15 Sep 2024
Im surprised there aren't more reviews for this trip as its fantastic. We were picked up from our hotel by our guide Alex at 8.00am and even though reading back its a private tour I didnt realise it would just be the two of us and him, but he was talkative and was quiet when we fell asleep in the car after a busy days travelling the day before.
Our first stop after a 45minute drive from Bucharest was Snagov Monastery, the island 'burial place' of Vlad Tepes, inspiration for Bram Stokers Dracula. We paid to get in, there are two prices, entry and entry where you can take photos, which amused me greatly for some reason. Alex gave us a bit of history of the area and its link to Tepes. You cross a bridge to this island and go through someones house/farm to get here along with their four dogs. To me this just added to the experience.
Just over an hours drive and we are at the Slanic Salt Mine, there was a bit of a queue to get in, this is mainly because there are minibuses taking you underground so you have to wait for them. This itself seems to be a neverending journey through dark winding tunnels, you then arrive at the entrance and take a small tunnel to the main chamber. I have seen loads of photos of this mine but still let out a little 'wow' when we set foot in there, its just the sheer scale of the place. Small displays are throughout each area of the sites history as well as stuff for the kids like little go karts and table tennis. Our guide gave us information on its size, how many other areas there are of this size as well as it still being used as a salt mine not far from where we are.
Just over an hour and 30 minutes and we were back in the capital, a great tour highly recommended and Alex was a great guide. I think the whole tour was around 5-6 hours and for the two of us cost just under £160. Loved it.