6 DAYS ROMANIAA Photography Tour with Catalin Marin

This October, Romania born photographer, Catalin Marin, will show us the best kept secret for photography in Romania.Commonly referred to as “Land of Dracula”, Romania certainly offers visitors much more than just one castle. This trip will bring you to high mountains with rolling fields interspersed with quaint historical townships of medieval architecture. It is considered the last bastion of Europe’s traditional heart and soul.

Tour Exclusives:

Small group size of maximum 12 people Photography review and critic session by Catalin Marin Pre-departure workshop by Catalin Marin Special visit to local craftsman and painter in their studio for portrait shooting. Tipping to Guide, Driver & Porter included All meals included

Unit 114, The Metropolis Tower, Business Bay, Dubai, UAE. PO Box: 241462Tel: (971) 04 551 9797 Fax: (971) 04 551 9798

enquiries@countryholidays.ae Web. www.countryholidays.ae

About Catalin Marin

Catalin Marin is an award winning photographer based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates and an avid photo blogger.

Catalin also runs a popular travel photography blog , which has been awarded Best Asian & Oceanian Photoblog in 2011, was declared one of the three most outstanding photoblogs in 2013 and has attracted more than a million visitors since 2007.Catalin is also a Nikon School instructor in Dubai and holds travel photography adventures and workshops throughout the world.

Day 1, 16 Oct (Fri) Dubai / Bucharest / Lake VidraruFly Dubai / Bucharest FZ83701 0915/1330 (5h15m)Upon arrival, be met and transfer 2 hours to Curtea de Arges Monastery for a short visit and shooting. A superb example of Byzantine design, the cathedral was built between 1514 and 1526 using materials brought almost entirely from Constantinople, on the orders of Neagoe Basarab, the son of Basarab I.Then we will continue 1 hour to Lake Vidraru and make a brief stop at the dam for shooting before checking in Valea cu Peşti. After dinner, Catalin will review your 2 images of yours and provide his opinion individually.

(Dinner included) Day 2, 17 Oct (Sat) Lake Vidraru / Transfăgărășan / SibiuWake up early for the morning mist shooting around the reservoir and surround forest, then return to the hotel for breakfast. Afterward, we will drive to Transfăgărășan highway, where we will stop for shooting. More than 150 kilometres in length and it is Romania’s most spectacular and best known road. Fully open only from June to October, the road’s highest point is at 2042 metres: the tunnel which links the northern and southern sides at Lake Balea.*If Transfăgărășan highway maybe closed due to snow. If it is closed, we will drive to Sibou via Valea Jiului.

In the late afternoon, arrive Sibiu and check in The Forum Hotel. This hotel is part of the Sibiu Medieval Fortress and offers classically furnished accommodation right next to the Council Tower, within walking distance from the Small Square, the Bridge of Lies and the Large Square.

Unit 114, The Metropolis Tower, Business Bay, Dubai, UAE. PO Box: 241462Tel: (971) 04 551 9797 Fax: (971) 04 551 9798

enquiries@countryholidays.ae Web. www.countryholidays.ae

In the evening, we will take a short walk across the city square for dinner, and follow by a session for Catalin to review your raw images and a critic session.(Breakfast, lunch and dinner included) 

Day 3, 18 Oct (Sun) Sibiu / Sighisoara / CincsorIn the morning, we will make a city photo walk in the old city of Sibiu, and we will meet a local craftsman at his workshop. This is arguably not only Romania’s prettiest city but also an important cultural and religious centre. Today you will tour the city with its many historic buildings from the Saxon era.In the late morning, we drive to a view point where we can get a fortified church of Biertan, then continue and explore Sighisoara. Founded in the 13th-century by German immigrants and best known as the birthplace of Count Dracula, the town retains a medieval ambiance. We will have lunch here and spend the afternoon for shooting. Lunch in Sighisoara.

Later in the afternoon we will stop in a forsaken village situated in a picturesque zone. Here you have different activities to experience such as village and food photo shooting as you'll watch how the picnic food is being prepared. You will be  surprised by diversity of traditional dishes cooked specially for your dinner.  (Breakfast, lunch and dinner included)

Unit 114, The Metropolis Tower, Business Bay, Dubai, UAE. PO Box: 241462Tel: (971) 04 551 9797 Fax: (971) 04 551 9798

enquiries@countryholidays.ae Web. www.countryholidays.ae

Unit 114, The Metropolis Tower, Business Bay, Dubai, UAE. PO Box: 241462Tel: (971) 04 551 9797 Fax: (971) 04 551 9798

enquiries@countryholidays.ae Web. www.countryholidays.ae

Day 4, 19 Oct (Mon) Cincsor / Bran / Rucar / BrasovToday we will visit Bran Castle (Early morning), then we will depart on the scenic Bran-Rucar pass. Lunch in Bran at a local pension

Then drive to Brasov and check in Hotel Belle Musica. Then make a short city photo walk toward to residential neighborhood in the afternoon. Dinner in the very nice Restaurant of the Hotel.In the evening, Catalin will share his post processing tips. (Breakfast, lunch and dinner included)

Day 5, 20 Oct (Tue) Brasov / Sinaia / Bucharest After breakfast, we will make our move to Sinaia and make a short visit to Peles Castle. Then we continue to Bucharest, and check in the Hotel Berthelot.

