Original
Explorer
Rail
Express to the Orient: Paris to Istanbul
15 days • 5
5
Excellent
circle1 reviews
location_on 15 days
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Start
Paris, France
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Finish
Istanbul, Turkey
tour
Trip Code
AMSU
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Min Age
15
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Trip Size
1 - 12
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Physical Rating
restaurant_menu
Meals
13 breakfasts, 1 lunch
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Transport
Train, Overnight train, Private transport
bed
Accommodation
Hotel (13 nights), Overnight train (1 night)
From £2,878(15 days)
Trip Informations
Why you’ll love this trip
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Choose a slower-paced European journey on a comfortable rail trip – as well as travelling like the locals on domestic trains, you’ll get a taste of history as you follow the route once taken by the historic Orient Express.
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Stop in for local delicacies as you go – trying tarte flambee in Strasbourg, sharing a traditional Serbian lunch in a Salas property and sitting down for a lavish kaffee and kuchen (coffee and cake) experience in Vienna’s old town.
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Keep the rail adventures going with rides along rail funiculars to the castles of both Salzburg and Budapest.
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Explore the streets of Vienna and learn about the long history of Austria’s capital city, from the Gothic architecture to the State Opera House, a paragon of world opera.
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Get the low-down on Budapest’s classic charm, café culture, and eclectic neighbourhood vibes during your time here. Have you actually been to Budapest if you didn’t go to a ruin bar?
Is this trip right for you?
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If you love avoiding airport queues this is the trip for you. As public transport is the predominant form of transport on this trip we highly recommend packing as lightly as possible as you will be expected to carry your own bags on and off trains as well as to and from your accommodation.
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The primary form of transportation on this trip are scheduled local and intercity trains that travel on the railway tracks that were once used by the historical Orient Express in the late 19th Century. We use standard, economy and/or 2nd class local carriages, depending on availability. Cabins on the Overnight Train from Plovdiv to Istanbul are quad-share bunk-style. Please see the daily itinerary for more details. Please also note that minor delays of trains can be common.
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If travelling to Paris from London we highly recommend using the fast Eurostar train from London's St Pancras station. At under 2.5 hours travel time and with no airport queues, this is by far the most convenient travel option.
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Hotels in Europe often don't have double beds and rooms can be small by American or Australian standards.
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One of the pleasures of travelling in Europe is the ease at which cities can be explored on foot. Your leader will take you on frequent orientation walks, and you’ll be able to explore further in your own time. We recommend you pack comfortable walking shoes for this trip.
Itinerary
Follow along a historic train route from France to Turkey
On this 15-day adventure traversing Europe from Paris to Istanbul, use local trains to follow the historic routes once used by the Orient Express’ carriages in the 19th century. Travel by train all the way from Paris to Budapest, with stops to explore the historic quarters and modern offerings of Strasbourg, Munich and Vienna. Then change lines and follow another historic route from Belgrade to Istanbul, riding local trains to experience Nis, Sofia and Plovdiv as you go. With plenty of free time to explore at each stop, and a passionate local leader on hand to point you in the right direction, there isn’t a moment you’ll want to miss on this rail adventure.
- DAY 1Day 1 • Paris
- DAY 2Day 2 • Strasbourg
- DAY 3Day 3 • Strasbourg / Munich
- DAY 4Day 4 • Munich
- DAY 5Day 5 • Salzburg / Vienna
- DAY 6Day 6 • Vienna
- DAY 7Day 7 • Budapest
- DAY 8Day 8 • Budapest
- DAY 9Day 9 • Novi Sad / Belgrade
- DAY 10Day 10 • Belgrade
- DAY 11Day 11 • Nis
- DAY 12Day 12 • Sofia / Plovdiv
- DAY 13Day 13 • Plovdiv / Overnight Train
- DAY 14Day 14 • Istanbul
- DAY 15Day 15 • Istanbul
Inclusions
restaurant_menu Meals
13 breakfasts, 1 lunch
airport_shuttle Transport
Train, Overnight train, Private transport
bed Accommodation
Hotel (13 nights), Overnight train (1 night)
festival Included activities
circleStrasbourg - Tarte Flambee
circleSalzburg - Hohensalzburg Fortress Visit & Funicular
circleVienna - Kaffee and Kuchen Experience
circleBudapest - Castle Visit & Funicular Ride
circleNovi Sad - Traditional Serbian Lunch at a Salas Property
circleBelgrade - Fortress Visit
Dates and availability
Starting
Ending
Remaining
Prices From
Thursday Jun 12, 2025
Thursday Jun 26, 2025
Trip size max: 12 - 3 spaces left
£3,669£2,935
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Thursday Jun 26, 2025
Thursday Jul 10, 2025
Trip size max: 12 - 1 space left
£4,153£3,322
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Thursday Jul 17, 2025
Thursday Jul 31, 2025
Trip size max: 12 - 7 spaces left
£3,597£2,878
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Thursday Aug 21, 2025
Thursday Sep 04, 2025
Trip size max: 12 - 2 spaces left
£3,669£2,935
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Thursday Aug 28, 2025
Thursday Sep 11, 2025
Trip size max: 12 - 10 spaces left
£3,597£2,878
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Monday Sep 01, 2025
Monday Sep 15, 2025
Trip size max: 12 - 5 spaces left
£3,883£3,495
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Thursday Sep 04, 2025
Thursday Sep 18, 2025
Trip size max: 12 - Sold Out
Monday Sep 08, 2025
Monday Sep 22, 2025
Trip size max: 12 - 12 spaces left
£4,076£3,668
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Thursday Sep 11, 2025
Thursday Sep 25, 2025
Trip size max: 12 - Sold Out
Monday Sep 15, 2025
Monday Sep 29, 2025
Trip size max: 12 - 8 spaces left
£4,109£3,698
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Monday Oct 06, 2025
Monday Oct 20, 2025
Trip size max: 12 - 10 spaces left
£3,597£3,417
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Thursday Oct 09, 2025
Thursday Oct 23, 2025
Trip size max: 12 - 1 space left
£4,065£3,861
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Monday Oct 13, 2025
Monday Oct 27, 2025
Trip size max: 12 - 12 spaces left
£3,597£3,417
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Thursday Oct 16, 2025
Thursday Oct 30, 2025
Trip size max: 12 - 10 spaces left
£3,597£3,417
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Thursday Apr 16, 2026
Thursday Apr 30, 2026
Trip size max: 12 - 12 spaces left
£3,779
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Important notes
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1. The primary form of transportation on this trip are scheduled local and intercity trains that travel on the railway tracks that were once used by the historical Orient Express in the late 19th Century. We use standard, economy and/or 2nd class local carriages, depending on availability. Cabins on the Overnight Train from Plovdiv to Istanbul are quad-share bunk-style. Please see the daily itinerary for more details. Please also note that minor delays of trains can be common.
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2. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement excludes Day 13 (Overnight Train) where you will be in shared accommodation and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
Reviews (1)
5 stars
1
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Peter
May 12, 2025
We were fortunate to have a great leader for this maiden Paris to Istanbul journey.
A few bugs that no doubt will be sorted out but such a wonderful experience overall.