Balkan Trails
Balkan Trails
5
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Full view
About
Licensed Romanian tour operator company offering private tours in Romania and Bulgaria. All our tours are customizable, allowing you to discover only the sights you are interested in at your own pace.
Bucharest, Romania
Awards
Travelers' Choice
2024
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
5.0
170 reviews
Excellent
164
Very good
4
Average
2
Poor
0
Terrible
0
Cristina106
Sydney, Australia213 contributions
May 2020
This review is about how wonderful it is to deal with a company that has no problem refunding your tour. I think it is important to know some may only give you credits to make sure you still do your tour but for a company to give you a full refund is a company I want to deal with and review and let everyone know this is a tour company that take customer service seriously not take your money and service ends...
Over the past few month we have been in communication hoping we are both well and this virus subsides. But unfortunately it did not. It sadden me to have to cancel. Vlad reply was no problem full refund asap. I received my refund within two days... There was no delay it was in my account as soon as the banks could process the refund. I have had problems with hotels that I booked some no reply some saying maybe a credit so I thought it important to review a company that looks after their clients no matter what. This a company that deserves 5 star review even thought I haven't actually done their tour but because I believe customer service is a big part of the service they are providing... thanks again Vlad and Balkan Trails
Over the past few month we have been in communication hoping we are both well and this virus subsides. But unfortunately it did not. It sadden me to have to cancel. Vlad reply was no problem full refund asap. I received my refund within two days... There was no delay it was in my account as soon as the banks could process the refund. I have had problems with hotels that I booked some no reply some saying maybe a credit so I thought it important to review a company that looks after their clients no matter what. This a company that deserves 5 star review even thought I haven't actually done their tour but because I believe customer service is a big part of the service they are providing... thanks again Vlad and Balkan Trails
Written June 4, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Cristina,
Thank you very much for taking the time to review us, even though unfortunately the trip could not go ahead as planned.
You are right - it's important to see how a company behaves when dealing with a crisis like the many 2020 brought our way. We believe deposits paid towards a tour are not money that belongs to us, so of course we'll offer full refunds whenever requested.
I really hope things improve and we'll be able to plan your tour again for 2021 or maybe 2022 at the latest.
All the best,
Vlad
Written December 27, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Rod D
1 contribution
Aug 2022 • Couples
Finally got to do our trip with Balkan Trails after many false starts over a number of years due to COVID.
Vlad was accommodating with schedule and date changes over the 3 years we worked together to make this happen.
The trip was everything we hoped for.
Accommodation was first rate in all the best locations and the vehicle was in great condition and very comfortable. Our guide (Florin) was great fun and went above and beyond to tailor the itinerary as we went along so our every need was met.
Florin’s knowledge and historical perspectives were first rate and well above our ability to absorb everything he had to share.
I have already recommended Balkan Trails to other travellers and would not consider using anyone else if I came back to the region.
Vlad was accommodating with schedule and date changes over the 3 years we worked together to make this happen.
The trip was everything we hoped for.
Accommodation was first rate in all the best locations and the vehicle was in great condition and very comfortable. Our guide (Florin) was great fun and went above and beyond to tailor the itinerary as we went along so our every need was met.
Florin’s knowledge and historical perspectives were first rate and well above our ability to absorb everything he had to share.
I have already recommended Balkan Trails to other travellers and would not consider using anyone else if I came back to the region.
Written September 18, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for this wonderful review of your experience with Balkan Trails. We are thrilled that, after multiple attempts due to covid restrictions, we were finally able to make your trip happen. We completely understand that the many changes were difficult and we're glad we were able to provide the flexibility and support you needed.
We are delighted to hear that everything met or exceeded your expectations. It's great that you found the accommodations to be of first-rate quality and that you were able to travel in comfort. It's also wonderful to hear that Florin exceeded your expectations and provided a tailor-made itinerary that took your preferences into consideration. Florin’s extensive knowledge and ability to present historical perspectives is just one way that we strive to make our tours exciting and enriching.
Thank you for recommending Balkan Trails to other travelers. It would be a pleasure to welcome you back!
