Religious & Pilgrimage Tour (6 days/5 nights)
From ancient cave monasteries carved into limestone cliffs to centuries-old Orthodox complexes surrounded by forests and rivers, these journeys offer moments of reflection, spirituality, and cultural insight. Blending sacred heritage with quiet rural life, Moldova provides a meaningful pilgrimage experience far from crowded routes, where tradition, belief, and nature exist in harmony.
Tour Itinerary:
Day 1: Chisinau Walking Tour. Visit most important churches in Chisinau.
Upon arrival at Chisinau Airport, you will be transferred to the hotel for check-in.
In the first part of the day, enjoy a Chisinau Walking Tour. You’ll explore the city’s main parks, Soviet-era and imperial-style buildings, as well as several of the oldest churches in the capital. The tour includes key landmarks such as the Triumphal Arch, the Cathedral, Stephen the Great Monument, Chisinau City Hall, and the main boulevard where many administrative buildings and cultural institutions are located.
Next, we will take a tour of the churches of Chisinau offering an insight into the spiritual history of the city, visiting old Orthodox places and imposing cathedrals. The route usually includes the Măzărache Church (1752), the Cathedral of the Nativity, the Ciuflea Monastery and historical churches such as the Armenian or St. Theodora of Sihla, most of which are located centrally.
At the end of the day, you will return to your hotel.
Day 2: Old Orhei Tour, Curchi Monastery and cooking class
A combined trip of Old Orhei Cave Monastery and Curchi Monastery awaits you this morning as you kick start your religious tour in Moldova with us.
Explore the authentic essence of Moldova on a day tour that combines religious heritage, ancient history, and the spectacular landscapes of Old Orhei.
You will have the opportunity to visit the most interesting archaeological site housing the ruins of two cities (14th -16th century). Tartars settled here on their expansion to Western Europe. Continue with a visit to the well-maintained Orthodox cave monastery called St. Maria Dormata which was expanded and modified inside the cliffs by monks over the centuries. Christian churches provide magnificent scenery through the windows of the monastery, which still functions today.
Here you will explore the remains of medieval settlements and visit a cave monastery, carved directly into the limestone cliffs and still active today.
At Old Orhei Reservation, you will have the opportunity to take part in a cooking masterclass, where you will learn to prepare traditional Moldovan pies (plăcinte) using local ingredients. This hands-on experience offers a fun and authentic insight into Moldova’s culinary traditions, and you’ll get to enjoy your creations fresh from the oven.
The masterclass is followed by lunch time in Old Orhei.
Next, we continue with a visit to Curchi Monastery, one of the most beautiful and significant monastic complexes in the Bessarabia region. Surrounded by forests, orchards and gentle hills, the monastery offers a peaceful and picturesque atmosphere.
Return to the hotel in Chisinau.
Day 3: Căpriana Monastery, Hincu Monastery and Condrita
Breakfast in Chisinau and departure to Capriana Monastery. The trip will take us to one of the most picturesque regions of the Codrii reservation, 40 km from Chișinău, where one of the oldest monasteries in Moldova is located – Căpriana (founded in 1429). It was founded in the XVth century during the rule of Alexandru cel Bun and reconstructed by Stefan the Great in 1470. The ensemble includes the Churches of Virgin's Assumption (1545), Saint Nicholas (1840) and Saint George (1907) which about the abbot's house, the refectory and cells.
Next, we go to visit Hâncu Monastery is one of the most important and picturesque Orthodox monasteries in the Republic of Moldova, located in the Codrii forests, about 36 km west of Chișinău, near the village of Hâncu. Founded in 1678 by the boyar Mihalcea Hâncu, it is the only female monastery in Moldova situated in a forested area.
Today, Hâncu Monastery is a major spiritual, historical, and pilgrimage site, known for its peaceful atmosphere, beautiful natural surroundings, and well-preserved religious architecture, attracting both pilgrims and tourists year-round.
