Year - 2025
Departure Date - may 19
Return Date - june 2
This Tour Is Open -
Tour Type - Tourist tour
$12,895 - Double Room Occupancy
$1,695 - Single Room Supplement
$5,000 - Deposit To Hold Space
-$500 - Early Bird Discount
Book By Nov 1, 2024
Final Payment Due By - February 19, 2025
The region that was once Yugoslavia is characterised by a diverse and intricate cultural, historical, and geographical landscape, and is known for its rich tapestry of ethnicities, languages, and religions. The geography of the region is equally varied, featuring the rugged Dinaric Alps, the fertile plains of the Pannonian Basin, and the stunning Adriatic coastline. The dissolution of Yugoslavia in the 1990s led to a series of conflicts and the eventual independence of its constituent republics, each of which has since developed its own unique national identity while still bearing the scars of a tumultuous past. The dramatic eco-political development of these countries has included a great rail Renaissance that is beckoning us to be part of it, exploring lines that have recently been re-opened and upgraded.
Our private train itself is a Phoenix. Rescued from derelict rolling stock and meticulously restored, the Continental Pullman Express has been lovingly fitted out to create a classy and comfortable space for rail cruising in real style. Complete with a team of liveried professionals, including our own private Chef, our train consists of a Dining Car, Lounge Bar car and a first class sitting car with picture windows to watch the magnificent scenery roll by. We’ll celebrate this magical marriage of revitalised rolling stock and re-opened rail lines with numerous train journeys, weaving our way through, Hungary, Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia ,Herzegovina, and Croatia, on main lines, branch lines and narrow-gauge railways, all in our own private train to experience a great culture, a haunting history and some of the most stunning scenery you can imagine. We’ll stay in premium hotels (mostly 5-star), eat at outstanding local restaurants, ride on three unique heritage train journeys, (including a private steam charter on the famous Sargan Eight), and visit many of the iconic sites of this region’s extraordinary story.
Starting in style in magnificent Budapest, the great twin city on the Danube and the eastern gateway to our journey, we’ll travel into what is referred to as ‘the Balkans’ to explore the turbulent history and inspiring recovery of the states that collectively formed the former Yugoslavia. While conflict has raged, the rich history of the region and the incredible natural beauty of the landscape has been constant through the years, and you’ll experience much of it.
Welcome aboard this very special Balkan adventure where your private train will be your window to a world of contrasts - of tragedy and beauty, of conquest and hard-won freedoms.
The story of your special train
The company that created and operates the was founded in 2014 with the mission to build and run high-quality passenger services for tourism operations. It also has a freight rail division with locomotives provided for logistics and support. The train we ride on this adventure is made up of a selection of restored rolling stock that has been assembled from a variety of sources and backgrounds. Including the following:
The continental dining car
This car was originally a Trans Europe Express (TEE) dining car, equipped with all the available luxuries of the 1960s. TEE trains were the predecessors of today ’s InterCity trains, offering a premium connection between West European cities. Continental Railway Solution bought the car in 2015 from Germany and completely renovated it. All the wood coverings and smaller details of the interior (handles, moldings, etc.) remain original. The car has 42 seats which is almost 2 seats per person on this tour, and the kitchen is modern and fully equipped for all the variety of dishes our on board chef will prepare.
The continental saloon car
This saloon car with an exclusive interior layout has four cabins with two berths, a suite with shower and a bar. The interior is from 1994 and was used by the Austrian Prime Minister. After its governmental career, the ÖBB Erlebnisbahn ran it in special trains in its fleet. It was purchased by the company in 2015, and then immediately received a new livery matching the company ’s image. Polishing and a smaller interior renovation was also carried out.
