Vlad
22Languages spoken
english, romanian
My interests & hobbies
photography, running, biking, hiking
About me
I have been in love with my country for all my life, probably because of all the trips I made during childhood. Now, I like photographing remote parts and villages in Romania and discovering people, places, lights and old habits. Join me!
Reviews from travellers
Brasov with a Local: Mt. Tampa, Farmers' Market & Home-Hosted Meal
A highlight of our Romanian visit. A chance to see and hear about the country from a local and share a beautiful meal in their lovely home. We certainly feel we have made a Romanian friend. Vlad communicated very well, was understanding, caring and flexible. I can't recommend this highly enough.
Brasov with a Local: Mt. Tampa, Farmers' Market & Home-Hosted Meal
Vlad was most helpful and accommodating! It was a lovely start of our tour in Brasov. His wife cooked us a lovely meal followed by a leisurely hike up Tampa. The company and the view was fabulous!
Brasov with a Local: Mt. Tampa, Farmers' Market & Home-Hosted Meal
Vlad and his wife were lovely people! It was a pleasant way to spend a morning. Vlad took us on a moderately hard (walking uphill for about an hour) up to the top of Mount Tampa. We then walked down and passed through a farmer's market to pick up some cheese. It would have been nice if we had a little extra time to explore the market, but I think he was trying to be conscious of our time since we had a train to catch. Vlad's wife cooked a very large and delicious 3 course lunch, and they shared some homemade cherry alcohol. They were able to cater to me (a vegetarian) and my daughter who is not a vegetarian. It was a really nice time.
Photography Tour of Romania: Traditional Villages & Local Life
Vlad was an incredible guide who took us on a tour that ended up being our favorite experience during our time in Romania. He picked us up punctually, drove safely, and engaged in great conversation the entire time. You can tell how much passion he has for Romania and those who live in the village he took us through- the people clearly love and respect him. I recommend this tour to EVERYONE visiting this beautiful country - Vlad will take you on a life-changing journey. It felt like adventuring with a long-time friend and I felt very safe!
Photography Tour of Romania: Traditional Villages & Local Life
Excellent tour with Vlad, the highlight of my 12 days in Romania!! This is a must do tour for serious photographers!!
Photography Tour of Romania: Traditional Villages & Local Life
Vlad is a wonderful guide, photographer and proud Romanian. he took us to some great spots and into locals' home. for any photographers interested in beautiful sceneries and rural life this trip is a must!
Photography Tour of Romania: Traditional Villages & Local Life
Photography Tour of Romania: Traditional Villages & Local Life Tour was the best thing we did in ROMANIA. VLAD WAS AMAZING! HE HAS SUCH A PASSION FOR HIS COUNTRY AND WANTS TO SHARE IT WITH EVERYONE! We chose to take the hike with Vlad and climbed up a huge hill/mountain side for a sunrise in a little town 30 minutes out of Brasov. Be prepared to climb for about 30 - 45minutes. It was well worth the climb for the morning sunrise. We walked along the mountainside and met amazing residents who lived there. People were very generous and offered us treats and coffee at each stop. If taking this tour, try and bring a little treat for the residents as some of them are just trying to get by with the harsh weather conditions at times. If you cannot climb, I am sure Vlad can still provide you an amazing experience exploring little towns off the beaten track. Thank you Vlad for showing us the real beauty of Romania. Liz and Steve Canada
Photography Tour of Romania: Traditional Villages & Local Life
We had an early start of the day, just in time to catch the first rays of sunlight on the rolling hills of the countryside. The morning mist unfolded sleepy valleys. An absolute gem of a sight! Vlad is a very warm and welcoming person. It was a pleasure to chat about Romanian culture, photography and life in general. He was both easy going and knowledgeable. Shortly after being invited for coffee by a neighbour, it became apparent how much some of the locals look up to Vlad and even confide in him. He was very quick to help us communicate and also exchange some words, smiles and jokes with the locals. There is nothing touristy or staged about this experience. Nor should you expect bursting out your camera at every corner. Which for us was perfect! It's totally fine if you aren't a photographer. You will surely be making some great memories. After nearly 9 days travelling through central Romania, our day-trip with Vlad was one of our most cherished moments. Looking back, I would have definitely traded in more days to explore the countryside near Brasov. It truly is an "unspoilt" and genuine part of Europe. So if any of this is in your plans, make the most of your time but remember to slow-down and enjoy! Thank you so much Vlad & Romanian Friend.
Brasov with a Local: Mt. Tampa, Farmers' Market & Home-Hosted Meal
Our tour with Vlad was the highlight of our stay in Brasov. He took us to places we would have never known about and we thoroughly have lunch at his apartment. Vlad seemed as interested in getting to know about us as we were to get to know him and his culture. Booking through Romanian Friend was easy and communication throughout the process was a breeze. If you're in Brasov you should definitely book one of Vlad's tours!
Photography Tour of Romania: Traditional Villages & Local Life
I went on Vlad's Tour with a friend, and we both agreed - this was the BEST day we had in our entire trip through Romania. Vlad is a relaxed, humorous, fun, and patient guide, and he took us on a journey to some secret places that honestly felt like a Disney trip. Even better, he knows some of the people in the traditional villages, and so we got to see into people's homes, farms, lifestyle, in a way that is perfect for a photography trip. I've been on many photography and guided tours in different parts of the world and this was the most enjoyable by far. Thank you, Vlad! I hope we see you again ;)
Photography Tour of Romania: Traditional Villages & Local Life
What an amazing tour! We visited Holbav, which is stunningly beautiful. And Vlad is just great - he answered my million questions about Romania with intelligence and compassion for the country. It is beautiful to see how he connected with the villagers we met, so going with him you will learn a lot and, most importantly, not feel as an intruder to their lives. Thank you so much Vlad and Romanian friend, because creating this kind of tourism is precious. Next time in Romania we will surely contact you again!
