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Abercrombie & Kent

Balkan Explorer: Golden Eagle Danube Express

Abercrombie & Kent
  • Length

    12 Days

  • Quality
    This indicates the overall quality of the tour operator's products. A low rating does not mean it is not good - it just means that it does not include as much, or perhaps is of a more standard quality than the higher quality tours. For example, a 3 star quality rating means that it is a more standard/economical tour, while 5 stars is a very luxurious tour that often includes a lot of amenities.

  • Starts in

    Venice (Italy)

  • Ends in

    Istanbul (Turkey)

  • Activity Level

    No Rating Provided These are tours that the vendor has not electronically communicated an activity level for. Contact us if you would like to know the activity level for any of these tours.

  • Style

    Fully-Guided

  • Language

    English

  • Guaranteed Date(s)
    Yes means that there is at least one tour date that the vendor guarantees will occur. No means that there is not at least one tour date that the vendor guarantees will occur, which usually means that the vendor wants a certain amount of reservations on each tour in order for each one to occur. Of course, the terms and conditions of the vendor do allow for the vendor to cancel guaranteed tour dates for certain reasons (for example, a natural disaster).

    No
    Abercrombie & Kent does not electronically advise which of their tour departures are guaranteed. Please contact us to find out if the departure you're interested in is a guaranteed departure or not.

Contact Us for Pricing

Overview

Exploration by rail is an inspiring addition to a Luxury Tailor Made Journey. The Golden Eagle Danube Express offers a variety of alternative routings and departure dates. Speak to your A&K Travel Consultant or your travel advisor to create a customized journey including a rail experience.

Board the elegant Golden Eagle Danube Express Train for an epic railway journey that blends the cultures, ancient tales and architectural treasures of nine different countries — from Italy in the west to Turkey in the east, and pausing to take in lesser-visited areas of Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Macedonia and Bulgaria along the way — to capture the unique vibe of a region graced by verdant landscapes and turquoise coastlines.

Alternative Routings

Castles of Transylvania

Grand Alpine Express

Eastern Europe Discovery

Hungarian Fall Colours

Christmas Markets of Central Europe

New Year in Vienna

Routes for The Golden Eagle

Caspian Odyssey

Republics of the Silk Road

Treasures of Uzbekistan

Visited During Tour

Belgrade (Serbia) | Dubrovnik (Croatia) | Istanbul (Turkey) | Ljubljana (Slovenia) | Mostar (Bosnia and Herzegovina) | Plovdiv (Bulgaria) | Sarajevo (Bosnia and Herzegovina) | Skopje (North Macedonia) | Sofia (Bulgaria) | Trieste (Italy) | Venice (Italy)

Dates, Offers & Prices
Tour Itinerary
Dates, Offers & Prices

PLEASE NOTE: Abercrombie & Kent is not electronically advising us what starting and ending date(s) apply for this tour, other than this tour is available during 2024.This usually occurs when it is a custom private tour, where you can request the start date of your preference (unless it's a cruise or rail tour, in which case there is most likely a limited selection of available start dates). Please contact us for details, or request a quote below.

Start Date  End Date  Bonus Offers From
Pricing listed is per person, based on double occupancy, and is the least expensive price available on this tour date. Price is for the tour only, unless noted otherwise. Additional items, including but not limited to, airfare, travel insurance, and more, are additional.
Guaranteed?
Yes means that that the vendor guarantees that tour date will occur. No means that the vendor does not guarantee the tour will occur on that date, which usually means that the vendor wants a certain amount of reservations on that date in order to confirm it. Of course, the terms and conditions of the vendor do allow for the vendor to cancel guaranteed tour dates for certain reasons (for example, a natural disaster).
Tour Itinerary
Abercrombie & Kent Tour Code cea22461-6

Balkan Explorer: Golden Eagle Danube Express

Abercrombie & Kent Tour Code cea22461-6

Map of Balkan Explorer: Golden Eagle Danube Express from Abercrombie & Kent
  • Day 1

    Venice, Italy

    Upon arrival in Venice, you are met and transferred to your hotel. Later this evening, gather for a welcome reception and dinner with your fellow guests.

    • Meals Included:
    • Dinner
    • Accommodations: Hotel Monaco & Grand Canal
  • Day 2

    Venice

    Begin with an exploration of Venice's iconic sights, including the Grand Canal, St. Mark's Square, St. Mark's Basilica and the Rialto Market. Devote the afternoon to exploring independently in this city nicknamed La Serenissima for its historic commitment to peace and serenity. You may choose to Ride Like a Local aboard a gondola, or stroll the artists' district of Dorsoduro, taking in views from the Academia Bridge, before returning to your hotel.

