11 minute read
London to Vienna on the Venice Simplon-Orient- Express
Danube Express
Rome ➞ Venice ➞ Dubrovnik ➞ Istanbul 14 days from
£12,789
DAY 1 - ROME
Welcome to Rome! On arrival at the airport, you will be transferred to your hotel for a 2-night stay. DAY 2 - ROME
It is an early start today, but worth it once you find yourself exploring the treasures of the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel before the crowds arrive. This afternoon enjoy a small group tour of the Roman Forum and Colosseum.
DAY 3 - ROME TO VENICE
On check-out you are taken by private car to the station where you board the train to Venice. Enjoy the scenery from the comfort of your 1st class seat. On arrival you will be transferred to the luxurious 5* Hotel Daniele for a 2-night stay. DAY 4 - VENICE
Today enjoy a walking tour where you will learn the unique history of this unrivalled and captivating city. Enjoy some free time this afternoon with a gondola ride perhaps or do speak to our sales consultants if you might be interested in a small group visit to the spectacular Golden Basilica and riveting Doges Palace. This evening is the opportunity to meet your fellow travellers for the journey ahead, whilst enjoying a welcome reception and dinner. DAY 5 - BOARDING THE GOLDEN EAGLE DANUBE EXPRESS TRAIN/TRIESTE
After breakfast you will be whisked by boat to Venice Santa Lucia station where you board your private train. After a short ride the train pulls into the port of Trieste where you will enjoy an afternoon tour and if you have the energy, climb the hill to the famous Church of San Giusto built around a medieval complex that dates back to the 13th century. DAY 6 - LJUBLJANA
Enjoy a morning tour of lovely Ljubljana which charms all visitors with its delightful Dragon Bridge and Preseren Square. In the afternoon head to the Inner Carniola region of Slovenia where you’ll explore Predjama Castle, dramatically perched high on a cliff edge. After learning the myths and legends of Erazem of Predjama, ride an underground train deep into the otherworldly Postojna Cave and tour its network of magnificent halls, myriad of cave formations and mysterious animals. DAY 7 - SARAJEVO AND MOSTAR
The train pulls into the Bosnian capital early in the morning, and the history of this ancient city will be brought to life for you by your local guide. They will lead you on a poignant tour exploring the mosques and minarets of the cities ancient centre, as well as the physical and mental scars of modern warfare and Sarajevo’s more recent history. Following lunch in Sarajevo the train follows a very scenic line to the small city of Mostar, which was once one of the most important cities in the Ottoman Empire and renowned for its stone arch bridge linking the Christian and Muslim areas. The bridge was destroyed in the war but rebuild in 2004 and now a symbol of unity. From here, it’s a luxury coach ride to Dubrovnik for an overnight stay. DAY 8 - DUBROVNIK
Famed as one of the most beautiful cities of the Mediterranean, Dubrovnik surpasses all expectations as a destination. A short tour giving you in-depth knowledge about some of the key buildings and historical points prior to enjoy some free time to explore the narrow streets. In the afternoon its back to the train which is now in Capljina, a small town near the border, where you will enjoy dinner and depart from Serbia. DAY 9 - BELGRADE
Arrive this morning at the former capital of Yugoslavia, Belgrade which is located at the meeting point between the Danube and Sava rivers. A full day is spent here taking in this cosmopolitan city’s rich history, including medieval tombs, Turkish baths and the mausoleum of Josip Tito. DAY 10 - SKOPJE AND THESSALONIKI
Skopje is a Macedonian city full of Ottoman influences, and rarely visited. There’s time to wander through the Old Bazaar and marvel at the 15th century Stone Bridge before returning to the train for lunch. The train crosses into Greece in time for an early evening tour of vibrant Thessaloniki, and this evening you’ll enjoy a wonderful al-fresco fresh seafood dinner.
