We explore Romania with Rolandia Bespoke, one of the country’s leading specialist luxury DMCs, whose bespoke itineraries cover the most extraordinary regions; from Transylvania and the Carpathian Mountains to Maramureș, Bucovina and the Danube Delta.

What's in this Article

We explore what makes Romania, so long overlooked as a luxury travel destination, irresistible for today’s travellers — and why Rolandia Bespoke, with their home-grown knowledge and passion for their homeland, are the ideal guides to the best of the best.
We discover the country’s wide-ranging wonders, from Bucharest's Belle Époque energy and Transylvania's castle country to the UNESCO-recognised painted monasteries of Bucovina and the extraordinary birds and wildlife of the Danube Delta.
We experience three of Rolandia Bespoke's signature adventures - wildlife tracking in the Carpathians, a cultural immersion day with a Roma family and a high-performance drive along the legendary Transfăgărășan Road.
We share four handpicked places to stay, from Bucharest's elegant Epoque Hotel and the Michelin-listed Singureni Manor to the historic Bethlen Estates in Transylvania and the mountain retreat of La Saivan.
And we make the case for why Romania - with Rolandia Bespoke at the helm - is one of Europe's most rewarding and still genuinely underexplored luxury destinations.

Romania, Reconsidered

Why has Romania spent so long under the travel radar?

Honestly, we have no idea - especially after meeting Rolandia Bespoke DMC.

Born and bred in this remarkable land, their passion for sharing its beauty and culture is matched only by the depth of their local knowledge, with personalised, authentic travel experiences designed to flip the perspective, change the narrative and showcase their country’s true soul.

With sustainable practices that honour the country’s natural and cultural heritage, their luxury Romania itineraries move between ethereal landscapes, cultural immersion and adventures that range from the mystical to the heart-pumping.

For a European experience quite unlike any other - the highlights with a twist alongside genuinely off-the-beaten-track discoveries - Rolandia Bespoke are the partner we'd always turn to first.

See how Rolandia Bespoke bring Romania to life - browse their full itinerary collection HERE

Why Romania has our hearts…

With its perfect balance of the untamed and the cultured, Romania is a place whose contemporary heartbeat pulses in its cities while echoes of times gone by drift through its mist-clad forests and whirl around ancient fortresses perched high above.

In Bucharest, the "Paris of the East", Belle Époque buildings mingle with a modern energy that combines a vibrant arts scene, a thriving restaurant culture and a nightlife that surprises and delights first-time visitors.

Elsewhere, the legends and pastoral lifestyles of Transylvania mingle among the Carpathian Mountains - home to Europe's largest population of brown bears, wolves and lynxes - in a landscape that genuinely feels plucked from a fairy tale.

And in Romania's rural heart, a true magic unfolds; think picture-perfect villages nestled in rolling hills that reveal a way of life untouched by time, where horse-drawn carts rumble over the cobbles and locals break from the harvest to celebrate ancient festivals in glorious traditional costume.

From the Gothic grandeur of Bran Castle - irretrievably bound to Dracula lore - to the serenity of monasteries tucked into mountain enclaves and the rare birds and extraordinary wildlife of the UNESCO-protected Danube Delta, this is a land where the past feels vividly alive and unspoilt nature stretches in every direction.

Wide-Ranging Wonders

Horse cart riding in the King Charles village.jpg

Romania rewards those willing to go beyond the obvious - and there’s a great deal beyond the obvious to find.

Culture lovers should head first for Bucharest before moving into Transylvania, where Brașov and Sibiu blend mediaeval squares and impressive churches with genuinely vibrant arts scenes.

Into the Carpathians, and the landscape shifts into castle country - a mountainous terrain of dense, wildlife-rich forest and architectural marvels that spans the Gothic magnificence of Bran, the Neo-Renaissance opulence of Peles, the imposing mediaeval turrets of Corvin and the ancient Dacian fortresses around Orăștie.

Built in 1388, the iconic Bran Castle is, of course, a must-see, its towers and mediaeval architecture deeply intertwined with vampiric myth and historic legends. And yes, it is possible to escape the crowds -Rolandia Bespoke offer a night tour that takes guests through the shadowy halls by moonlight, long after the last visitors have gone.

Heading north, Maramureș offers one of the best-preserved traditional landscapes in Europe, where wooden churches, horse-drawn carts and age-old customs prevail, while the UNESCO-recognised 15th and 16th century monasteries of Bucovina remain one of Romania's most extraordinary (and undervisited) cultural treasures - worth visiting for their vibrant exterior frescoes alone, with their vivid depictions of biblical scenes remarkably intact after five centuries.

And heading south, nature lovers will adore a spot of Danube Delta birdwatching. The river delta, the second largest in Europe after the Volga, is one of the continent’s last great wetlands - a UNESCO World Heritage site of waterways, marshes and islands that houses more than 300 bird species alongside exceptionally rich biodiversity.

Ready to dive deeper? Browse Rolandia's full range of Romania itineraries in their Sales Toolkit HERE

Incredible Adventures

A Rolandia Bespoke itinerary is packed with Romanian adventure, with choices spanning exclusive access to landmark destinations, art and culture exploration, food and wine experiences and thrill-packed days - everything from horseback riding, sports car racing and helicopter rides over the Carpathians is at your guests’ fingertips.

