Danube Express - Hungarian Fall Colours
with Golden Eagle Luxury Trains
PRICE FROM | DURATION | |
---|---|---|
USD
$11,795
|
Days
8
|
Nights
7
|
PRICE FROM | DURATION | |
---|---|---|
USD
$11,795
|
Days
8
|
Nights
7
|
![Hungarian Fall of Colours](https://worldjourneys.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/Hungarian-Fall-of-Colours.jpg)
Introduction
Immerse yourself in the rich history and antiquated charm of beautiful destinations with Golden Eagle Luxury Trains.
Through the kaleidoscope of the beautiful autumnal colours of Hungary, explore all this destination has to offer. Visit the baroque splendour of Budapest, discover Zemplen Mountains and trace the labyrinth of Tojak wine cellars. A magical voyage awaits!
Itinerary
Day 1 : Budapest
Arrive this morning in Budapest, where you will be met and transferred to the Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace (or similar) for a two-night stay. Enjoy a welcome reception dinner in the elegant surroundings of this art nouveau landmark where you can meet your fellow travellers ahead of this highly anticipated journey.
Day 2 : Budapest
Today you will explore the city. Budapest is an alliance of two cities separated by the Danube. The old city of Buda and the imposing Royal Palace, dominates the city with stunning views across the Danube to the commercial heart of Pest. Visit the Castle District, St. Mathias Church and enjoy a panoramic view of the city from Gellert Hill. Today, you will also walk through the Citadel, the Opera House, St Stephen’s Cathedral, Heroes Square and the City Park.
The rest of the day is at leisure where you can stroll along the banks of the Danube, visit the historic Great Market Hall with its endless variety of delicious foods and wines or head to one of the city’s famous thermal baths for a rejuvenating dip. Alternatively, you can relax at the hotel and indulge in the hotel’s luxurious spa with infinity-edge pool or make use of the fitness centre.
Day 3 : Keszthely > Tapolca
You will be transferred this morning to Budapest Nyugati station to enjoy a drinks reception in the impressive Royal Waiting Room before boarding the Golden Eagle Danube Express. A brass band strikes up as the Golden Eagle Danube Express slowly draws into an adjacent platform. The uniformed train staff will then escort you to your private en-suite cabin on board. As you settle in, our train will thread its way out of Nyugati station we’ll make our first journey through the autumn landscapes of Hungary to Balaton Uplands National Park.
Emerging from the National Park you’ll arrive in Keszthely perched at the very western end of Lake Balaton. This picture-postcard town is filled with grand townhouses and famously the site of Festetics Palace, a lavish baroque home fit for royalty where we will have a short tour of the house and gardens.
From Keszthely make the short journey by train to nearby Tapolca for the walking tour of the pretty town centre followed by a visit to the town’s limestone cave system and the opportunity to enjoy a wonderful personal boating adventure on the crystal-clear waters of Tapolca’s Lake Cave.
Day 4 : Sopron > Holloko
This morning enjoy a relaxed walking tour in the historic old town centre of Sopron, with the 13th century Fire Tower as its central landmark. You will return to the train in time for lunch on board and spend an afternoon of travelling through the autumnal landscapes of the Hungarian countryside.
Late afternoon you will arrive to the World Heritage Site of Holloko, which is a traditional Hungarian ‘Paloc’ village of white-washed houses with verandas, wooden balustrades and hipped roofs. We are sure of receiving a warm hospitable welcome from the local residents and will enjoy a special dinner in the heart of the village enjoying a taste of traditional Paloc flavours and cooking.
Day 5 : Eger > Lillafured > Aggtelek
This morning visit Eger, a city full of legends, for a walking tour of the town which is best known for its castle, thermal baths, baroque buildings and the northern-most Ottoman minaret. Following our visit to Eger we take a delightful narrow-gauge train ride from Lillafured through the striking autumnal forests of the Bukk National Park, a Hungarian hidden treasure. Complete the day with an exclusive visit to the UNESCO World Heritage Site cave system at Aggtelek. It is the largest stalactite cave system in Europe, with more than 14 miles (23 km) of charted pathways and its stalactite and stalagmite formations are truly spectacular.
Day 6 : Hortobagy National Park > Tokaj
In the morning you have an early visit to the Hortobagy National Park, a vast steppe in Eastern Hungary, and where Hungarian native animals such as the grey cattle still live. Go on an excursion in the area where you get familiar with the traditional pastoral life and, if you are lucky, see thousands of cranes that migrate through the area at this time of year.
Early afternoon, arrive to the Tokaj region of Hungary where you will enjoy a private wine-tasting tour at one of the area’s famous cellars. Its wine-making history dates back thousands of years with its cellars and vineyards nestled at the foothills of the Zemplen Mountains.
Day 7 : Opusztaszer National Park > Szeged
After breakfast on board our private train we arrive to the Opusztaszer National Park where you have the opportunity to view the Feszty Panorama, an oil-painted panorama depicting the ‘Arrival of the Hungarians’. It details the beginning of the Hungarian Conquest of the Carpathian Basin in the year 896 and was completed in 1894 to commemorate the 1,000th anniversary of the event.
From here, travel by coach to nearby Szeged to have a sightseeing tour of the city, notable for its pretty squares and tree-lined boulevards. During the tour you will have the opportunity at lunch to taste food specialities of the region in a traditional local restaurant. Tonight, enjoy a special farewell gala dinner on board the Golden Eagle Danube Express before you arrive back into Budapest and transfer to the Four Seasons Gresham Palace for tonight.
Day 8 : Budapest
Following breakfast in the hotel you will be transferred to the airport for onward departures.
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Pricing
Pricing (per person), USD
TYPE |
TWIN from |
SINGLE from |
EXTRA from |
---|---|---|---|
2024 | |||
Deluxe Class |
US$11,795 |
US$17,695 |
|
Superior Deluxe Class |
US$14,795 |
US$24,895 |
Departs
2024 |
24 October |
Included
- Rail journey
- 5-star pre and post tour accommodation
- Private ensuite accommodation on the Golden Eagle Danube Express
- Meals as per itinerary
- All drinks (tea, coffee, soft drinks, beers, wines and spirits)
- Expert tour guides
- Cabin attendant service including evening turndown
- Experienced Tour Management team
- Services of a UK-registered Doctor and medical facilities on board
- Arrival and departure transfers
- All gratuities – on and off the train
- Luggage porterage throughout the journey
Important Notes
- This itinerary will not operate in 2025
- Please contact us about other Golden Eagle rail journeys
Please refer to World Journeys terms & conditions