TRAVEL ITINERARY
Day 1:
Arriving in Chisinau, the capital of  Moldova. Transfer to the hotel. Check-in at the hotel. The walking tour of the city center: the main street of the capital - Stefan cel Mare, the Central Cathedral, the Parliament building, the alley of the literature classics in the park of Stefan cel Mare... Welcome evening in a typical Moldovan restaurant with folklore program: songs and dances from different regions of Moldova.
Day 2: Chisinau – Tipova – Orheiul-Vechi – Butuceni – Chateau Vartely – Chisinau
Departure to the north part of the country for visiting Tipova, one of the oldest cave monasteries in Moldova. On the way back, lunch at the rural pension "Casa din Lunca" which includes national Moldovan dishes, home-made wine and a small folklore program. After lunch, our tour continue with the excursion to Orheiul Vechi region, visiting the unique cave monastery (13th cent.), carved in limestone rock - part of a picturesque landscape. On the other side you can see the ruins of a Geto- Dacian fortress. Visiting the house-museum, that reflects the traditional life style of Moldovan farmers (19 century) in the village Butuceni.
Return to Chisinau. Along the road there is a possibility to have dinner in a beautifully situated restaurant "Chateau Vartely".
Day 3: Chisinau – Dolna – Hincu – Capriana – Milestii-Mici – Chisinau
After breakfast at the hotel, we will visit the Puskin Museum in Chisinau. Then excursion to the house-museum of Puskin in Dolna - land estate of Z. Ralli Arbor, where the famous Russian poet had stayed during his exile to Moldova. A short visit to Hincu, the monastery located in the picturesque Codri forest, being one of the favorite places of the pilgrims and tourists. And after visit the monastery Capriana (15th cent.), which is the residence of the metropolitan bishop and the symbol of national revival. In the afternoon-excursion to Milestii Mici - the largest "underground wine city" in Europe (length - 200 km), that was included in the book of “Guinness World Records”. Then wine tasting, dinner with the handing of souvenirs. Return to Chisinau. Tour of Chisinau, including the inhabitation of the Jewish people, visiting Jewish cemeteries and synagogue. Dinner at one of the nearby restaurants.
Day 4: Chisinau – Soroca – Pokrovka – Rudi – Chisinau
After an early breakfast, tour to the north part (200 km) in the Soroca city. Visit of the medieval fortress of the original design, which played an important and key role in defensive battle against the Turks. Visit of the monument called - "the Candle of Gratitude" and sightseeing of  the district where the reach Gypsy live. Drive to old believer village of Pokrovka. On the way visit of the monument “Struve Geodetic Arc”. Lunch in a restaurant with Russian food "Pokrovsky manor". Landscape Reservation Rudi-Arionesti, a short excursion to the Rudi nunnery. 
Day 5:  Chisinau – Iasi – Chisinau                                                       
Transfer Chişinău – Iaşi (breakfast packet). Arrival in Iasi. Iasi presentation from the Palace Squaire. Walking tour - along Ştefan cel Mare blvd., visiting the  „Trei Ierarhi” monastery, the Catholic Diocese, Ortodoxe Cathedral, National Theatre, Assembly  Squaire with  A.I.Cuza monument. By bus - Eminescu Squaire and  Copou blvd, visiting the University A.I.Cuza ( the exhibition Lost Steps Hall ). Lunch in national style at a restaurant („Bolta rece”, „Hanul 3 Sarmale” etc.) After lunch visit of the Cetăţuia Monastery.   Departure and arrival in Chisinau. Dinner at one of the nearby restaurants.
Day 6:  Chisinau – Comrat – Besalma – Ceadir-Lunga – Chisinau
Tour to the south of Moldova, in the Gagauzian area, inhabited by the Gagauzians and Bulgarians. Short sightseeing tour of the capital of Gagauzia-Comrat. National Gagauz history and ethnographic museum "D. Cara-Ciobanu" in Beshalma introduces the history and culture of the Bulgarians and Gagauzians south of Moldova. It is suggested to have dinner at a restaurant with Bulgarian and Gagauzian food . Continuing with tour to Ceadîr-Lunga. Visit of stud-farm in Ceadir-Lunga, where thoroughbred Vladimir's trotters are grown. Return to Chisinau. Dinner at one of the nearby restaurants. 
Day 7:  Chisinau – Causeni – Purcari Winery – Chisinau
In the morning transfer to Causeni, then visit the church (15 century) with an original architecture of the times of the tatar-mongolian yoke. After this we visit Purcari  Winery. Wine-tour of cellars and wine-tasting including sorts such as "Negru de Purcari" and "Rosu de Purcari, which were delivered to the Queen’s court. Lunch at Purcari’s Winery restaurant. Departure to Chisinau. Dinner.
Day 8: Chisinau – End of tour                                                                    
Breakfast. Chek-out at the hotel (12.00). Transfer to airport. Departure from the country.

