BESSARABIA & BEYOND A unique escorted tour of Moldova and Odessa 6th to 15th September 2018 Our current booking conditions apply to all reservations and are available on request. Cover images: Front - Medieval fortress in Soroca on the banks of the Dniester River; Back - Orheiul Vechi Monastery Interior of the Cave Monastery at Orheiul Vechi Curchi Monastery Vineyards of Cricova Odessa National Academic Theatre of Opera and Ballet here are few places left in the world, journey to Butuceni for lunch in a local restaurant especially in Europe, that can be Soroca with national Moldovan dishes on offer. This T afternoon we will visit Orheiul Vechi, Moldova’s legitimately referred to as ‘off the beaten MOLDOVA most important historical site. See the impressive Clisova Noua 13th century Cave Monastery, carved into the track’ but Moldova is certainly a country Orheiul Vechi Curchi limestone rock, the ruins of the Geto Dacian that can lay claim to the description. Our Cricova fortress and visit the Ethnographic Museum. Transnistria in-depth, escorted tour of this charming Chisinau We will return to Chisinau via one of the oldest Hincesti Milestii Tiraspol Moldovan monasteries – Monastery Curchi, which country, with its rich cultural heritage, Mici was founded in 1773 and is known as one of the Purcari will explore a wealth of interesting sites Comrat most beautiful pieces of Bessarabian architecture. Odessa Return to Chisinau for dinner this evening. Gagauzia including Medieval fortresses, magnificent UKRAINE wineries and the autonomous territory of Day 4 Clisova Noua & Soroca. This morning we visit a handicraft museum in the village of Clisova Transnistria with its Soviet architecture. Noua. Reflecting Moldavian way of life, customs Crossing into Ukraine we will visit Odessa, the ‘pearl of the Black Sea’, and traditions, this small museum showcases samples of national objects of Moldavia’s to admire the splendid architecture and explore the fascinating labyrinth people and culture. Afterwards, we head north of underground tunnels before returning to Moldova where our final days towards Soroca near the Ukrainian border. Here, will be spent admiring the beautiful, untouched countryside and of course following a traditional lunch, we will visit the impressive Medieval fortress which played an enjoying the local food and splendid wines of the region. important and key role in the defensive battle against the Turks and was one of the ‘stone belt of fortresses’ built to protect Moldova. Return to The Itinerary Chisinau for dinner this evening. Day 1 London Stansted to Chisinau, Moldova. early 1990s following an extensive renovation, Fly by scheduled flight. Arrive this evening into and is home to Moldova’s largest religious Day 5 Gagauzia. Located in southwest Moldova Moldova’s capital, Chisinau and transfer to the library. We return to Chisinau this evening and is the autonomous region of Gagauzia. This little- Radisson Blu Leogrand Hotel, our base for the next enjoy dinner in a local restaurant. visited territory is home to Gagauzians, a minority five nights. Meet tonight for dinner in the hotel. Day 3 Cricova Winery, Orheiul Vechi & Curchi. In Day 2 Chisinau & Capriana Monastery. After recent years Moldova has become renowned for breakfast in the hotel, we will enjoy a walking its wines and this morning we will visit one of the tour of Chisinau including the Central Cathedral, most popular cellars at Cricova, which produces Parliament building and the excellent National some of the country’s best sparkling wine. We Museum of Ethnography and Natural History. will learn about the production methods, which After lunch at a local restaurant, continue on to follow the French system very closely, before the 15th century Capriana Monastery, the current exploring the huge cellar network. Situated 80 residence of the Metropolitan Bishop and the metres underground and stretching out for a base for many past rulers of Moldova including total of 120 kilometres, these cellars are used by Stefan the Great. The monastery was closed both the vineyard and many wine aficionados as a during the Soviet rule but was reopened in the personal vault. After our tasting, we continue our Manuc Bei manor house Statue of Lenin, Comrat www.noble-caledonia.co.uk Odessa National Academic Theatre of Opera and Ballet Ottaman fortress at Tighina, Transnistria group of Turkic origin that affiliate with the will see the famous Primorsky Boulevard and the and manor house which is located in Hincesti. Eastern Orthodox Church. We will visit the capital Potemkin Steps which rise to a height of almost Manuc Bei (1769-1817) was a wealthy merchant, of the region, Comrat and, after a local lunch, 500 feet from the sea to the upper town. Also, see diplomat, and inn-keeper during the period of tour the neighbouring village of Besalma and visit