London to Istanbul Rail Adventure

Meet Mark, your Undiscovered Destinations’ tour leader, at London’s impressive Gothic revival St. Pancras station. He will be waiting for you by the statue of poet laureate John Betjeman who led the campaign to save the station from being demolished. Take a morning Eurostar, with a light breakfast served at our seats, to Paris. Upon arrival at the city’s Gare du Nord station road transport will be provided to take us to the Gare de Lyon, the Paris terminus serving trains to Switzerland. Before boarding our next train, a high-speed TGV to Zurich, we will break the journey for a leisurely lunch in the opulent surroundings of the Gare de Lyon’s famous Train Bleu restaurant. Continue from Paris to Zurich on a TGV-Lyria train, a journey of just over four hours, passing through a patchwork of quiet French villages and open fields, briefly pausing at Dijon before reaching Basel, the Swiss border, and gently rising foothills of the Alps. Arrive in Zurich at around 8.30pm and make our way to our overnight accommodation, located just a few minutes’ walk from the station. Overnight Hotel Bristol Zurich or similar. (BL)

Trian Bleu Restaurant

It is hard to believe that one of Paris’ most serene, picturesque, and dignified restaurants is also located within one of its busiest train stations, but Le Train Bleu, an icon of Parisian dining, is a far cry from the Gare de Lyon’s hustle and bustle. This restaurant, built for a World’s Fair in 1900, features murals depicting different regions of France, as well as works from more than 40 prominent artists from that time. Every inch of this place drips with Parisian opulence in the best possible way. The perfect start to our transcontinental adventure. 

After breakfast at the hotel, we make our way back to the station for a mid-morning departure by slick Austrian Railjet train to Vienna. The wonderfully scenic journey will take us via the fabulous Arlberg Pass that lances dramatically through the Alps and into the Austrian Tirol. The train runs along the Zürichsee and Walensee lakes, and then hugs the mountainside, before it snakes through a huge valley, past Swiss and Austrian scenery taken straight from the Sound of Music. Sit back, relax, and perhaps enjoy lunch which can be purchased (debit and credit cards accepted) on the train to be served at your first class seat. Arrive in Vienna and check-in to our hotel, located close to the station. Overnight Novotel Wien Hauptbahnhof or similar. (B) 

Austria’s capital offers a unique blend of imperial traditions and stunning modern architecture. It is famous for its cultural events, imperial sights, coffee houses, cosy wine taverns, and the special Viennese charm. Explore the city on a morning walking tour with a local guide, before we take a mid-afternoon Railjet train that flashes up the broad Danube Valley to Budapest, erstwhile gateway to the exotic east. Upon arrival at the city’s uniquely designed Keleti station, intriguingly adorned with statues of British railway icons James Watt and George Stephenson, we will walk the short distance to our hotel and check-in for a two night stay. Overnight Intercity Hotel Budapest or similar. (B) 

After breakfast we will meet our guide in the lobby of the hotel and enjoy an in-depth look at Budapest’s attractions and contemporary culture on a four-hour walking tour. Set off to visit the city’s most popular sights, gaining an insight into the history of these fusion of the two great cities of Buda and Pest and their development from Roman to modern times, witnessing a glorious array of architectural wonders. During the tour pause for traditional cake and coffee (included in the price of our tour) before pre-paid public transportation takes us to Buda’s landmark Castle Hill from where vistas of the Danube and the city are a delight. Later, return to the hotel and the rest of the day will be free. Of course, you can take the opportunity to explore more of the city on your own and your guide will no doubt be happy to offer advice, or perhaps you might head to one the famous thermal baths to while away the afternoon and recharge your batteries. Overnight Intercity Hotel Budapest or similar. (B)

After breakfast we make our way back to the station to board a modern intercity train named Claudiopolis for Romania. Our first of two stops in the country’s historical Transylvania region will be the city of Alba Iulia located on the River Mureș. As the journey is scheduled to take around nine hours we should be prepared for a long and tiring day, but we will be rewarded with some fabulous scenery. After the warm southern plains of Hungary recede and the Romanian border is crossed, our route follows the Mureş River which snakes its way steadily uphill into the heart of ancient Transylvania. Liberally forested mountains cloak the eye-line on either side of the carriage as we head east, crossing viaducts towards our destination. At around 6pm we will reach Alba Iulia, where we will walk from the railway station to our hotel, a distance of about 2km. Alternatively taxis are available at the station. Overnight Hotel Transilvania or similar. (B)

Note

As food and drink is not always available to purchase on today’s train, it is essential you bring your own provisions. A variety of shops can be found at the station or ask the hotel to provide a picnic. 

