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MOLDAVIAN CUISINE, MUSIC AND CRAFTS

A BITE OF MOLDOVA

OVER THE DANUBE AND A GLASS OF WINE

ROLLING TRANSYLVANIA

THE DANUBE DELTA EXPERIENCE

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Are you looking for a simple and cheap way to visit the painted monasteries of bucovina.

Our Daily Tour with Guaranteed Departure* to the Painted Monasteries of Bucovina with a licenced tour guide is the answer!

Weekend in Bucovina

Of mystery, mountains and ale….

Take a week-end off and head to Bucovina! Now with a straight flight from London to Suceava!

BUCOVINA TOURS

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MOLDOVA TOURS

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Welcome to romania, a few words.

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY?

“excellent tour with a friendly and knowledgeable guide”, “accommodating and knowledgeable guide granted us a fantastic day of monastery tour”, “commited to providing the best experience they can offer…”.

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Explore Romania beneath the surface

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What our guests say.

Adrian was our guide in October 2017 to some of the Painted Monasteries near Suçeava, Romania, where we stayed for several days to learn about the culture, religion, and history of Bucovina region. (more…)

Bil Ambrecht

To see and share beautiful Romania with Ovidiu is a lifetime experience I am not going into great detail but do yourself a favor and do it with Explore Bucovina (more…)

Mike and Kerry Youlden

I recommend Ovidiu with the highest enthusiasm possible. We recently had the good fortune to have him lead my family on a personalized tour of several regions in Romania. (more…)

Sallye Whalah

I wanted to send a few pictures to give an overview of our amazing trip and all the wonderful friends we made along the way. Just one week ago today, we were on a plane headed back home from Bucharest. (more…)

Brandy Chetsas

Ovidiu Botoni, principal of Explore Bucovina, acted as our guide in October 2016 during several days in Suçeava, Romania, where we stayed while visiting Painted Monasteries.  (more…)

Mary and Walter Stapleton

Dear Ovidiu, We're back in Nantes so we send you this few words to thank you for the trip in Romania. If you want to come to see the beautiful town of Nantes and the birttany, we'll receive you with pleasure! (more…)

Catrihe et Lea

Exploring with Ovidiu is fun and exciting, not only will you learn facts about the region but you will also be enjoying the company of a good man who did his homework about the place (more…)

Dimitra Lambrou

We have traveled through many cities in six countries on our trip so far and Sorin is by far the best guide we have had so far. (more…)

Brian and Crystal

We were very impressed with Ovidiu’s knowledge of the “painted monasteries” we visited, and beyond that, we enjoyed his very personable style and willingness to talk about Romania’s history (more…)

Judy Minier, Bil Tucker

Bucovina Adventure

• Accommodation
• Attractions
• Exclusive Tour
• Holiday in Bucovina
• Holiday to Romania
• Painted Monasteries
• Private Tour
• Tours in Bucovina
• Tours in Moldavia
• Tours in Romania
• Traditional Food
• Traditional Villages
• UNESCO World Heritage Sites

AN EXCELLENT 3-DAYS TOUR OF BUCOVINA MONASTERIES

Embark on a captivating three-day tour through the heart of Bucovina, a region celebrated for its deep cultural roots and breathtaking UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Discover the spiritual majesty of Romania’s famous painted monasteries, each a canvas of medieval artistry and spiritual narrative. From the towering walls of Dragomirna Monastery to the vivid frescoes of Voronet, known as the “Sistine Chapel of the East,” immerse yourself in history and tradition. Engage with local artisans in hands-on workshops, learning the age-old crafts of egg painting and black pottery. Experience authentic Romanian hospitality with a home-hosted dinner, savoring traditional flavors in the warmth of local company. Dive into the past at the Cacica Salt Mine and explore the fortified Putna Monastery. Each step of the journey is enriched with the expertise of a certified guide, ensuring a deeply informative and personal experience. This tour promises not only a visual feast of landscapes and architectural marvels but a heartfelt connection to the traditions and people of Bucovina. The tour can be personalised according to your time and points of interest.

Itinerary : Suceava Arrival – Adancata Monastery – Dragomirna Monastery – Patrauti Painted Monastery – Customs and Traditions Museum – Bucovina Painted Monasteries (UNESCO) – Egg Painting Workshop – Home Hosted Dinner – Cacica Salt Mine – Black Pottery Workshop – Putna Monastery – Suceava Citadel – Departure

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS AND UNIQUE CULTURAL CONNECTIONS

