Untravelled Paths Reviews 658

I would like to take this opportunity to ‘Thank You’ ever so much for arranging my holiday to Transylvania at such short notice – you were very organised and I was extremely impressed with the professionalism of your company: Untravelled Paths.

‘The Dracula Experience’ is a holiday that I will never ever forget for as long as I live – you certainly made one of my childhood dreams (or should I say nightmares) come true !! Honestly, it was amazing to finally visit the famous Dracula’s Bran Castle, to see Vlad the Impaler’s burial place as well as walking around the actual house where he was born – absolutely surreal !! As well as the castle visit, all the sight-seeing tours were perfectly organised/planned, every hotel we stayed in was beautiful and centrally located and then, just when we thought our holiday could not get any better, we were driven thru the breath-taking Transfagarasan Highway ('best road in the world' - according to Jeremy Clarkson and I definitely agree with him). I’ve never even heard of this road before, and I was so impressed that I've since watched it numerous times on YouTube. Finally, a huge 'thank you' to Eddy (our driver/tour guide) – he was brilliant, funny, extremely helpful and very knowledgeable (oh.. and an excellent driver) – f.y.i. I have two sons and if I ever had a son number three then I would want him to be just like Eddy – lol !!

Overall – our holiday was an experience of a lifetime - Romania is such a beautiful country and we learnt so much of its amazing history and will definitely go back – and we will highly recommend “Untravelled Paths” to all our friends and family.

"Thank You" once again.

Excellent guide and fascinating country
It was a very last minute trip. There were a few teething problems due to the late booking but we had an excellent guide who was very flexible about the itinerary. The country is wonderful - particularly inland and we did white water rafting, canyoning, hiking as well as sight seeing. The coast was a bit disappointing compared to the rest of the country - overbuilt and crowded. The organisation was generally very good - just one or two things which could have been done better.

Had a wonderful week on the Transylvania Experience tour with the fabulous Edi.

The scenery, castles, hotels (especially the amphitheater!) food and the craic with the small group and guide was fantastic.

Please add the Wednesday academy to the tour as was great fun and worth seeing whilst not far off the itinerary.

Big thanks to all involved for organising but especially Edi for putting up with us. Xx

Fantastic Transylvania Experience.
Edi was a fabulous guide. It would definitely not be possible to see all the gorgeous towns, castles and scenery without a tour like this.

All the hotels were really good.

Small group of great people to travel with. We were all firm friends from early on.

I recommend this trip to anyone.

You will leave a bit of your heart in Transylvania.

What isn't there to say? What an adventure, what beautiful scenery and what incredible company.

Firstly Edi, thank you for looking after us/me with great care and kindness, even right until the very last minute- nothing was too much for you. Your humour and knowledge made my experience so much better than I expected.

From the 1st day until the last, Edi made everything and everyone feel special. Bears, Bran, high mountain tops, Wednesday Academy, Peles Castle and of course my mate Vlads house was all an epic adventure and worth every penny.

This has been a dream holiday for me for a while and without Untravelled paths it would never have happened. The hotels were quirky and nice, the food was amazing and my wonderful Bran castle lived up to all of my expectations, my heart belongs to you Bran ♥️

I've gone away from this experience with new friends that I was incredibly lucky to have met and will never forget this experience.

I will absolutely reccomend this experience and will be doing this again in the near future.

I recently had an amazing trip with Untravelled Paths on the Mini Montenegro Experience in August’24, and it was truly one of the best trips I've ever had. As a solo traveler, I was looking for peace and a break from my routine, and this trip provided exactly that. I felt secure throughout the journey, and it really helped me find the relaxation I was seeking. Our guide, Ilija, was exceptional—extremely flexible, knowledgeable, and always supportive. His helpfulness made the experience even better. Thank you to Untravelled Paths for such an unforgettable trip!

We recently went to Slovenia on a trip called a Taste of Slovenia with Untravelled Paths. Whilst we were unlucky with the weather all our guides were upbeat and positive as well as very knowledgeable and friendly guides. Each guide gave us a slightly different perspective and by the end of our trip we really felt we knew much more about Slovenia and its’ people. It was a very full on trip, some days we were with our guides for 10/12 hours and we felt that everything was done to ensure we had a good time.