    • Meals Included:
    • Breakfast
    • Lunch
    • Dinner
    • Accommodations: Hotel Monaco & Grand Canal
  • Day 3

    Trieste

    This morning, transfer by boat on the Grand Canal to Santa Lucia Station, where you board the Golden Eagle Danube Express, your elegant home for the next eight nights. Cross the three-mile causeway over the Venice Lagoon and onward to the port city of Trieste. Disembark for an afternoon city tour, stopping at the vast Piazza Unita d’Italia and the main town square. Climb the hill to the famous Church of San Giusto, built around a medieval complex that dates to the 13th century. Venture inside the church for a close-up view of the splendid Byzantine-style architecture enriched with precious mosaics.

    • Meals Included:
    • Breakfast
    • Lunch
    • Dinner
    • Accommodations: Golden Eagle Danube Express
  • Day 4

    Ljubljana, Slovenia

    By morning, arrive in Ljubljana, a delightful city that combines ancient architecture and a youthful culture. Set out on a morning tour of local sites, visiting Preseren Square, Three Bridges, Dragon Bridge and the Plecnik Market. This afternoon, venture outside of the city to Predjama Castle, perched on a cliff high above the beautiful Inner Carniola region. Explore its chambers and stairwells to learn about its most famous resident, Erazem of Predjama, a knight remembered as a Slovenian Robin Hood. Continue to nearby Postojna Cave, where you descend by train deep underground to view its network of magnificent halls, myriad cave formations — including a brilliant white 15-foot-tall stalagmite — and mysterious animals, such as the “baby dragons” (olms).

    • Meals Included:
    • Breakfast
    • Lunch
    • Dinner
    • Accommodations: Golden Eagle Danube Express
  • Day 5

    Sarajevo & Mostar, Bosnia And Herzegovina

    Arrive in the Bosnian capital of Sarajevo, which is an intriguing blend of Eastern and Western culture; it has mosques and minarets, an ancient bazaar and an atmospheric old Turkish Quarter. Discover the city’s poignant history through an absorbing exploration detailing the horrors of the Balkan War, which are still evident as you travel past war-torn buildings. Make a special visit to the Tunnel Museum under Sarajevo Airport guided by a local who lived through the 1992–1996 conflict and details what Bosnians faced during the siege of the city. Following a light lunch in Sarajevo, board your train and travel a scenic route to the historic city of Mostar, the crossroads of three religions. Visit a Turkish House and mosque before walking the narrow streets of a bazaar, browsing its fascinating handicrafts. From here, continue to Dubrovnik for a one-night stay.

    • Meals Included:
    • Breakfast
    • Lunch
    • Dinner
    • Accommodations: Royal Palm Dubrovnik
  • Day 6

    Dubrovnik, Croatia

    Today, explore Dubrovnik, a city founded in the 13th century and today renowned as one of the great cities of the Mediterranean. Pass through Ploce Gate to visit the Franciscan Monastery — site of one of the world’s oldest pharmacies — as well as the Old Harbour, St Laurence Fortress and the Rector’s Palace. Savor lunch overlooking the Adriatic Sea, and then enjoy free time to wander the charming, narrow streets. Later, return to your private train, positioned close to the Croatian border in Capljina, and enjoy dinner as you depart toward Serbia.

    • Meals Included:
    • Breakfast
    • Lunch
    • Dinner
    • Accommodations: Golden Eagle Danube Express
  • Day 7

    Belgrade, Serbia

    Arrive this morning in the Serbian capital, Belgrade, the former capital of Yugoslavia. Devote your day to touring this cosmopolitan city set where the Danube and Sava Rivers meet. Its key features include fortifications from Celtic times, medieval tombs and Turkish baths. View the mausoleum of controversial Yugoslavian strongman Josip Tito (nicknamed the House of Flowers) as well as the Town Hall, Republic Square and Knez Mihajlova Street, and Varos Gate. Afterward, visit the mighty Kalemegdan Fortress, built on a site that dates to antiquity.

    • Meals Included:
    • Breakfast
    • Lunch
    • Dinner
    • Accommodations: Golden Eagle Danube Express
  • Day 8

    Skopje, North Macedonia

    Today, arrive in little-visited Skopje, a city where Ottoman influences are still strong. Explore the narrow streets of the Old Town to view its tiny shops and mosques with ceramic-tiled interiors. Meander through the Old Bazaar area and cross the 15th-century Stone Bridge, linking the bazaar to the modern town.

    • Meals Included:
    • Breakfast
    • Lunch
    • Dinner
    • Accommodations: Golden Eagle Danube Express
  • Day 9

    Sofia & Plovdiv, Bulgaria

    Arrive today in Sofia, Bulgaria’s modern capital, set at the foot of Mount Vitosha. Visit sections of the Roman wall, admire the ancient church of Saint George, the golden domed Alexander Nevsky Cathedral and the Turkish Bashi Mosque. Savor lunch on the train as you roll from Sofia to Plovdiv. The second-largest metropolis in Bulgaria after Sofia, “The City of Seven Hills” is one of the oldest cities in Europe with more than 200 known archaeological sites. This afternoon, explore the Roman Forum and Amphitheatre. Visit the charming Old Town including its medieval walls and Ottoman baths.

