Golden Eagle Danube Express: Paris to Istanbul

Overview

An iconic rail odyssey across the continent - new for 2025.

Carefully selected excursions are complemented by leisurely afternoons spent aboard your exclusive, five-star hotel on wheels. In this unmatched environment, indulge in the blend of stunning scenery and personalised, attentive hospitality, transforming every moment into a testament to the pinnacle of opulent travel.

Inclusions

Private ensuite accommodation on the Golden Eagle Danube Express train

Five-star pre and post tour accommodation in Paris and Istanbul

Arrival and departure transfers

Authentic dining experiences in local restaurants

Freshly prepared meals on board

Inclusive alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages from standard bar list

Cabin attendant service including evening turndown

Experienced Tour Management team

Expertly guided off-train excursions

Luggage porterage throughout the journey

Services of a UK-registered Doctor and medical facilities on board

All gratuities

Itinerary

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Day 1 Paris, France

Upon arrival in Paris, you will be greeted and transported to a centrally situated five-star hotel (Paris Le Grand or similar) for an overnight stay. Enjoy a welcome reception dinner in the company of your fellow guests.

Dinner

Eiffel Tower

Day 2 Champagne, France

Commencing your extraordinary rail odyssey from Paris, guests will be escorted this morning to Paris Gare de Lyon Station. The journey unfolds with a champagne drinks reception before boarding the elegant Golden Eagle Danube Express. Settle into life onboard the private train as the journey traverses the tranquil French countryside towards the first destination – Champagne.

Famed for producing the world’s finest sparkling wines, Champagne's meticulously tended vineyards, draped over undulating hills, form a captivating mosaic of green and gold. Besides the renowned bubbly, the region showcases historic cathedrals and majestic architecture, recounting stories of medieval splendour. Your explorations through this region will uncover a rich blend of flavours, history, and refinement, rendering Champagne an unmatched destination for the senses.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Champagne

Day 3 Vienna, Austria

Embark on a magnificent afternoon journey through the awe-inspiring Austrian countryside, crossing the majestic Alps en route to Switzerland. Whether you prefer to relax in the comfort of your cabin, attended to by your dedicated cabin attendant, or opt for the elegant ambiance of the Bar Lounge Car, where you can enjoy the captivating melodies of the resident pianists and savour a selection of expertly crafted cocktails by renowned bar staff – every moment promises a luxurious blend of breathtaking scenery and sophisticated leisure.

As twilight descends, you will gracefully arrive in the imperial city of Vienna, where the evening unfolds into an epitome of refinement. Indulge in a lavish dinner and immerse yourself in the height of cultural splendor with a private classical concert featuring the prestigious Vienna Supreme Orchestra. Tonight, relish in the seamless fusion of fine dining and timeless music, creating an evening that transcends the ordinary and embodies the essence of refined travel.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Vienna Concert

Day 4 Vienna to Postojna, Slovenia

Continuing your exploration of Vienna's refined splendours this morning, guests immerse themselves in the captivating allure of Austria's stunning capital. With its opulent palaces, iconic coffee houses, and a cultural fabric interwoven with classical music and captivating opera, Vienna entices visitors with its rich heritage.

After lunch, indulge in an exquisite culinary experience with an exclusive confectionary masterclass led by our esteemed Catering Manager, Krisztian, and the renowned Head Pastry Chef, Rebeka.

Tonight, embark on a journey of refined discovery as guests explore the mesmerizing depths of Postojna Caves. Aboard an underground train, guests delve into a subterranean world of grandeur, traversing a labyrinth of expansive halls adorned with intricate cave formations and inhabited by enigmatic creatures. Immerse yourself in the atmospheric ambiance, accompanied by the soulful melodies of a saxophonist echoing through the cavernous spaces.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Postojna Caves

Day 5 Belgrade, Serbia

Today, your journey leads you into the hidden gems of Belgrade, starting with an exclusive tour of Tito’s renowned blue train, a relic from Yugoslavia's storied past. Delight in a lavish traditional Serbian feast, treating your palate to bold and diverse flavours reflective of the city's vibrant character.

Prepare to embrace Serbian hospitality as you delve into the world of Rakija, Serbia’s cherished elixir. At the city’s oldest brewery, sample a variety of Rakija blends while immersing yourself in captivating stories that bring Belgrade's spirited history to life.

Before you board the train, take the opportunity to explore Belgrade's lively streets, each corner unveiling a new aspect of its dynamic culture. Uncover the mysteries of this captivating city, where luxury and adventure intersect at every juncture.