Lunch in Bucharest in the old city at Caru cu Bere RestaurantIn the afternoon, make a city photo walk in the old city. In the evening, enjoy the farewell dinner at the Artist Restaurant. (Breakfast, lunch and dinner included)

Day 6, 21 Oct (Wed) Bucharest / DubaiIn the morning we visit a studio of one of the painter in the city.Then we will transfer to Bucharest airport.Fly Bucharest / Dubai FZ 83702 1430/2015 (4h15m) (Breakfast included)

Unit 114, The Metropolis Tower, Business Bay, Dubai, UAE. PO Box: 241462Tel: (971) 04 551 9797 Fax: (971) 04 551 9798

enquiries@countryholidays.ae Web. www.countryholidays.ae

QUOTATIONPRICES PER PERSON:- These prices are based on min. 6 adults traveling together on the dates stated above.

Hotel Price per person in twin sharing- Pesti: Valea cu Peşti- Sibiu: Hotel Forum- Cincsor: Casa de Oaspeti Pension- Brasov: Hotel Belle Musica- Bucharest: Hotel Berthelot

6 - 7 persons: AED 9,570/-8 - 9 persons: AED 8,810/-10-12 persons: AED 8,160/-

Single Supplement: AED 700/-International Flight by FlyDubai (the lowest available)Economy class: Per adult: AED 1,680/- + tax AED 171/- = AED 1,851/-Business class: Per adult: AED 5,429/- + tax AED 171/- = AED 5,600/-Notes- Please indicate your meal preference during the time of booking.

COST INCLUDES:

- Accommodation as stated on twin or double sharing basis.- Meals as stated with 1 non alcoholic drink per person per meal.- Professional fee of photographer.- Tips and Gratuities to the camp staffs.- All transfer mentioned in the itinerary with comfortable seat in a spacious vehicle

(Window seat is guarantee for everyone)- Tour guide from Day 3 until the last day;- Entrance fee mentioned in the itinerary.

COST EXCLUDES:

- International airfare for flights as stated above (separately quoted). - Visa (if required).- Travel Insurance.- Personal and other expenses such as premium wine and champagne and telephone bill

which is not stated in the itinerary.

Unit 114, The Metropolis Tower, Business Bay, Dubai, UAE. PO Box: 241462Tel: (971) 04 551 9797 Fax: (971) 04 551 9798

enquiries@countryholidays.ae Web. www.countryholidays.ae

HOTEL DESCRIPTIONSPESTI

Hotel Valea cu PestiIt has an exceptional location, in an area in which on an arc circle of 270 degrees offers a beautiful view over the Vidraruhotel valeacupesti .ro/hotel-description- valea - cu - pesti

SIBIU

Hotel ForumContinental Forum Sibiu building dates since 1912, but has been fully renovated and redecorated in 2007. The hotel is located right next to the historical center.continental hotel s.ro/Continental- Forum - Sibiu /en/

CINCSOR

Casa de Oaspeti Pension  Located at the foothills of the Carpathian Mountains, this boutique hotel offers authenticity, relaxation, nature and culture and the possibility to explore the surrounding areas and local lifestyle transilvania-cincsor.ro/en

BRASOV

Hotel Belle Musica Located at the foothills of the Carpathian Mountains, this boutique hotel offers authenticity, relaxation, nature and culture and the possibility to explore the surrounding areas and local lifestyle bella muzica.ro/

Unit 114, The Metropolis Tower, Business Bay, Dubai, UAE. PO Box: 241462Tel: (971) 04 551 9797 Fax: (971) 04 551 9798

enquiries@countryholidays.ae Web. www.countryholidays.ae

BUCHAREST

Hotel BerthelotLocalized in the very heart of Bucharest, Berthelot Hotel offers to its guests a unique experience, where intimate, luxurious and vanguard represent key wordswww. hotelberthelot .ro/

IMPORTANT NOTESPlease note that

- the above is just a quotation for Migration Safari Photography Workshop and no reservation has been made. To proceed with the reservation, we require a deposit of AED4,000/- per person

- the above quotation is based on a package price, which also includes the working out of itineraries and coordination with local operators. While we are most happy to make any adjustment or take out component such as flights where you may have better deals, we will not be able to breakdown and sell individual items separately.

If you are happy with the proposed and wish to proceed with the booking, please let us know which is your preference and print and fill up the attached tour booking form with our terms and conditions.

If you wish to make any further adjustment, please let us know accordingly.

Unit 114, The Metropolis Tower, Business Bay, Dubai, UAE. PO Box: 241462Tel: (971) 04 551 9797 Fax: (971) 04 551 9798

enquiries@countryholidays.ae Web. www.countryholidays.ae