Written June 19, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Robert L
2 contributions
Oct 2021
We booked the "Dracula Tour in Transylvania" and were completely floored by how excellent the tour was! We got to see a number of world-famous sites such as the Snagov Monastery (where Vlad the Impaler is likely buried) and Bran Castle. Our tour guide Florin was highly knowledgeable about all the sites we visited - he gave us a ton of history about each location, including the history, geography and details on the paintings, artwork, etc. In addition to leading us through all of our visits, our tour guide took care of getting us everywhere we needed to go and helping us communicate with others since we didn't speak Romanian. We can't speak highly enough of the job Balkan Trails and Florin did in making our Romanian trip perfect!
Written October 29, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Robert,
Thank you very much for taking the time to write such an awesome review! You traveled at a time where there were no crowds of tourists anywhere, and with Florin's expert guidance, you were able to make the most of it. We're very pleased to hear you enjoyed your tour so much!
If you decide to further explore our part of the world in the future, do not hesitate to get in touch, we'd be happy to offer you our services again!
Written November 5, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Rae186
Bristol, UK10 contributions
Jan 2020 • Solo
The tour of Transylvania and Bucharest was excellent. My guide Stefan was very knowledgeable, professional and attentive to my comfort throughout the tour. I finished the tour having seen many interesting sights and with a good overview of the history of Romania. I appreciated the flexibility that a private tour allowed me and I was also informed and consulted about what was going to happen every step of the way. As a solo female traveller, I felt very safe and comfortable for the whole tour.
As a side note, which has nothing to do with the tour and how it was organised, if you are thinking of travelling to Romania in the winter, be aware that some places may be closed or close early due to much lower numbers of tourists at that time of the year. This didn’t affect the itinerary of the tour but could impact your dinner plans etc.
As a side note, which has nothing to do with the tour and how it was organised, if you are thinking of travelling to Romania in the winter, be aware that some places may be closed or close early due to much lower numbers of tourists at that time of the year. This didn’t affect the itinerary of the tour but could impact your dinner plans etc.
Written January 15, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We are delighted to hear that your tour of Transylvania and Bucharest was an excellent experience.
We're pleased to know that Stefan provided you with knowledgeable, professional, and attentive service throughout your tour. It’s great that you enjoyed the flexibility of a private tour and felt informed and consulted every step of the way.
Your feedback about feeling safe and comfortable as a solo female traveler is especially important to us, and we are glad that you had a positive experience in this regard.
Thank you for mentioning the seasonal aspect of traveling to Romania in winter. While it didn’t affect your tour itinerary, it’s valuable advice for future travelers to consider for their evening plans.
We appreciate your kind words and look forward to the opportunity to welcome you back for more memorable adventures in the future.
Written June 8, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Claire W
2 contributions
Jun 2023
We had been invited to a friends Romanian wedding. We wanted to do an extensive tour of Romania before the big day. Our dates were inflexible and Balkan Trails were able to fully accommodate our needs. We were initially apprehensive because we were paying online and without much knowledge of the company, as they were only a small enterprise. Our concerns were unfounded and this is a very well organised and reputable company. Vlad phoned/ emailed us before the trip to answer questions and find out our needs. The trip was extremely successful, well planned, organised and our guide/ driver Alex was superb. Alex made the trip one to remember. His excellent knowledge and experience of his country enabled us to gain a true insight into the history and culture of Romania. He was fun to be with, punctual and always looking after us. The tour consistently introduced us to new and fascinating sights. The sighting of the 11 bears - nearly a record! - in the Carpathian Mountains was definitely a highlight but there were many others including the painted monasteries. All the hotels were good, the highlight being the two nights in the homestay. Overall our impressions of Romania were very positive and we would highly recommend the company and the country to fellow travellers.
Written July 15, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for your detailed and heartwarming review! We are thrilled to hear that your extensive tour of Romania before attending your friend’s wedding was a memorable experience.
We understand that planning a trip with inflexible dates can be challenging, and we’re delighted that we could fully accommodate your needs. It’s also gratifying to know that any initial apprehensions about booking online were unfounded, and that you found our company to be well-organized and reputable.
I’m pleased to hear that our communication before the trip helped address your questions and tailor the itinerary to your needs. It’s wonderful to know that Alex, your guide and driver, played such a significant role in making your trip special. His knowledge, experience, and fun personality truly bring Romania’s history and culture to life.