• Exploration of Five UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Discover the rich heritage of Bucovina through visits to five UNESCO-listed Painted Monasteries, including Voronet, Moldovita, Sucevita, and Humor, each famous for their vibrant frescoes and historical significance.
• Home-Hosted Dinner in Bucovina: Experience authentic Romanian hospitality with a dinner hosted by a local family, offering a taste of traditional dishes and a chance to engage in genuine cultural exchange.
• Visit to the Tallest Medieval Monastery: Tour the Dragomirna Monastery, renowned for being the tallest medieval monastery in Bukovina, where you can admire its intricate stone carvings and unique architectural style.
• Tour of the Historic Cacica Salt Mine: Explore the depths of the Cacica Salt Mine, an over 200-year-old mine created by Polish miners, which features an underground chapel and a salt lake.
• Black Pottery Workshop: Discover the ancient craft of black pottery at a local workshop, where artisans use a special “oxygen reduction” technique to create uniquely colored ceramics.
• Visit to the Putna Monastery: Explore the Putna Monastery, built by Stephan the Great in 1481, which is a cultural treasure featuring Gothic influences and serving as a resting place for Romanian royalty.
• Immersive Cultural Insights at the Customs and Traditions Museum: Delve into the traditional life of Bucovina at the museum, where exhibits display folk costumes, crafts, and household setups, illuminating the local way of life across the seasons.
• Guided Tours by Certified Experts: Enjoy the insights and stories from certified English-speaking guides (with other languages available on request), who specialize in Romanian culture and history, enhancing your understanding of each site.
• Scenic Landscapes and Architectural Marvels: Not only does the tour provide a deep dive into the culture and history of Bucovina, but it also showcases the stunning landscapes and architectural wonders of the region, making every moment picturesque.

Day 1: Suceava Arrival – Adancata Monastery – Dragomirna Monastery – Patrauti Painted Monastery

Day 2: folk traditions museum of bucovina – bucovina painted monasteries (unesco world heritage sites) – egg painting workshop – home hosted dinner, day 3: cacica salt mine – black pottery workshop – putna fortified monastery – suceava citadel – suceava departure.

Three day Republic of Moldavia Extension with Tiraspol Tour

Extra day 1: bucovina – iasi city tour – soroca, extra day 2: soroca fortress – old orhei with traditional lunch – cricova wine cellars – chisinau city tour, extra day 3: bender fortress – tiraspol tour – bucovina.

Tour Reviews

My husband and I had a super tour of the top 5 monasteries of Suceava in Romania . Our tour lady guide & driver was a university graduate in Law who spoke perfect English, good safe driving in a reasonable car with seat belt, very knowledgeable with the top five monasteries that we were visiting, patient , very considerate about providing us enough time for pictures taking as well as maximum viewing of the sites especially with friendly rapport with some of the residents nuns and monks which made life smoother for us while visiting. Some of the wonderful frescoes both outside and inside the monasteries were so well painted and designed even though back many years ago were all very enlightening for us all.

We had family trip with Dan of 3 days from Bucharest airport to Bucovina. We were with my elderly father 92 years old who has visited his childhood village in Moldova. Dan was respectful, patient, flexible, understanding and accommodating. He gave us a professional guided tour. It was a joy traveling with him and highly recommended

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    I am Sorin Fodor,  licensed tour guide,  born and living  in  Bucovina  and  I invite you to...

...bucovina's painted monasteries.

In 1775, this part of Moldavia was annexed by the Austrian Empire and got the official name Bucovina (Land of the Beech Trees).

The unique features of these monasteries and churches are that they are painted - with dramatic and colorful religious scenes - on their outside walls. In fact  this is the  reason  why  they  are known as    "The Painted Monasteries" and also to be distinguished from the other old Orthodox Churches and Monasteries which are traditionally always painted on the inside.

These frescoes, extraordinary works of Byzantine and Moldavian art have survived for more than 400 winters, as well as the dangers posed by wars and modern environmental pollution.

Most of the monasteries were built under the Moldavian ruler Stephen the Great (1457-1504) and his son Petru Rares   (1527-1538; 1541-1546), in whose time the exterior painting style for these monasteries started.

In 1993 UNESCO listed seven painted monasteries as a world heritage sit e known as "Churches of Moldavia": Arbore, Humor, Moldovita, Patrauti, Probota, St. John the New Suceava and Voronet. In 2010 it also listed Sucevita.

Visiting the monasteries it is for sure an unforgettable experience. Not only is the architecture and the artwork unique, but the monasteries are inhabited by Orthodox nuns or monks who follow Christian traditions which have changed little for hundreds of years.

I would be happy to show my native land  treasures and explain to you what they mean for our culture, for Christianity and why faith is stronger here than in many other places in Europe.

Bucovina is not only the monasteries...

A Documentary Film About Bucovina

In the Spring of 2011 I helped Robert Mugge, an American filmmaker, make a documentary about various communities in Bucovina. The shooting took place over 3 weeks and you can see the trailer here

“Sorin was excellent – can hardly praise to highly ... "

Christopher Davy

Are you looking for old family connections in Bucovina or North Romania?

Some of the most important churches and monasteries you can visit in this region include...

Guided tours of the Painted Monasteries of Bucovina with Sorin Fodor - a professional tour guide with more than 15 years of experience.

Painted monasteries, Painted churches, Bucovina, Moldavia, Romania, Family/genealogy searches, Guided Tours, Trips, Sightseeings, Exploring Bucovina and more .. Copyright - Sorin Fodor

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