We had a wonderful holiday with Untraveled Paths in Sept 24. We had a great time up in the mountains with some absolutely unbelievable views and a great sunny time down on the coast. The tour guide Ilija was very helpful, very friendly, knowledgeable and very concerned that we got the most of our trip and adapted the itinerary to suit the needs of our group and the weather. I would recommend the trip to anyone.

I was looked after from beginning to end. Our guide Emir could not have done more. He was kind considerate and an excellent driver. In spite of his years he was extremely mature and had an outstanding knowledge of history. He delivered the information in a very eloquent manner and tailored the trip accordingly using his intuition. As a solo traveller I felt absolutely safe and really appreciated the effort put in by the company. Also the quality, comfort and welcome from the 3 hotels was outstanding. Thanks so much

We had an incredible journey with Untravelled Paths. The Dracula tour took us all around beautiful Romania. Far from just visiting tourist sites, our driver and tour guide Edi made it a personal journey into the heart of Romanian history and culture.

Edi was amazing, arranging everything for us, making sure we had a smooth and always pleasant trip and organising extra special detours and stops along the way (Nevermore Academy!) to make our stay unique and memorable.

Our hotels were also great, especially Bella Muzica in Brasov where we stayed in a huge luxurious suite (upgrade highly recommended!).

We were lucky to go in early September and the weather was perfect throughout the whole trip. The ride up Transfagarasan to Bâlea Lake was unforgettable. We don't want to take too much of the surprise away from future visitors, but the tour has so much more to offer than even the (highly detailed) itinerary could convey.

Thank you to the whole team and especially Edi, you’re the man! We can't wait to come back to Romania for another visit soon.

For anyone who loves their food and is interested in how it is produced this trip is a must. We managed to pack so much into the four days and still had plenty of time to explore the fascinating towns of Bologna and Modena. Our tour guide Marius was fantastic, he had a wealth knowledge and nothing was too much trouble for him. He kindly took us to the Ferrari Museum and waited while we visited. It was our first trip with Untravelled Paths, but certainly won't be our last.

Transylvanian Experience. Incredible whirlwind 7 days. Brilliant organisation and excellent guides. Highly recommended.

This was our third trip with Untravelled Paths; our second visit to Romania. This was another incredible trip with everything you could possible wish to experience from a holiday; culture, history, wildlife, amazing scenery, great food, a warm welcome, gentle, warm and dignified people who really love their country. Again, we were sad to leave this special place. We spent independent time in Bucharest at either end of the most incredible journey through the stunning Transylvania countryside; starting with Peles Castle, then on to Ampiteatrul, where we stayed in the most beautiful location at the top of the world! Next day on to Bran Castle (said to be the one described in Bram Stoker’s book). The very beautiful Brasov followed, with its many historic buildings (alas in the rain this time). Next was a heart-rending but lovely visit to the Libearty Bear Sanctuary where rescued circus bears, dancing bears and those generally treated badly, are allowed to live out their lives healthily and at peace in beautiful surroundings. On to Viscri - where we stayed in the heart of the village and were lucky to see and hear the evening procession of the cows and goats coming back from the pasture to their individual own homes. Saturday took us to the beautiful and colourful Sighisoara and then Sibiu overnight before heading back to Bucharest via the spectacular and awesome Transfargarasan - described by Top Gear as the best road in Europe! It is! Just as we thought our adventure had ended, we passed three bears in quick succession by the roadside on the way back to Bucharest. The whole trip was brought to life by our knowledgeable and capable guide, the lovely Edi. Like our previous guide for our other trips, Marius M, nothing was too much trouble for him and he reinforced the whole Untravelled Paths ethos of customer care and quality. Accommodation at each location was spotlessly clean and comfortable. If you’ve never thought about a holiday in Romania - Just go - but make sure you go with Untravelled Paths!

Really well organised tour visiting some beautiful places in Puglia and staying in traditional accommodation in prime locations. Marius was an excellent guide with a wealth of knowledge & good humour.

Our group was well looked after throughout. We enjoyed the trips. Our guide (Marius) was fun and knowledgeable. Everything ran like clockwork.

