Balkan Explorer

Days 1-2  Venice, Italy  
Arrival in Venice where you will be met and transferred to the San Clemente Palace (by Mandarin Oriental) for a two-night stay, a five-star luxury urban resort on a private island, just minutes from Piazza San Marco via regular complimentary boat. Offering impressive views of Venice Lagoon, the 900-year-old property features a 12th century chapel and expansive stately gardens and courtyards.
This evening we will enjoy a welcome reception and dinner, giving you the opportunity to meet your fellow travellers.
The next day take a walking tour around the highlights of this spectacular city. Walk through the winding lanes beside the Grand Canal to St Mark’s Square, which for 1,000 years was the heart of Venetian life. We also see St Mark’s Basilica and stroll through the Rialto Market.

Day 3  Venice to Trieste                
This morning we transfer from the hotel, by boat, directly to Santa Lucia station on the Grand Canal.  Here our private train, the Golden Eagle Danube Express, is ready to receive us. Mid-morning our private train will thread its way out of Santa Lucia station onto the 3-mile causeway over the Venice Lagoon and on to on our first stop at the Italian port city of Trieste, for an afternoon tour where we visit Miramare Castle.  We also stop at the vast Piazza Unita d’Italia, the main town square.
There is the option to climb the hill to the famous Church of San Giusto built around a medieval complex that dates back to the 13th century. We will go inside the church for a close-up view of the splendid Byzantine-style architecture enriched with precious mosaics.

Day 4  Trieste to Ljubljana, Slovenia            
Today we visit Postojna caves as we ride an underground train deep into the cave and tour the network of magnificent halls, a myriad of cave formations and mysterious animals.
After the visit to the caves we return to Ljubljana which is the delightful capital city of Slovenia offering a combination of ancient architecture and youthful culture. Our afternoon walking tour of Ljubljana’s Old Town includes a visit to Preseren Square, the Three Bridges, Dragon Bridge and Plecnik Market.

Day 5  Ljubljana to Mostar  
We arrive early in the morning in Sarajevo, the captivating capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina. A unique fusion of East and West, the city is home to elegant mosques, slender minarets, a bustling ancient bazaar, and the evocative old Turkish quarter.
Today, you’ll have the choice between two guided tours: a walking orientation of Sarajevo’s charming Old Town or a deeper exploration with a visit to the Tunnel Museum.

Day 6  Mostar to Timisoara  
Today is a day to sit back, relax, and enjoy one of the most captivating stretches of our journey. As we depart Bosnia aboard our elegant train, we meander through the scenic landscapes of Croatia, cross the mighty Danube into Serbia, and glide into Hungary before reaching Romania and our destination - Timisoara.
Often referred to as “Little Vienna,” Timisoara is a vibrant city in western Romania, shaped by centuries of diverse cultural influences. Once a Roman crossroads, it was ruled by the Tatars and later transformed by the Habsburg Empire in the 18th century into a thriving centre of industry. The arrival of German-speaking Swabians left a distinctive architectural legacy that still graces the city today - grand boulevards, elegant façades, and open, leafy squares.

Day 7  Timisoara to Belgrade  
After a restful night on board, we begin our day with a private tram tour through Timisoara, offering a unique perspective of the city’s handsome architecture and historic landmarks. A guided walking tour then takes us deeper into its atmospheric streets, charming piazzas, and storied past.
We return to the train in time for lunch and begin our journey southward, bound for the Serbian capital, Belgrade. Nestled at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, Belgrade, capital of Serbia, is one of oldest and most fascinating cities in Europe. With its turbulent past it became also a city of contrasts from Communist-era buildings to Orthodox churches, from old Celtic fortresses to the ruins as a result of the Balkans wars.

Day 8  Belgrade to Skopje, Macedonia  
Today we arrive in the little visited Skopje and discover a city where the Ottoman influences are still strong. Explore the narrow streets of the Old Town with tiny shops and mosques with ceramic-tiled interiors. Meander through the Old Bazaar area, brimming with things to buy, and cross the 15th-century Stone Bridge which links the bazaar to the modern town. We have lunch in one of Skopje’s oldest restaurants.

Day 9  Skopje to Sofia & Plovdiv, Bulgaria      
The site of Bulgaria’s modern capital, at the foot of Mt Vitosha, Sofia was first occupied by the Thracian tribe of Serdi. On our morning tour we will visit sections of the Roman wall, admire the ancient church of St George, the golden domed Alexander Nevsky Cathedral and the Turkish Bashi Mosque. We enjoy lunch on the train as we travel to Plovdiv. The second largest city in Bulgaria after Sofia, ‘The City of Seven Hills’ is one of the oldest cities in Europe with more than 200 known archaeological sites. We spend the early evening here exploring the Roman Forum and Amphitheatre. We’ll visit the charming Old Town including its medieval walls and Ottoman baths.

Days 10-11  Plovdiv to Istanbul, Turkey          
On Day 10, we arrive in Istanbul – the legendary city that straddles two continents—and check in for a two-night stay at the luxurious five-star Four Seasons Hotel. As the final stop on our journey, Istanbul offers a captivating conclusion where East meets West and ancient history blends seamlessly with modern life.
We’ll explore the city’s iconic landmarks, starting with the awe-inspiring Hagia Sophia. Built in the 6th century under Emperor Justinian, it was once one of the grandest basilicas of the Christian world. After the Ottoman conquest, it was transformed into a mosque, and today it stands as one of the most magnificent Grand Mosques in the world—an enduring symbol of Istanbul’s layered history. The following day includes a visit to the Sultan Ahmet Mosque, also known as the Blue Mosque—a masterpiece of classical Ottoman architecture. We’ll admire its six elegant minarets and 260 windows that flood the interior with light, highlighting the grandeur of its vast central dome.
Also on the itinerary is a scenic cruise along the legendary Bosphorus, offering breathtaking views of the city’s skyline from the water, as well as a visit to the vibrant Spice Bazaar, where the air is rich with the scent of exotic spices and the charm of traditional market life.

Day 12  Istanbul      
Following breakfast you will be transferred to the airport for onward departures. There is also an option to extend your stay in Istanbul for additional nights to explore more of this fascinating city.