Spotting 11 bears in the Carpathian Mountains sounds like an extraordinary highlight, along with the painted monasteries and other fascinating sights you visited. We’re glad you enjoyed the accommodations, especially the two nights in the homestay, which added a unique touch to your experience.
Thank you for highly recommending Balkan Trails and Romania. Your positive impressions mean a lot to us, and we look forward to welcoming you back for more adventures in the future.
Written June 8, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
gonezen
Chicago139 contributions
Oct 2022 • Couples
Balkan Tours is professional, responsive and reasonably priced. Their knowledge as represented by their guides is top drawer. My wife and I recently returned from two weeks traveling in Romania and Bulgaria, two underrated countries that deserve much more recognition. Our two guides, Florin (Romania) and Stoyan (Bulgaria) were quite knowledgeable and thorough in covering the agreed upon custom itinerary. They were fun to travel with too considering over the two weeks we spent at least 8 hours a day with them. They were quite sensitive to our needs and flexible to any modifications we requested. The tour hotels were very interesting each in their own way, excellent breakfasts and friendly personnel. We first saw BT on Facebook and after speaking with Vlad the owner and looking at their almost universally excellent reviews, we decided to go for it and we weren’t disappointed.
Written November 18, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for choosing Balkan Trails as your travel companion for your two-week tour of Romania and Bulgaria, and for taking the time to leave such a kind and thoughtful review!
We're thrilled that you enjoyed your custom itinerary and that our guides Florin and Stoyan were able to provide you with such thorough, knowledgeable, and fun tour experiences. We are very pleased to know that they were sensitive to your needs and the modifications you requested. That's precisely what we aim for at Balkan Trails, a personalized tour that caters to your own flavor.
We're so pleased to hear that you also enjoyed the diverse and interesting hotels we selected for your tour, and that the breakfasts were great and the personnel friendly.
Thank you for placing your trust in us. We're glad that our professional, responsive and reasonably priced services met your expectations. We hope to have the opportunity to welcome you back to other areas of the Balkans in the near future.
Written June 19, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Venture399830
2 contributions
May 2024 • Friends
Our tour with Balkan Trails to Bulgaria and Romania was excellent. Working with Vlad was a pleasure and we appreciated all of his good inputs and flexibility in coming up with the final itinerary. Balkan Trails' prices are competitive and reasonable and the drivers were both well informed and passionate about their work and their respective countries.
Speaking for me, I wouldn’t change any of the stops we made and really enjoyed the cooking classes and hiking we did. There were a few other things I would like to have done but there honestly was just not enough time to do it all this time around. I will have to go back and will certainly use Balkan Trails once again, when I do.
Thank you for making our experience a great one.
Speaking for me, I wouldn’t change any of the stops we made and really enjoyed the cooking classes and hiking we did. There were a few other things I would like to have done but there honestly was just not enough time to do it all this time around. I will have to go back and will certainly use Balkan Trails once again, when I do.
Thank you for making our experience a great one.
Written June 1, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your wonderful review! We are delighted to hear that your tour through Bulgaria and Romania with Balkan Trails was excellent.
It’s fantastic to know that you enjoyed working with us to create the itinerary and that you found our prices competitive and reasonable. We’re also pleased that our guides’ passion and knowledge enhanced your experience.
We’re glad you enjoyed the cooking classes and hiking, and it’s great to hear that you wouldn't change any of the stops on your itinerary. We understand that time can be a constraint, and we're excited to hear that you’re already considering a return trip to explore even more.
Thank you for choosing Balkan Trails. We look forward to welcoming you back on your next adventure!
Written June 8, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Joss N
1 contribution
Sep 2022
The first thing we would like to say about the Balkans is that our experience far exceeded our expectations. This was entirely due to the input into our tour by Balkan Trails. They are both professional and yet reasonably priced, We spent 14 days in Romania and Bulgaria and then proceeded onto Macedonia and Albania with a tour guide recommended by Balkan Trails, who was equally as professional.
Our guides were experienced, knowledgeable and fun, After a short time we felt like we were travelling with a friend, something that is very important when you are three people in a car together all day.
Our accommodation also was of a very high standard and couldn’t be faulted and the sites we visited were diverse and culturally interesting, The historical background on the areas provided by our guides was extensive.
