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Venice-Simplon-Orient-Express from Paris to Istanbul
Grand Suite
Paris ➞ Budapest ➞ Bucharest ➞ Istanbul
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DAY 1 - PARIS
Welcome to Paris! After checking into your hotel, perhaps spend the afternoon wandering through the beautiful Luxembourg gardens and immerse yourself in one of the world’s most spectacular cities! DAY 2 - PARIS
After breakfast, your day starts with a guided tour to the summit of the Eiffel Tower, from where you can take time to admire the famous Parisian skyline. Next, it’s time to skip the line and take a trip around the Louvre, admiring the many works of art contained within. Finally, why not stroll through the magnificent Tuileries Garden before taking your river cruise down the Seine? Then the next decision is where in the city to enjoy dinner... DAY 3 - ONBOARD THE VENICE SIMPLONORIENT-EXPRESS
Why not make the most of your morning by exploring more of Paris, perhaps by strolling through the famous Latin Quarter and enjoying a spot of lunch? By mid-afternoon it is time to board the gleaming blue and gold carriages of the famous Venice-Simplon-Orient Express for the start of an epic journey across Europe to Istanbul. Relax as you settle into your luxurious surroundings before enjoying a fourcourse dinner on board. (Overnight on board the Venice-Simplon-Orient Express) DAY 4 - BUDAPEST
Continental breakfast is served in your cabin this morning as the journey continues towards Hungary. After admiring the scenery from the comfort of your cabin, it is soon time to head once again to the opulent restaurant cars to enjoy a magnificent lunch. After checking into your luxury hotel upon arrival in Budapest, join your fellow travellers for dinner in a local restaurant this evening.
Golden Horn Bay, Istanbul
DAY 5 - ONBOARD THE VENICE SIMPLONORIENT-EXPRESS
After breakfast, enjoy a morning’s sightseeing with the group in Budapest, taking in both lunch at one of the city’s eateries as well as a cruise on the famous river Danube. Later that afternoon, re-join the train and why not enjoy a pre-dinner aperitif whilst enjoying the piano playing in the bar car, as the journey continues into Romania. (Overnight on board the VeniceSimplon-Orient Express) DAY 6 - BUCHAREST
Today, following breakfast the train arrives in the mountain town of Sinaia, where you will be taken on a trip to explore the stunning Peles Castle, which was built by King Charles I of Romania in the 1870s and visited by the very first OrientExpress passengers in 1883. After re-joining the train, you will continue for the short journey to Bucharest, followed by a tour of the Romanian capital. Dinner this evening will be served at a private venue. DAY 7 - ONBOARD THE VENICE SIMPLONORIENT-EXPRESS
After enjoying breakfast at your hotel, the journey continues from Romania into Bulgaria. After a sumptuous lunch, the train will stop at the town of Varna on the coast of the Black Sea for a short tour. Afterwards, relax and enjoy both dinner and your final night on board this iconic train journey. (Overnight on board the Venice-SimplonOrient Express)
HOLIDAY INCLUDES:
• Eurostar travel from London to Paris • 2 nights hotel stay with breakfast in Paris • Guided Eiffel Tower summit tour and River Seine cruise. • 3 nights aboard the Venice Simplon-
Orient-Express in a private Twin
Cabin • Overnight hotel accommodation including private dinner in Budapest • Budapest city tour plus Danube cruise • Visit to Peles Castle • Overnight hotel accommodation in Bucharest, plus city tour and private dinner • 3 nights hotel stay with breakfast in Istanbul • Full day tour of Istanbul • Bosphorus river cruise • Flight from Istanbul to the UK
DAY 8 - ISTANBUL
This morning, the train enters Turkey and is soon crossing over the beautiful Thracian Plain. Your steward will once again start the day by serving you breakfast in your cabin. After admiring the scenery from the bar-car and enjoying your final lunch on board, it is time to disembark after completing one of the most iconic rail journeys in the world. Transfer to your hotel and enjoy your first evening in Istanbul - perhaps head to the fashionable Beyoglu district for dinner. DAY 9 - ISTANBUL
Today you will get to know Istanbul better with a full day tour. This will take in many of the highlights of this enchanting city, including the Blue Mosque, the Hagia Sophia and Topkapi Palace. If you’d also like to indulge in a little bit of retail therapy, the tour will also call at the famous Grand Bazaar.
DAY 10 - ISTANBUL
A new day and a chance to see even more of Istanbul. The highlight of the day may very well be the Bosphorus cruise, which as well as passing Galata Bridge and numerous other places of interest, will also allow you to set foot on a different continent, as you spend an hour exploring the Asian side of Istanbul - the city that straddles two continents!
DAY 11 - YOUR JOURNEY ENDS IN ISTANBUL
After breakfast it’s time to check out of your hotel and continue with your onward travels. Maybe you will start reminiscing about an epic journey, with memories that will last a lifetime.
