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THE HEART OF CENTRAL EUROPE
By Privately Chartered Train
19 DAYS - 12-30 OCTOBER 2023 - LAST SEATS REMAIN!
19 days
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12 - 30 Oct 2023
|
Starting from $29,550
THE HEART OF CENTRAL EUROPE
This journey by private train takes you to some of Europe’s most iconic destinations and introduces you to some of the continent’s hidden treasures.
Harking back to the Golden Age of Travel, a rail journey rekindles nostalgia and offers great convenience and comfort. Avoid the chaos of multiple airports or the monotony of endless motorways when you step into the elegance of a private train that observes a timetable entirely suited to your travel plans.
October in Central Europe brings snow-capped mountain peaks, autumn leaves and ideal travelling weather. Join us and explore Europe in the best way possible
HIGHLIGHTS
PRIVATELY CHARTERED TRAIN
Exclusive travel aboard a privately chartered train
VERONA
The origins of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet are laid bare with a visit to ‘Juliet’s Balcony’ in the charming Northern Italian city of Verona
PRIVATE CRUISE
Live the movie star lifestyle with a private cruise to the picturesque town of Bellagio on Lake Como
LAKE BLED
The Iconic Lake Bled, its famous church upon an island in its centre, and less well known medieval castle atop the hill
SWISS ALPS
Take the worlds steepest cogwheel railway for the exciting 30-minute ride up Mt Pilatus for stunning views of the Swiss Alps and lake strewn valleys below
HALLSTATT
Bright colours paint the town of Hallstatt’s 16th-century architecture; flower boxes drape windows in geraniums and ivy; and cobblestone streets connect charming cafés, ornate churches, and Alpine inns
MAP
ITINERARY
THURSDAY 12 OCTOBER
Depart Australia today with Emirates (Air Inclusive Package)
FRIDAY 13 OCTOBER – BUDAPEST (HUNGARY)
Arrive in Budapest this afternoon and transfer to The Budapest Marriott, the only city hotel that boasts views of
the Danube and the hills of Buda from every room. Settle in and later join fellow travellers and meet your Journey
Leaders at a cocktail reception.
SATURDAY 14 OCTOBER – BUDAPEST
Budapest spills across the Danube and divides into two parts – Buda and Pest. Today we explore both faces of this spectacular city – filled with a dramatic history and eye-popping architecture.
We’ll embark on a walking tour around the Buda Castle District, with spectacular views from the Citadel. Drive along the two kilometre Andrássy Avenue to Heroes’ Square, marveling at the incredible architecture of the Basilica and the Opera House.
Our A La Carte options give you the choice to tailor your Sightseeing this afternoon.
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Visit the picturesque baroque village of Szentendre. Artisan traders, art galleries and museums are yours to explore.
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Step inside Budapest's incredible Gothic Parliament House and visit the recently restored Opera House.
Dine tonight with more splendid views as we cruise the Danube on a private dinner cruise ship.
SUNDAY 15 OCTOBER – ZAGREB (CROATIA) & LJUBLJANA (SLOVENIA)
Your comfort is assured aboard our private train with first class carriages, two dedicated dining cars and separate bar car. From Budapest we trace Lake Balaton while enjoying a leisurely lunch aboard. Relive the pleasure of a meal in The Diner, accompanied by some excellent wines.
After lunch we arrive in the lively capital of Zagreb – where a private tram awaits. After a rambling ride through the city, local guides escort us up the short funicular before they walk us past Zagreb’s highlights including the Upper Town and the Dolac Market.
Later today we continue to Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia. Dinner aboard offers you another chance to enjoy
the spoils of The Diner. On arrival in Ljubljana we make our way to the nearby InterContinental.
MONDAY 16 OCTOBER – LJUBLJANA
Ljubljana packs all the best bits of Europe into one neat package. Canals, cobblestone paths, charming cafes and a castle on a hill. A morning walking tour takes you over the arched bridges and across public squares, all the while discovering the art noveau masterpieces.
A funicular elevates you to the castle district, where Ljubljana Castle has kept watchful eye over the city for 900 years.
This evening we take a short walk to dinner in an ancient building for traditional Slovenian fare and entertainment. Head back to
the luxury of your hotel after dinner or stay on awhile in the city, soaking up its lively atmosphere.
