Important Info

Trip Notes & Expectations

ACCOMMODATION

Our program fees are based on double-occupancy accommodation. Our properties are selected for safety, cleanliness, and convenient locations—they are comfortable and well-suited for group travel, but generally simple rather than luxury. Many hotels in region are converted historic buildings, so room sizes may vary, walls can be thin, and bathrooms may feature handheld sprayers rather than fixed showerheads.

Important: Single room accommodations in European hotels are often smaller, and may not be to the same service level as double-occupancy rooms.

LUGGAGE

It is essential that you pack light and bring compact, lightweight luggage (a small-to-medium rolling bag or backpack under 30 lbs, plus a small daypack) that you can easily transport and stow yourself. The handling and carrying of your luggage remains your personal responsibility throughout the trip.

TRANSPORTATION

This trip uses private vehicles to transfer our group safely from destination to destination. While we travel comfortably together in our private vehicle, space for luggage is limited. You must pack lightweight and compact luggage that you can easily carry yourself up stairs, into hotels, and over unpaved or cobblestone streets.

CUISINE

Vegetarians should be aware that the cuisine of this region is predominantly meat-based. Although you will be able to find and enjoy vegetarian food, please be aware that there will not be the variety or range of choices that you would find at home.

ACTIVITY LEVEL & PACE

This program is moderately paced and involves a fair amount of daily walking. You should feel comfortable walking for extended periods over uneven terrain, including unpaved dirt trails, cobblestones, and incline steps at sites like Orheiul Vechi and Saharna Monastery. Sturdy, supportive walking shoes are essential. Historic accommodations and rural guesthouses rarely have elevators, so expect to carry your own luggage up stairs. While the daily schedule includes structured group activities and occasional early starts, drives between destinations are manageable, typically ranging from 1.5 to 3 hours. We recommend always carrying snacks with you. Meals can sometimes be far apart.

HEAT & COMFORT

On very hot days, air conditioning on transport may not be able to keep up. In some hotels, A/C may be weak, not functioning well, or not available at all. To stay comfortable, plan to dress in light, breathable clothing, drink plenty of water, and consider bringing small items like a travel fan or cooling towel. Nearly all hotels will provide a standing or desk fan for your room on hot nights; ask your Tour Leader to help you request one with reception

SAFETY & LOCAL ETIQUETTE

While Moldova is generally a very safe destination for travelers, standard personal safety precautions apply. Keep your passport, cash, and essential documents secure in a money belt or neck wallet, and leave unnecessary valuables at home. During free time, especially at night in Chișinău, we recommend exploring in small groups or taking registered taxis. Be mindful that public demonstrations can occur; if you encounter a protest or large gathering, avoid the area immediately.

When visiting active Orthodox religious sites, such as the Saharna Monastery, modest attire is required (shoulders and knees covered, with head coverings for women). Always ask permission before photographing residents in rural areas and Gagauzia.

ORIENTATION WALKS

Brief orientation walks with your Tour Leader are designed to help you get your bearings and locate essentials like ATMs, supermarkets, and restaurants. These walks take place on foot over city streets and cobblestones. If you wish to explore at a different pace, you are always welcome to step away from the orientation walk using your own map or travel app.

LOCAL GUIDES

In Europe, all guiding is based around local guides, all of whom are licensed to work only in a particular city. As such, our leaders are able to provide orientation walks that will show you the layout of each town and city, as well as the location of local services such as post offices and laundromats, but are unable legally to share historical facts and figures in public places. Your tour leader will be able to help you find a local guided tour in each location if you would like one.

GROUP LEADER

All GEEO programs are led by a G Adventures Chief Experience Officer (CEO), whose role is to take the hassle out of travel and help you get the most from your trip. They’ll share information about the places you visit, suggest activities and restaurants, and introduce you to our local friends. While not traditional guides, CEOs have broad knowledge of the region’s history, culture, and daily life. On some excursions, local guides are used for deeper insight.

Single Travelers

Traveling solo? You’re in good company—about half of our participants do the same.

Shared room by default. The program fee covers one person in a twin room. We’ll pair you with a roommate of the same gender if you don’t have a travel companion.

Want a private room? Most trips offer a “My Own Room” (single-supplement) upgrade. Check the price in the Add-Ons & Budgeting section, then email travel@geeo.org to reserve it. You pay the single-supplement only if you request it.

Emergency Contacts

If you need urgent help during your trip, call the local G Adventures office first. If no one answers, leave a detailed message with your name and contact information so they can return your call as soon as possible.

EMERGENCY CONTACT NUMBERS:
G Adventures Berlin office: +441858378000

If you are unable for any reason to contact our local office, please call the numbers listed below which will connect you directly with our Sales team who will happily assist you. Hours of operation by region can be found here.

