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In The Footsteps Of Agatha Christie
From Istanbul to Paris in the tracks of the historic Orient Express, staying in First Class hotels: 23 days
With Gallipoli & Troy Pre-tour add-on or relax in Paris Post-tour add-on.
Enjoy exploring the route of the historic Orient Express with 3 night stops in: Istansul, Sofia, Belgrade, Budapest, Vienna & Munich. One overnight sleeper on the Istanbul - Sofia Express
Tour dates highlighted - click on a date to view details.
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ISTANBUL [D]
Monday, May 28th:
Our tour commences today at our city hotel. There is an optional pre-tour visit to Gallipoli and Troy. See below. Meet your Tour Leader and fellow travellers for Welcome Drinks and Dinner. [D]
ISTANBUL [B]
Tuesday, May 29th:
Our city sightseeing includes visits to a number of Byzantine and Ottoman treasures: the Hippodrome Square, Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, and the Royal Topkapi Palace. [B]
ISTANBUL [B]
Wednesday, May 30th:
Istanbul sightseeing continues today on two continents: Europe and Asia.
Overnight train to SOFIA [B]
Thursday, May 31st:
A free day in Istanbul: perhaps the Golden Bazaar for that last minute bargain. There is no daytime train from Istanbul to Sofia, so it is necessary for us to take the sleeper train. If John Gielgud or Sean Connery climbs aboard, take care.
SOFIA [B] [D]
Friday, June 1st:
On arrival we check into our hotel. In the afternoon our city sightseeing tour includes the National Archaeological Museum, the National Theatre, the Russian Church of St. Nikola, the Parliament Square, and Alexander Nevski Memorial Cathedral with the most valuable collection of Bulgarian Icons.
SOFIA [B]
Saturday, June 2nd:
This morning we visit Boyana, included in the UNESCO World Heritage list and considered the herald of the European Renaissance. The genuine masterpieces of the 13th century painting, created 200 years ahead of the beginning of the Western European Renaissance, mark a remarkable peak in Orthodox Art. The afternoon is at leisure.
SOFIA [B]
Sunday, June 3rd:
Today we visit another UNESCO listed cultural treasure - the Rila Monastery - the most famous and fascinating monastery in Bulgaria.
To BELGRADE [B][D]
Monday, June 4th:
Our Eurocity train delivers us to the first of our three cities on the Danube, Belgrade, modern capital of Serbia, formerly capital of Yugoslavia. Despite the long shadows cast over recent Belgrade history by Tito and Milosovic, this is a fascinating city.
BELGRADE [B]
Tuesday, June 5th:
Belgrade has been a modern European (capital) city since the mid 19th century, but with a turbulent history before that time. The distinction between these two eras is still clearly visible between the Ottoman Kalemegdan Fortress and Park, and the grand boulevard of Knez Hihailova. Our morning city sighseeing focuses on Belgrade of the Ottoman period.
BELGRADE [B]
Wednesday, June 6th:
Modern Belgrade today, with the afternoon free for the boutiques or coffee houses.
To BUDAPEST [B] [D]
Thursday, June 7th:
Our EuroCity train takes us to Budapest, the second Hapsburg capital for much of the 19th and the early 20th centuries. The Hungarian capital is made up of two cities: hilly Buda with its castle on the Western Bank of the Danube, and Pest with its stately buildings and broad boulevards on the Eastern Bank. Our hotel is on the Pest side.
BUDAPEST [B]
Friday, June 8th:
We begin today by visiting the Buda hill. We see the magnificent Gothic Matthew's Church, enjoy views back across the Danube and the Chain Bridge to Pest - St Sebastian's and the high Gothic Parliament House. An excellent spot for lunch with a view. Then we ramble the narrow cobblestone streets looking for art and craft bargains. Back on the Pest side of the river we enjoy the magnificent architecture and Heroes' Square, the focal point of Hungarian national life.
BUDAPEST [B]
Saturday, June 9th:
Unlike Vienna which resisted Turkish invasion, Budapest was occupied by the Turks for more than century. Several quirky Turkish touches continue - the coffee houses and the thermal spa baths! Enjoy both today.
VIENNA [B][D]
Sunday, June 10th:
Our luggage is taken on ahead today as we join our Eurocity train to Vienna, the Imperial capital of the Hapsburgs and home of Beethoven. We settle into our central hotel. Vienna's fine buildings look magnificent by night.