TUESDAY 17 OCTOBER – LAKE BLED & LJUBLJANA
You would be hard pressed to find a site anywhere in Europe more idyllic than Lake Bled. The colours of autumn are in full flight and the mirror like surface of the blue lake absorbs the red and orange hues.
Explore the imposing hilltop Bled Castle, with its grand views over the lake and surrounding Alpine mountains. Dating from 1011 the medieval castle exudes a fairytale like quality and contains a replica of one of the world’s oldest printing presses.
Enjoy a traditional Slovenian lunch before heading to the lake for a relaxing boat ride to the medieval church on the small island in the lake’s centre.
After returning to Ljubljana, dinner is sure to be a highlight. We’ll dine at the Michelin plated ‘B Restaurant’ on the 29th floor
of our hotel.
WEDNESDAY 18 OCTOBER – POSTOJNA CAVES & VERONA (ITALY)
The friendly crew of our private train welcome you back aboard.
A short hop delivers us to the magnificent Postojna Caves, where 20km of karst caves await your exploration. The cave complex is enormous and reaches depths of 115m.
Back onboard our train for a delightful lunch, accompanied by excellent wines, there will be time relax and watch the scenery unfold outside your window.
Passing into Italy we arrive in Verona early this evening and enjoy dinner at our hotel – the luxurious Due Torri Hotel.
THURSDAY 19 OCTOBER – VERONA (ITALY)
Made famous by Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, Verona is one of Italy’s most charming – and oft overlooked – cities.
A walking tour introduces us to the city’s many virtues including the Roman Arena (Amphitheatre) and Piazza Bra. Take a peek at Juliet’s House and the Palace of the Scala Family, who ruled Verona for 100 years from the late 13th century.
Explore at leisure this afternoon.
This evening you are treated to dinner in one of the city’s finest restaurants, Ristorante Emanuelle – overlooking the Roman Arena.
FRIDAY 20 OCTOBER – MILAN – LAKE COMO
A morning journey aboard our train leads us to Milan, the fashion capital of Italy. Milan is also home to the 600 year old cathedral, Duomo di Milano – an impressive sight and one of Italy’s largest churches. From the spiritual to the material we walk along Via Dante to Le Galleries for some window shopping in stores like Fendi, Dior and Gucci. Lunch on the local favourite, Risotto alla Milanese, before rejoining our train for the short journey to Lake Como and the panoramic views from Hilton Lake Como.
SATURDAY 21 OCTOBER – LAKE COMO & BELLAGIO
Lake Como, with its lakeside towns and neoclassical villas is absolutely stunning. And knows it too! Sports cars weave in and out of narrow roads, luxury boutiques adorn the cobblestone streets and the beautiful people come here to see and be seen.
Live the life of a movie star as we cruise to postcard perfect Bellagio this morning. Pass the luxury villas owned by the uber wealthy and notably famous. Keep an eye out for Hollywood A listers like George Clooney who owns a compound of villas by the lake.
Enjoy an Italian lunch in the charming town of Bellagio before returning to our hotel.
Tonight we dine on regional specialties at Il Vaporo, with sunset views of Lake Como.
SUNDAY 22 OCTOBER – LAKE COMO & LUCERNE (SWITZERLAND)
This morning we have the chance to further embrace the beauty of this special place. Choose your own adventure…
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Join an expert local guide for a pleasant walk along the waterfront of Lake Como. Walk by the neoclassical Villa Olmo and discover the town of Como itself.
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Take the funicular for a short but steep ride to the charming mountain top town of Brunate.
From the passionate embrace of Italian culture we enter Switzerland this afternoon, traversing the famous Gotthard Pass – with its bridges, viaducts and stunning views of the Alps.
MONDAY 23 OCTOBER – LUCERNE & MT PILATUS
A day to remember. We drive the short distance to Alpnachstad and commence the steep climb aboard the world’s steepest cog
railway, with a 48% incline in its ascent to Mt Pilatus. Spectacular scenery abounds at every angle, keep your camera handy.
Breathe the fresh air and enjoy lunch at 2,2128m high.
Returning to our hotel there will be time to unwind before dinner at Chateau Gutsch, overlooking the city.
TUESDAY 24 OCTOBER – LUCERNE
Join a walking tour of this captivating town where everything is within easy reach. The medieval Old Town is extremely well preserved and demands further exploration.
After lunch at our hotel, choose from one of our A La Carte options:
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Visit an artisan chocolate producer to sample one of Switzerland's most famous exports.
