Provisional dates for next year:
1st-8th September 2027
Bookings Now Open. Email me at irina.r.georgescu@gmail.com to book your place.
Discover Transylvania from its Ancestors to Descendants
Enjoy its most exciting dishes and explore the rich culture and traditions of the Saxon villages.
Explore through food
There is no better way to learn about a culture than through eating local food and meeting local people. This is exactly what you will do: meet producers, stay at local guesthouses, eat traditional food and enjoy cookery demos and hands-on cookery classes.
The tour is focused on food and culinary traditions, but you won’t miss the local landmarks everyone needs to see.
The tour is adults-only. Language: English.
Culinary Tour Highlights
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A journey from the city to the countryside following the Saxon story.
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We will meet in one of the most beautiful Saxon cities, Sibiu.
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Visit a UNESCO Saxon town, Sighișoara.
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Stay in a Saxon house in the charming village of Alma Vii.
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Eat in family-run restaurants and local kitchens, which are kitchens in people’s homes authorised to cook for tourists.
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Enjoy hands-on cookery courses and demos.
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Taste: local drinks, charcuterie and cheese.
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Enjoy: curated menus to make the culinary journey memorable.
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Private and comfortable transport with an experienced driver.
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Culinary guide: food writer and cookbook author Irina Georgescu.
- Logistical support: a second person will join Irina to look after the group.
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All meals and the drinks paired with these meals are included. Water and soft drinks during transfers.
- Group size: 10-16 people.
It was a truly beautiful experience. It is clear to me that there was so much thought and care, time and effort, put into the selections for the tour. The food was phenomenal. The drinks well suited. The people that we were introduced to were incredibly sincere and lovely. Our accommodations were very comfortable. The transportation and logistics were smooth. Each experience was unique and sits out vividly. Would I recommend folks to travel with you? I would tell them to run towards the opportunity!
Culinary Tour: Itinerary
A Day 1 Arrival in Sibiu
- There is an international airport in Sibiu
- Hotel accommodation in the city’s historic Old Town.
- Explore the surrounding area of Sibiu (weather permitting)
- Welcome dinner and the first tasting of Transylvanian flavours.
Day 2 Transfer to the Saxon guesthouse in the countryside, Alma Vii village
- Breakfast at the hotel
- On the way, stop for a cookery demo and a light lunch
- Check-in at the Saxon guesthouse in Alma Vii
- Transylvanian Welcome Dinner
Day 3: Explore Saxon villages
- Breakfast
- Visit the beautiful fortified churches in Viscri. Find out about King Charles III involvement in restoring these sites
- Have lunch in a local kitchen in Meșendorf, including a hands-on cookery course
- Explore the local Old Orchard
- Return to Alma Vii to relax and have a light dinner
‘Irina is the most amazing host, and I met some fantastic people on the tour. She partnered with local bakers and cooks, and we were able to see demos, participate in making dishes, and honestly eat our weight in food every day. Lovely, soul-filling days.’
“Many thanks from us too. We will treasure the memories of a wonderful trip with superb guidance and great company.”
Culinary Tour: Itinerary
Day 4 Relax in Alma Vii
- Breakfast
- Visit Biertan UNESCO Fortified Church (15min drive)
- Return to Alma Vii for lunch and hands-on cookery course (optional) or cookery demo
- Relax, go for a walk in the village, visit Alma Vii Fortified Church
- Dinner outdoors at Alma Via
Day 5 Exploring Sighișoara
- Breakfast
- Visit Sighisoara and free time for shopping
- Light lunch in a nearby Saxon village
- Visit to a local coppersmith
- Dinner on our way back to Alma Vii.
Day 6 Slow Living: Cooking and Village Traditions
- Breakfast and lazy morning
- Cookery demo and cookery class for lunch
- Optional walk to explore the countryside around Alma Vii
- Traditional dinner in a nearby village
Day 7 Return to Sibiu
- Breakfast and check-out from our guesthouse in the countryside
- Visit a local Monastery
- Late lunch in the countryside
- Return to Sibiu and check-in
- Farewell drinks with light snacks (no dinner)
Day 8 Departure
Breakfast at the hotel.