The continental lounge and bar car
This wagon has the same body as the Continental Pullman coaches and is the social hub of the train, an excellent place to get to know our fellow passengers and make new friends
continental pullman express traveling through europe
continental pullman express traveling
hrough europe
continental pullman express traveling through europe
continental pullman express traveling through europe
On arrival in Budapest you’ll be met by your private car & driver and transferred directly to our five-star hotel, The Marriott, to check in. Tucked along the banks of the Danube River The Marriott is near some of Budapest’s most treasured landmarks from the Chain Bridge to Buda Castle. We’ll meet at 6.00pm for welcome drinks before going to dinner, a special treat on The Danube, so please arrange your flights to accommodate this. Overnight: The Marriott Budapest
🍽 dinner
This morning we’ll transfer to Budapest’s famed Keleti Railway Station to board our private train for our first ‘train day’ of this epic adventure. We’ll travel south across the great Hungarian Plain to the ancient city of Pecs in southern Hungary, where our local guide will take us on a walking tour and a visit to the famed Zsolnay Museum. Back on our private train, lunch will be served in the Dining Car with complimentary Hungarian wines as the countryside rolls by. We’ll cross the Serbian border late in the afternoon and after dinner on board, we’ll roll into the sprawling capital city of Belgrade and transfer directly to our hotel. Overnight: HIlton Belgrade Hotel
🍽 breakfast, lunch, dinner
This morning, we’ll enjoy a guided tour of the city, including the historic old town of Beograd, and, among other things, a visit to the House of Flowers and Tito’s mausoleum, both part of the Museum of the History of Yugoslavia. Built in 1975 as a winter garden for the needs of the then President of Yugoslavia, Josip Broz Tito. After Tito’s death in 1980, the garden was rearranged to incorporate Tito’s tomb and thus the name of the House of Flowers came into being. Your afternoon and evening is free to explore more of what the city has to offer.
🍽 breakfast
After breakfast and checkout, we transfer to the railway station for our train journey through rural Serbia to the city of Uzice, enjoying lunch on board on the way. Our private coach will meet us at Uzice for the transfer down the road to the historically reconstructed village of Mokra Gora, from where we’ll embark on a specially chartered private journey on one of the most remarkable railways in Europe - the line of the ‘Šargan Eight’. The name comes from the profile of the line that twists and turns, creating shapes similar to the number eight. Originally opened in 1925, the line ran for just under 50 years. It was re-opened in 2003, after a spectacular reconstruction effort, and continues to be a popular tourism destination today. It’s easy to see why - this majestic heritage railway line travels through many tunnels and over5 bridges and passes over the Šargan Pass, giving you incredible views over the verdant forests and craggy mountains of the region. As we’re a private charter there’ll be a coffee stop at Yatare station, numerous opportunities for photo stops and perhaps even a run past. After disembarking, our coach will take us on to Zlatibor, a popular spa town near the border of Bosnia, where we’ll check in and enjoy dinner and some local entertainment at our hotel. Overnight: Hotel Tornik, Zlatibor
🍽 breakfast, lunch, dinner
The sargan eight rail line map
The sargan eight train on the loops
The sargan eight train on
the loops
The sargan eight train on the loops
The sargan eight train on the loops
After breakfast and check out, we’ll transfer by coach to the tiny village of Branesci to rejoin our private train for the spectacular journey to Bar via Bielo Polje. There has been a huge investment to repair this character-filled line after years of neglect and war, and today it’s considered one of the most scenic train journeys in Europe.
