Our Team

Balkan Trails started with a simple idea: to show travelers the side of Romania and Bulgaria that only locals truly know.

We are Vlad and Zoe Trestian. Vlad is Romanian, Zoe is Bulgarian,and together we founded Balkan Trails in 2009 as a family-owned boutique travel company. We’ve been working in the travel industry in Eastern Europe since the late 1990s, and that depth of experience shapes everything we do. Because we live and work here, and maintain close relationships with local communities, we are able to offer experiences that go beyond standard sightseeing: something that’s genuinely difficult without strong local connections.

When you travel with us, you deal directly with one of us. Zoe or Vlad will be your single point of contact from the first message to the last day of your tour. Someone with a complete picture of your trip and firsthand knowledge of the destination.

We understand that travel is personal. No two travelers are alike, which is why every itinerary we create is built around you: your interests, your pace, the hotels you prefer, and the experiences that matter most to you. Your tour is exactly that: yours. Just let us know when you’d like to arrive and depart, what you’d like to see, and we’ll take care of the rest.

Our travelers are typically culturally curious guests who value depth over checklist travel: couples, multi-generational families, and small groups of friends who want to genuinely explore the history, traditions, and everyday life of the places they visit. Whether that means wandering the medieval towns of Transylvania, discovering beautiful monasteries in Bulgaria, sharing a home-cooked meal in a countryside village, or venturing into the Carpathian Mountains in search of wildlife, we design each journey around meaningful, authentic encounters.

To bring those experiences to life on the ground, we work with a small number of hand-picked, licensed guides with solid experience and excellent English. During your time with them, you’ll get a true insider’s perspective on the country, its people, its culture, and they’ll help you connect with locals, because meeting the people who actually live here is key to truly understanding a place.

Being a small, family-run business means we can only manage a limited number of tours each year. That’s a deliberate choice. Our focus has never been on volume, it’s on creating travel experiences that are genuinely memorable. And those, by their nature, come in limited numbers.

We’re really looking forward to showing you our part of the world.

Vlad and Zoe Trestian

Costin Soroceanu

Born in Bucharest in 1973, Costin has made the breathtaking region of Câmpulung Moldovenesc his home and his life's passion. With roots in forestry education and a degree in Physical Education and Sport, he brings a combination of deep knowledge of the natural environment and a genuine love for the outdoors to every tour he leads. Since 1997, he has been collaborating with travel agencies across Romania, building a reputation as a guide who truly knows this land. Over the years, Costin has worn many hats in the tourism world, working as a travel agent and later as a tourism manager, giving him a well-rounded understanding of the industry from the ground up. He holds national and sports guide certifications, and his winter mountain rescue training through the Salvamont Winter School means you're in safe hands whatever the season. Since 2016, he has also worked at the Rarău Meteorological Station, giving him an intimate, day-to-day connection with the mountain environment that few guides can match. He doesn't just visit these mountains, he lives them. Off the trail, Costin is a devoted husband and a proud father since 2021. That warmth and care he brings to family life is the same energy you'll feel on every journey with him: patient, knowledgeable, and genuinely invested in making your experience unforgettable.

Miti Rusu

Since 2012, he has been exploring the lesser-known corners of Romania alongside travelers from all over the world, offering tours in both English and Spanish. What started as a passion has grown into a true calling. He doesn't just show you places, he shares stories and emotions, and his greatest hope is that you feel that energy from the very moment you meet him. For him, this is far more than a job. It is a profession, a passion, and a way of life. Miti is deeply committed to uncovering the stories behind Romania's landscapes, traditions, and heritage, constantly discovering new facts and tales just so he can pass that knowledge on to the people he guides. Whether you're visiting Romania for the first time or returning for more, his enthusiasm for this country is genuinely contagious. When he's not behind the wheel or leading guests through Romania's most remarkable corners, you'll find him out in nature, hiking mountain trails and soaking in the landscapes he loves so much. His philosophy is simple: your happiness and safety come first. He is dedicated to making sure every journey is seamless, inspiring, and above all, unforgettable.

Florin Daciu

With over 14 years of experience as a travel agent, Florin has spent more than a decade crafting meaningful journeys and helping travelers discover Romania from the inside out. His background goes well beyond tourism. Trained as an automotive engineer and certified paramedic, he brings a rare blend of technical expertise, calm and professional composure to every trip, ensuring your journey is not only memorable but safe and well-managed at every turn. What sets him apart is his genuine love for nature and the outdoors. Romania's landscapes are not just a backdrop for him, but a personal passion, and that enthusiasm is felt in every tour he leads. Whether navigating mountain roads or exploring rural villages, he approaches every route with the curiosity and care of someone who never tires of this country's beauty.

Toma Georgiev

The eldest of all from the entire Balkan Trails Team, a typical “old school” guy, punctual, responsible, with emphasis on every single detail, sometimes a bit too talkative (hopefully not too boring). Toma first fell in love with traveling and guiding as a student at the University of Sofia. As of today, with close to 30 years of practical experience in tourism, Toma helped a lot when starting the business of Balkan Trails many years ago. He was actually the one running the very first tour that we had in Bulgaria in September 2009 – a fact that he is always proud to share with all of his new Balkan Trails clients. Toma has a wide range of interests in the fields of social life (politics, economics, history, geography), with excellent English, starting from the English Language School that he proudly graduated with honors in the mid 80-ies as his high school, as well as from his study in the USA in the early 90-ies. Born and raised in Plovdiv, Toma is also very proud of his home town, known as one of the oldest Europe and he canbtell you stories for hours while taking you alongside the cobble-stoned streets of the Old town area. Toma will be happy to be your driver/guide while touring around Bulgaria, as well as to take you to his country house for a while if en route with your itinerary, where you could taste the delicious cherries that you can pick from the trees in his garden, while enjoying the view from his beautiful outdoor veranda – some of these small things that help you get a sense of what Toma calls “real life in the country”.

Marina Zareva

Marina is a professional tour guide with over 15 years of experience, dedicated to sharing her deep love for travel, history, and her homeland. For her, being on the road is not just part of the job, it is where she truly belongs. Guiding comes naturally as a reflection of her passion for exploring and connecting people with places. She holds a Master’s degree in Cultural Tourism, which complements her practical experience and enriches the depth of her tours. Her strong interest in history and culture, combined with an ongoing curiosity, drives her to continuously discover new destinations. Even outside of work, Marina enjoys venturing off the beaten path, exploring corners of Bulgaria, from its highest peaks to its quietest trails, so she can offer her guests fresh perspectives and authentic experiences. Marina believes that a good guide should be not only well-informed and up to date, but also courteous, curious, and easy-going. Her approach combines solid knowledge of the cultural landmarks and highlights with a relaxed manner, allowing guests to feel comfortable while exploring and learning along the way. Whether you are interested in Bulgaria’s history, traditions, scenic landscapes, or simply looking for the perfect place to enjoy a good glass of wine, Marina will be delighted to accompany you and make your journey truly memorable.

Vlad Trestian & Zoe Trestian

Some of our Romania guides

Costin Soroceanu

Miti Rusu

Florin Daciu

Some of our Bulgaria guides

Toma Georgiev

Marina Zareva

Inquiry Form

Just one more step! Please give us your contact information.

Tour Inquiry Form

Just one more step! Please give us your contact information.