A tour to Condrița Monastery offers a peaceful spiritual escape just outside Chișinău, set amidst quiet forests and gentle hills. Founded in the 18th century, this Orthodox monastery is known for its tranquil atmosphere, well-kept grounds, and harmonious blend of spirituality and nature.
Return to the hotel in Chisinau. Overnight stay.
Day 4: Religious & Cultural Tour: Japca Monastery – Rudi Monastery – Soroca Fortress
Enjoy breakfast and transfer to Japca Monastery with the first documentary attestation that dates back to 1693. It is believed that a monk from the Deleni monastery (on the right bank of the Prut) came here at the end of the 17th century and, in the rocks on the bank of the Dniester, dug a church dedicated to the "Exaltation of the Holy Cross", founding a cave hermitage, where he lived together with several brothers. The most faithful copy of the miracle-working icon of the mother of God from Hîrbovaț is preserved at the Japca monastery, painted in 1853, during the time of Archimandrite Ieronim.
Visit the monastery and then drive to Soroca Fortress - located 180 km north from Chisinau. It was built between 1543-1546. Before arriving at the fortress, we visited the monument “Lumânarea Recunoştinţei” (the Candle of Recognition) in Soroca, dedicated to the author of the immortal popular work “Mioriţa”, Ion Druta. You’ll have the opportunity to climb around 650 steps on your way to the monument. Lunch time in Soroca.
Continue the excursion to Rudi monastery. Located in a picturesque corner of the Soroca district, the Rudi Monastery (or Rudi-Arionești) is one of the most isolated and peaceful nunneries in Moldova. The “Holy Trinity” Church of the Rudi Monastery, built between 1770 and 1777, is unique in Bessarabia for its medieval Moldavian architectural style. This church is a rarity, being one of the few buildings that preserves the architectural features from the reign of Stephen the Great. The monastery is located on the right bank of the Dniester, surrounded by centuries-old forests and steep cliffs, offering an impressive natural landscape.
Return to Soroca. Overnight stay.
Day 5: Spiritual & Cultural Tour to Saharna and Tipova Cave Monastery
The journey today takes you to Saharna and Tipova Cave Monastery. We drive Saharna monastery complex. Saharna is famous for its impressive natural beauty and its complex of waterfalls. The main attraction of this place is the Saharna Waterfall, which unfolds in a series of spectacular steps, creating a landscape shrouded in magic. In addition to the waterfalls, Saharna is also home to a monastery of the same name, which dates back to the 17th century. The Saharna Monastery is an important religious and historical center of Moldova, attracting pilgrims from all over the country. Lunch time in Rezina town.
The excursion continues to Tipova Natural Reservation, located on the banks of the Dniester River. Tipova Cave Monastery stands out as a remarkable rock-hewn monastic complex, arguably the most impressive in Moldova and one of the largest in Europe. With multiple levels spread over a generous area, this monastery once housed over 700 monks in its hermitages, and today, there are hundreds of monk cells in the surrounding area.
The origin of the monastic community dates back long before the establishment of the Moldovan feudal state. It is said that some cells were carved into the rocks along the banks of the Dniester as early as the 10th-12th centuries, serving as protection against barbarian invasions.
The landscape in this area is simply stunning: the tranquil waters of the Dniester, steep cliffs concealing hundreds of cells and caves, the beauty of nature, and waterfalls.
After exploring Tipova Cave Monastery we will continue our road to Chisinau. Overnight in Chisinau.
Day 6: Chisinau International Airport transfer
In-time transfer to Chisinau International Airport to board onward flight.
Tour Package Includes:
• Comfortable transport with driver
• Expert local tour guides
• Entrance tickets to the Orheiul Vechi Cultural-Natural Reserve, Tipova Natural Reservation, Soroca Fortress
• Cooking class in Old Orhei Natural Reserve
• Meals (3 Lunches)
• Airport Transfers
• Accommodation (5 nights in hotels with breakfast)