Please note that some activities may change due to availability.
The Food
Travellers should be able to eat meat, fish, mushrooms, dairy and nuts.
Unfortunately, dietary requirements such as gluten- or dairy-free and allergy requirements can’t be accommodated, but please check with us first to see if we can adapt some of the dishes if needed.
Activity level
Although the walks will be short, travellers should feel comfortable walking on uneven ground, on cobbled streets, and up and down stairs.
The Price
The price includes:
- Private transport from the moment the tour starts.
- Accommodation in hotels and guesthouses with rooms with your own private bathroom
- All meals and the drinks paired with these meals are included
- All culinary experiences, cookery courses and demos, and tasting events
- Entry fees to all tourist attractions that we visit as a group
The price doesn’t include:
- The flights or any transport to Sibiu, and the flights back to your home and any transport after you reach the airport for your departure.
- Travel insurance, which is compulsory.
- Transport from and to the airport in Sibiu or any other special transport arrangements.
Price: 2200 GBP per person (payable into a UK bank account)
NB: The organiser will ask for a 600 GBP deposit to secure your booking, then the rest to be paid 3 months before the tour takes place.
Contact me for more details at irina.r.georgescu@gmail.com
or register your interest in future tours.
“Thank you for an amazing tour of Transylvania. The planning and thought you put into it did not go unnoticed. I love being able to see more of a country than just regular tourist spots and your vast knowledge of the history was impressive.”
Thanks for fabulous trip! I am not sure how I will adjust to having to prepare and clean up after my own meals! We were spoiled.
‘I cannot express in words the depth of my gratitude for this amazing experience. You are both such extraordinary people—so kind, so organized, so thorough, and so determined to give all of us fellow travellers and foodies such a wonderful week. Thank you. This has been truly unforgettable. I’m so glad to have been a part of it.’
‘Thank you so very much for a wonderful time in Romania. I could not have asked for a more wonderful experience and I am so thankful to you both. All the attention to detail you both put in, and your consideration for our comfort, learning and entertainment was just perfect. It was a totally wonderful experience!’
“A rare glimpse into a rich and diverse baking culture, this beautiful book is packed full of fascinating stories and recipes I can’t wait to taste” – Felicity Cloake
‘What a transporting cookbook Tava is! Here are tempting recipes for Romanian cakes, pastries, biscuits and other treats made using delightful ingredients such as rose petals, chestnuts, walnuts, sour cherries and poppy seeds. Importantly – and evocatively – Irina Georgescu sets the rich tapestry of Romanian baking in a historic and social context, giving readers an insight into what has shaped and influenced Romanian cuisine. ‘ – Jenny Linford
‘I love Irina Georgescu’s writing. Carpathia was one of my favourite books of 2020 and Tava is equally exciting: a celebration of Romanian baking that is full of a sense of light and life. Matt Russell’s photography is gorgeous. The recipes set me dreaming of strudels and poppy seed crescents and I can’t wait to start baking from it’. – Bee Wilson
‘Like all the best cookbooks, Tava is as interested in history and culture of Romania, as it is in all things sweet and baked. Enlightening, evocative and irresistible.’ – Tom Parker Bowles
Latest News
Washington Post
There are certain flavours that never leave you. Sourness is one of mine. I grew up with the sharp, comforting taste of fermented ingredients always somewhere in the kitchen — barrels of pickles, borș bubbling away, cabbage souring slowly, jars lined up for winter. In...
On Saturday Kitchen Cooking Show, BBC One
Irina Georgescu, Romanian cookbook author, on BBC One Saturday Kitchen Show.
James Beard Award Winner
Irina Georgescu, Romanian food writer, James Beard Award winner, Tava book, Romanian cuisine, Eastern European recipes, Romanian culinary heritage.