underground wine city” in Europe (length – 200 km), that was included in the book of Guinness World Records. Enjoy a small wine tasting. Return to Chisinau for overnight.

Day 4 Chisinau- Bender-Tiraspol-Chisinau
Early departure to the region on left bank of the Dniester River, Transnistria. Visit the War Memorial, Bender fortress, where Charles XII stayed with his army. Tour of the Historical Museum. Sightseeing tour of Transnistria’s “capital”, Tiraspol, see the monument of Lenin, Suvorov and Ekaterina II. Lunch in the typical Ukrainian restaurant, “Kumaneok”. Return to Chisinau for overnight.

Day 5 Chisinau-Soroca-Pokrovka- Rudi-Chisinau
After an early breakfast, tour to the city of Soroca. Visit the medieval fortress with its original design, which played an important and key role in defensive battle against the Turks. Visit the monument called, “the Candle of Gratitude” and sightseeing of the district where the Gypsy’s live. Drive to old believer village of Pokrovka. On the way visit the monument “Struve Geodetic Arc”. Lunch in a restaurant with Russian food “Pokrovsky manor”. Later you will enjoy a short excursion to the Rudi Nunnery. Return to Chisinau for overnight.

Day 6 Chisinau-Comrat-Besalma- Ceadir-Lunga-Chisinau
Tour to the south of Moldova visiting the Gagauzian area which is inhabited by Gagauzians and Bulgarians. Short sightseeing tour of the capital of Gagauzia-Comrat. Visit the National Gagauz history and ethnographic museum “D. Cara-Ciobanu” in Beshalma introduces the history and culture of the Bulgarians and Gagauzians in south Moldova. Enjoy lunch at a restaurant with Bulgarian and Gagauzian food . Continue to Ceadir-Lunga. Visit a stud-farm in Ceadir-Lunga, where thoroughbred Vladimir’s trotters are raised. Return to Chisinau for dinner at a local restaurant and overnight.

Day 7 Chisinau-Causeni-Purcari Winery-Chisinau
In the morning transfer to Causeni, for a visit to the church (15 century) with its original architecture of the of the Tatar-Mongolian era. Continue for a visit to the Purcari Winery. Enjoy a tour of the cellars and wine-tasting including “Negru de Purcari” and “Rosu de Purcari, which were delivered to the Queen’s court. Lunch at the Purcari’s Winery restaurant. Departure to Chisinau for overnight.

Day 8 Chisinau-End of Tour
After breakfast you will be taken to the airport. You can extend your stay in Moldova or continue to Romania or Ukraine.

Additional nights available.