The Black Sea Express
Wednesday 27th August to Saturday 6th September 2008
The Black Sea Express gives the opportunity to wander by steam train through the most scenic parts of Bulgaria also giving a glimpse of Serbia. Starting in Belgrade we take in the historic town of Nis before continuing to Sofia, the narrow gauge line to Bansko and then head through the mountains to the Romanian border spending three nights by the Danube. Lastly we head for Varna to spend a night at this major Black Sea resort.
Wednesday 27th August
Belgrade
Our flight with British Airways takes us direct to Belgrade where we check into our four star hotel. An afternoon city tour has been arranged including a train ride behind steam locomotive
(2-6-2 tank 51.052) hauling four wheeled coaches. We see the Danube for the first time and stop to photograph the train under Belgrade Castle. Dinner is at our hotel. (D)
Thursday 28th August
Steam Train to Nis
We depart Belgrade hauled by a large steam locomotive (2-10-0 class 33) and head for Nis along the famous route of the Orient Express on its way to Istanbul. Lunch will be served in the restaurant car on the train. On arrival we transfer to our four star hotel for dinner and overnight accommodation. Near to our hotel is Nis Fortress, a very important cultural and historical monument, that dominates the centre of the city. It is on the banks of the Nisava River, overlooking an area inhabited for longer than two thousand years. (B L D)
Friday 29th August
To Bulgaria
Our train departs Nis hauled by another steam locomotive (2-6-2 01) heading for Dimitrovgrad which is the border station for customs formalities. Here, our Bulgarian steam special will be waiting, two compartment coaches and a buffet car, hauled by a green Swiss built steam locomotive (2-8-2 01.23). The buffet car will provide us with drinks and picnic lunches in Bulgaria. We leave and immediately climb a long and very steep gradient, crossing the actual border into Bulgaria at Kalotina. The summit is at Dragoman but from here it is downhill all the way to Sofia. Dinner and overnight accommodation is at the Hilton Hotel. (B L D)
Saturday 30th August
Narrow Gauge to Velingrad
After a sightseeing tour of the city we transfer to the station where the same train will be waiting to take us to Septemvri. On arrival we join our special narrow gauge train hauled by a very large tank (class 609.76 2-10-2T). We will pose both locomotives together for photographs before departure. Soon we begin our climb into the mountains, passing through several gorges with fast flowing rivers, before arriving at Velingrad, a winter sports resort high in the mountains.
We check into the Hotel Dvoretsa for two nights, a five star hotel with swimming pool and set in its own grounds.
(B L D)
Sunday 31st August
Narrow Gauge to Bansko
We rejoin our steam hauled train at Velingrad station. On departure No. 609.76 will be working hard as we climb through the magnificent scenery of the Rila Mountains eventually arriving at Bansko later in the afternoon. We will have a picnic lunch en route. Bansko, a major tourist resort, stands in a beautiful spot in the Piril Mountains. We return to Velingrad either by coach or by diesel train. (B L D)
Monday 1st September
Veliko Tarnovo
After transfer by coach back to Septemvri we rejoin our special train that will be waiting again hauled by our 01:23. Our train pauses at the second largest Bulgarian city, Plovdiv before going on to Stara Zagora and Tulovo. Our route north from Dabovo climbs up through a massive canyon by means of spirals and high embankments, often clinging precariously to its sides. Our train steams into the medieval city of Veliko Tarnovo which delights visitors with its wonderful views.
Dinner and overnight accommodation is in the Yantra Grand Hotel, a four star hotel recently refurbished and named after the local river that winds its way gracefully through a sheer tree lined gorge. (B L D)
Tuesday 2nd September
Steam Train to Rousse
One of Bulgaria’s primary tourist destinations, Veliko Tarnovo boasts many historical monuments and landmarks, such as the ruins of its fortress on a hill overlooking the town. There is a choice this morning, either to take the city tour or visit the nearby steam locomotive reserve at Assenovo, which still contains a wide range of steam locomotive types. Afterwards both groups combine at the station and at around lunchtime we depart hauled by another steam locomotive (2-10-0 class 16). We stop for photographs near an ancient city before continuing through the rolling Bulgarian countryside to Rousse where we stay for two nights in the four star Danube Plaza Hotel. Dinner tonight is in a local restaurant.