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Victorinox is renowned the world over for its quality knives. Spend some time at a Victorinox Boutique and create your own personalised Swiss Army Knife.
Late this afternoon we join a private cruiser for an exclusive dinner on Lake Lucerne.
WEDNESDAY 25 OCTOBER – LUCERNE – ZURICH – SALZBURG (AUSTRIA)
A short train journey lands us in Zurich, where a walk to the tree lined park of Lindenhof offers views over the Old Town and river – you might even find yourself tempted by a game of chess with local masters.
We rejoin our train train and as we progress to Salzburg, the afternoon offers you a chance to catch up on some reading and
watch the passing scenery as you unwind to the rhythms of the train, or join fellow travellers for a laugh or two in the Bar Car.
Dinner will be served before arrival in Salzburg.
THURSDAY 26 OCTOBER – SALZBURG
The hills are alive with the sound of music. Not only was the famous film shot in and around Salzburg, the city is the birthplace of Mozart, which we visit today on a walking tour.
Setting a leisurely pace we continue our discovery of Salzburg including the Mirabell Gardens and the medieval Fortress
Hohensalzburg, one of the largest and best preserved in Europe.
Dinner this evening is in our hotel's Wintergarden conservatory, with views of the river and the old town of Salzburg.
Straddling the Salzach River, overlooked by the Eastern Alps, Salzburg is a place befitting of a fairytale.
FRIDAY 27 OCTOBER – HALSTATT & VIENNA
Travelling by Private Train enables us to make a side trip to Hallstatt, where a private boat delivers us to the heart of this delightful town. Autumn colours complement the bright reds and yellows of Hallstatt’s 16th century architecture.
After watching life unfold in this small Austrian village we rejoin our train for the onward journey to Vienna in time for dinner at our hotel.
SATURDAY 28 OCTOBER – VIENNA
Local experts guide us through the streets of Vienna, pausing to step inside St Stephen’s Cathedral and wander the luxury boutiques of Kartner Strasse and Graben. After lunch we are driven around Ringstrasse, Vienna’s grand circular boulevard, arriving at the spectacular Schönbrunn Palace – the summer residence of Habsburg emperor renowned for its magnificent gardens.
Later choose from one of the following A La Carte options:
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Venture to the Imperial Palace and witness a performance featuring the spectacular precision and skill of the Spanish
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Riding School.
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Embrace the original ‘coffee culture’ with a warming brew and one of the cites delightful cakes at a renowed Viennese coffee house.
This evening a very special mode of transport is used to reach the destination of our gala dinner. Celebrate the journey of a lifetime with newfound friends before parting ways tomorrow.
SUNDAY 29 OCTOBER – DEPART VIENNA
It’s time to depart but you will take the memories and friendships created along the way with you. Depart this afternoon bound for home, or speak to one of our team about extending your stay in Europe.
MONDAY 30 OCTOBER – ARRIVE AUSTRALIA
Arrive home today, with rich memories of your journey through the heart of Central Europe by private train.
GALLERY
FARES
Prices are all inclusive, twin share per person commencing with dinner in Budapest on 13 October 2023 and concluding after breakfast in Vienna on 29 October 2023.
EARLY BOOKING OFFER – BOOK AND DEPOSIT BY 24 FEBRUARY 2023 TO SAVE $500 PER PERSON`
SOLO TRAVELLERS
We warmly welcome solo travellers to Constellation Journeys.
You’ll be invited to an exclusive solo traveller gathering in Budapest and the Constellation Journeys hosts are always available for a cup of coffee or a pre dinner drink.
We offer solo travellers the opportunity to share a room with another traveller at no additional cost. If you’d prefer the privacy of your own room, a quiet place to retreat at the end of the day, we offer the lowest possible single room supplement.
TWIN SHARE
$29,550
SINGLE SUPPLEMENT
$5,400
AIR INCLUSIVE PACKAGE
Fly return from Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane with Emirates on our ‘Air Inclusive Package’. Add the following to the fares shown above
FROM SYDNEY
ECONOMY CLASS
BUSINESS CLASS
$3,150
$12,950
FROM MELBOURNE
$3,580
$12,950
FROM BRISBANE
$3,420
$11,360
Flights are subject to availability at the time of booking.
For fares from other cities please enquire.
READY TO ENQUIRE?
With limited space available on this unique journey we encourage you to contact us now.