Toll-free, from calls within North America only: 1 888 800 4100
Calls from within UK: 0344 272 0000
Calls from within Germany: 0800 365 1000
Calls from within Australia: 1 300 796 618
Calls from within New Zealand: 0800 333 307
Outside North America, Australia, New Zealand, Germany and the UK: +1 416 260 0999

Packing List

See our blog post of staff-recommended gear to help you pack for your upcoming travels. You must be able to carry your own luggage—up stairs, on and off of transport, and during 15 to 20 minute walks. Bring one small or medium backpack or rolling bag (22-30lb) and one daypack for daily items. Space is limited on transportation, so oversized bags cannot travel.

As you prepare your packing list, we recommend checking average weather conditions for your destination.

*Laundry: Laundry facilities are offered by some of our hotels for a charge. You can also use a local laundromat, if necessary.

Passports and Visas

Travelers are responsible for securing all required travel documents and meeting the entry requirements for every country on their itinerary, including applicable transit/layover countries.

PASSPORT
All travelers must have a passport valid for at least 6 months beyond your trip dates with enough blank pages for stamps. Need to apply or renew? Start here.

ENTRY/VISA REQUIREMENTS

Citizens of more than 100 countries do not need a visa to enter Moldova for up to 90 days every six months. This includes travelers from the European Union, USA, and many more countries.

Visa rules change frequently—always verify the latest requirements on the U.S. State Department Country Information Pages. Non-U.S. passport holders should verify requirements with your country’s official government resources. You can also use Sherpa, a third-party service and trusted G Adventures partner to look up the latest requirements.

Money Exchange

Currency: Moldova uses the Moldovan Leu as its currency. For current exchange rates, visit www.xe.com.

Credit/Debit Cards: Credit cards (especially Visa and Mastercard) are accepted at many hotels, shops, and restaurants in Chisinau, but outside of Chisinau they are unlikely to be accepted. You’ll definitely need cash too!

Cash: We recommend using ATMs to withdraw local currency while traveling. It will be next to impossible to exchange USD for Leu before arriving in Moldova, so we do not recommend trying. If you bring U.S. dollars to exchange, the bills must be new, unmarked, and in excellent condition—damaged or older notes are often rejected.

Emergency Funds: Bring at least $200 USD (or the equivalent in Euro) in cash for emergencies in case of ATM or card issues. Always carry more rather than less to avoid feeling short of funds while traveling.
See the Estimated Trip Costs section at the bottom of this page for budgeting guidance.

For more advice, see our post, Smart Travel Finances: Your Guide to Money, ATMs, Fees, and Safety Abroad

Tipping

Tipping is optional but appreciated and goes a long way for the people who look after you on the trip. If you are happy with the service, use these ballpark amounts and adjust as you see fit:

– Service providers/Waiters: €1-2 EUR for snacks or 10% of the bill.
– Local guides and drivers: €3-5 EUR per person per day.
– G Adventures tour leader (CEO): €6-8 EUR per person per day. (We suggest pooling contributions in an envelope and presenting it as a group)

Tipping Kitty: On some trips, your CEO may suggest a “tipping kitty” where everyone contributes at the start of the tour, and the CEO uses that pooled amount to tip service providers for the group as a whole (not including your CEO). If your CEO doesn’t mention it and you’d like to use a kitty, we recommend asking about it early in the trip. Your CEO will advise the suggested amount and preferred currency for the kitty.

Flights

Wait for official trip confirmation via email from GEEO before booking your flights. Prices tend to be lowest 90–120 days out, but that window varies by route and year. Neither GEEO nor G Adventures bears responsibility for any flights purchased before the trip is confirmed.

This program begins and ends in Chisinau. Please double-check our itinerary for the date by which you must arrive in Chisinau. You may want to arrive in Europe one day early in case you have flight disruptions. You can arrive at any time you choose, but try to make it in time for our Welcome Meeting on Day 1. You can depart Chisinau any time on the final day of the program.

Plugs and Converters

Moldova uses Type C and F outlets, and the voltage is 220V-230V. To use your electronics safely, you’ll need to consider:

1. Adapter (plug shape)
Adapts your U.S. plug to fit another type of socket. See our recommended all-in-one travel adapter in our Gear Recommendations post.

2. Converter / transformer (voltage)
Steps the outlet voltage down to 120V for U.S. appliances that can’t handle higher voltage.

Check what you need: Look on your device’s plug or power brick. “Input: 100-240V” works worldwide—you only need a plug adapter. Any range narrower (e.g., “110-120V” or “Input: 120V”) means you need an adapter and a voltage converter to avoid damage. Converters are inexpensive and available online or in travel stores.

Weather

Moldova in the summer has long sunny days and average high temperatures in the 80s. Evenings cool down to a comfortable 61°-65°F (16°C to 18°C), making it a mostly dry and warm period occasionally interrupted by brief afternoon thunderstorms.