VIENNA [B]
Monday, June 11th:
Our morning city sightseeing programme introduces us to this stately city - the Ring, the Hofburg, and St Stephen's - and the beautiful blue Danube. Watch the fountains and listen to the music.
VIENNA [B]
Tuesday, June 12th:
Perhaps a visit to the Schonbrunn Palace today, or to the Kunsthistorisches Museum which has one of Europe's best collections of Old Masters.
MUNICH [B][B]
Wednesday, June 13th:
Austria's flagship train, the Railjet, brings us today to Munich, the capital of the German state of Bavaria, and world's beer drinking capital.
MUNICH [B]
Thursday, June 14th:
Our morning city sightseeing includes the historic heart - Marienplatz, the Rathaus and glockenspiel - and the English Garden. Raise a lunchtime glass at the Hofbrauhaus?
MUNICH [B][D]
Friday, June 15th:
The shops, the museums (a fabulous Science Museum) or a visit to the grisly Nazi Concentration Camp memorial at Dachau on Munich's outskirts. Our Farewell Dinner tonight.
Arrive PARIS [B]
Saturday, June 16th:
The fastest of our European trains for the last leg - the French TGV reaches 300kph on the run to Paris. Our tour ends upon arrival or, alternatively you may take a 3 day fully escorted post-tour add-on.
Tour costs:
$AUD 13,950 per person Twin Share.
Also ZAR 99,950
Land Content only (i.e. join the tour in Istanbul and leave the tour in Paris)
Enquire about competitive airfares.
Single Room supplement $AUD 2500.
What's included?^ Top ^
All Great Trains of Europe Tours include:
- First Class rail travel in reserved seats
- First Class (4 and 5 star) City Centre Hotels
- 6 dinners
- Full time historian / Tour Leader who is the Tour Company Principal
- Local expert guides
The TOUR COST does NOT include:
- Hotel incidentals (eg. mini-bars, telephone calls, laundry),
- airport and departure taxes, local transport in any city,
- optional excursions listed or meals other than breakfast and the one restaurant dinner in each city - the first night in each new city, except Paris where it takes the form of a farewell dinner. On other nights, the Tour Leaders are available to accompany group members to local, authentic restaurants.
Gallipoli & Troy Pre-tour add-on ^ Top ^
Commences May 25th, 2012
Friday May 25th:
Check into Istanbul hotel
Saturday May 26th:
Drive along the Marmara Sea to Gallipoli's World War I sites. Visit Lone Pine Cemetery which was built in honour of 4228 Australian and 708 New Zealand soldiers lost at Gallipoli. Cross the Dardanelles to Asia. Overnight hotel in Canakkale. [B]
Sunday May 27th:
Drive to visit the ancient city of Troy where the Trojan Wars (famous from the epic stories of the poet Homer) took place, and the remains of 9 different settlements dating from 3000 BC to 400 AD can be seen. Back to Istanbul. [B] [D]
Gallipoli & Troy Pre-tour Add-On Cost: $AUD2,250 per person twin share. Single supplement $AUD600
Includes: 3 nights accommodation and breakfasts, 1 dinner, transport and sightseeing.
Relax in Paris Post-tour add-on ^ Top ^
Commences June 16th, 2012
Saturday June 16th: PARIS
On arrival in Paris on the “Footsteps of Agatha Christie” Tour, transfer to our hotel on the Left Bank. This is our home for 3 nights.
Sunday June 17th: PARIS
Our sightseeing this morning includes the Arc de Triomphe, Champs Elysees and Notre Dame. In the afternoon there is a visit to Louis XVI's Palace of Versailles on Paris' outskirts. [B]
Monday June 18th: PARIS or Somme Battlefields
The Louvre Museum? or an optional excursion to the Somme Battlefields of World War I. Here we visit sites that are sacred in Australia's national history.
Tuesday June 19th:
Our holiday ends this morning
Relax in Paris Pre-tour Add-On Cost: $AUD1,750 per person twin share. Single supplement $AUD500
Includes: 3 nights accommodation and breakfasts, transport and sightseeing. Somme Battlefields excursion $AU 275pp.
About the “In The Footsteps Of Agatha Christie” tour
Tour Brochure & Booking Form (850KB PDF)
Note well: Booking Conditions « Tours index ^ Top ^