After leaving Branesci the line dips into Bosnia, then back into Serbia and ultimately into Montenegro, reminding you that the railway was built in the 1950’s as a unifying transport project in the heady days of Marshall Tito and his rambling Yugoslav Republic. After passing Beilo Polje, the line rises to its highest point at over 3280 feet near Kolasin, originally a fortress settlement first mentioned in the Sultan’s Decree in 1565. We then drop down to the capital of Montenegro, Podgorica, crossing the highest railway bridge in the world while enjoying lunch in the Dining car. The last part of our train journey today hugs the spectacular Adriatic coast, rolling into the lakeside town of Virpazar in the late afternoon. Here, we’ll enjoy a boat trip on Lake Skadar, which lies on the border of Albania and Montenegro, and is the largest lake in Southern Europe. It’s then on to our final stop for the day - Podgorica, one of the world’s smallest capital cities, where we’ll check into our centrally located hotel and quickly freshen up before we head out to enjoy a genuinely local experience for dinner. Overnight Hilton Podgorica
🍽 breakfast, lunch, dinner
The spectacular rail journey to bar via biejo jolje. Photos
below are of
Other trains on this same route
that we will travel on with our private train
After breakfast and check out, we’ll journey by private coach over the hills on the iconic old Austro-Hungarian serpentine road to the UNESCO World Heritage town of Kotor. Founded in 5th century BC, renowned for its stunning location on the Bay of Kotor, one of the Adriatic Sea’s most beautiful inlets and surrounded by dramatic limestone cliffs, Kotor is steeped in history and charm, with its well-preserved mediaeval old town, featuring narrow cobblestone streets, ancient churches, and historic buildings. You’ll have plenty of free time to wander and explore the maze of alleyways, shops, churches, and museums that make up this extraordinary town, and for those who may feel energetic, you can walk up to the fortress for stunning views around the region. We’ll then take the scenic journey around the Bay of Kotor to the village of Perast, where we’ll enjoy lunch by the sea before taking a boat trip to Perast’s small island, the home of the tiny 15th century ‘Our Lady of the Rocks’ church.
It’s then an easy coastal drive to Dubrovnik Srebreno and our resort-style waterfront hotel, the Sheraton Riviera. Dinner tonight will be in the hotel. Overnight: Sheraton Dubrovnik Riviera
🍽 breakfast, lunch, dinner
Beautuiful kotor on the bay of kotor
Beautuiful kotor on the bay of kotor
After breakfast, we’ll head off to explore Dubrovnik, often referred to as the “Pearl of the Adriatic”. This breathtaking coastal city is renowned for its stunning mediaeval architecture and azure waters. Encircled by massive stone walls, the UNESCO-listed Old Town is a labyrinth of narrow cobblestone streets, historic buildings, and picturesque squares. We’ll begin with a walking tour of Dubrovnik’s magnificently intact Old Town. Entrance to the Dubrovnik City Walls and the Franciscan Monastery and Cathedral is all included in our package, giving us a great chance to have a good look around before a lazy waterside lunch.
The rest of the day is yours at leisure – you might like to return to the hotel and spend the afternoon lying around the pool or you may like to stay in the Old Town a bit longer and transfer back to the resort when you’re ready on one of the launch boats that regularly goes between the hotel and the old town.
🍽 breakfast, lunch
Dudrovnik, the pearl of the adriatic
Dudrovnik, the pearl of the adriatic
Dudrovnik, the pearl of the adriatic
Dudrovnik, the pearl of the adriatic
Dudrovnik, the pearl of the adriatic
Today is a complete day at leisure in and around Dubrovnik. Past travelers have enjoyed museum and gallery visits, the Game of Thrones tour, and the Cable Car for amazing breathtaking views of the Old Town and Elaphiti Islands. Alternatively, you can stay and relax at the hotel, enjoy the available water-based activities including a kayak adventure, have a massage or lie around the pool or on the beach with a book.
🍽 breakfast
We check out of our resort after breakfast this morning and take our coach up the coast, across the border into Bosnia and Herzegovina to the ancient city of Mostar, named after the bridge keepers who in mediaeval times guarded the Stari Most (Old Bridge) over the Neretva. Built in the 16th century by the Ottomans, the bridge was famously completely destroyed in November 1993 during the Croat–Bosniak War. It was subsequently faithfully reconstructed and re-opened in July 2004. Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, our guide will illuminate the sometimes-tragic history of this great town on a walking tour across the famous arched bridge into the old town. You may even be lucky enough to watch the daredevils diving off the bridge to the delight of tourists, before having lunch together at a local restaurant. After lunch, we’re reunited with our special train for the scenic journey to Sarajevo, one of the most scenic rail routes in Europe, offering breathtaking views of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s stunning landscapes. The route passes through numerous tunnels and over impressive viaducts, showcasing the engineering marvels of the railway. As the train ascends towards Sarajevo, the scenery transforms into rolling hills and dense forests, and includes the famous ‘horseshoe railway ’. On board you’ll enjoy afternoon tea and of course anything from the bar. We’ll arrive in Sarajevo late in the afternoon and transfer directly to our very centrally located hotel and check in. There’ll be time to relax and orient yourself to your surroundings before we meet for the short walk to our restaurant for dinner. Overnight: Hotel President.