DAY 11 - SOFIA AND PLOVDIV
The golden domed Alexander Nevksy Cathedral in Sofia is one of the worlds larges Eastern Orthodox churches, and truly a sight to behold. Your morning tour of Sofia takes this in, together with sections of the Roman wall still standing, as well as the ancient church of St George and the Turkish Bashi Mosque. Lunch is enjoyed on the train prior to arriving in Plovdiv, Bulgaria’s second city. ‘The City of Seven Hills’ is one of the oldest cities in Europe and your afternoon is spent exploring the Roman Forum and Amphitheatre, Ottoman baths and medieval walls.
DAY 12 - ISTANBUL
This morning you will arrive in the great city of Istanbul, where you will stay for 2-nights. A city that defies your imagination in its cultural riches and beauty, Istanbul has been a focal point for humanity for millennia. It has been both the centre of the Christian and Muslim worlds and spread over the busy Bosporus Straits spanning both Europe and Asia. Very few cities in the world can match it for its historical importance. You’ll visit the breath-taking Hagia Sophia, (a 6th century Church that was converted to a mosque after the Ottoman conquest) as well as the Sultan Ahmet Mosque (the Blue Mosque) which is one of the most famous monuments in the Islamic world. Also included is a visit to the stunning Topkapi - the world’s largest and oldest palace which was the primary home of the Ottoman Sultans from 1465 to 1853.
HOLIDAY INCLUDES:
• Early tour of the Vatican Museums
and Sistine Chapel
• Afternoon tour of the Roman Forum
and Colosseum in Rome
• Walking tour of Venice • City tours of Trieste, Ljubljana,
Sarajevo, Mostar, Dubrovnik,
Belgrade, Skopje, Sofia and Plodiv
• Tour of Predjama Castle and
Postojan Cave in Slovenia
• City tour of Al-fresco seafood
dinner in Thessaloniki
• Tour of Istanbul including visits to
Hagia Sofia, The Blue Mosque and
Topkapi palace
• 7 nights 5* hotel accommodation
with breakfast
• 6 nights all-inclusive
accommodation onboard The
Golden Eagle Danube Express in
Deluxe class including:
• 24-hour onboard service • All Meals and accompanying drinks • Guided off train excursions as listed • Personal headsets with audio
commentary
• All gratuities • First class rail from Rome to Venice • All necessary transfers • Flights from UK to Rome and
Istanbul to UK
DAY 13 - ISTANBUL
Today is to enjoy at your leisure. Relax in at your 5* hotel editing your photos perhaps or head out and enjoy some more of Istanbul. Cross the Bosphorus to the Asian side perhaps and take a look at the impressive Haydarpasa station or if you are feeling fit enough climb to the top of the byzantine Galata Tower for breath-taking views. If you’d like to try your hand at bartering head over to the Grand Bazaar, one of the world’s largest and oldest covered markets where you could spend hours shopping for souvenirs. This evening head out for your final night and enjoy any of this city’s great restaurants. Be it fresh seafood or a classic kebab or lahmacun, there is something for everybody here. DAY 14 - YOUR JOURNEY ENDS IN ISTANBUL
On checking out of your hotel, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight home, together with some amazing memories.
Four Seasons Hotel, Budapest
Budapest ➞ Venice ➞ Rome 13 days from
£13,449
DAY 1 - BUDAPEST
Fly to Budapest, and on arrival you will be transferred to your hotel for a 2-night stay. DAY 2 - BUDAPEST
Have a day at leisure exploring Budapest, then in the evening you have the opportunity to meet your fellow travellers and enjoy a welcome reception dinner in the elegant surroundings of the Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace.
