The Black Sea Express

Thursday 12th September to Sunday 22nd September 2013

This tour presents an opportunity to travel by steam train through many of the most scenic areas of Bulgaria. We use a variety of standard gauge locomotives for a grand steam hauled tour aboard the Bulgarian Royal Train. The tour begins in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, and heads for the Black Sea Coast at Varna and Burgas. The area is well known for its major seaside resorts and vast white sandy beaches which attract many tourists in summer.
We travel on a narrow gauge steam train for the spectacular journey through the Rhodope Mountains to Velingrad, Bansko and Dobrinishte. This area has a rich cultural heritage with medieval castles, churches, monasteries, and picturesque villages with traditional Bulgarian architecture from 18th and 19th Centuries. We visit the famous Rila Monastery, the historic towns of Veliko Tarnovo and Nesebar, before we conclude our tour in Sofia.

Thursday 12th September
Sofia
Our flight with British Airways takes us direct to Sofia, where we check in to a 4-star hotel. In the afternoon, we have arranged a city tour and a tram ride. Dinner is at the hotel. (D)

Friday 13th September
Steam to Veliko Tarnovo
We transfer to Sofia Railway Station to join our special train formed of historic carriages from the Royal Train of King Boris III. The train will be hauled by 4-6-2 steam locomotive No 05.01 for the journey to Cherven Brjag. We steam out of Sofia and travel northwards via the spectacular Iska Gorge to Mezdra, an important railway junction, and Cherven Brjag. From Cheven Brjag we shall be hauled by steam locomotive No. 01.23, a 2-8-2 ‘Mikado’ and arguably the best engine in the Bulgarian steam fleet. We have some steep gradients to climb before we arrive at Veliko Tarnovo, one of Bulgaria’s primary tourist destinations having many historical monuments and landmarks. We stay at the centrally located Hotel Yantra for 2 nights and have dinner in the hotel this evening. (B L D)

Saturday 14th September
Exploring Veliko Tarnovo or Branch line steam with 4-8-2 No. 03.12
Today, we offer a choice of activities. After a traditional breakfast in our hotel there is the option of a sightseeing tour of historic Veliko Tarnovo followed by free time for relaxation or a day trip by special train along branch lines, hauled by 4-8-2 steam locomotive No. 03.12. After the day’s activities we return to the Hotel Yantra for dinner and overnight accommodation. (B L D)

Option 1: Exploring Veliko Tarnovo
The city of Veliko Tarnovo is located on the River Yantra, and is famous as the historical capital of the Second Bulgarian Empire, attracting many tourists with its unique architecture. The old city is situated on three hills through which the river meanders. Tsarevets is one of the hills and also the location of a stronghold of the same name. We tour the city and discover some of its historical landmarks and afterwards there will be free time to visit the shops or maybe a museum or art-gallery.

Option 2: Steam tour with 4-8-2 steam locomotive No. 03.12
We travel by road coach from Veliko Tarnovo to Svistov, passing through the Bulgarian plain en route. Our special train, formed of coaches from the King Boris Royal Train, will be waiting at the branch line terminus of Svistov. We travel southwards along the single track line and head for the main line junction at Levski. There should be opportunities for photographic run-pasts on this section. From Levski we continue southwards along another branch line to its terminus at Trojan. Trojan is noted for its monastery and it is possible that a visit could be arranged, depending on time. We return to Veliko Tarnovo by road coach.

Sunday 15th September
To Varna
We have an optional morning visit to the steam locomotive reserve at Asenova, or take time to enjoy a leisurely breakfast. We join our special train, hauled by steam locomotive No.01.23, at Veliko Tarnovo. After a false start, for photography, we depart for Varna, taking the route via Poroyo, Sumen and Sindel, a delightful line with some steep gradients. On arrival at Varna we transfer to our hotel for dinner and overnight accommodation. (B L D)

Monday 16th September
The Black Sea Coast
This morning we have a sightseeing tour of Varna, the largest city and seaside resort on the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast. In the afternoon we enjoy a coach journey along the Black Sea Coast to Sunny Beach where we have arranged lunch. The area is characterised by white and golden sandy beaches and is an important centre of tourism during the summer season. Sunny Beach is a major seaside resort located on a beach that is several kilometres long and extending along a wide bay. Alternatively it is possible to spend the day relaxing in Varna. (B L D)

Tuesday 17th September
Steam Train to Burgas; historic Nesebar
Today we travel by steam train from Varna along a very scenic line to Komunari and Karnobat. We then head eastwards along the main line to the Black Sea Coast at Burgas where we arrive in the late afternoon. We transfer by coach to our hotel in the ancient town of Nesebar, one of the major seaside resorts on the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast. The ancient part of the town is situated on a peninsula connected to the mainland by a narrow man-made isthmus. It is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of its abundance of historic buildings. There will be free time to relax or take part in an optional sightseeing tour of historic Nesebar and its delightful old town. We return to our hotel for dinner and overnight accommodation. (B D)

Wednesday 18th September
To Stara Zagora
After breakfast we transfer to Burgas Railway Station to join our special train hauled by steam locomotive No. 01.23. We travel westwards to Karnobat and then continue along the main line to Yambol and Stara Zagora, where we stay overnight. (B L D)

Thursday 19th September
Standard & Narrow Gauge steam trains to Velingrad
Our train today will be double-headed by steam locomotives No. 03.12 and No. 01.23. We leave Stara Zagora and travel westwards along the main line through Dimitrograd and Plodiv to Septemvri. At Septemvri we transfer to our special narrow gauge train hauled by a large 2-10-4T steam tank locomotive No. 609.76. Our route crosses the Plain of Thrace before climbing into the Rhodope Mountains and passing through the dramatic Velingrad Gorge with its fast flowing river. We arrive at Velingrad, high up in the mountains, a winter sports resort and one of the most popular Bulgarian centres for medicinal mineral water springs. We transfer to a hotel in Velingrad for dinner and overnight accommodation. (B L D)

Friday 20th September
Velingrad to Dobrinishte
After breakfast we rejoin our narrow gauge train at Velingrad Station. We will be hauled by our 2-10-4T steam tank locomotive No. 609.76 up the very steep gradients into the Rila Mountains, through magnificent scenery. We traverse two spirals before arriving at Avramavo Kolibi, the summit of the line 1,267 metres above sea level. The route is then mainly downhill to Bansko, but levels out for the final section to the terminus at Dobrinishte. We transfer by coach to our luxury hotel in Sandanski for dinner and overnight accommodation. (B L D)

Saturday 21st September
Rila Monastery
After breakfast we transfer by road coach to Sandanski Station. We rejoin our standard gauge train which today will be hauled by ‘Pacific’ steam locomotive No. 05.01. We travel to Dupnitsa, where we leave the train to visit the Rila Monastery, Bulgaria’s most famous monastery. We return to our train at Dupnitsa for the journey back to Sofia where we transfer to our hotel for dinner and overnight accommodation. (B L D)

Sunday 22nd September
Return to UK
This morning there will be an optional visit to the Sofia Locomotive Depot or alternatively free time to explore Sofia. We transfer by road coach to the airport for our early afternoon British Airways flight to London Heathrow. (B)

Train Timings

Available on the tour

Price

Price per person: £2375
Single supplement: £255

Price includes

• Flights London Heathrow to Sofia and return
• 10 nights hotel accommodation with breakfasts
• 8 lunches (some on train, picnic lunches) and 10 dinners
• Train travel shown in the itinerary
• Transfers and sightseeing as shown in the itinerary
• The services of a tour manager

Meals included each day are shown as:
B = Breakfast - L = Lunch - D = Dinner