Forest in the Codrii nature reserve

Full day · Codrii Reserve · Ungheni district

Old forest, young winery.

Codrii Nature Reserve, Mircesti. An easy hike in the morning, vineyards in the afternoon.

Moldova's oldest scientific nature reserve, established in 1971: rolling hills, deep valleys and deciduous forests of oak, hornbeam, beech, ash and linden. We start at the reserve museum near Lozova, walk the forest for 60 to 90 minutes, and finish at a boutique winery in the Ungheni district, in what is called the Little Tuscany of Moldova.

This day includes an easy forest hike of 60 to 90 minutes. Comfortable shoes are needed.

from €260 / car (1 to 4 guests) 8.3 hours, 09:15 to 17:30 205 km 60-90 min hike, easy EN · DE · RU · RO Pick-up in Chișinău included

Price

One price per car with guide, not per person.

How many are you?

Toyota Prius+

Up to 4 guests

€260per car with guide, whole tour

Opel Vivaro

Up to 7 guests

€370per car with guide, whole tour

Mercedes Sprinter

Up to 20 guests

€800per car with guide, whole tour

The price covers a professional licensed guide, the car and the fuel for the whole day. The museum ticket, the tasting and lunch at the winery are paid on site, so you decide what you take.

Peak season and no guide free on your dates? There is a plan B: a car with a professional driver from my team, English-speaking on request, for less than a guided day. Message me on WhatsApp and I will check what is possible.

The day, hour by hour

Museum and forest first, winery after.

09:15-10:15

Chișinău to the Codrii Reserve (50 km)

10:15-11:00

Codrii Nature Reserve Museum

Museum near Lozova: flora, fauna and ecosystems of the central Codru region, with taxidermy, botanical collections and minerals.

Paid on site: entry ticket

11:00-12:30

Forest hike, 60 to 90 minutes, easy

Moldova's oldest scientific nature reserve, established in 1971: rolling hills, deep valleys, deciduous forests of oak, hornbeam, beech, ash and linden.

13:30-15:30

Mircesti Winery, Ungheni district

Boutique winery in the Little Tuscany of Moldova: panoramic vineyards, guided tastings paired with traditional Moldovan cuisine.

Paid on site: winery tour, tasting and lunch

16:00-17:30

Back to Chișinău

No surprises

What's in the price, what you pay on site.

What's in the price

  • Professional licensed guide, car and fuel for the whole day
  • Tour in your language: English, German, Russian or Romanian
  • Pick-up and drop-off anywhere in Chișinău
  • Bottled water 0.5 L per person

Paid on site

  • Entry tickets to monasteries, museums and wineries
  • Wine tastings (paid on site, cash or card)
  • Meals (lunch estimates given per tour, paid on site)

The reserve museum ticket, the winery tour and the tasting with lunch at Mircesti are paid on site.

Why this day

Why this day and not another.

The oldest scientific reserve in the country in the morning, a boutique winery in the hills in the afternoon. Forest paths, panoramic vineyards and a long table at the end of it.

What guests say

Travelers who have spent a day on the road with me.

"By the end, it felt like we'd been traveling with old friends. Cornelio's deep knowledge of history turned each destination into a captivating adventure filled with hidden gems and delightful surprises."

Melanie Riley · 🇺🇸 USA · 4-day journey · July 2025

"I spent three days with Corneliu in Moldova and had a wonderful time. He was reliable, punctual, and dedicated. More importantly, his heart is in the right place and he's a wonderful person."

Anni K. · 🇩🇪 Germany · 3 days · 2024

"I'm a solo female traveler from Canada and I had a wonderful private day trip to Odesa from Chișinău with Corneliu. He was very responsive, punctual, and attentive."

Liz Cole · 🇨🇦 Canada · Solo day trip · May 2026

Practical bits

Questions guests usually ask.

Group size and price
Toyota Prius+ takes up to 4 guests, €260. Opel Vivaro up to 7 guests, €370. Mercedes Sprinter up to 20 guests, €800. Every price is for the car and the guide for the whole tour, not per person. For a bigger group, write to me and I will quote it.
How much walking is there?
One forest hike of 60 to 90 minutes, easy difficulty, on the paths of the reserve. Comfortable shoes are needed.
Languages
English, German, Russian, Romanian. Tell me which you prefer when you book.
Pick-up
Anywhere in Chișinău. Hotel, apartment, airport. Send me the address by WhatsApp.
What you pay at Mircesti
The winery tour and the guided tasting paired with traditional Moldovan cuisine are paid on site.
Payment
Cash (EUR, MDL, USD) or bank transfer. Half on booking confirmation, half at the end of the tour. Entry tickets, tastings and lunch are paid on site.
Cancellation
Free cancellation a week before the tour or earlier. Less than a week before, 50%. On the day of the tour, no refund except documented emergencies.
Weather
We tour year-round. The hike is on forest paths, so comfortable shoes matter in every season. Tell me your dates and we will plan the timing around the forecast.
Children
Welcome. Child seats available on request, 9 months and up.
Mobility
The forest hike takes 60 to 90 minutes on natural paths. If that is too much, tell me and I will suggest a day with less walking.
What if no guide is available on my dates?
It happens in peak season. The fallback is a car with a professional driver, English-speaking on request, without the guided part - and it costs less than a full guided day. Write me on WhatsApp with your dates and I will tell you the same day what I can offer.

Book this day

Ready to plan?

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