By the first century BC the Dacians or Getaes (as the Greeks called the Dacians) were the leading tribe of Eastern Europe and the richness of Dacia’s land was well known for the Roman
Empire. The conquest of Dacia was the last important conquest of Rome, under one of the greatest Roman emperor, Trajan. In the course of the two wars, between 101 and 106, the emperor Trajan and the Roman legions succeeded after fierce battles to defeat the Dacians and the greatest part of Dacia became a Roman province. The best known story of this conquest was “written” in stone on the Trajan’s column in Rome, but sources for the Roman occupation in Dacia abound all around Romanian territory. Came to this amazing journey to discover the wonderful legends of Dacians, the wolf-warriors, who believed they were immortals and way the Roman wanted to conquer their land. Follow the Roman legions crossing over the Danube River on the bridge of Apolodor of Damascus toward Sarmizegetusa Regia, the heart of Dacian kingdom.

Day 1. Saturday: Arrival in Constanta up to the evening, or in Bucharest, up to the noon. Transfer from Bucharest airport to Constanta, by car. Dinner and accommodation in a 4* Hotel in Constanta. Welcome cocktail and briefing on the trip schedule.

Day 2. Sunday: During the morning, visit to the National Museum of History in Constanta (former Greek and Roman colony Tomis) and the Roman edificium with mosaic (the biggest in this part of the world). The famous Roman poet Publius Ovidius Naso lived in exile for about 10 years and died here. He wrote two of his famous works (Tristia and Epistulae ex Ponto) in Tomis and gave us precious information about the life and customs of the native Getaes. A professional guide will depict you the most important elements of ancient Roman life in this part of nowadays Romania. Lunch in the beautiful Casino, a copy of the famous Casino in Monaco. Afternoon travel to Adamclisi, to visit one of the most valuable antique Roman monuments on Romanian territory - the Tropaeum Trajani and the vestiges of the roman castrum. The impressive monument, dedicated to Mars Ultor (Mars the Avenger) was built to commemorate the battles of Roman legions with Dacian forces during the winter of 102 A.D. Near the monument there are two more relics of this event: a mausoleum of a Roman officer who died in battle, and not far from that, an altar, also raises on Trajan order, in the memory of the soldiers died during this battle. Continue the travel to Bucharest. Accommodation in a 4* Hotel downtown. Dinner and, if time allows, walking tour of the old town.

Day 3. Monday: After an early breakfast, we depart to Drobeta Turnu Severin, at the Iron Gates on Danube, the starting point of Roman military campaign in Dacia. Lunch on the way.
After lunch, we continue our drive to Drobeta (old roman name of the city). After arrival in Drobeta - accommodation outside the city to a 3*+ Hotel next to the famous Iron Gate power plant on Danube. Visit The Museum of Iron Gates where we will be held a briefing on the Roman-Dacian war. Visit the Roman castrum and the ruins of Trajan’s stone Bridge. The bridge was built over Danube in the gorge of the Iron Gate by the famous architect Apolodor from Damask to allow to the Romans legions to move towards Dacia. Special dinner based on Danube Fish in a restaurant on the Danube bank.

Day 4. Tuesday: After breakfast we will visit the Iron Gate Powerplant Museum where we can see the inside of the power plant, and a small Museum about the turkish Island of Ada Kaleh which lies now on the bottom of the Danube. We go by bus to Oravita, where we might visit the nice monastery of Saint Ana and enjoy a cruise on the Danube till the Iron gates, a marvelous area along the Danube canyon something unique and outstanding. Lunch on the ship or in Oravita. On the way back we will stop in Herculane Spa, the oldest health resort  in Romania, known since the Roman times, when it was called Ad aquas Herculis sacras. Visit to the roman baths (thermae) with the possibility to have a bath into the waters of  the oligomineral thermal lake when, as the legend says Hercules himself used to come here and enjoy the famous mineral water springs. So don’t forget your swimming suite. Dinner in Herculane. Return to our Hotel.

Day 5. Wednesday: After breakfast, travel through Timis-Cerna Valey, the main route the Roman legions followed on their way to Sarmizegetusa. Stop in Tapae (The Transylvania Iron Gate) the battlefield of two Roman-Dacian bloody clashes during the wars in 101 and 105 AD years. The surroundings between Drobeta and Deva is one of the most beautiful in Romania. Lunch picnic in this area. On the way to Deva we will stop and visit archeological site of Sarmizegetusa Ulpia Trajana, the new capital of the Roman Province of Dacia, built by Trajan after the second war in 106 A.D., and the museum there. Arrival around 4 pm. in Deva and first we visit the Museum of Dacian and Roman Civilisation in Deva, where a professional guide will depict in depth the most important aspects of Dacian Apolodor from Damask to allow to the Romans legions to move towards Dacia. Special dinner based on Danube Fish in a restaurant on the Danube bank. civilization and the effects of Roman conquest – do not forget that Romanians are of latin origin. Accommodation and dinner in a 4* Hotel in Deva.

Day 6. Thursday: Probably the hardiest day of our trip. We will travel along Orastie Valey to some of Sureanu Mountain picks to visit the defense system of fortresses that protected the Dacian capital. The area was, during both wars with the Roman Empire, the scene of fierce battles. According the available time, we will visit one or two of these fortresses, part of a network of six that guarded the heart of Dacia. The aim of our trip is Sarmizegetusa Regia, the capital of Dacian kingdom, and for this we will travel the last part of the trip on
our own foot (there is no other way to reach that place). So it is good to have a pair of boots with you for this. Lunch will be a picnic at Sarmisegetuza Regia. Return to Deva late evening, dinner and accommodation in the same Hotel

Day 7. Friday: During the morning we leave Deva to Rosia Montana to visit the Roman Gold mine from Alburnus Major (Roman name of Rosia Montana), one of the biggest in the entire empire. We will go underground and see the ancient galleries, where there are working places (mine adits, shafts, gangways) preserved from Roman times.After lunch we continue our trip to Alba Iulia, former Roman collonia Apulum, the garrison of The XIII Gemina Legion. The city was a very important center of Roman Dacia, having hundreds of inscriptions and a multitude of artifacts of Dacian province daily life (e.g., baths, temples, streets, aqueducts, evidence of a collegium, coins, and statues of deities). We visit the National Museum
of Unity. Accommodation in 4* hotel in Alba Iulia. Dinner with traditional Romanian folk dance and cuisine.

Day 8. Saturday: Travel from Alba Iulia to Bucharest through Sibiu, one of the most beautiful Saxon cities in Transylvania. Stop for a short walking tour of the city and a good Saxon
lunch and afternoon we continue our way through the Red Tower Pass along the Olt river. Around 6 PM we will arrive in Bucharest, special farewell dinner and accommodation to a 4* or 5* Hotel.

Day 9. Sunday: Departure home If time permits we can visit the National History Museum, the thesaurus, and may be a short walking tour through the old Bucharest.