Castles of Transylvania by Private Train

• Accommodation aboard the Golden Eagle Danube Express private train.
• Hotel accommodation per the itinerary (1 night in Istanbul, 1 night in Budapest).
• All meals starting with dinner on Day 1 until breakfast on final tour day.
• A generous allowance of wine or local beer, soft drinks and water with all lunches and dinners.  
• Complimentary tea, coffee and mineral water round the clock from your car attendant while on board the train.
• Complimentary draft beer in the Bar Car for all passengers.
• Arrival/departure transfers, provided you arrive and depart on the tour start/end dates and in the tour start/end cities.
• All guided off-train tours per itinerary.
• The services of an experienced Train Tour Manager, with local guides for scheduled off-train touring.
• All gratuities.
• Baggage handling.

• International airfare or surface transport to the point of joining/leaving the tour. MIR is able to arrange your air itinerary in economy or business class. If you wish to obtain an air quote, please contact us for details.
• Items of a purely personal nature (laundry, telephone, bar account, photography at museums, etc).
• Optional pre- or post-tour extensions.
• Drinks, beyond draft beer in the Bar Car, and beer and wine at set meals.
• Visa fees, any excess baggage charges, airport departure taxes, vaccination or medical costs.
• Travel and trip cancellation insurance.

Level 2: Moderate

This rail journey by private train group tour features significant touring on foot, throughout which travelers are expected to keep up with other group members. Walking during touring days will be on a variety of surfaces, with many streets and sidewalks being uneven, and elevators generally not available during touring excursions, leading to some stair climbing. Challenges on board on board the train include long onboard distances with heavy doors, as well as steep steps and gaps to navigate while embarking and disembarking. Only those willing to accept local standards of amenities and services should consider joining this program.

Travelers must be able to walk a mile per day keeping up with other group members. Streets and sidewalks can be uneven or unexpected surfaces, and handrails are not always present. Steps, which may be required due to lack of elevators, may be steep and/or uneven, and may also lack handrails. The distance on board the train between sleeping and dining carriages may be significant, and there are many heavy doors to navigate when moving throughout the train. Getting on and off the train involves navigating steep steps, low platforms and possible gaps between the train and the platform. Navigating rail stations may also involve traveling up and over steep steps/footbridges to cross tracks, or steep steps and dark tunnels to cross under to/from the train station. Although porterage is provided where possible, you may have to carry your baggage for short distances.

General shortcomings of the tourism infrastructure may include problems with bureaucratic service, and availability and quality of public restrooms when not on board the train.