The Black Sea Express 38

years old. You’ll also visit Veliko Tarnovo’s most significant monument, the medieval fortress Tsarevets, sited on a hilltop overlooking the town and surrounded on three sides by the river Yantra. Your second option today is a must for railfans, a trip by bus to first visit Gorna Orjahovitsa locomotive depot to see some old and some active steam locomotives, and then to Asenovo Steam Reserve to see the preserved rare steam locomotives stored there. Whatever option you take, dinner is served back at your hotel in Veliko Tarnovo. (B D)

Monday 18th September Across the Balkan Mountains to Dabovo on to Burgas and the Black Sea After breakfast you steam across the Balkan Mountains on the Royal Train, hauled by your rugged 2-10-0 16.27 steam locomotive from Veliko Tarnovo to Dabovo. Enjoy the rich and diverse landscape as you travel across hilly plains, river valleys and the high Balkan Mountains. From Davovo your Royal coaches will be hauled by diesel or electric to Burgas, on the Black Sea, for a two-night stay. (B D)

Tuesday 19th September Trip along the Black Sea Coast to Nesebar Today you’ll enjoy a bus trip to Nesebar on the Black Sea, where you can sightsee this ancient city. The ‘Pearl of the Black Sea’ is one of the major seaside attractions on the Black Sea Coast. It consists of two parts separated by a narrow man-made isthmus with the ancient part of the settlement on the peninsula and the more modern section on the mainland side. Afterwards you return to your hotel in Burgas for dinner and overnight accommodation. (B D)

Wednesday 20th September Burgas to Septemvri and on to Velingrad Today your Royal train travels from Burgas to Septemvri hauled by an electric loco, before a bus transfer to the spa town of Velingrad in the Rhodope Mountains for a two-night stay. (B D)

Thursday 21st September Narrow-gauge highlight in the Rhodope Mountains with steam loco 60976 After breakfast you travel from Velingrad to the 760 mm narrow-gauge line at Septemvri (either by service train or bus) with the choice of an optional Septemvri depot visit. You then join a special steam charter hauled by 2-10-2 tank engine 60976, built by Chrzanow in Poland in 1949 and one of the most powerful of its gauge in the world. The initial 39 km of the 760 mm narrow-gauge line from Septemvri to Velingrad first opened in 1926. When the line reaches Varvara, it enters the gorge of the Cepina river and climbing starts with several photo opportunities. At Dolene the line crosses the river, makes a 180 degree turn and heads along a side valley, eventually reaching Velingrad where you enjoy a second night in your hotel. (B D)

Friday 22nd September Narrow-gauge to Dobronishte behind 60976; on to Bansko Today you continue your exploration of the last remaining public narrow-gauge line in Bulgaria hauled by 60976 over the summit of the Rhodope Mountains from Velingrad to Dobronishte. Due to its superbly engineered spiral tunnels, this branch line has been called the ‘Rhaetian Railway of the Balkans’. As the tank engine battles the steep gradients, plenty of steam spectacle is on offer, although some diesel assistance is required to climb through the tunnels up to the summit at Avramovo station, 1267 metres above sea level and the highest station in Bulgaria. The line then passes Razlog and Bansko, before reaching the terminus at Dobrinishte. You return to Bansko by coach and check in to your hotel, for dinner and overnight accommodation. (B D)

Saturday 23rd September Visit to Rila Monastery; Steam back to Sofia Today you visit the Rila Monastery by bus, before travelling again on your private train from Dupnitsa to Sofia hauled by 2-12-4 tank loco No 46.03, the only standard gauge 12-coupled steam loco working in the whole world. Rila Monastery is the most famous monastery in Bulgaria, now under UNESCO protection. The 4-floor residential part of the complex consists of 300 monks’ cells, 4 chapels, an abbot’s room, a kitchen, a library and guestrooms for donors. The exterior has high stone walls cut through by small windows. It’s also worth visiting the monastery’s museum, which hosts the famous Raphael’s Cross, made of a whole piece of wood (81cm x 43cm) and named after its creator. On reaching Sofia you check in to your hotel for dinner and overnight accommodation. (B D)