    • Meals Included:
    • Breakfast
    • Lunch
    • Dinner
    • Accommodations: Golden Eagle Danube Express
  • Day 10

    Istanbul, Turkey

    This morning, arrive in Istanbul, a fabled city that spans Asia and Europe, to see how east meets west with visits to its many historic sites. Start with the Sultan Ahmet Mosque (the Blue Mosque), one of the most famous monuments in both the Turkish and Islamic worlds. It is a superb creation in the classical Ottoman style and features six towering minarets and an interior decorated with more than 20,000 Iznik tiles. Proceed to Hagia Sophia, built in the sixth century by the Emperor Justinian, and one of the largest basilicas in the Christian world. After the Ottoman conquest, it was converted to a mosque and is today one of the most magnificent examples in the world. Take a moment to linger here to admire the fine Byzantine mosaics.

    • Meals Included:
    • Breakfast
    • Lunch
    • Dinner
    • Accommodations: Pera Palace Hotel
  • Day 11

    Istanbul

    Experience the crown jewel of the Ottoman Empire today on a visit to Topkapi Palace, primary residence of the Ottoman Sultans from 1465 to 1853. Behold its treasury and exotic buildings overlooking the Golden Horn, on a visit that promises to be unforgettable. Next, explore the Grand Bazaar, one of the world’s largest covered markets, comprising 58 streets and over 4,000 shops. Peruse the vast offerings of jewelry, leather, pottery, spices and carpets, for which the bazaar has been renowned since the 14th century.

    • Meals Included:
    • Breakfast
    • Lunch
    • Dinner
    • Accommodations: Pera Palace Hotel
  • Day 12

    Istanbul

    After breakfast, enjoy a parting glimpse of Istanbul, as you are transferred to the airport for your departing flight.

    • Meals Included:
    • Breakfast
More Details

Abercrombie & Kent is informing us of the following additional details regarding their Balkan Explorer: Golden Eagle Danube Express tour:

Maximum Group Size

0

Pricing listed above for tours is per person, in US Dollars, and is based on double occupancy. Pricing may change for other occupancy types. Pricing is based on the last time the vendor electronically sent us pricing data, which varies by vendor (usually occurs overnight or multiple times throughout each day). Pricing and availability are subject to change and must be confirmed by one of our travel advisors, who can contact the vendor to do so. Intra-vacation air (also referred to as internal air) is usually based on economy class seating (do not assume otherwise, unless explicity noted otherwise) and may be 100% non-refundable at time of final payment. Air quotes (including intra-vacation airfare) may be subject to change until final payment has been received by the vendor. Flight confirmation may be based on availability. Air reservations may not be able to be confirmed until a passport copy is received by the vendor. The following charges are not included in the vacation price unless otherwise noted: airfare to and from the start of your vacation; airline baggage fees including checked and/or excess baggage fees; Federal inspection fees for the Federal U.S. Customs and Immigrations; International Air Transportation tax; agricultural tax; other per person taxes imposed by government entities; airport taxes and fees, including the September 11th Security fee, passenger facility charges, Federal domestic flight segment fees, and U.S. and international arrival and departure and other government-imposed fees added by the airline and applicable at time of booking; port taxes; passports; visas and vaccinations; tips to your Cruise Director, Local Host, driver, Local Guides, and/or ship's crew; gratuities on ferries, trains, and cruise ships; laundry; telephone; minibar; alcohol, beverages, and food outside of the contracted menu as presented at a hotel or restaurant or onboard your vessel (these extra items will be billed to you before leaving the hotel, ship, or restaurant); airport transfers on non-qualifying flights; optional excursions; additional activities and excursions purchased online; porterage at airports and train stations; Travel Protection; and all other items of a personal nature. Itinerary details are provided by the vendor. Vendors may reserve the right to change itineraries, even on existing reservations. There may be instances where the name of a tour contains a tour length in it, but where there is a version of the tour that is a different number of days in length. You can check the true length of a tour by referring to the length value listed in association with that tour. Destination images displayed on this web page, some which are supplied by the related vendor and some which are not, are intended to simply give a general representation of the region of the world being visited during the tour. Such images are not necessarily of the exact areas being visited during the tour. Hotel details (including, but not limited to: rating/class, descriptions, images, amenities and addresses) are provided by Abercrombie & Kent. Hotel amenities may be communicated in shorthand by Abercrombie & Kent (for example, if "Laundry" is listed that may only mean that the hotel has an optional fee-based service that would allow for your laundry to be done by their staff). We reserve the right to correct errors.