We have no hesitation in recommending Balkan Trails to anyone interested and would like to say that you would be in very good hands.
Our guides were experienced, knowledgeable and fun, After a short time we felt like we were travelling with a friend, something that is very important when you are three people in a car together all day.
Our accommodation also was of a very high standard and couldn’t be faulted and the sites we visited were diverse and culturally interesting, The historical background on the areas provided by our guides was extensive.
We have no hesitation in recommending Balkan Trails to anyone interested and would like to say that you would be in very good hands.
Written November 26, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your kind words regarding your experience with Balkan Trails. We truly appreciate your taking the time to share your tour experiences with us and others.
We're thrilled to hear that we managed to exceed your expectations and that our professional tour services were able to deliver a truly memorable experience for you and your traveling companion. It's great to hear that our local guides were so informative and friendly, making you feel like you were traveling with a friend rather than a guide.
We're delighted to know that you enjoyed your staying in high-standard accommodations and that the sites you visited met your expectations for cultural diversity and historical significance.
Thank you again for recommending Balkan Trails! It means a lot to us knowing we exceeded your expectations. If you plan to travel to the Balkans again, don’t hesitate to contact us!
Written June 19, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
roger m
Sydney, Australia280 contributions
Jul 2023 • Friends
Balkan Trails, and the owner Vlad, offer an outstandigng service. Vlad was quick and helpful in emails as we developed our tailormade itinerary (based on his), and the trip - 19 days through Bulgaria and Romania - was operated with an impressive professionalism. A few small issues encourntered on the way with hotels were addressed quickly and to our satisfaction. Stoyen, our guide in Bulgaria, was a delight, and Alex in Romania impressed with his in-depth knowledge. I have absolutely no hesitation in recommending Balkan Trails very highly to anyone interested in developing a guided tour of these 2 fascinating countries.
Written July 20, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We are thrilled to hear that you found our service outstanding and that your 19-day tour through Bulgaria and Romania was a memorable experience.
It was a pleasure assisting you in developing your tailor-made itinerary, and we're glad that our email communication was quick and helpful. Ensuring that your trip was operated with professionalism is our top priority, and we're pleased to hear that any small issues encountered with hotels were resolved quickly and to your satisfaction.
I’m delighted that you enjoyed the company of our guides, Stoyan in Bulgaria and Alex in Romania. Their knowledge and dedication truly enhance the travel experience for our guests.
Thank you for highly recommending Balkan Trails. We appreciate your kind words and look forward to the opportunity of welcoming you back for more fascinating adventures in the future.
Written June 8, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
maroon80
near Philadelphia9 contributions
Jun 2023
My wife and I just completed a 25-day excursion through Bulgaria and Romania organized by Vlad at Balkan Trails. It was a fantastic experience. This region has spectacular natural beauty and fascinating history and culture, and our itinerary was thoughtfully prepared to expose us to all of this. Our guides were wonderfully knowledgeable and client-focused, and took care to show us the best, even when not specifically on the itinerary. We have been on many private tours on several continents, and this was among the very best. I recommend Balkan Trails (and Bulgaria and Romania) without reservation.
Written July 2, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for your fantastic review! We are delighted to hear that you and your wife had an extraordinary 25-day excursion through Bulgaria and Romania with Balkan Trails.
It’s wonderful to know that you found the region’s natural beauty, history, and culture so captivating and that our thoughtfully prepared itinerary allowed you to experience it all. Our guides are dedicated to providing a client-focused experience, and we’re thrilled that they exceeded your expectations by showing you the best of what the region has to offer, even beyond the planned itinerary.
We are especially honored by your comparison to the many private tours you have taken on several continents and that you consider this one of the very best. Your high recommendation of Balkan Trails, Bulgaria, and Romania means a great deal to us.
Thank you once again for your kind words. We hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you back for more memorable adventures in the future!
Written June 8, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Brigida R
Province of Naples, Italy
Salve,
vorrei avre più informazioni sul tour e i prezzi.
Resto in attesa Vs cortese riscontro.
Grazie mille
Written March 7, 2017
Hello,
Please send us an email at office(at)balkantrails. com and let us know exactly which tour you are interested in.
Please note we use English for corresponding with our clients.
Looking forward to hearing from you.
Written March 7, 2017
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*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.