Sunday 24th September Optional visit to Sofia locomotive depot; afternoon flight to London Heathrow This morning you have the option of a visit to the Sofia locomotive depot or some free time to explore Sofia further before a midday flight on British Airways to London Heathrow, arriving in the early evening. (B)

Tour Summary

Tour price £2795 Single supplement £325 Ground only £2625 (Sofia – Sofia)

Price includes:

• Flights from London Heathrow to Sofia and return • Accommodation in excellent hotels with breakfast and evening meals • Light lunch on train operating days • All train and coach travel as detailed in the itinerary, with all transfers • Services of UK and Local guides • The services of a tour manager

All prices shown are per person based on two persons sharing. Meals included each day are shown as: B = Breakfast - L = Lunch - D = Dinner

September 2023

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Niels Kunick Niels Kunick

Autumn Steam in Saxony

Thursday 21st September to Wednesday 27th September 2023

Enjoy inspiring landscapes, spectacular autumn colour and exhilarating steam travel on land and water on this magical holiday tour in Eastern Germany. • Based in a centrally located 4-star hotel in Dresden for the tour duration. • Enjoy steam travel by land and water in and around the city on narrow-gauge trains and genuine paddle steamers. • Ample time to enjoy Dresden and its stunning landmarks and ambience using a complimentary issued travel rover ticket. • Experience German ‘Plandampf on 4 different narrow-gauge railways on 2 different gauges, including the re-opened

Weisseritztalbahn to Kurort Kipsdorf. • Private steam charter at the 15-inch Dresden Park Railway with an iconic ‘Pacific’ steam locomotive. • See the famed national park in the heart of ‘Saxon Switzerland’ on a private charter on the scenic Kirnitzschtal tramway.

Thursday 21st September London to Dresden Travel by train from London St Pancras via Brussels and Frankfurt to Saxony’s capital city Dresden. On arrival you check in to a 4-star city centre hotel, which is your base for the tour. On arrival you’ll receive a complimentary public transport ticket, valid on all local trains, trams, buses and ferries for the duration of your stay. (D)

Friday 22nd September Paddle steamer cruise to Pillnitz Castle; Vintage Monorail in Loschwitz You’ll enjoy a sightseeing cruise of Dresden on a 19th century paddle steamer. You steam upstream on the River Elbe to Pillnitz Palace, En route you pass vineyards, villas and the 1893 ‘Blue Wonder’ Loschwitz steel bridge. Stopping at Loschwitz on the way back you take the local funicular to the summit for views of the city. You descend back to Loschwitz by mountain monorail dating back to 1901. Afterwards you have time to explore Dresden’s local tram network using your public transport ticket or to visit the local museums and sights. (B)

Saturday 23rd September Steam at the Dresden Park Railway and at the Lössnitz Narrow Gauge Railway Today you visit Germany’s premier 15-inch line, the Dresden Park Railway. Travelling behind a classic 1920s 4-6-2 ‘Pacific’ steam locomotive covering the entire 5.6 km long circular line within the ‘Grosser Garten’ park, pausing for several run-pasts. The visit concludes with a guided tour of the shed and workshop. After free time in the city you visit the nearby 16.5 km Radebeul-Radeburg steam railway just outside Dresden, which passes the Moritzburg castle. The local vineyards offer wonderful autumn colours at this time of year. At the Radeburg terminus, your locomotive takes on water before travelling back to Radebeul, continuing to downtown Dresden on either the scenic overland tramway route or by frequent DB service train. In late afternoon and evening you have time at leisure in the city. (B)

Sunday 24th September Steam at the at the Weisseritz Valley Railway Another steam highlight awaits today on an excursion to the re-opened narrow-gauge Weisseritz Valley Railway. You’ll be steam-hauled through the region’s ‘canyon’ landscape from Freital-Hainsberg to Kurort Kipsdorf along the River Weisseritz, passing cliffs, narrow bridges and lakes on the way. Enjoy the panoramic views from the your open-top observation car. After the full round-trip you return to Dresden, with free time to enjoy and explore the city once more. (B)