7 to 10 days · Wine · Monasteries · Transnistria · Gagauzia · Borderlands
The full journey.
A week, sometimes ten days, all of Moldova and its corners. Slow, private, custom every time.
This is the trip where you stop measuring distance in hours and start measuring it in glasses of wine. We sleep in guesthouses I trust. We change the route on the road. By day three you have a favorite village. By day seven you have friends who say goodbye when you leave. The full journey is for travelers who want a country to feel known, not toured.
What's included
Everything I plan, drive, and pay for.
- Pickup from Chișinău airport or hotel on day one
- All transportation and fuel (Prius+ or Vivaro van depending on group size)
- Border crossing handling for Transnistria and (optional) Odesa add-on
- Personal licensed guide and driver throughout the journey in your language
- Drop-off at the end (Chișinău airport or hotel)
Not included: lodging (I can recommend trusted guesthouses and help book, paid by you on site), all meals, site entry fees, wine tastings (my clients get 10% off at Cricova), international flights, optional Odesa add-on day. Paid by the tourist directly.
A sample seven days
A sample week. Yours will be different.
Day 1
Chișinău and the cellars
Pickup from the airport. Light afternoon: Chișinău old quarter, Soviet murals, dinner at a small kitchen restaurant. Sleep in Chișinău.
Day 2
The underground wine cities
Cricova in the morning (basic tour and the deep cellar), Mileștii Mici in the afternoon. Two of the world's three largest underground wineries in one day. Sleep in Chișinău.
Day 3
North along the Dniester
Drive north. Saharna Monastery for lunch. Țipova Monastery for the cliffs and the cave church. Sleep in Soroca.
Day 4
Soroca and the Gypsy Hill
Soroca Fortress in the morning. Walk to the Gypsy Hill, the famous neighborhood of carved mansions. Lunch with a local family. In the afternoon, drive south to Butuceni. Sleep in a village guesthouse.
Day 5
Old Orhei deep
Sunrise at Old Orhei when the monks are doing the morning service. Hike the river bend. Lunch at Eco-Resort Butuceni. Afternoon free for the village, the wine, the silence. Sleep in Butuceni.
Day 6
Into Transnistria
Cross to Tiraspol. Bender Fortress, Tiraspol walking tour, Kvint cognac tasting. Optional stop at Kitskany Monastery. Sleep in Tiraspol or back in Chișinău.
Day 7
Gagauzia and the south
Drive south to Comrat, the capital of the Gagauz autonomous region. Lunch with a Turkic-speaking family. Visit a wine estate in the Bugeac steppe. Drive back to Chișinău. Final dinner.
8 to 10
If you want more Optional
A second day in Transnistria for Rîbnița and Camenca in the north. A side day to Odesa with border crossings handled. A walking day at the Codru forest reserve. A long lunch at a Camenca vineyard.
Why this trip
Why this is not a tour.
This is the trip I've been refining since I started guiding six years ago. It is not for someone who wants to see Moldova. It is for someone who wants to know what it feels like to wake up in five different beds in five different villages, to drink wine with the people who made it, to understand why the borders are where they are. After seven days you do not need a map. After ten you have a favorite restaurant in Tiraspol and a friend in Soroca who'll send you a photo of the cherry tree next spring.
What guests say about the long ones
Travelers who took a week or more.
"We spent four fantastic days with Cornelio. By the end, it felt like we'd been traveling with old friends. His deep knowledge of history turned each destination into a captivating adventure filled with hidden gems and delightful surprises."
"Corneliu is a committed guide who took us on tours over several days in Moldova and Transnistria. He went into our interests with many suggestions and ideas, showed us not only the usual sights but also unknown paths."
"Corneliu is more than a car rental, he is also an excellent guide. We got to know many corners of the country with him over a week that we would never have found alone."
"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."
Practical bits
Questions guests usually ask.
Customization
Every full journey is custom. We start with a free video call before you book to discuss what you care about: wine, monasteries, war history, food, photography, walking, families with children. The sample week above is just a sample.
Lodging style
I choose guesthouses run by families I trust. Standard rooms, hot water, breakfast included. Some are simple, rural Moldova, no five-star hotels in villages. If you want hotel-style comfort instead, I can do that in Chișinău, Soroca, and Tiraspol. Tell me your preference at booking.
Pace
Slow. Most days we drive 1 to 3 hours and spend the rest of the time in one or two places, eating, walking, talking. We are not on a checklist tour.
Group size
1 to 4 in my Prius+, 5 to 8 in the Vivaro van. For groups larger than 8 we use a second vehicle (extra fee).
Languages
English, German, Russian, Romanian. Pick one for the trip. I switch as needed at the places we visit.
Children
Welcome for any age. The full journey is kid-friendly when we adjust the itinerary: less monastery time, more outdoor and animals.
Best season
April through October for outdoor, vineyard, fortress activities. November through March for atmosphere, fewer crowds, snow on the cave monastery, and longer dinners. I run year-round.
Cancellation
30% non-refundable deposit at booking. Free cancellation up to 30 days before. Within 30 days, 50% refund. Within 7 days, 25%. Day-of, no refund except documented emergency.
Payment
Half at booking confirmation (bank transfer or card). Half on Day 1 of the trip (cash or transfer).
Plan this journey