DAY 3 - LAJOSMIZSE AND KECSKEMET
Hidden behind a plain green door in the Budapest Nyugati is the spectacular and grand Royal Waiting room, and a morning drinks reception is enjoyed here prior to boarding the Golden Eagle Danube Express. After settling into your cabin, lunch is served prior to reaching Lajosmizse for a spectacular ‘Puszta’ horse show. The ‘Putszta’ is the Great Hungarian Plain, and this show is an amazing insight into the ancient skills and horsemanship of the Magyar Cowboys local to this region. Back on board relax with a pre-dinner drink in the Bar Lounge Car, then dine whilst enjoying the company of your fellow passengers en-route to Transylvania. DAY 4 - BRASOV AND SIGHISOARA
This morning you arrive in Sihisoara, a World Heritage site and the birth place of Dracula. The cobbled streets and well-preserved medieval fortifications make this small town a unique destination. Enjoy lunch onboard the train prior to continuing onto Brasov for a tour of nearby Bran Castle, in the shadows of the Carpathian Mountains. The train climbs over these mountains this evening, through some dramatic landscapes on its way to Bulgaria.
Hotel Danielli, Venice
DAY 5 - VELIKO TARNOVO AND PLOVDIV
After breakfast you will enjoy a tour of Veliko Tarnavo, Bulgaria’s ancient capital nestled in the mountains. There is time for you to wander independently here, prior to heading on to Plovdiv. ‘The City of Seven Hills’ is one of the oldest cities in Europe and your afternoon is spent exploring the its charming Old Town including its ancient theatres, medieval walls and Ottoman baths.
DAY 6 - BELGRADE
Arrive this morning at the former capital of Yugoslavia, Belgrade, located at the meeting point between the Danube and Sava rivers. A full day is spent here taking in this cosmopolitan city’s rich history, including medieval tombs, Turkish baths and the mausoleum of Josip Tito. DAY 7 - MOSTAR AND SARAJEVO
Start the day with a tour of the historic city of Mostar, which was once one of the most important cities in the Ottoman Empire and renowned for its stone arch bridge linking the Christian and Muslim areas. The bridge was destroyed in the war but rebuild in 2004 and now a symbol of unity. After the chance to shop for some traditional souvenirs in the bazaar the train follows a scenic line though to the Bosnian capital Sarajevo. Here a local guide will lead you on a poignant tour exploring the mosques and minarets of the cities ancient centre, as well as the physical and mental scars of modern warfare and Sarajevo’s more recent history. DAY 8 - LJUBLJANA AND POSTOJNA CAVE
The ‘Putszta’ is the Great Hungarian Plain, and this show is an amazing insight into the ancient skills and horsemanship of the Magyar Cowboys local to this region.
HOLIDAY INCLUDES:
• 6 nights 5* hotel accommodation
with breakfast
• 6 nights all-inclusive
accommodation onboard The
Golden Eagle Danube Express in
Heritage class including:
• Early tour of the Vatican Museums
and Sistine Chapel
• Afternoon tour of the Roman Forum
and Colosseum in Rome
Rome to UK
DAY 9 - TRIESTE AND VENICE
There is time for a short tour of the historic Italian port of Trieste prior to a farewell lunch onboard and enjoying views of the Adriatic coastline enroute to Venice. Here you will be transferred to luxurious 5* Hotel Daniele or similar for a 2-night stay. DAY 10 - VENICE
Today enjoy a walking tour where you will learn the unique history of this unrivalled and captivating city. Enjoy some free time this afternoon with a gondola ride perhaps or do speak to our sales consultants if you might be interested in a small group visit to the spectacular Golden Basilica and riveting Doges Palace. This evening bid a final farewell your fellow passengers over a reception dinner in a local restaurant.
DAY 11 - VENICE TO ROME
On check-out you are taken by private boat to the Santa Lucia station where you board the train to Rome. Enjoy the scenery from the comfort of your 1st class seat. On arrival you will be transferred to your 5* hotel for a 2-night stay. DAY 12 - ROME
It’s an early start today, but worth it once you find yourself exploring the treasures of the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel before the crowds arrive. This afternoon enjoy a small group tour of the Roman Forum and Colosseum before your last night of this amazing voyages. DAY 13 - YOUR JOURNEY ENDS IN ROME
On checking out of your hotel, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight home.