Travel Itinerary
Day 1:
Arriving in Chisinau, the capital of Moldova.
Transfer to the  hotel. Check-in at the hotel. The walking tour of the city center: along the main street of the capital - Stefan cel Mare to the Central Cathedral, the Parliament building, the alley of the literature classics in the park of Stefan cel Mare.  Welcome evening in the typical Moldovan restaurant with folklore program: songs and dances from different regions of Moldova.
Day 2:  Chisinau – Cricova – Tipova – Casa din Lunca – Old Orhei – Chateau Vartely – Chisinau
Departure to the Cricova Winery. Excursion through the streets of the underground "wine-city" – „Chardonnay“, „Cabernet“, through the workshops, where the classic varieties of champagne, vintage wines, are produced, visit of  the National collection. Tasting of 2 vintage wines: white and red from "Prestige" series with pies.
Visit Tipova Monastery - the biggest Orthodox cave monastery in Moldova and in Eastern Europe, where were carved a church, a bell tower, 15 cells, a refectory, and numerous facilities, which are connected with galleries and staircases transitions.
On the way back, lunch at a rural pension which includes national Moldovan dishes, home-made wine and a small folklore program.
Visit Orheiul Vechi - a unique natural and historical complex in the open air, located on a promontory formed by the bend of Raut river. Traces of the people of the ninth century were found here. The ruins of  bath-house, mosque, caravanserai and other structures of urban settlements (Shehr-al-Jadid) are well preserved until now. Visit of the ethnographic museum in the village Butuceni.
Visit of the Curchi Monastery. Drive to "Chateau Vartely" Winery. Tour of the winery, including the cellars, tasting rooms, where you can understand the peculiarities of wines made in "Chateau Vartely". Dinner at restaurant "Chateau Vartely".
Return to Chisinau.
Day 3: Chisinau – Bender – Tiraspol – Chisinau
Early departure to the region on left bank of the Dniester River, Transnistria. Visit of the War Memorial, Bender fortress, where Charles XII stayed with his army. Tour of Historical Museum. Visit of Brandy Factory «KVINT», tasting cognac of long-term exposure. Sightseeing tour of Transnistria’s "capital" - Tiraspol, the monument of Lenin, Suvorov and Ekaterina II. Lunch in a typical Ukrainian restaurant - "Kumaneok".
Return to Chisinau. Dinner at the restaurant with Moldovan national food accompanied by a folklore program running on the old Moldovan musical instruments. 
Day 4:
After breakfast the sightseeing bus tour of  the capital with a visit of the National Museum of Ethnography and Natural History. At 12.00 chek-out at the hotel. There is the possibility to have lunch at the restaurant "La Placinte" or free time for buying souvenirs.
Transfer to the airport (railway/bus station). Departure from the country.

Roman cooking course and lunch in a Princely Palace
(Groups of minimum 15p.) At 9.30 the Chef will welcome you at the Palace: our Chef will explain the menu and distributes the various tasks to the participants. Each lesson foresees the preparation of an entire Italian menu from starters to desserts and a wide list of the best wines to choose for the different dishes. Should you have a particular culinary desire do not hesitate to inform us, our chef will be glad to please you! Cooking Courses always includes convivial lunch, where dishes prepared during the lesson will be served with wines chosen especially. At 01.00 pm the lunch is served and you could personally enjoy the fruits of your hard job!!

Price Includes:
Location on exclusive use, Cooking course, lunch and beverages The courses aim at being an intensive, full immersion into the eno-gastronomic culture of this country. The lessons will be in English or in Italian with the simultaneous translation into English.

Accomodation:
Accommodation available on request-separate

Sochi is the largest city-resort of Russia, is situated in Krasnodar region and stretches for 147 km/91mi along the Black Sea Coast against the background of the snowcapped peaks of the majestic Caucasus Mountains. At the crossroads of Europe and Asia, Sochi has a rich and vibrant history dating back to the Byzantine Era, when the name Sochi was first given to inhabitants of the Black Sea coast, and later adopted as the city’s official name. The city, lying 1500 km east of Athens, Greece, has welcomed visitors for thousands of years, from travelers and merchants on the legendary Silk Road to Russian Czars. Officially founded in 1898, Sochi was set aside as a resort area upon discovery of beneficial natural springs. Sochi is a fascinating area where several cultures and religions overlap, a land of breathtaking natural scenery, monuments and lavish Stalinist styled buildings. Even if you stay in Sochi just for a short while you will see the most of the area!

Travel Itinerary

Day 1

Arrival at Sochi (Adler) airport early in the morning where the group will be met by Aviatourne representative and transferred to the hotel (appr. 30 min.drive). Check-in at the hotel. Breakfast. Rest. Meeting with the guide in the hotel lobby at 11am for a guided city tour during which you will visit the most significant city landmarks such as Park Riviera laid down in 1898, Plane-tree parkway, the Cathedral of St. Michael Archangel - the first Orthodox Church on the Black Sea coast built in 1891 and commemorating the end of the Caucasian War, walk along the sea-front and visit Sochi Seaport with Sochi Lighthouse, learn some curious sidelights about the City’s past when visiting the State Historical Museum (it celebrated its 90-th anniversary in 2010!); visit Matsesta – a sulphur springs deposit curative properties of which were famed in legends. Currently, Matsesta is a major tourist attraction and the most popular place for treatment. Matsesta means “fiery water”, and has harnessed the powers of the hot sulphur springs, features a number of bathing rooms, massage tables and inhalation cubicles. You will visit pump-rooms and walk to the cave from where the curative waters flow from; learn about curative properties of sulphur water, history of the sanatoria and offered treatments, taste mineral water, hear the legend about Matsesta.

Day 2

Breakfast. Meeting with the guide in the hotel lobby at 9:00am. Today we will continue exploring the Greater Sochi and we will visit Khosta District: our first stop - the Mt. Akhun (highest point in Sochi - 663m/2175ft above sea level), from the top of the Watch Tower (by 30 steps) one can enjoy a magnificent view over the Greater Caucasian Mountain Range with snow-capped peaks, glittering coastline, greenery slopes, Sochi and the Black Sea. Our next stop - Gallery of Handcarved Wooden Sculptures. In ancient days wood carving was very popular in Russia. Nowadays there are but a few skilled artisans in Russia who can carve on wood. The Gallery is the only one of its kind in the area. Every sculpture reflects artist’s perception of the world of wood. The tour is backed by special music written by the Artist’s son – famous jazz guitar player. The Gallery occupies 5 stories of the private home and totals 500 works. The visit to the Wooden Gallery will be followed by the trip to the Yew and Box Tree Grove. The Yew and Box Tree Grove is UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Grove was formed in the primeval pre-ice age. Here the Caucasian flora has remained in its original form. One can breathe the air of the Tertiary period of the Cenozoic Era (the human race had yet to exist). Upon arrival you will visit the Museum of Caucasian Flora and Fauna, followed by an opportunity to stroll through the Yew and Box Tree Grove, a primeval forest of enchanting ancient beauty. Some of the giant yew trees in the grove are more than 700 years old. The grove is also the home of many animals and birds. Free afternoon for sunbathing and swimming (depending on the season), exploring the area, shopping or additional excursions

Day 3

Breakfast. Meeting with the guide in the hotel lobby at 9:00am. Today we will visit the European northern most tea plantations located in Lazarevskiy District of Sochi: from the Tea house terraces one can enjoy a breathtaking panoramic view over the Black Sea while sipping pungent and flavored tea brewed in smoking samovars and tasting appetizing pies, pan-cakes and jam - all to the soothing sound of Russian traditional songs. Free afternoon for sunbathing and swimming (depending on the season), exploring the area, shopping.

Day 4

Breakfast. Meeting with the guide in the hotel lobby at 9:00am. A full day exploring Olympic construction sites and Red Meadow (Krasnaya Polyana). The Olympic venues will be located at 2 sites – coastal (Nizhne-Imeritinskaya Bay) and highland (Krasnaya Polyana). In Nizhne-Imeritinskaya Bay there will be: Big Ice Palace, Media center, Ice rink, centers for short-track, curling and hockey. In Krasnaya Polyana there will be venues for skiing and bobsleigh. Krasnaya Polyana is one of the premier tourist attractions in Sochi, which is located 70km/ 43.5mi away from Sochi center. This is a favorite skiing place of Mr. Putin. It’s also a popular place for trekking and hiking. The road we take runs through the valley of the Mzymta River, which flows from the Kardyvach Lake, located at the altitude of 1850m/1149mi and flows into the Black Sea. At Monastyr village we will stop for taking photos and enjoying a scenic view of the Akhtsu CaveThen the road will run through the longest underpass in Russia (2420m/1500mi) opened in 2005, we will pass though breathtaking gorges and 2 more underpasses and get to the Krasnaya Polyana Village. We will visit Chvizhepse narzan spring and after a short drive we will reach the Krasnaya Polyana ski-resort where you can either explore the area or take a ride on the ski lift to the top of the mountain (extra charge) for a breathtaking panoramic view of the magnificent West Caucasus mountains while sipping coffee or cardinal. En route to Krasnaya Polyana we will visit the museum of premium musical instruments made by Caucasian and CIS luthiers; listen to the stories of a bee-keeper about local honey, taste the honey and even buy some as a souvenir; learn about Russian dolls (amulets) and how local organic soap is manufactured. Lunch on route.

Day 5

Breakfast. Meeting with the guide in the hotel lobby at 9:00am. Visit to the Stalin’s summer residence and the largest subtropical park in Russia – Dendrarium (Dendrary Botanical Garden), which houses a large collection of flora which spreads over 30 acres of land and is a natural vista. Free afternoon for sunbathing and swimming (depending on the season), exploring the area, shopping or optional excursions.

Day 6

Breakfast. Meeting with the guide in the hotel lobby at 9:00am. In the course of this trip we will continue exploring Lazarevskiy District – you will get a taste of the daily lives of the Adyg tribe by trying on their clothes, learning stories about traditions, culture, way of life of the ancients, how they made their tools and sampling the delicious national dishes and grape wine. En route: visit to the table-stone-megalith (dolmen) (9000 years old) that used for holding communion with oneself, walk to the sulfur spring and learn a story about 2 brothers’ Rock, see the “Tulip” Tree, a unique tree of 30m/98.4ft height and stem diameter of 2.4m/7.55ft, which blooms twice a year covering with big tulip like yellow flowers, walk along the path that the God of Okhyn used to walk.

Day 7

Breakfast. Meeting with the guide in the hotel lobby at 10:00am. Today we will visit the private Ceramic Gallery of Yurij Novikov - an outstanding Russian ceramist who has restored tandoors in world-famous Peterhof (St. Petersburg). You will see the highest tandoor in the world (6m/19.70ft) made by Yuri Novikov, learn about Russian tandoor making and ceramics, get involved in the process of making pottery. Then we will be transferred to the horse-riding club, which is located in the park zone. Here one can commune with a wonderful world of nature and horses. This is the only horse-riding school in the area which is supported by the government and which trains kids and conducts various sport events on a regular basis. Here we will have a tour of the club, enjoy horse-back riding performance and then you can either go fishing (optional for extra fee) or ride a horse (optional for extra fee). In the evening we will have dinner in the restaurant where we’ll be offered dishes of local cuisine

Day 8

Transfer to the airport to catch your flight.