(B L D)
Wednesday 3rd September
Rousse and the Danube
Rousse is the fifth-largest city in Bulgaria on the south bank of the Danube, and is the most significant Bulgarian river port. The Rousse-Giurgiu Friendship Bridge is a two level bridge for rail and road, crossing the Danube into Romania. It is a simple matter to walk across. Rousse is known as little Vienna both because it is on the Danube and its beautiful selection of old buildings. In the morning we have a tour of the town including a visit to the national museum of transport. The museum is situated in the first railway station in Bulgaria and divided into three sections, railway transport, river shipping and communications. After lunch in the city we have a boat cruise on the Danube before returning to our hotel for dinner. (B L D)
Thursday 4th September
Steam Train to Samuil
Today we return to our train, again with our class 16, to head eastwards to Samuil. Here we turn north and travel on the undulating branch line to Silistra, a little used rural line. There will be ample time for photograph stops. We check into the Hotel Drustar for dinner and overnight accommodation. This four star hotel is situated in the central part of the town of Silistra, with views over the Danube and next to its park and harbour. (B L D)
Friday 5th September
To the Black Sea
We rejoin our train at Silistra Station. Our class 16 will return us over the hills to Samuil where it continues on the line to Varna where we should arrive by mid afternoon. Near to the station and in the town centre we check into the four star Golden Tulip Hotel for dinner and overnight accommodation. (B L D)
Saturday 6th September
Varna
Varna is the most popular resort on the Black Sea where ancient, medieval, renaissance and modern cultures mingle and coexist throughout the city. After breakfast we enjoy a sightseeing tour of the city seeing the major attractions including its towering Cathedral, the Maritime Museum and the Roman baths. After, we enjoy a farewell lunch in a restaurant near the Black Sea before we depart for the airport for our direct British Airways flight to London Gatwick. (B L)
Belgrade
Our flight with British Airways takes us direct to Belgrade where we check into our four star hotel. An afternoon city tour has been arranged including a train ride behind steam locomotive
(2-6-2 tank 51.052) hauling four wheeled coaches. We see the Danube for the first time and stop to photograph the train under Belgrade Castle. Dinner is at our hotel. (D)
Thursday 28th August
Steam Train to Nis
We depart Belgrade hauled by a large steam locomotive (2-10-0 class 33) and head for Nis along the famous route of the Orient Express on its way to Istanbul. Lunch will be served in the restaurant car on the train. On arrival we transfer to our four star hotel for dinner and overnight accommodation. Near to our hotel is Nis Fortress, a very important cultural and historical monument, that dominates the centre of the city. It is on the banks of the Nisava River, overlooking an area inhabited for longer than two thousand years. (B L D)
Friday 29th August
To Bulgaria
Our train departs Nis hauled by another steam locomotive (2-6-2 01) heading for Dimitrovgrad which is the border station for customs formalities. Here, our Bulgarian steam special will be waiting, two compartment coaches and a buffet car, hauled by a green Swiss built steam locomotive (2-8-2 01.23). The buffet car will provide us with drinks and picnic lunches in Bulgaria. We leave and immediately climb a long and very steep gradient, crossing the actual border into Bulgaria at Kalotina. The summit is at Dragoman but from here it is downhill all the way to Sofia. Dinner and overnight accommodation is at the Hilton Hotel. (B L D)
Saturday 30th August
Narrow Gauge to Velingrad
After a sightseeing tour of the city we transfer to the station where the same train will be waiting to take us to Septemvri. On arrival we join our special narrow gauge train hauled by a very large tank (class 609.76 2-10-2T). We will pose both locomotives together for photographs before departure. Soon we begin our climb into the mountains, passing through several gorges with fast flowing rivers, before arriving at Velingrad, a winter sports resort high in the mountains.
We check into the Hotel Dvoretsa for two nights, a five star hotel with swimming pool and set in its own grounds.