the acoustically perfect Opera House which is one the Ottoman Empire. In 1812 he played a major a local house to learn about life in the region. of the most impressive buildings in Europe. Enjoy role in negotiating the signing of the Treaty of Return to Chisinau for dinner this evening. lunch in a local restaurant and this afternoon visit Bucharest between the Russian and Ottoman the Archaeological Museum. Established in 1875 empires. Towards the end of his life, he retired Day 6 Transnistria & Odessa, Ukraine. Situated it was the first museum of its kind in the former to his estate of Hincesti where his son later built to the east of Chisinau, on the Ukrainian border, Russian Empire, housing jewellery and coins from the manor house which was designed by famed is the state of Transnistria. Officially part of early Black Sea civilisations. Following an early architect Alexander Bernardazzi in the style of a Moldova, it is run as an autonomous territory and dinner, attend a ballet or music performance at French chateau. It is now a museum with more clings to its Soviet roots; statues of Lenin overlook the Odessa National Academic Theatre of Opera than 20,000 artefacts, which we will explore the streets and Russian is the official language and Ballet (subject to schedules and availability). with our guide. After our visit we continue whilst the hammer and sickle flag flies from the to Milestii Mici Winery which is renowned as buildings. We will start our day in Tighina seeing Day 8 Odessa, Purcari & Chisinau, Moldova. having the largest cellar in the world with nearly the impressive 15th century Ottoman fortress Today we visit the fascinating Odessa Catacombs. 200 kilometres of caves situated 80 metres before transferring to Tiraspol, the capital The sandstone on which Odessa stands is riddled underground. There are now over one million of Transnistria. On a city tour we will see the with approximately 1000 kilometres of tunnels, bottles stored here and we will explore the monument of Lenin, outside of the Presidential quarried out for building in the 19th century. They cellars and have a tasting before enjoying lunch Palace, the World War Two tanks, and the unique have been used by smugglers, revolutionaries at the vineyard. Return to the hotel this afternoon and typically Soviet architecture. We will enjoy and World War Two partisans. Our morning and enjoy some free time before meeting for our lunch at a local restaurant before travelling to tour includes a visit to one of the network of farewell dinner this evening in a local restaurant. Odessa, crossing the border into Ukraine, and tunnels in Nerubayske village on the north-west arriving in the late afternoon at the Alexandrovsky edge of Odessa, which sheltered a group of Day 10 Chisinau to London Stansted. After Hotel, our base for the next two nights. Enjoy partisans during World War Two and now has breakfast we will check out of the hotel and dinner at a local restaurant this evening. been turned into the Museum of Partisan Glory, transfer to the airport for our return scheduled also known as Catacombs. Leaving Ukraine, we flight to London Stansted. Day 7 Odessa. Founded by Catherine the Great in return to Chisinau and en-route visit the Purcari 1794, following the Russian victory over the Turks, Winery where we can appreciate the local wines. Odessa today is a popular resort. On our tour we Here, a unique micro-climate, the location of PRICES PER PERSON the vineyards on the south-western and south- Based on double occupancy eastern slopes, proximity to the Black sea and Twin: £2495 Single: £2795 closeness to the Nistru River provides ideal conditions for the creation of high quality wines. PRICE INCLUDES: Economy class Enjoy a tour of the cellars, the oldest in Moldova scheduled air travel • Seven nights hotel and unchanged since 1827, and a tasting before accommodation in Chisinau and two nights lunch at the winery. After our visit we continue hotel accommodation in Odessa as described our journey back to Chisinau where we will check (or similar) on a bed and breakfast basis • in to the Radisson Blu Leogrand Hotel for a two Lunch and dinner daily • Excursions • English- night stay. Enjoy dinner at the hotel this evening. speaking local guide • Noble Caledonia Tour Manager • Gratuities • Transfers. Day 9 Manus Bei & Milestii Mici Winery. After Not Included: Travel insurance. breakfast we journey to The Manuc Bei estate Statue of Lenin, Comrat Interior of Capriana Monastery, Chisinau +44 (0)20-7752 0000 2 Chester Close, Belgravia, London, SW1X 7BE +44 (0)20 7752 0000 | [email protected] | www.noble-caledonia.co.uk Our current booking conditions apply to all reservations and are available on request. Cover images: Front - Medieval fortress in Soroca on the banks of the Dniester River; Back - Orheiul Vechi Monastery 08914 240118_T.