Tonight, you are invited to embark on a culinary odyssey with an exquisite Gala Dinner, crafted by esteemed Head Chef, Ramon Batta. Through each meticulously prepared dish, Chef Ramon offers a sensory experience, capturing the essence of the journey through the art of gastronomy. Drawing inspiration from local ingredients and flavours encountered along the way, Chef Ramon transforms each course into a symphony of taste and culture.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Belgrade

Day 6 Sofia, Bulgaria

Guests can enjoy a morning of relaxation in the Bar Lounge Car as the journey progresses towards Bulgaria. Soak up the sophisticated ambiance while being serenaded by the dulcet tones of the resident pianist, creating a symphony of relaxation. Savour the luxury of time as you recline, observing the world gracefully unfold outside the window.

Sofia, one of the oldest cities in Europe dating back around 7,000 years, lies at the foot of Mount Vitosha, providing a stunning backdrop to the explorations. The city boasts magnificent architecture, showcasing a blend of Western and Central European influences, particularly evident in many of the Orthodox churches. The adventure commences amidst the captivating ruins of the Roman city of Serdica, where echoes of a bygone era whisper tales of glory and conquest. Guests can wander through the enchanting City Garden, home to the prestigious National Theatre Ivan Vazov, and admire the opulent façade of the Presidential Palace and other iconic landmarks that grace Sofia’s skyline.

But the excitement doesn't stop there. Guests are encouraged to brace themselves for an exclusive, once-in-a-lifetime experience as they descend into the hallowed Crypt of the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. In this sacred space, they will be enraptured by the mesmerizing melodies of the “Cosmic Voices,” a transcendent vocal masterpiece that captivated hearts at the opening of the Olympic Games in Tokyo. Enchanting and evocative, this private performance by the renowned Vanya Moneva Choir promises to transport guests to realms of sublime beauty and spiritual awakening.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Sofia

Day 7 Istanbul, Turkey

Today marks the culmination of your European rail odyssey as you reach the legendary city of Istanbul, straddling both Asia and Europe. The remainder of the day is yours to discover the charms of this captivating city at your own pace before guests gather for a magnificent Farewell Dinner along the enchanting banks of the Bosphorus.

Overnight stay at the Four Seasons Sultanahmet (or similar)

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Istanbul

Day 8 Istanbul

This morning, after an overnight stay at your centrally located five-star hotel, enjoy your final breakfast on the tour.

Why not extend your stay in Istanbul to explore the Turkish capital at your leisure? Please contact us for hotel options and rates.

Breakfast

Istanbul

Accommodation

Golden Eagle Danube Express

Upgrade available

LIFE ABOARD THE GOLDEN EAGLE DANUBE EXPRESS

The Golden Eagle Danube Express is your luxurious hotel-on-wheels. Unpack just the once and settle into your well-appointed and comfortable cabin as you begin this voyage of a lifetime. Your cabin attendant will be on hand to look after all your needs.

In addition to our luxury sleeping cabins, we offer a first class Bar Lounge Car and Restaurant Cars.

DELUXE CABIN

Travel in some of the finest rail accommodation available in Europe.

Private bathrooms feature a shower with constant hot water, washbasin and toilet. There is a heated towel rail, shaver socket and hairdryer. A range of toiletries and a dressing gown are provided. Cabins have individually controlled air-conditioning, lighting with dimmer switches, individual reading lights, power sockets and a safe.

Co-ordinated fabrics complement wood-panelled walls and brass fittings. Two comfortable armchairs provide daytime seating, and a free-standing chair adds flexibility. Cupboards and a full-length wardrobe provide ample storage whilst the large picture window and full-length mirror enhance the spacious feel. A second window will open for fresh air and for that perfect photo opportunity.

During dinner each evening the living room is converted into two comfortable lower beds by your attendant who is also on hand to bring you early morning tea or coffee.

Room Upgrades

Superior Deluxe Cabin

Superior Deluxe cabins, with private en-suite facilities, offer the ultimate in European rail accommodation in terms of space, facilities, and comfort.

With 12 cabins per departure, each cabin offers comfortable daytime seating with a full-length sofa and two additional chairs. The large cabin also benefits from two full-size picture windows, one of which is openable to add to the bright and airy feel of the interior.

Each evening the cabin is transformed into a luxurious bedroom with a UK-standard King Size bed. All cabins have, as standard, a large double wardrobe with excellent storage space, individually controlled air-conditioning, lighting with dimmer switches, individual reading lights, in cabin Wi-Fi and USB ports, power sockets and a safe.

Prices are dynamic based on travel dates. Please proceed to Book Now or Contact Us for details.

