Classic Romania Tour - small group in 8 days: Transylvania and Maramures

George, our guide was fantastic. Very personal and knowledgeable. Chatted, got to know him. Wonderful. Our driver.. wow... Amazing to watch him navigate. Felt safe the whole trip. He never was speeding or driving unsafely. Thanks so much. All the activities were great. Accommodation was spot on. Highly recommend this tour.

I first booked this tour back in 2019 before the pandemic rocked the world. At that time, I had been reassured that Rolandia would respect the conditions of my reservation despite the policy of the third party through which I had booked my tour. 2.5 years later, I was finally able to join the classic tour with one other woman. I had a rocky start because not much was communicated about my first day and how my arrival time which I had provided a couple of weeks in advance of the tour meant that I would not be able to take part in the first day. However, Rolandia worked throughout the duration of my tour to ensure that I could enjoy the city tour and the Spring Palace in Bucharest before I flew out on the last day of my tour. Though I didn't have the opportunity to see the Palace of Parliament, the Spring Palace/ House of the Ceausescu family was a great if not better alternative. The rest of the tour was a great introduction to the many highlights of Romania - beautiful, green countryside, impressive churches, castles, and palaces - as well as the history and culture of the nation. We had opportunities to meet a few people from different regions, which provided a tiny bit of insight into the local people as well. Our guide was incredibly knowledgeable and did his best to accommodate our interests and visit everything on our extensive itinerary. However, I think that it is important for a guide to take on a more neutral tone when discussing the various ethnic and national groups involved in Romanian's history and current reality. Whatever an individual's personal opinions about different groups and how tour guides should relate to customers, I think that antagonism toward different groups should be kept out of the conversation because with customers coming from various different backgrounds, you can't know how such talk will make them feel throughout the tour. I personally just shut down and honestly feel more negatively about such people and the people they claim to represent. Perhaps that kind of talk suits older customers who likely think the same way, but I am from a new age. But the tour itself was executed well and I had the privilege of a wealth of information from my guides.

This September I opted to join Rolandia's 8-day Classic Tour as I was attracted by its comprehensive itinerary, and boy, I wasn't disappointed! Its programme is indeed well-conceived, allowing you to gain a deep understanding of the country's history, geography, culture and traditions. It is also a thorough one, covering some of the best urban, rural and mountainous areas. Furthermore, activities are foreseen that give you the opportunity to interact with locals of different backgrounds, thereby gaining insight of life in the country. Although the itinerary is quite a packed one, there's still enough downtime set aside in the evening to recharge your batteries. The group was also a small one, which I found to be quite positive. We were blessed with the best guide imaginable - Nicu. He is a punctual, very knowledgeable, down to earth, fluent person with a great sense of humour, who goes out of his way to ensure you have the best possible experience in his country. He was also our driver throughout the whole week, and I felt very safe as a passenger. Communication with the tour manager Nicu A. was also a very positive experience. I highly recommend travelling with this local tour operator. You're in for a treat! ;)