Best known for its fascinating Central and Eastern European luxury long-distance railway journeys, Golden Eagle Luxury Trains introduces for 2017 two new tours to Southern and Western Europe: Hellenic Treasures and the Sicilian Odyssey, both on board the fabulous Golden Eagle Danube Express. These two itineraries are thought to be the first ever cultural tours to Greece and Sicily by luxury private hotel-train. To mark the 10th anniversary of the creation of this private hotel-on-wheels next year, a sumptuous new carriage comprising four Superior Deluxe cabins will be launched offering rail lovers the ultimate in comfort.

Offered within next year's programme of European holidays is Hellenic Treasures, an exclusive new rail voyage between the magnificent cities of Budapest and Athens, through the scenic landscapes and medieval towns of the Balkans. Heading south from Venice, on the other hand, will be the Sicilian Odyssey which, again new for 2017, will weave its way through Italy's treasure-filled cities to the Sicilian hill-top town of Taormina, with its panoramic view of Mount Etna.

Golden Eagle Danube Express Raises the Luxury Bar

What better way to kick back and relax than in the gleaming new Superior Deluxe cabins (ready for the first departure on 24 June), each cabin a massive 93 sq ft. (This compares with 33 sq ft of the Heritage cabins and 83 sq ft of Deluxe cabins). Those opting for Superior Deluxe can expect a 5ft king-sized double bed, in-cabin wi-fi, two full-sized picture windows, an L-shaped sofa for daytime use, and a much larger en-suite bathroom.

The 50 passengers will be in store for an experience of a lifetime, with treats like a champagne reception, live musical performances, 5-star hotel accommodation before and after each journey. The nostalgia of rail travel combines seamlessly with the train's modern-day comforts, from the option of en-suite cabins to fine dining and from breakfast cooked to order to a personal cabin attendant, and even an on board doctor.

Commenting on next year's programme, Tim Littler, Golden Eagle Luxury Trains' founder, said: “The thrill of First Class rail adventures has never been in doubt but our new four Superior Deluxe cabins will certainly raise the comfort bar for European luxury hotel-trains. Combining the romance of historic medieval settlements with the architectural splendour of some of Europe's most beautiful cities, these new exclusive rail cruises through Southern Europe promise to be unforgettable experiences.”

Sicilian Odyssey *NEW FOR 2017*

 The tour starts in style with two nights at the iconic 5-star Hotel Danieli in Venice before passengers board the Golden Eagle Danube Express and set off down the eastern Italian seaboard to Verona, home of Romeo and Juliet. It's then on to the foodie capital, Bologna; the enclaved microstate of San Marino for a tour of the UNESCO World Heritage centre, and the port town of Bari, with its Florentine-style old-town and 12th century fortress. The train veers west across central Italy through the Matese hills for an exploration of the ruins of Herculaneum and Pompeii, destroyed by the momentous volcanic eruption of 79AD. The journey continues through the mountainous and forested landscapes of Parco Nazionale del Cilento and Vallo di Diano e Alburni. 

Among the transportation en-route is a passage across to Sicily on one of the very few 'train ferries' in the world. Once in Sicily, take a walking tour of bustling capital, Palermo and a detour to Corleone to learn about the notorious Mafia families, made famous by Francis Ford Coppola's movie, The Godfather. The next five days are devoted to exploring this culturally rich island by train including a visit to Agrigento, home to Italy's most impressive Greek ruins; the Baroque town of Ragusa; Syracuse, the birthplace of the Byzantine empire; Caltagirone, home to one of the best preserved Roman villas in the world; and, the final stop, the hill-top town Taormina with its Greco-Roman theatre that is still in use today.

There will be two tours next year, one northbound, the other southbound. The northbound journey takes a rather different route after the train-ferry to the Italian mainland, taking in Rome, with its iconic Coliseum and St Peter's Basilica; the hill top towns of San Gimignano; Siena, Florence with its sublime galleries, and finishing in magical Venice.

Price: The all-inclusive 12-day Sicilian Odyssey costs from £8,595pp sharing a Heritage cabin. Upgrade to Deluxe for £13,795pp, or to Superior Deluxe for £16,595pp. Southbound departs 14 September 2017. Northbound departs 22 September 2017.

Hellenic Treasures *NEW FOR 2017*

This new exclusive voyage, between the beautiful cities of Budapest and Athens, travels through five countries of Central and Southern Europe, absorbing the classical culture and architectural masterpieces of some of Europe's most magnificent cities and medieval towns.

After two days exploring Budapest and a farewell reception in Nyugati station's Royal Waiting Room, passengers board the Golden Eagle Danube Express. The train heads for the western shore of Lake Balaton where there is time to explore Keszthely's Baroque Palace and take a short lake cruise. Ljubljana, Slovenia's capital is next up, followed by the Bosnian capital of Sarajevo and the historic city of Mostar which, at the crossroads of many civilizations, is now in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The following day alight in the Serbian capital, Belgrade, with its medieval tombs, Turkish baths and fortifications dating from Celtic times. Move on to Plovdiv, one of the oldest cities in Europe with more than 200 archaeological sites, and later Sofia, Bulgaria's modern capital. The eighth day brings Greece and the port city of Thessaloniki before the journey's end in Athens, where two nights are spent at the 5-star Hotel Grande Bretagne with incredible views of the Acropolis.

Price: The all-inclusive 11-day Hellenic Treasures tour costs from £5,995pp sharing a Heritage cabin. Upgrade to Deluxe from £9,995pp or to Superior Deluxe for £11,995. Budapest to Athens departs 24 June 2017, and Athens to Budapest departs 1 July 2017.

Other Adventures on board the Golden Eagle Danube Express for 2017

Treasures of Eastern Europe: Marvel at the architectural treasures of Prague and Budapest; absorb the rich culture of Vienna's musical legacy; and delve into the poignant history of World War II's most influential cities in Poland and Russia, on this voyage from Venice to Budapest. Price from £7,995pp. Departs 16 August 2017.

Balkan Odyssey: Taking in an amazing eight countries in just 12-days, discover a host of fascinating cities and the landscapes of Transylvania and the Balkans as the train travels to Venice from the Baroque splendour of Budapest. Price from £5,995pp. Departs 16 July 2017.

ALL PRICES ABOVE are per person, based on two sharing a Heritage cabin on the Golden Eagle Danube Express, and include all meals, wine, beer and soft drinks, fully guided off-train excursions programme, porterage throughout, arrival and departure transfers, the services of a Tour Manager and all gratuities. Hotel accommodation is 5-star. Flights are extra.

For further information contact Golden Eagle Luxury Trains goldeneagleluxurytrains.com +44 (0)161 928 9410.

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