Additional information

The bar lounge: Unwind in comfortable surroundings and watch the world go by as you get to know your fellow passengers and begin long-lasting friendships. It is here that your Tour Manager will also organise a programme of activities. Passengers will receive printed daily itineraries throughout the tour detailing train arrival and departure timings, latest weather forecasts for the next destination and information on the following day’s excursions and activities.
The Bar Lounge Car and Restaurant Cars will host an entertaining and enlightening range of activities such as language lessons and engaging talks by expert lecturers on local history and culture. In the evening enjoy the sounds of the resident pianist playing in the Bar Lounge Car. Every night the bar stays open until the last person leaves.
The restaurant car: Enjoy the delights of an on-train breakfast each morning - a wide selection of fruit, cereals, orange juice and cold plates are available from the bountiful buffet.
For lunch and dinner, you will enjoy fine food, great wines and attentive service in the welcoming atmosphere of the restaurant car. On offer are culinary experiences that reflect the very essence of the countries the train travels through, as well as international cuisine. Vegetarian and other dietary options are also available.
Meals onboard are a relaxed affair as the restaurant cars can accommodate all guests in a single sitting. Throughout the journey there is an informal dress code, so you can enjoy your culinary experiences in convivial and relaxed surroundings and with an open-seating policy you can dine wherever, and with whomever, you please.

Departure dates:

24 May - 31 May, 2025
11 Sep - 18 Sep, 2025

Excluded

International airfares and taxes
Domestic airfares and taxes, unless otherwise specified in our holiday package
Visa expenses, processing, and issuance fees
Meals other than as specified in our holiday package
Travel Insurance or expenses of a personal nature (mini-bar, phone call, laundry, etc.),
Or any other travel expense that has not been included in our holiday package

FAQs

Who are Entire Travel Group?

Welcome to Entire Travel Group. We offer exceptional travel experiences across our extensive range of Entire Holiday Packages, Entire Group Journeys, Entire Rail Journeys, and Entire Cruise Journeys. With our industry-leading Peace of Mind Booking Plan, you can Book Now with flexibility and confidence.

Entire Travel Group is celebrating over 50 years of passionately delivering unique and memorable travel experiences. We are an Australian, family-owned, award-winning business with a friendly team ready to match your expectations to the perfect holiday experience.

Entire Travel Group used to be known by the individual brands shown in the footer of the website. The company has not changed, but we have amalgamated under one brand - Entire Travel Group.

For more details please visit - About Us | Entire Travel Group

Is Entire Travel Group Australian owned and operated?

Entire Travel Group is proudly Australian family owned and operated and as it stands today represents 50 years of experience, progress, and evolution. We proudly support the community with our long-term commitment to many important charity organisations. We were awarded the best operator in our class at the most recent National Travel Industry Awards.

Is Entire Travel Group industry accredited?

Entire Travel Group is both ATAS and CATO Accredited. ATAS is actively administered by the Australian Travel Industry Association (ATIA). The Council of Australian Tour Operators (CATO) is the trade association representing the land supply sector of the Australian Travel Industry.

Does Entire Travel Group have industry awards?

Entire Travel Group was honoured at the 2023 National Travel Industry Awards with Most Oustanding Wholesaler - Product / Service.

As our team works tirelessly to deliver exceptional holiday experiences, it was exciting to have this acknowledged with the highest recognition. The award is also a testament to the quality of our partners around the globe, and we take this opportunity to thank them for their tremendous support of our customers.

Are the Entire Travel Group holiday packages exclusive?

In some cases, we are the sole representative in Australia for the overseas travel operator. In other circumstances the product developed has been exclusively built for Entire Travel Group and can’t be found elsewhere.

What’s unique about Entire Travel Group Holiday Packages?

They are not group tours with set departures - they are pre-designed, purpose built, independent holiday packages full of unique and memorable experiences.
Our holiday packages have been exclusively built for us in collaboration with our handpicked suppliers, who also offer full on-ground support for the clients.
We are offering unique travel experiences which cannot be found elsewhere.
Many packages include our “Freedom of Choice” options which allow you to tailor the holiday experience. Like a sommelier matching wine to a meal, we have used our experience to carefully select and offer the right experiences in each location.
They include our Peace of Mind Booking Plan.
A wide selection of our packages are compliant with the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) Covid Safe Travels.

Our motto for Independent Holiday Packages is start your holiday when and with who you want!

Our Independent Holiday Packages are NOT group tours with set departure dates. Group Tours have specific set departure dates, and of course, you are travelling with unknown passengers in a coach. These tours are great for certain travellers and there are many reputable tour operators providing a wide range of options around the world.

At Entire Travel Group, our focus is Independent Holiday Packages. Available daily, they are pre-designed, purpose built, packaged itineraries full of memorable experiences delivered by our hand-picked local partners.