(B L D)
Sunday 31st August
Narrow Gauge to Bansko
We rejoin our steam hauled train at Velingrad station. On departure No. 609.76 will be working hard as we climb through the magnificent scenery of the Rila Mountains eventually arriving at Bansko later in the afternoon. We will have a picnic lunch en route. Bansko, a major tourist resort, stands in a beautiful spot in the Piril Mountains. We return to Velingrad either by coach or by diesel train. (B L D)
Monday 1st September
Veliko Tarnovo
After transfer by coach back to Septemvri we rejoin our special train that will be waiting again hauled by our 01:23. Our train pauses at the second largest Bulgarian city, Plovdiv before going on to Stara Zagora and Tulovo. Our route north from Dabovo climbs up through a massive canyon by means of spirals and high embankments, often clinging precariously to its sides. Our train steams into the medieval city of Veliko Tarnovo which delights visitors with its wonderful views.
Dinner and overnight accommodation is in the Yantra Grand Hotel, a four star hotel recently refurbished and named after the local river that winds its way gracefully through a sheer tree lined gorge. (B L D)
Tuesday 2nd September
Steam Train to Rousse
One of Bulgaria’s primary tourist destinations, Veliko Tarnovo boasts many historical monuments and landmarks, such as the ruins of its fortress on a hill overlooking the town. There is a choice this morning, either to take the city tour or visit the nearby steam locomotive reserve at Assenovo, which still contains a wide range of steam locomotive types. Afterwards both groups combine at the station and at around lunchtime we depart hauled by another steam locomotive (2-10-0 class 16). We stop for photographs near an ancient city before continuing through the rolling Bulgarian countryside to Rousse where we stay for two nights in the four star Danube Plaza Hotel. Dinner tonight is in a local restaurant.
(B L D)
Wednesday 3rd September
Rousse and the Danube
Rousse is the fifth-largest city in Bulgaria on the south bank of the Danube, and is the most significant Bulgarian river port. The Rousse-Giurgiu Friendship Bridge is a two level bridge for rail and road, crossing the Danube into Romania. It is a simple matter to walk across. Rousse is known as little Vienna both because it is on the Danube and its beautiful selection of old buildings. In the morning we have a tour of the town including a visit to the national museum of transport. The museum is situated in the first railway station in Bulgaria and divided into three sections, railway transport, river shipping and communications. After lunch in the city we have a boat cruise on the Danube before returning to our hotel for dinner. (B L D)
Thursday 4th September
Steam Train to Samuil
Today we return to our train, again with our class 16, to head eastwards to Samuil. Here we turn north and travel on the undulating branch line to Silistra, a little used rural line. There will be ample time for photograph stops. We check into the Hotel Drustar for dinner and overnight accommodation. This four star hotel is situated in the central part of the town of Silistra, with views over the Danube and next to its park and harbour. (B L D)
Friday 5th September
To the Black Sea
We rejoin our train at Silistra Station. Our class 16 will return us over the hills to Samuil where it continues on the line to Varna where we should arrive by mid afternoon. Near to the station and in the town centre we check into the four star Golden Tulip Hotel for dinner and overnight accommodation. (B L D)
Saturday 6th September
Varna
Varna is the most popular resort on the Black Sea where ancient, medieval, renaissance and modern cultures mingle and coexist throughout the city. After breakfast we enjoy a sightseeing tour of the city seeing the major attractions including its towering Cathedral, the Maritime Museum and the Roman baths. After, we enjoy a farewell lunch in a restaurant near the Black Sea before we depart for the airport for our direct British Airways flight to London Gatwick. (B L)
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Price
| Price per person | £1795 |
| Single supplement | £170 |
Price includes:
- Flight London to Belgrade and Varna to London
- 10 nights hotel accommodation with breakfasts
- 10 lunches (some picnic on train) and 10 dinners
- Train travel shown in the itinerary
- Transfers and sightseeing as shown in the itinerary
- The services of a tour manager
Meals included each day are shown as:
B = Breakfast - L = Lunch - D= Dinner
B = Breakfast - L = Lunch - D= Dinner