Start your new year in an unrecognised country! Officially known as the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic (PMR), and often referred to as the last of the Soviet Union – Transnistria is one of the four unrecognised countries and frozen conflict zones that litter the regions of the old Soviet Empire.
The tour begins in the Moldovan capital of Chisinau – the least visited country in Europe! Here we’ll take you on a walking tour around this former Soviet city exploring the brutalist architecture, leftover monuments, hear first hand from our local guide about her experience back in the Soviet Union compared to today and stay overnight in a Soviet style hotel.
The following day we’ll head for the highlight of the trip: Transnistria! We’ll explore the war torn villages of this murky, unrecognised country as well as the capital Tiraspol, its second biggest city Bender, and a big old-fashioned Soviet military parade!
After two nights in Tiraspol, we embark on the second part of our adventure by visiting the least visited part of the least visited country in Europe: the Autonomous Territorial Unit of Gagauzia, another region of Moldova previously at war with the central authorities and home to a local Turkic people with a very pro-Russian agenda. Here we will round off the trip with a Gagauzian feast in an isolated village, washed down with local homemade wine! We’ll return to Chisinau where the group tour concludes.
Saturday 30th December – Chisinau, Moldova
Sunday 31st December – Chisinau – Tiraspol, Transnistria – New Year’s Eve
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Monday 1st January – Tiraspol – Bender – Comrat, Gagauzia
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Tuesday 2nd January – Comrat – Chisinau
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