🍽 breakfast, lunch, dinner
The stari most bridge
The spectacular rail line to sarajevo
Today we’ll explore Sarajevo in the company of our brilliant local guide. An incredibly multicultural city, it’s the only European capital to have a mosque, two churches of different denominations, and a synagogue, all within close range of each other. Founded in 1461, Sarajevo has been part of a number of empires, leaving the city with a wonderful array of architecture, history, and culture. We’ll visit vibrant Baščaršija, Sarajevo’s mediaeval bazaar area, the Latin Bridge that stretches over the river Milijacka, built in the time of the Ottoman empire in the 16th century, and the site of the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in 1914, which famously sparked WWI. We’ll also visit the Sarajevo Tunnel Museum, dedicated to the maze of tunnels constructed under the city during the 1993 Siege of Sarajevo. Lunch will be at the serene spring of Vrelo Bosne, an idyllic landmark within the buzzing hubbub of Sarajevo.
Your evening is at leisure - try out a local water pipe bar, do some shopping, bargain in the bazaar, or have dinner in a restaurant of your choice or do it all!
🍽 breakfast, lunch
After breakfast we transfer to the station and settle ourselves into our home on wheels for a very special epic 313 mile rail journey north west across the Balkans to wonderful Zagreb, the capital of Croatia. It’s special because there’s no regular train running on this link anymore and the Croatian railways have made special provision for us to travel between these two nations on our private charter. There are many scenic sections on this line, and you’ll get to enjoy it all from the comfort of your first class seat and picture window, while indulging in our Chef’s magnificent offerings - morning and afternoon tea, lunch and dinner will all be served on board as we roll along through this wild and rugged landscape. As we enjoy dinner on the last leg of the day, we’ll cross the grand Sava River and continue across the wide fertile plains of Croatia to the grand old capital city of Zagreb. Upon arrival, our luggage will be whisked away by porters and we’ll walk the short distance from the station to the magnificent Esplanade Hotel and check in.
🍽 breakfast, lunch, dinner
Zagreb seamlessly blends historic charm with modern dynamism. Nestled along the slopes of the Medvednica mountain and bisected by the Sava River, it’s characterised by its Austro-Hungarian architecture, bustling squares, and verdant parks. The city is divided into the mediaeval Upper Town, with its narrow streets, the iconic St. Mark’s Church, and panoramic views, and the more modern Lower Town, known for its wide boulevards, museums, and vibrant cultural scene. After a sumptuous breakfast in the hotel we’ll spend the morning exploring this marvellous city. The afternoon and evening are yours to enjoy at leisure.
🍽 breakfast
After breakfast and check out, we’ll wander to the railway station for the last part of our epic train trip heading east back to Budapest, enjoying a sumptuous lunch on board. Dinner this evening is at your own leisure. Overnight: The Marriott Budapest.
🍽 breakfast, lunch
This morning after breakfast we’ll embark on a guided walking tour that will reveal the history of this great twin city as we roam the hearts of both Buda and Pest. Lunch and the afternoon will be yours at leisure to lose yourself in what has to be one of the most beautiful cities in the world. We will regroup in the evening for a celebratory farewell dinner.
🍽 breakfast, dinner
Exciting budapest
Our tour concludes after breakfast this morning. Your private car will transfer you to your departure point.
🍽 none
TOUR CONDITIONS PRICING - PLEASE READ CAREFULLY
Tour Pricing:
All tour prices are subject to change without notice, at any time. All prices based on double room occupancy. Those people that use a credit card for payments a 3% conveyance fee (The 3% fee has been suspended until further notice) will be added to the tour price. We reserve the right to change tour prices if necessary without prior notice.
