”Best guide in 25 years of worldwide travel! Teo of Maramures Tours is a wise and rare man. Deeply knowledgeable about the history, culture, weaving, current politics, ecology, geography and every other aspect of his beloved country, he manages to convey his love along with insightful comments. We’ve travelled literally all over the world for 25 years and I’ve written a lot of reviews. I’m pretty much at a loss for words to describe Teo’s excellent service. I’d go back to Romania just to see what else he could show us.” (Pat, USA)
“The best guide I have ever experienced, Teofil Ivanciuc is a former journalist and author of books (…). He is extremely knowledgeable about local traditions , people and places (…) I met people and saw things I would not have seen without his guidance.” (Val, United Kingdom)
”Thank you for an experience of a lifetime!” (Sharon, USA)
”It was the best tour we have ever done & Teo the best guide. We cannot recommend Maramureş Tours more highly.” (Suzan, Australia)
“I felt like I was living in a documentary in the best possible way. Best tour of my life, actually.” (Amy, USA)
”Teo was simply the best guide I have ever experienced. His knowledge of the area was incredible and we were able to see places and people we would never have come across as a regular tourist. Within all his knowledge his humour shone through, which made the experience even more fun. Thank you so much Teo!” (Joanie, United Kingdom)
”What a magical experience and a special time! The day’s itinerary is completely flexible so you can see what you want to see, and spend time according to your priorities (like trying to use a scythe to cut grass!) (…) You might think that it would be somewhat awkward visiting a small village with a tour guide and sitting down in someone’s home to speak with them through a translator, but with Teo it was perfectly natural and very comfortable. People everywhere we went were so friendly, curious, and welcoming. It’s evident that everyone thinks very highly of Teo and that he has great integrity (…) Thank you so very much for giving us insight into this beautiful, unspoiled region, and for being such a gracious, flexible host!” (Angela, USA)
”Teo is knowledgeable, well organized, and thoughtful (I had an issue with my ankle so he made sure that our accommodations and the places we visited were ones that I would have an easier time maneuvering) (…) Most of all, he was fun to be with (…) Having Teo personally guide us around the area was particularly easy and a great way to see these important parts of Romania.” (Susan, USA)
”Teo listened to everything I wanted and designed the perfect tour. He also gave me lots of good suggestions for the rest of my time in Romania. My tour with Teo was everything I hoped for and more. He was informative, knowledgeable, passionate and committed to his local area and willing to answer my many questions. He patiently waited as I processed lots of new information and different viewing points. I recommend Teo 100%.” (Elspeth, Australia)
”Teo was one of the most memorable tour guides we’ve ever had and took our trip to Romania from great to unforgettable. His passion, knowledge and love for the region were what sets him apart from other guides (…) With Teo we felt welcomed into people’s homes to see a part of their culture.” (Shannon, USA)
”Our guide, Teo, seemed to know everyone, and how willing and happy they were to share their lives with us (…) We were driving along the road and we’d see some people outside doing handiwork or farming. Teo would just pull over and take us over to them, and they were so excited to share whatever they were doing: hand-spinning wool, working with needle and thread to create ornate clothing for special events, or cutting and boiling beetroots to fatten up their pigs. Teo also brought us into multiple homes to see how locals use traditional methods to carve wood, create rugs and cloth with old looms, make ceramic pots, etc. (…) At a home in a village we were welcomed with some hot coffee and apples to snack on (…) We could go on and on…” (Scott, USA)
“In Maramureș, at the rustic and remote fringe of Romania, a guide is particularly helpful for navigating the extremely traditional culture — which comes with a big language barrier and plenty of cultural treasures that demand insightful explanation. Teo Ivanciuc was our man in Maramureș. Teo was supremely knowledgeable, tireless in helping us sniff out meaningful experiences, and a passionate ambassador for his home region.” (Rick Steves)
Private tours of Maramures, Bucovina, Transylvania, and beyond 