This tour coincides with not only the Transnistrian National Day celebrations, but the only Soviet-style military parade left in Europe! Officially known as the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic (PMR), and often referred to as the last state 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 capital city in Europe! Here we’ll take you on a walking tour around this former Soviet city exploring the brutalist architecture and the leftover monuments from the Soviet times, but also hear first hand from our local guide about her experience back in the Soviet Union compared to today. For a complete experience, we’ll 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 see a big old-fashioned Soviet military parade during the National day celebrations. It will be a fantastic opportunity to mingle with the locals, talk to veterans, and simply get to understand the country a bit more.
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 Turkish 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.
Sunday 31st August – Chisinau, Moldova
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Monday 1st September – Chisinau – Tiraspol, Transnistria
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Tuesday 2nd September – Tiraspol – Transnistria National Day!
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Wednesday 3rd September – Tiraspol – Comrat, Gagauzia
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Thursday 4th September – Comrat – Chisinau
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by Andy Khong Moldova, a small and often overlooked country nestled in the heart of Eastern Europe, has a rich history, a unique cultural heritage, and a promising future. While it may not be as famous as some of its European neighbours, it has a lot t …
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