Option 1

Economy Class Flights
Transfers to and from the airport in a private vehicle
1 night pre-trip accommodation in a Four Star hotel in Budapest.
9 nights’ Three Star Accommodation on your G Adventures trip (8 nights hotel, 1 night overnight train)
Included in your trip: 7 Breakfasts, the activities listed below* and all transport between destinations and to/from included activities.
1 night post-trip accommodation in a Four Star hotel in Sofia.

£ 1 500 ex London
€ 1 600 ex Amsterdam
$ 2 350 ex New York
R 28 850 ex Johannesburg

G Adventures Itinerary

Day 1 – BUDAPEST, HUNGARY
Day 2 – BUDAPEST/SIBIU, ROMANIA
Day 3 – SIBIU/SIGHISOARA
Day 4 – SIGHISOARA/BRASOV
Day 5 – BRASOV
Day 6 – BRASOV/BUCHAREST
Day 7 – BUCHAREST/VELIKO TARNOVO, BULGARIA
Day 8 – VELIKO TARNOVO
Day 9 – VELIKO TARNOVO/SOFIA
Day 10 – SOFIA, BULGARIA

Our Rail Journeys have been designed by our travel specialists to deliver matchless experiences while catering to your every need.

Why Choose G Adventures?
Flexibility & Independence – Head off to explore independently or just chill out in a café and watch the world go by. They include the must-see highlights on most of their trips, allowing you the time to explore according to your own tastes.
Small International Groups – A big part of the experience is their small international groups. On average there are about 10 travellers on one of their trips, depending on the destination—the maximum is usually never more than 16.
100% Guaranteed Departures – They are the first travel company in the world to guarantee every single one of our departures.
A Different Way to Travel – At G Adventures, they encourage you to step off the beaten path, embrace the unexpected and immerse yourself in the extraordinary. Their award-winning trips embrace authentic accommodation and local transportation to bring you face to face with the world’s most fascinating cultures, customs and awe-inspiring wildlife.
Price and Value – They believe an unforgettable travel experience doesn’t have to be expensive; that’s why they continually strive to offer the most competitive prices around. Because their grassroots approach provides a more affordable way to travel, they’re able to deliver the adventure of a lifetime at a fraction of the cost.
Choice – With the largest variety of destinations, departure dates and an unparalleled choice of trip styles and service levels designed to meet all tastes, ages and budgets, they’re certain there’s a G Adventures trip for you.

About this trip
This ten-day tour will leave you wondering why you waited to explore Europe’s roads less travelled. Ride the rails from Budapest to Sofia and experience Eastern Europe’s charm firsthand. Soak in a thermal bath in Budapest or opt to visit Buda Castle, Hungary’s royal palace. