Iasi: 2-Day Chisinau and Transnistria Tour

Day 1: Your first day starts at the reception of your hotel in Iasi, where you will meet your guide. Following your meet-up, you will start your trip to the Republic of Moldova, a country famous for its wines and for the fact that it is the least touristic country in all of Europe. The main attraction of the day is the capital city of the country, Chisinau. Known as the "City of White Stone" and the "City on Seven Hills". Chisinau does not stop to impress there though, also boasting massive socialist architecture that perfectly blends with the modern buildings and monuments. During the city tour you will visit the most iconic sites of the city, such as parliament and the Presidential House, together with the City Hall which was designed by the famous Russian architect Alexander Bernadazzi. Next on your itinerary is the Cricova Winery. Situated at a depth of 50-80 meters, it represents a real underground city. The Moldavian cellars where Vladimir Putin keeps his wine are so big you need to drive through them, at a length of more than 120 kilometers. In this unique underground city you will have the opportunity to discover the steps to wine tasting and try a selection of the great range of Moldavian wines. Following your wine experience, you will overnight in Chisinau. Day 2: Your second day will begin early in the morning with a 2-hour drive to the unrecognized state that split off from the Republic of Moldova after the dissolution of the USSR. This is a country with borders, a president, its own currency, an emblem, and a flag flying, yet nobody recognizes its existence. It is called Transnistria, and is a strip of land between the river Dniester and Ukraine. Right from the border checkpoint, you will notice the presence of the Russian peace troops who have been deployed in Transnistria since the Cold War. Nowadays, almost thirty years after the Cold War ended, Russia is still very present and maintaining peace in the region. You will then visit the towns of Bendery and Tiraspol, the two biggest in Transnistria which are home to around 200,000 people. Your guide will present to you the stories about the war against Moldova as well as their personal opinion on the events that took place in 1992. Following this historical experience, you will reach Iasi in the evening where your tour will conclude.