Adrian Băcanu

I’m Adrian — a curious soul, fond of stories and people, who believes that the most beautiful experiences are the ones that open paths within. I inherited my passion for travel from my mother, and for more than 25 years I’ve been “building” — formally and informally — unique itineraries for myself and many friends, carefully planned yet always leaving room for discovery.
When I travel, I love to nurture harmony within the group, foster connection with the places we visit, and create spaces for relationships, appreciation, and gratitude.
At the start of every experience, I aim to add something that makes your perspective on the world a little richer and a little kinder.

Have you ever had one of those “I can’t believe I’m actually here” moments?

Yes — so many! And you don’t have to travel to ultra-exotic places; beauty is often much closer than we think. A few moments have stayed deeply imprinted in my mind and heart: the starry sky over the Sahara, the stillness of Iceland, driving on Etna at night and witnessing a small eruption.

They may not all seem equally spectacular, but on every journey I’ve had multiple “I can’t believe I’m here” moments — whether in front of the temples at Angkor Wat, watching the sunrise at the Taj Mahal, or in unexpected encounters with fellow travelers or locals, stories born from “accidents” that were surely not accidental.

Tell us about the funniest (or most unexpected) thing that happened on your travels!

As for the unexpected, I think I have a thing for volcanoes — even in Iceland, I witnessed an eruption: a mix of “wow,” adrenaline, and amusement, like, “that the sort of spectacle you normally see on TV, I got to witness it from my own balcony.”

Or in India, when I swapped places and pedaled a rickshaw — of course, not being part of the usual scene, all the other rickshaw drivers and travelers we met along the way had a good laugh.

With groups, it’s always spectacular to see their reactions when we go out to experience different places as the locals do, following their own rhythm — beyond buses and fixed schedules: crossing the street in Vietnam (which crossing, which green light!) or exploring India in the middle of a festival with tens of thousands of people filling the streets.

What don’t people (yet) know about you, but should?

That I create escape room–style experiences — some of the games I’ve designed can be played anywhere, from Alaska to South Africa or the Middle East.
That I’ve probably created the only real game that uses moving trains — a spy game played by dozens, sometimes hundreds of people — and Megalopolis, which brings corporate teams together as “one team,” already implemented in several countries.
I use these experiences not just for the fun and thrill of it, but as a platform through which we learn about ourselves.

And that I’ve started learning Arabic, because it’s fascinating to explore a different kind of logic — for example, writing from right to left and the way letter forms change depending on their position in a word.

Adrian Bacanu tour leader in Iceland with Terra Incognita
Adrian Bacanu tour leader Istanbul with Terra Incognita
Adrian Bacanu tour leader in Iceland with Terra Incognita (2)

Frequently Asked Questions about Adrian Băcanu

Who is Adrian Băcanu?

A human being among people, who, wherever he goes, “waters the flowers of the place,” and who wants to bring people together, leaving behind more smiles and beauty.
A human being who creates — from travel itineraries to experiences and memorable life moments.
A human being who, even in high school, informally guided groups of foreigners through Brașov, and later became a formal guide and tour leader.
A human being guided to work with people and groups.
A HUMAN BEING.

On which group tours can you travel with Adrian as your tour leader?

Cultural discovery tours, blended with stories, symbolism, and emotion — from Vietnam, Iceland, Morocco, Andalusia to Istanbul. Experiences for those seeking meaning, not just scenery. And for those who want to hear the stories of Damian Anfile.

What are Adrian’s passions when he’s not on the road?

I travel with my family 🙂 I photograph nature — I love sunrises, sunsets and timelapses. I enjoy being part of a group of extraordinary people eager to grow. I explore the vibration of planetary gongs, the emotions we feel and the calm that follows. I practice kite surfing and, more recently, freediving.