PTG Tours
Classic Bulgaria and the Cherry Festival
10 daysfrom $2,070
The Railway Touring Company · Escorted tour
The Black Sea Express
Travel in style on the Royal Train from Sofia to the Black Sea and back on this luxury steam tour in Bulgaria.
Day by day
- Day 1overnight: Sofia
Fly to Sofia; private tram tour
Fly from London Stansted to Sofia the capital of Bulgaria. On arrival check in to your central hotel before enjoying a private tram tour of the sights, including onion-domed churches, Ottoman mosques and Red Army monuments. A welcome dinner is served at your hotel this evening.
- Day 2railovernight: Sofia
Suburbs of Sofia tour by Royal Train
Today you experience the Royal 'Corona Express' Train, hauled by the 0-8-0 freight locomotive 26.26 (Henschel 1908), touring Sofia's outskirts and travelling by branch line to Bankya for a short stop before returning to Sofia. Dinner is served at your hotel.
- Day 3railovernight: Veliko Tarnovo
Steam with the Royal Train to Gorna Orjahovitsa; bus transfer to Veliko Tarnovo
Today you travel by Royal Train from Sofia to Pleven Zapad behind the 2-8-2 No 01.23 locomotive (made in Switzerland in 1935), before the 2-10-0 16.27 (WLF 1948) takes over to Gorna Orjahovitsa, the biggest railway centre in Northern Bulgaria. From here you transfer by coach to Veliko Tarnovo, where you spend the next two nights.
- Day 4overnight: Veliko Tarnovo
Tour of Veliko Tarnovo OR visit the Gorna Orjahovitsa depot and Asenovo Steam Reserve
Today you have two options: a guided walking tour of medieval Veliko Tarnovo, including the fortress Tsarevets, or, for railfans, a visit to Gorna Orjahovitsa locomotive depot and the Asenovo Steam Reserve to see preserved rare steam locomotives. Dinner is served at your hotel.
- Day 5railovernight: Burgas
Across the Balkan Mountains to Dabovo; on to Burgas and the Black Sea
Following breakfast, you journey across the Balkan Mountains hauled by the 2-10-0 16.27 steam locomotive from Veliko Tarnovo to Dabovo, then a service train hauls your Royal coaches to Burgas, where you check in to the 4-star Hotel Burgas for the next two nights.
- Day 6overnight: Burgas
Trip along the Black Sea Coast to Nesebar
Today, travel by coach to Nesebar, the 'Pearl of the Black Sea', to explore its ancient peninsula and relax on nearby beaches. Later, return to Burgas for dinner at your hotel.
- Day 7railovernight: Velingrad
Royal train from Burgas to Septemvri via Plovdiv
Today your Royal train is attached to a service train taking you from Burgas to Karlovo, from where you travel to Plovdiv and Septemvri hauled by a BZK ex-British Class 87 electric. On arrival at Septemvri station, you transfer by coach to Velingrad, where you stay for the next two nights.
- Day 8overnight: Velingrad
Narrow-gauge experience in the Rhodope Mountains
A tour highlight awaits today as you take a bus back to Septemvri, before experiencing a private charter diesel hauled along the 760mm narrow gauge to Velingrad, over the initial 39 km of the line through the gorge of the Cepina river, with photo stops.
- Day 9overnight: Bansko
Narrow-gauge to Dobronishte; on to Bansko
Today you travel again with your diesel hauled private charter along the last remaining public narrow-gauge line in Bulgaria over the summit of the Rhodope Mountains from Velingrad to Dobrinishte, climbing through tunnels up to the summit at Avramovo station, 1267 metres above sea level, the highest station in Bulgaria. You return to Bansko by coach and check in to your hotel.
- Day 10railovernight: Sofia
Visit to Rila Monastery; Steam back to Sofia
Today you visit the world-famous Rila Monastery by bus, before travelling on your private train from Dupnitsa to Sofia hauled by the special 2-12-4 tank locomotive No 46.03, the only standard gauge 12-coupled steam loco in working order. On reaching Sofia you check in to your hotel for dinner and overnight accommodation.
- Day 11
Sofia locomotive depot; Flight to London Stansted
Optional visit to the Sofia locomotive depot or relax, then a return flight back to London Stansted.
Included
- Flights from London to Sofia and return
- Overnight stays in Sofia, Veliko Tarnovo, Burgas, Velingrad, and Bansko
- Daily breakfast and dinner, including a welcome dinner in Sofia
- Travel aboard the historic Royal 'Corona Express' train, hauled by iconic steam locomotives
- Narrow-gauge private charter adventures through the Rhodope Mountains
- Guided sightseeing in Sofia, Veliko Tarnovo, Plovdiv, Nesebar and Rila Monastery
- Scenic crossing of the Balkan Mountains
- Private coach transfers and luggage handling
- The services of a Tour Manager
