Private Romania tours. Skip the bus. Explore with a local guide.

Balkan Trails offers a variety of private and small-group tours throughout Romania, including customized tours that cater to individual travel styles and interests.

All our tours of Romania include:

• The possibility of having your itinerary customized before the tour starts at no extra charge. The itinerary customization can include pacing changes, selection of hotels, sights we include (or skip), etc.
• Great flexibility regarding changes to the daily itinerary even after the start of the tour
• The services of a private licensed English-speaking guide (also driving)
• All guide’s expenses (meals, accommodation, etc.)
• Private transportation in an air-conditioned car (or minivan, depending on your group’s size)
• All vehicle-related expenses, such as gasoline, parking, and road tolls
• Complimentary wireless internet access in the vehicle so that you can stay in touch with your loved ones even while traveling
• Entrance fees and guided visits. If you wish to add any sight on the go, the guide will always be available with information during the visit
• Accommodation in locally-owned, centrally located 3, 4, and 5-star hotels or B&Bs, with breakfast included
• Airport transfers

Not included:

• Airfare to and from Romania
• Meals or beverages other than the included ones
• Photo fees (some sights require the payment of a fee for allowing you to take pictures – they are mostly inexpensive, around 2 or 3 euro/sight)
• Credit card fees (3.25%). We offer you the possibility of paying for the tour in your home currency via a domestic bank transfer
• Gratuities for your guide (entirely up to your discretion)

Sure. Let us know which hotels you’d like changed, and we’ll handle it. You can request to have certain hotels changed, or you can request an overall accommodation level (4-star only, for example).

No. We recommend to all of our clients to carry a medical insurance that would cover any health-related costs that might incur while on the trip. Insurance for trip interruption and lost/stolen luggage is also recommended.

Of course. All our tours are customizable. We can change one itinerary, join two itineraries together, or just tell us about the places you want to see, and we’ll make a whole new itinerary just for you! Customizing a tour comes at no extra charge.

You can book a tour by sending an inquiry through the website’s contact forms, detailing your preferences and travel plans. Also, you can contact us through the chat widget located in the bottom right corner of the screen.

Balkan Trails is a family-owned operator run directly by Vlad and Zoe Trestian, a Romanian and a Bulgarian who have been working in the region’s travel industry since the late 1990s. Every inquiry is answered personally by one of the owners, not a call center. Tours are fully private (or in a small group) and built around your itinerary, not a fixed group calendar. Guides are hand-picked, licensed, and long-term partners. Hotels are personally vetted, locally owned where possible, and centrally located. The result is a trip that feels like it was planned by someone who actually lives here, because it was.

The best time to visit Romania is spring (April to May) and autumn (September to October), when the weather is mild, crowds are thinner, and the landscapes are at their most photogenic. Summer (June–August) is ideal for mountain hiking and the Transfăgărășan Road (open only June–September), but popular sites like Bran Castle get busy. Winter is best suited for travelers interested in Christmas markets or skiing in the Carpathians. If your focus is Maramureș or Bucovina’s painted monasteries, spring and autumn offer the best light and the most authentic, crowd-free experience.

EU and EEA citizens do not need a visa to enter Romania. As of 2024, Romania joined the Schengen Area, which affects border procedures for travelers arriving from other Schengen countries. Citizens of the USA, Canada, Australia, the UK, and many other countries can enter Romania visa-free for stays up to 90 days within a 180-day period. Citizens of other nationalities should check the specific requirements with the Romanian embassy or consulate in their country before travel, as requirements vary. We recommend confirming current entry rules closer to your departure date, as policies can change.

Romania’s highlights span several distinct regions. In Transylvania, the top draws are Bran Castle, Peleș Castle, the medieval towns of Brașov and Sibiu, the fortified Saxon churches of Biertan, and the UNESCO-listed citadel of Sighișoara (birthplace of Vlad the Impaler). Further north, Maramureș offers wooden churches, hand-carved gates, and the Merry Cemetery in Săpânța. Bucovina is home to the UNESCO-listed painted monasteries of Voroneț, Humor, Moldovița, and Sucevița, celebrated for their extraordinary exterior frescoes. Don’t overlook Bucharest, with its layered architecture, the Palace of Parliament, and a lively food scene. For the adventurous, the Transfăgărășan Road through the Carpathians and the underground wonder of the Turda Salt Mine round out a truly complete Romania experience.

Romania is generally a safe destination for tourists. Violent crime targeting visitors is rare, and the country ranks comparably to other Eastern European destinations. The main things to be aware of are standard urban precautions in Bucharest: pickpocketing in crowded areas, and unlicensed taxis near the airport. Outside the capital, rural Romania is exceptionally safe and welcoming. On a private guided tour, your guide handles all logistics, transportation, and local navigation, which removes most of the friction and risk that independent travelers might encounter. As with any trip abroad, carrying travel insurance is strongly recommended.

Private Romania tours with Balkan Trails start from €1,050 per person for a 4-nights itinerary and range up to €4,100+ per person for a 14-nights comprehensive tour. The final price depends on tour duration, group size, accommodation level, and any customizations to the itinerary. Traveling as a couple or small group generally brings the per-person cost down. All prices include private guiding, transportation, accommodation with breakfast, entrance fees, and airport transfers. Flights to and from Romania are not included. For an accurate quote based on your specific dates and preferences, send us an inquiry and you’ll receive a tailored proposal within 24 hours.

A minimum of 4–5 days covers the essential Transylvania circuit: Bucharest, Sibiu, Sighișoara, Brașov, Bran Castle, and Peleș Castle. For a more complete picture that adds Bucovina’s painted monasteries (Voroneț, Humor, Moldovița, Sucevița), Maramureș, the Turda Salt Mine, or Cluj-Napoca, 10–15 days is ideal. Romania is larger than most visitors expect, and rushing between regions rarely does it justice. If your time is limited, we recommend focusing on one or two regions in depth rather than trying to cover everything. We can help you build a realistic, well-paced itinerary around whatever time you have available.

Yes, a combined Romania and Bulgaria tour is one of our most popular options. On the Bulgaria side, highlights include Sofia, the UNESCO-listed Boyana Church, the Rila Monastery, Plovdiv’s Roman ruins and Old Town, the Valley of Roses near Kazanlak, and the medieval fortress of Veliko Tarnovo. On the Romania side, you’ll cover Bucharest, Transylvania’s castles and Saxon towns (Sibiu, Sighișoara, Brașov, Bran Castle, Peleș Castle), and optionally Bucovina’s painted monasteries or the Bicaz Gorges. Both countries are operated by the same team, so planning and logistics are seamless across the border. We offer dedicated Bulgaria & Romania packages ranging from focused Transylvania combinations to comprehensive 15+ day tours covering both countries in depth.