Guided tours and day trips from Sibiu to Transylvania

licensed tour guide

The founder - Florin

People often ask me why I chose to become a tour guide. For me, it's not just about the money—it's about doing what truly makes me happy: sharing the beauty and stories of Romania with others.

I moved to Sibiu, Transylvania, 18 years ago from a small city in Wallachia to pursue my university studies. It didn’t take long for me to fall deeply in love with this region. Over the years, I explored Transylvania step by step, inch by inch—its cities, medieval villages, hills, and hidden valleys.

Every place I visited revealed layers of history and human stories that drew me in. This passion for discovery and storytelling slowly shaped my path.

With a professional background in finance and banking, I decided to follow my heart and transform my interests—history, local cuisine, culture, and nature—into a full-time profession. I became a certified tourist and mountain guide after graduating from tourism school in 2012.

What started as a hobby became a part-time job, and eventually, my full-time calling. Today, I feel both proud and fulfilled, running my own independent travel company and showing my guests the real Romania—while also discovering the world through their eyes.

Values

Our Values

At Oak Tree Travel, our approach is deeply personal. We’re not just offering tours — we’re building genuine human connections. Here are the values that guide us every day:

Common Sense

We strive to create an exceptional guest experience — but not in a corporate way. For us, everything starts with common sense and genuine human decency. Whether it's planning logistics or solving small travel issues, we use empathy and logic, not scripted answers.

Empathy

Every traveler is unique. Our guests come from all over the world, with different backgrounds, personalities, and expectations. We adapt our style and approach to each group or individual, guided by empathy — the foundation of meaningful human interaction.

Tolerance and Balance

We respect the beliefs and cultural practices of all our guests, as long as they are not harmful to others. Tolerance, open-mindedness, and mutual respect are key values we carry with us on every tour.

Active Listening

A tour guide is expected to talk — but the best ones also listen. We take time to understand your interests, passions, and preferences. That’s how we design personalized experiences, and it’s also how we learn from our guests. We love discovering your stories and perspectives.

Passions

My passions

I’ve always loved the mountains — and I consider myself incredibly lucky to call Sibiu home. Nestled at the foot of the majestic Carpathians, Sibiu offers quick access to nature’s wonders. Whether by car or bicycle, it takes just a few minutes to reach the forest trails and alpine meadows I treasure.

In my free time, especially during summer, I often go hiking to discover new trails, breathe in the fresh mountain air, and recharge for the journeys ahead. The mountains are more than just a backdrop to my life — they’re a place of peace, inspiration, and discovery.

I also enjoy cycling through the countryside around Sibiu. There’s no better way to stay active and explore the charming villages built centuries ago by Romanians and Transylvanian Saxons. These rides often lead to unexpected encounters with locals — conversations filled with stories, legends, traditional crafts, and even treasured recipes from authentic Romanian cuisine.

And yes — I’m passionate about history. Not because it’s part of my job as a tour guide, but because it helps us understand the world around us. History gives context to our present and helps us learn from the past. It’s a powerful lens through which I explore both Romania and humanity.

Foodie

My Love for Food

I’m also passionate about food — not just eating it, but discovering its stories. For me, experiencing a country’s cuisine is essential to truly understanding its culture, history, and way of life. That's why every one of my own travels includes a visit to the local market — it's where the real soul of a place lives.

At home, I enjoy cooking as an amateur chef. You might spot a picture of my homemade sourdough bread above — a small glimpse into my kitchen experiments. While I won’t be cooking for you on tour (at least not yet!), who knows? If we become friends, maybe we’ll end up sharing a cooking party — my style.

In the meantime, I’ll make sure you get to taste the best of our region. I know the most authentic places to eat and drink in Transylvania — from traditional family-run taverns to hidden village gems. Whether you're into hearty stews, rustic cheeses, or local wines, I’ll guide you to the true flavors of Romania.