Photography Tour of Romania: Traditional Villages & Local Life
Both days I spent hiking in the mountains with Vlad were once in a lifetime experiences. Vlad was a very knowledgeable, kind, sincere guide and I thoroughly enjoyed our time together. I was able to shoot some incredible photos and met some amazingly authentic locals. Although the weather on the first day wasn’t favourable, we made the most of it and Vlad’s passion for his homeland shone through regardless. I highly recommend any tours Vlad takes.
Photography Tour of Romania: Traditional Villages & Local Life
We spent 3 1/2 weeks in Romania and we were doing tours everyday. If we were asked what our most memorable moment was in our holiday we would say this tour with Vlad. This tour is one of those life long memories that will always remind us of the true Romania. We hiked through the mountains meeting local Romanian people experiencing the real Romania. I took many photo's of the stunning scenery and their way of life but this tour is much more than a photography opportunity it is an experience of a life time. Vlad was an amazing guide, he was passionate about Romania and his culture and he was one really special person. He made our day a truly memorable one.
Photography Tour of Romania: Traditional Villages & Local Life
Best tour ever. Super scenic and guide was passionate and kind. Really highly recommended if you want to see the true beauty of Romania.
Photography Tour of Romania: Traditional Villages & Local Life
Absolutely fantastic! Vlad is a brilliant advocate for his country and thanks to his knowledge of the area and people, we had a truly amazing experience. This was the highlight of our trip to Romania - thank you Vlad and Romanian Friend for a wonderful experience.
Photo Trip in Saxon Transylvania: Villages, People & Views
Very nice tour with great views and unique perspectives and photo opps! Vlad knows the area, locals and where to go to get great shots, and everything was perfect. Thank you!
Photography Tour of Romania: Traditional Villages & Local Life
Vlad gave a very enjoyable tour of a rural village. He was easy to talk with and very knowledgable about the area and the people. It was a nice experience to visit an elderly lady's home and have coffee and cheese with her. The scenery was truly breath taking on this tour.
Photography Tour of Romania: Traditional Villages & Local Life
This was another wonderful tour I booked at the recommendation of Romanian Friend and I highly recommend it to anyone who likes to experience local life, get off of the beaten tourist path, or has a specific interest in photography. Vlad was a really kind and interesting guy to spend time with, and he clearly has a very strong connection to the rural village that we visited. Even though the weather was less than ideal, we enjoyed some nice views, met many of the friendly locals, and chatted about Romanian life as we trekked together. Vlad takes stunning photos and was happy to share tips with me, which helped me to get some nice images too! Overall I would highly recommend this tour, and Vlad as a guide!
Photography Tour of Romania: Traditional Villages & Local Life
My son is a keen photographer - I’m more interested in people and places and the culture. Both of us thought this was the best few hours we’d spent in a long, long time. We walked for hours through breathtaking scenery, meeting local people and getting a feel for life in the Romanian countryside. Vlad is a wonderful host and the trip is absolutely the best thing we did on our trip. Don’t miss it - and go ahead and book if you are even vaguely considering it. Places are scarce and Vlad takes only small numbers each time. Thank you again Vlad for a simply wonderful afternoon and to Romanian Friend for recommending this trip based on our interests!
Photography Tour of Romania: Traditional Villages & Local Life
Booking anything online for the first time can involve some element of risk, but when I saw this photography tour with Vlad on Romanian Friend I thought it sounded interesting and decided to send an email requesting a booking. Vlad our guide picked us up in Brasov and transported to a village where I felt I was traveling back in time. Vlad is a very easy guy to get along with and his passion for photography and Romania is very apparent. I have already written a blog about my experience and if I posted a link on here it would ruin the surprises that await you. Fran & I really enjoyed the experience, so if you were looking to see and photograph the real beauty of Romania, I personally would highly recommend the Photography Tour of Romania: Traditional Villages & Local Life. Thank you! Fletcher & Fran Leeds, UK
Photography Tour of Romania: Traditional Villages & Local Life
I decided to visit Magura village, and wanted to hire a guide for the day to maximize my chances of getting good images. While doing research for my travels, I came across Romanian Friend where local photographer Vlad offered a photography tour around Brasov. I'm very happy I decided to hire him as he is not just an excellent guide but also a very genuine and easy going person. I had a great time, went to places I wouldn't have found on my own and took some great shots! I highly recommend booking Vlad via Romanian Friend if you're looking for a great time in Transylvania. / Fredrik from Sweden
Photography Tour of Romania: Traditional Villages & Local Life
I have traveled around Romania twice (once as a single woman and now married) and have never felt as welcome as when I was with Vlad on the photography tour. While I am not a professional photographer by any stretch of the imagination, I truly enjoy seeing the more real side of small town life. And Marius from Romanian Friend replied to my request IMMEDIATELY upon receiving it and within the hour on the SAME DAY I was on a private tour of the most beautiful villages with the most real and generous people, the guide included! If you are looking for a way to get beyond the basic tourist attraction, Romanian Friend is the way to go!
Things you can do with Vlad
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Photography Tour of Romania: Traditional Villages & Local Life
Start from: Brasov
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Brasov with a Local: Mt. Tampa, Farmers' Market & Home-Hosted Meal
Start from: Brasov
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Photo Trip in Saxon Transylvania: Villages, People & Views
Start from: Brasov