With far too much to list, here are three handpicked by our team - one nature-based, one culturally immersive and one guaranteed to get the adrenalin going:

Carpathian Wildlife Tours

This exhilarating adventure takes guests deep into the forests of the Carpathian mountains to track wolves, bears and lynxes in their natural habitat with expert local guides.

With the largest population of brown bears in Europe outside Russia, the Carpathians are home to Europe's largest population of large mammals - including bison, recently reintroduced by the rewilding non-profit Rewilding Europe - making this one of the most significant wildlife experiences available anywhere on the continent.

A Day with an Authentic Roma Family

In this genuinely immersive day of music, food and cultural exchange, guests spend time with a Roma family, learning all about their crafts, their daily lives and their fascinatingly distinct perspective on the world - the kind of human encounter that stays with travellers long after the itinerary ends.

Drive the Transfăgărășan Road

The ultimate experience for any petrolhead - and frankly, for anyone who appreciates a fast car and a great road!

Rolandia Bespoke can arrange a test drive of a high-performance sports car on the legendary Transfăgărășan highway, dubbed the "world's best road" by Top Gear.

Winding over 90 kilometres of hairpin turns high into the Carpathians, it passes alpine meadows, glacial lakes, waterfalls and mediaeval fortresses as the landscape unfolds beneath you - taking guests to an altitude of more than 2,000 metres at its highest point.

From wildlife tracking to mountain roads and everything in between, see how Rolandia Bespoke put it all together in their Sales Toolkit HERE

Where to Stay

Of course, Rolandia Bespoke's handpicked accommodation portfolio covers the whole of Romania, from upscale city stays to premium boutiques with a distinctive local character.

Here are just a few of our favourites…

Photo credit: Singuerni Manor and Epoque Hotel

Epoque Hotel, Bucharest (Relais & Châteaux)
Just steps from Cismigiu Park in the heart of Bucharest, the Epoque Hotel is an elegant 5-star boutique retreat. With 45 refined suites, an intimate restaurant and a beautiful spa, this urban sanctuary is dedicated to offering guests an exclusive lifestyle experience in the heart of Romania's vibrant capital.

Singureni Manor, near Bucharest
Just outside Bucharest, Singureni Manor offers a luxurious countryside escape with hunting lodge vibes - all equestrian activities, fine dining and elegant accommodations, centred in a retreat for those who want tranquillity and adventure in equal measure. After exploring the untouched forest surroundings, where deer and stags roam freely, guests can unwind in the grand house or the cosy inn, both with private pools and saunas. Singureni Manor's inclusion in the MICHELIN Guide confirms its place among Romania's finest luxury experiences.

Photo credit: Ha La Saivan and Bethlen Estates

Bethlen Estates, Transylvania
In the idyllic countryside of Criș, Bethlen Estates offers an enchanting blend of historic charm and contemporary luxury. Renovated by the family of Count Miklós Bethlen after their return to their ancestral home, this beautifully restored boutique property includes the charming Caretaker's House - a thoughtfully appointed retreat for guests who want the stunning scenery of Transylvania's timeless villages as their daily backdrop. Alongside gourmet dining, horseback explorations and personalised hiking are also on the menu.

Ha La Saivan, Câmpulung Moldovenesc
High on a mountain plateau in Câmpulung Moldovenesc, Hai La Saivan Bio Retreat and Farm offers a rustic escape with views across the Moldova River Valley to Rarau Mountain.

Three historic guesthouses, lovingly restored with original furnishings, provide an authentic window into Romanian rural life and its setting beside a thriving working farm creates a peaceful haven for guests seeking genuine connection with the landscape.

When to visit Romania

Every season brings its own rewards for visitors to Romania.

Spring brings wildflowers to the Carpathian meadows and Easter traditions to the villages of Maramureș and Transylvania, while summer opens the Danube Delta to its most spectacular birdwatching - with great white pelicans among the 300-plus species found here - and the mountain roads to long, sun-filled days.

In Autumn, the forests of Transylvania light up in shades of copper and gold, making it perhaps the most atmospheric season for castle country.

And winter? The colder months see a particular kind of magic settle over the painted monasteries of Bucovina, the Christmas markets of Brașov and Sibiu and the snow-covered peaks of the Carpathians.

And why explore Romania with Rolandia Bespoke?

Rolandia Bespoke have been crafting authentic, handcrafted Romanian itineraries for over a decade, serving individual travellers, private groups and corporate clients across the length and breadth of their homeland.

Their sustainable approach to travel, built on deep relationships with local suppliers, guides and communities, is at the heart of everything they design, and it shows in the quality and originality of every experience they create.

What we particularly love - and we know you and your clients will too - is their modest perfectionism, their honesty and dependability and their genuine creativity in seeking out experiences that honour the nature and culture of this remarkable country.

They began with a simple dream of sharing Romania's beauty more widely with the world.

That commitment, combined with their unrivalled local knowledge, has turned that dream into a reality; one your clients are certain to fall for.

Love to learn more about Rolandia Bespoke and Romania? Get in touch and we'll introduce you to the team.

From Romania with Love: Why This Fairytale Destination Deserves to Be on Every Luxury Itinerary