After a leisurely breakfast we will walk the 1.5km from our hotel to the Alba Carolina Citadel, a star-shaped fortress, built between 1715 and 1738 and the largest citadel in Romania, which we will explore with a local guide. After our visit we will enjoy wine tasting accompanied by regional cheeses, hosted by a local wine expert, in the citadel’s 300-year old cellars or catacombs. Mid-afternoon return to our hotel with the rest of the day at leisure to relax or to explore on your own. Overnight Hotel Transilvania or similar. (B)

After breakfast we head back to the station and continue our adventure through Transylvania by taking an intercity train to Brasov, a journey of around five hours. The line sweeps up the broad valley of the River Olt, dotted with small towns and farming villages. Keep your eyes peeled for the fortifications that tell of the turbulent past of the region before the route rises steadily into the hills, plunging into a tunnel to emerge at the start of the descent to our destination. Upon arrival we will walk the 1.3km to our hotel. After check-in and time for a quick freshen up, we will meet our local guide and head back out for a three to four hour excursion to spot brown bears in the wilds of the Transylvanian forests. We join a ranger and trek into the forest in search of a hide, then wait quietly in hope of spotting the Carpathian brown bear that inhabit the region. We might also see deer, wild boar, lynx, and other native wildlife. Return to our hotel at around 7pm. Overnight Qosmo Brasov Hotel or similar. (B)

Note

As food and drink is not always available to purchase on today’s train, it is essential you bring your own provisions. A variety of shops can be found near the station or ask the hotel to provide a picnic.

Today we will make the most of our limited time in the region by discovering three of Transylvania’s oldest and most captivating historical sights on a full day tour. We start by visiting the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Sighisoara, a medieval fortified city, followed by a stop at the 14th-century village of Viscri and its listed fortified Saxon church. For our last stop we will visit the impressive Rupea Citadel, perched atop a hill, with breathtaking views. Return to Brasov by early evening. Overnight Qosmo Brasov Hotel or similar. (B)

Notes

Please note this excursion does not include meals or drinks but a stop will be made for lunch payable locally.

Alternative Excursion

As an alternative to the above full day excursion and for a more relaxing option, a shorter tour can be arranged in or around the city of Brasov, including a visit to Bran Castle, often known ‘Dracula’s Castle.’ Please contact us for further details.

Given the lack of a convenient rail service, today we will need to plug the gap in our overland train adventure by traveling to our next destination, Bulgaria’s underrated capital, Sofia, by road. However, this will give us the opportunity to make a short stop along the way at the rock-hewn Churches of Ivanovo, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, on the Bulgarian side of the border. Here we can marvel at a medieval church, filled with vibrant frescoes, and carved into a cliff. Later we continue about four hours to Sofia, where we will check-in at our luxury hotel for a two night stay. Overnight Sofia Hilton or similar. (B)

After a leisurely breakfast we will meet our guide for a two to three walking tour of Sofia taking in the key sights including the Central Market Hall, Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, and the vibrant historical city centre. After returning to our hotel the remainder of the day will be free until we head out for dinner which we will take in a local restaurant with traditional folklore music and dance. Overnight Sofia Hilton or similar. (BD)

After breakfast we will meet our driver for the three to four hour journey to Mostar where we will spend much of the afternoon, before heading onto the Bosnian capital Sarajevo by train. Mostar is one of the most beautiful towns in Bosnia and renowned for its UNESCO World Heritage-listed Old Town. On a guided walking tour, we can admire views of the famous Old Bridge where we can see divers hurl themselves from the stones of a bridge that has spanned the river for centuries. Later we will make our way to the railway station and board a modern Spanish built Talgo train for the two hour scenic ride following the Neretva River to Sarajevo. Upon arrival where we will be met at the station and transferred to our hotel for a two night stay. Overnight Courtyard by Marriot or similar. (B)

