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The Railway Touring Company · Escorted tour

The Black Sea Express

Steam through Bulgaria: Sofia to Black Sea, Royal Train, eleven days

Illustration of The Black Sea Express

The Railway Touring Company operates this 11-day escorted tour across Bulgaria, a journey that blends steam railway heritage with Balkan culture and scenery. Departing from London Stansted, you fly to Sofia and return on the final day, with a dedicated Tour Manager guiding you throughout. The heart of the trip is 1,095 kilometres aboard the Royal 'Corona Express' train, hauled by a succession of working steam locomotives built between 1908 and 1948, crossing the Balkan Mountains and descending to the Black Sea coast. On Day 2, you ride the Henschel 0-8-0 of 1908 through Sofia's suburbs. Days 8 and 9 take you twice on a private narrow-gauge diesel charter through the Rhodope Mountains, climbing to Avramovo station at 1,267 metres, Bulgaria's highest. You overnight in five towns, with guided walking tours of medieval Veliko Tarnovo and the coastal resort of Nesebar, a visit to the UNESCO-protected Rila Monastery, and optional access to the Gorna Orjahovitsa locomotive depot. All breakfasts and dinners are included. This tour suits repeat rail travellers, steam enthusiasts, history-lovers, and couples seeking a structured, slow-paced exploration of Bulgaria's railway past.

What to know before you look closer

  • Only one departure is listed: September 2026. Confirm availability well in advance.
  • Day 4 offers a choice between a guided walking tour of Veliko Tarnovo and a railfan visit to the Gorna Orjahovitsa depot and steam reserve; the itinerary depends on which you choose.
  • The ground-only price (Sofia to Sofia, excluding flights and UK transfers) is GBP 6,675; the full package including London flights is GBP 6,795.

Day by day

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. 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.

  6. 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.

  7. 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.

  8. 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.

  9. 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.

  10. 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.

  11. 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.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2Board the Royal 'Corona Express' hauled by the Henschel 0-8-0 freight locomotive of 1908, touring Sofia's outskirts and branch line to Bankya
  • Day 3Travel by steam across the Balkans behind the Swiss-built 2-8-2 No 01.23 (1935) and 2-10-0 16.27 (1948) to Gorna Orjahovitsa, Bulgaria's largest railway centre
  • Day 8Private narrow-gauge diesel charter through the Cepina river gorge on the 760 mm line, with photo stops on the 39 km route from Septemvri to Velingrad
  • Day 9Climb the Rhodope Mountains on the narrow-gauge private charter to Avramovo station, Bulgaria's highest at 1,267 metres, passing through tunnels to the summit
  • Day 10Visit Rila Monastery, then return to Sofia aboard a special 2-12-4 tank locomotive No 46.03, the only working standard-gauge 12-coupled steam engine in the world

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

Questions travellers ask

Which trains will I travel on?
You will ride the Royal 'Corona Express' train hauled by several historic locomotives: the 0-8-0 Henschel (1908), Swiss-built 2-8-2 No 01.23 (1935), 2-10-0 16.27 (1948), BZK ex-British Class 87 electric, and 2-12-4 tank No 46.03. You also take a private narrow-gauge diesel charter on the Rhodope Mountains line.
Is this tour escorted?
Yes, The Railway Touring Company provides a Tour Manager throughout the 11 days.
What is included in the price?
Flights from London Stansted to Sofia and return, accommodation in Sofia, Veliko Tarnovo, Burgas, Velingrad, and Bansko, daily breakfast and dinner, all train and coach travel, guided sightseeing, and luggage handling.
How much walking is involved?
The tour includes guided walking tours in Veliko Tarnovo (medieval fortress Tsarevets), Nesebar, and Sofia. Day 4 offers an optional railfan visit to a locomotive depot instead of walking.
When does this tour run?
One departure is listed for September 2026 at GBP 6,795 per person, two sharing. Confirm current departures with The Railway Touring Company.
Do I fly from London?
Yes, the full package includes flights from London Stansted to Sofia and return. A ground-only option (GBP 6,675) excludes flights and UK transfers.

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