Having first visited Montenegro as students in 1972, backpacking and travelling by local buses, we decided to revisit and travel in more comfort and style. We were not disappointed. Though obviously far more developed now, we did still get a real feel for this beautiful country. The trip that James from Untravelled Paths organised was just perfect for us. He fully engaged with us when planning the trip, taking on board our preferred ways of travelling, the places we enjoy visiting and our preference for quiet, "simple" and comfortable accommodation. The organisation was seamless.
We started at the delightful family-run Klinci Village Resort, fairly remote in Lustica. Set high on the hillside, the views were lovely and we did some nice walks in the hills and down to Rose.
Next our wonderful mountain guide and driver, Iliya, drove us up through national parks to Kolasin. We had numerous stops on the way, and the views were spectacular. We also visited a mausoleum, a monastery and had a beautiful boat ride with really good bird-sightings. Our Kolasin accommodation was a very modern apartment, comfortable and functional. Kolasin's centre was really nice.
Then a chairlift into the mountains and more scenery.
Before leaving Kolasin, we visited a local honey farm with detailed explanations from the owner, plus delicious tasting on "doughnuts". I loved the Dobrilovina Monastery, and found conversing with one of the two nuns so very interesting. The Tara River Canyon and bridge were spectacular, then Durmitor National Park and the Black Lake (which was quite low in water).
Continuing on to Pluzine and the Izlazak Ethno Village, where our accommodation was a small cabin. Despite some heavy rain, Iliya made sure we ventured out and we visited a fascinating monastery. The village food was really good, though the portions were enormous and I could not eat all I was given.
On our way to Kotor, Iliya managed to reach the amazing Ostrog Monastery before the crowds, so we enjoyed the setting, the views and mosaics before heading off to Budva and lunch at a viewpoint overlooking Sveti Stevan. Budva was overbuilt and overcrowded, and we took a pleasant walk around the old walls.
Our friendly apartment at Kotor was, fortunately, a short walk from the old town. We were totally unprepared for the horrendous impact of mass tourism here! Three cruise ships and so many coach parties on our first visit. Even without the cruise ships, Kotor was far too crowded. However, the setting is truly beautiful and we enjoyed walks along the prom and our boat ride to Perast. Where we were staying was quiet and away from the crowds.
Our last stop was Petrovac, and it was actually my favourite. Still many olive trees remaining, our Medin Apartment Bluvista is set on the hillside above the old harbour. Our apartment was really spacious, and I loved the view over the citadel and the tiniest church set precariously on the smallest rocky island. We had a swim in a nearby cove, wandered long the prom, sat reading on our balcony and watched local fisherman in the harbour. Breakfast (extra charge) at the apartment was simply delicious. Home-cooked with a smile. The family owners are so friendly.
I had not realised it as possible to visit the "island" with the church, but we did this hiring a local boat. A rather precarious climb to the top, but then it was just us, the iridescent green lizards, and the view. It was magical. A perfect ending to our holiday.
The holiday was so well-organised, with enthusiasm and a real knowledge of Montenegro. Our guide and driver, Iliya, was kind, knowledgeable, safe and courteous. So thank you Untravelled Paths.

James, founder of Untravelled Paths, has a great range of tours that are truly untravelled but he makes offbeat experiences accessible to his customers. But better still, he really looks after his clients both before and during your trip. I am just back from a great trip to Albania/Montenegro with a group of friends and we all loved it.

Just back from an amazing experience with UTP to Albania and Montenegro. Walking and sightseeing in stunning scenery made all the better in the company of James, Ilija and their local team. Despite some weather challenges, we always felt safe in their company and James offered a Plan B where necessary. Recommend UTP without hesitation and we will explore more of their adventures in future. Thank you James and team.

This is a superb trip with multiple highlights every single day. Everything was done to maximise our experience of Albania and Montenegro. All of the accommodations were excellent and James was attentive, friendly and efficient throughout. I would highly recommend this trip and this company.

My son and I went on the UTP Hot air ballooning experience and were blown away (pardon the pun) with the detail and dedication James and the team gave to make the whole trip perfect.
We tagged an extra day in Istanbul onto the start of the holiday which was also arranged by them, and then had a guided tour around the city on the second day. Our guide couldn’t be faulted - we learned so much and saw many hidden gems like the water vaults under the city.
Just when we thought nothing could top this, we flew to Kayseri and stepped into a different world surrounded by rock caves and pillars of stone which rose randomly out of the ground.
We thought Quad biking through the outcrops followed by watching a spectacular sunset was the pinnacle until we arrived at the launch site for the hot air balloons the next morning. It was so eerie and exciting to see hundreds of balloons rise around us, then to be navigated over the spectacular scenery by incredibly talented pilots.
Absolutely breathtaking - an experience which will stay with us for ever.
UTP will certainly be our go-to adventure holiday company in the future.