As we approach the final leg of our transcontinental adventure, we take a morning train at around 10am from Sofia to Plovdiv, Bulgaria’s second largest city and a journey of about two-and-half hours. Like Rome, Plovdiv straddles seven hills; but as Europe’s oldest continuously inhabited city, it is far more ancient. With our local guide we will explore its romantic old town, packed with colourful and creaky 19th-century mansions that are now house-museums and galleries. After the tour we will take dinner (payable local), before we board the overnight sleeper train, bound for Istanbul. In the late evening, the train will reach the Bulgarian / Turkish border, and passengers must disembark to have their passport checked. Your luggage will also be examined and possibly put through an x-ray machine. After a stop of about an hour the train continues to Istanbul, arriving early the next morning. Overnight train (4 berth couchette compartment, booked for exclusive use). (B)

Arrive in Istanbul early in the morning. At the time of writing, owing to construction work, our train terminates at Halkali, a suburban station 25km west of central Istanbul. Rather than taking a local train into the city, we will be met at Halkali station and transferred by private vehicle directly to our centrally located hotel, the iconic Pera Palace Hotel. As our rooms have been booked for the night before, this will ensure that early check-in is guaranteed for our group. Ater time to freshen up you will be invited to enjoy breakfast in the hotel’s restaurant which is served until 10:30. Later, and after getting some rest, we leave the hotel to meet our local guide for a private food tour. We visit the Çiçek Pasajı, originally called the Cité de Péra, a famous covered arcade with rows of historic cafes, winehouses and restaurants. And it is here we will try different food and drinks with each tasting hand-picked by our host based on their love for food, and knowledge of the city. Enjoy only the most authentic bites the city has to offer before returning to our hotel or exploring on your own. Overnight Pera Palace Hotel. (BL)

Pera Place Hotel

As the British Telegraph newspaper said in a review of the hotel, “They don’t come more history-filled or atmospheric than this, the hotel built by Belgian entrepreneur Georges Nagelmackers to accommodate travellers arriving on his Orient Express train from Paris. Guests here have included everyone from Ernest Hemingway and Agatha Christie to Atatürk and Greta Garbo.”

The Pera Palace fits perfectly into an area that was, in the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries, home to the city’s Christian and Jewish minorities as well as European bankers, diplomats and traders. The elegant, restrained Neo-Classical façade of the seven-storey building does little to prepare you for the opulence of the perfectly preserved interior, which looks very much like it must have done in the 1920s when Agatha Christie stayed here en-route for Aleppo to visit her archaeologist husband, Max Mallowan (her usual room was 411). It is even said that Christie penned her famous novel Murder on the Orient Express whilst staying at the hotel.

The Kubbeli Lounge on the ground floor is a real focal point, with its six glass domes, a grandiloquent crystal chandelier, Moorish-style arches and walls clad in bands of marble of contrasting colours. The original lift, installed in 1892, still works and is a masterpiece of wrought iron and mahogany. French bronze figurines dot the lobby, along with potted palms on ebony plant stands, and one downstairs room is preserved as a museum to the founder of modern Turkey, Atatürk.

After breakfast we will meet our guide for the final tour of the trip, a full day excursion of Istanbul. Experience the city’s timeless sights and stunning historic places. Listen for the ancient echoes of pounding hooves and charioteers at Hippodrome Square and spot the distinctive tiles of the Blue Mosque. See the Byzantine mosaics and minarets of Hagia Sophia, then follow in the footsteps of powerful sultans, courtiers, and generals at Topkapi Palace. With time for lunch (included as part of the tour) between sights, we finish our day with a stop at the vibrant Grand Bazaar, with its labyrinthine of passageways, before returning to the Pera Palace. Later join Mark and your fellow travellers as we enjoy a farewell dinner served in the hotel’s Agatha Restaurant. A truly fitting way to celebrate our own version of the Orient Express. Overnight Pera Palace Hotel. (BLD)

After breakfast we check-out of the hotel and a private transfer will be provided to the international airport to coincide with your departure. (B)