Our holidays suit every demographic, from couples to singles, to retirees to families and everyone else in between.

Why travel with Entire Travel Group?

Of Entire Travel Group's attributes, we have settled on "When Experience Matters" as the quality we believe adds the most value to our customers. We have the experience to ensure your itinerary makes the dream holiday possible. Our continually enhanced technology allows our team to provide a quality customer service experience, and our partnerships with outstanding operators ensure we are confident of the on-ground experience for our customers.

For more details please visit - About Us | Entire Travel Group

How does the Peace of Mind Booking Plan work?

Our Peace of Mind Booking Plan allows you to book with confidence in the new international travel environment. With low deposits, a cooling off period and a flexibility period where you can cancel and rebook later, we really do have you covered.

For more details please visit - Peace of Mind Booking Plan | Entire Travel Group

Is there a cooling-off period?

Look for packages with our Peace of Mind Booking Plan logo on the website.

We understand that occasionally plans may change, so we give you the confidence to proceed with a cooling off period.
You may cancel for any reason within 7 days, where you will receive a 100% refund of your $100 per person deposit.

For more details please visit - Peace of Mind Booking Plan | Entire Travel Group

What is Freedom of Choice?

At Entire Travel Group we understand that our customers have their own personal tastes and interests - so throughout our packages look for “Freedom of Choice” which gives you the ability to tailor your holiday from the various experiences offered on selected days. Like a sommelier matching wine to a meal, we have used our experience to carefully select and offer the right experiences in each location.

The Freedom of Choice options are included in the package price, and the price remains the same regardless of the choice you make on each day.

Our Freedom of Choice program offers flexibility, by allowing you to choose from different options on pre-selected days in the itinerary.

Our per person price includes one tour on each Freedom of Choice day in the itinerary.
The price of the package remains the same regardless of the choice you make on each day.

For more details please visit - Freedom of Choice | Entire Travel Group

What is Book Now?

Book Now offers you the ability to make a reservation on our website for Holiday Packages that include our Peace of Mind Booking Plan. But it’s not just a static offer – you have complete flexibility from travel dates, passenger numbers, single supplements, room upgrades, optional extras, flexible booking terms and more.

Our team will contact our overseas suppliers and confirm all arrangements.
A Confirmation from our reservation system will be sent in the coming days.
The Booking Number on this confirmation supersedes the website reference.

What forms of payment can be used at Entire Travel Group?

To confirm a booking using our on-line Book Now process, a credit card must be used to pay the refundable deposit.
For additional payments on the booking, Entire Travel Group supports bank transfer, credit card, TravelPay B2B, PaymentGate.
For further details please visit our Payments page.

How secure is the Entire Travel Group's on-line payment portal?

Entire Travel Group have partnered with TravelPay to ensure secure on-line credit card payments.
TravelPay is a level 1 PCI DSS compliant, which gives you peace of mind that your payment card data is in safe hands.
Entire Travel Group does not store any credit card information.

For more details please visit - Security and Compliance - TravelPay

Can you book my international airfares?

On some Islands Holiday Packages (e.g. Fiji), it is practical to include flights, so where we have done this it is indicated by the plane icon.

However, on the majority of our Holiday Packages, we do not include international flights.

We found that many customers may prefer to:

Travel on a specific airline of their choice
Have the flexibility to book flights with Frequent Flyer points
Select flight dates that may be different to our Holiday Package start/end dates
Use a Travel Credit already held with the airline
Use their travel agent for this service

We are able to assist with flights on any Holiday Package, so please just notify us during the Book Now process or contact our team.

Should I take travel insurance?

Travel insurance is strongly recommended. During the Book Now process please confirm you require assistance, and our team will be in contact with you.

What should I do before travelling?

Before you travel it is your responsibility to ensure you have the appropriate documentation including visas. If you are travelling on a passport other than Australian or New Zealand, you will require a permit to re-enter Australia. It is your responsibility as the traveller and/or travel booker to meet all government entry requirements.

For more information please visit - Before you travel | Entire Travel Group

How does a Travel Agent make a booking?

Please visit the Entire Travel Group's Agent Portal. We are here to support our industry partners with a range of informative updates, marketing collateral for campaigns and a reward & recognition program.

How do I start a Booking?

On any page that has Book Now simply follow the booking process.
You must select the Travel Agent tick box and provide correct details.
To confirm a booking only the refundable deposit is required.
An agency credit card must be used for this initial payment.

How do I contact Entire Travel Group?

For more information please visit - Contact us | Entire Travel Group

Golden Eagle Danube Express: Paris to Istanbul (Tour code: 13905)

Highlights

Overview

Inclusions