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 magical Bulgaria. This is an ideal holiday tour both for rail enthusiasts and those wanting to experience steam travel and tourism in a country that remains one of Europe’s hidden gems.

• The Royal ‘Corona Express’ Train hails from the time of King Boris III, and your luxurious coaches will be hauled by a variety of powerful locomotives as you travel to the coast in style.
• Enjoy overnight stays in Sofia, Veliko Tarnovo, Velingrad, Bansko and Burgas on the Black Sea Coast, with a crossing over the high Balkan Mountains.
• Experience two days privately chartered on the scenic narrow-gauge Rhodope Mountains line and visit the Rila Monastery, the most famous monastery in Bulgaria.
• Travel a total of 1095 km steam hauled by iconic locomotives, including the 2-8-2 Swiss-built loco 01.23 and the 2-10-0 16.27, as well as the world’s largest working tank engine 46.03!
• Enjoy visits to the famous old town of Veliko Tarnovo or the Gorna Orjahovitsa loco depot and Asenovo Steam Reserve, and a sightseeing tour of Sofia before discovering the Black Sea Coast on a day trip to the sea resort of Nesebar, the ‘Pearl of the Black Sea’.

Thursday 10 September

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. Marvel at the onion-domed churches, Ottoman mosques and Red Army monuments plus many of Bulgaria’s finest museums, galleries and restaurants. A welcome dinner is served at your hotel this evening. (D)

Friday 11 September

Suburbs of Sofia tour by Royal Train

Today you experience the Royal ‘Corona Express’ Train, consisting of specialised cars and historic carriages of King Boris III (1894 –1943), hauled by the 0-8-0 freight locomotive 26.26 (Henschel 1908). After a tour of Sofia’s outskirts, travel by branch line to Bankya for a short stop, then return to Sofia. Dinner is served at your hotel. (B D)

Saturday 12 September

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 powerful 2-10-0 16.27 (WLF 1948) takes over to haul you 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. (B D)

Sunday 13 September

Tour of Veliko Tarnovo OR visit the Gorna Orjahovitsa depot and Asenovo Steam Reserve

Today you have two options, A guided walking tour of Veliko Tarnovo the medieval capital of Bulgaria, with houses in the old town over 200 years old. You’ll visit significant monuments and the medieval fortress Tsarevets, sited on a hilltop overlooking the town and surrounded by the river Yantra. For the railfans, visit Gorna Orjahovitsa locomotive depot and the Asenovo Steam Reserve to see the preserved rare steam locomotives. Dinner is served at your hotel. (B D)

Monday 14 September

Across the Balkan Mountains to Dabovo; on to Burgas and the Black Sea

Following breakfast, you journey across the Balkan Mountains hauled by the rugged 2-10-0 16.27 steam locomotive from Veliko Tarnovo to Dabovo. Travel across lowlands, hilly plains, river valleys and the southern foothills of the Balkan Mountains. From Dabovo your Royal coaches will be hauled by a service train to Burgas, where you check in to the 4-star Hotel Burgas for the next two nights. (B D)

Tuesday 15 September

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 stretching along the coast. Divided by a narrow isthmus, Nesebar blends a historic old town with a modern mainland. Later, return to Burgas for dinner at your hotel. (B D)

Wednesday 16 September

Royal train from Burgas to Septemvri via Plovdiv

Today your Royal train will be attached to a service train taking you from Burgas to Karlovo, from where you travel to Plodiv and Septemvri hauled by BZK ex-British Class 87 electric. Plovdiv is Europe’s oldest inhabited city, dating back to 4000 BC. On arrival at Septemvri station, you transfer by coach to Velingrad, where you stay for the next two nights, check in and enjoy dinner served in the hotel. (B D)

Thursday 17 September

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 narrow gauge to Velingrad in the Rhodope Mountains, with photo stops. You travel over the initial 39 km of the 760 mm narrow-gauge line from Septemvri to Velingrad.  After a few miles of open countryside the line reaches Varvare and enters the gorge of the Cepina river on a highly scenic stretch, and the climbing starts in earnest. The line twists and turns through the gorge before the valley broadens and the line reaches Dolene, some miles from the main road. Here the line crosses the river, makes a 180 degree turn and heads off along a side valley, eventually reaching the large spa town of Velingrad. On arrival, check in to your hotel in Velingrad for dinner and overnight accommodation. (B D)

Friday 18 September

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 Dobronishte, with photo opportunities. Due to its superbly engineered spiral tunnels, this branch line has been called ‘Rhaetian Railway of the Balkans’. As the train climbs the steep gradients, plenty of railway spectacle is on offer, as you climb through the tunnels up to the summit at Avramovo station, 1267 metres above sea level and the highest station in Bulgaria. The line then passes Razlog and Bansko, before reaching the terminus at Dobrinishte. You return to Bansko by coach and check in to your hotel, for dinner and overnight accommodation. (B D)

Saturday 19 September

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 loco No 46.03, the only standard gauge 12-coupled steam loco in working order. Rila Monastery is the most famous monastery in Bulgaria, now under UNESCO protection. The 4-floor residential part of the complex consists of 300 monks’ cells, 4 chapels, an abbot’s room, a kitchen, a library and guestrooms for donors. The exterior of the monastery has high stone walls cut through by small windows. It’s also worth visiting the monastery’s museum, which hosts the famous Raphael’s Cross, made of a whole piece of wood (81cm x 43cm) and named after its creator. On reaching Sofia you check in to your hotel for dinner and overnight accommodation. (B D)

Sunday 20 September

Sofia locomotive depot; Flight to London Stansted

Optional visit to the Sofia locomotive depot or relax, return flight back to London Stansted. (B)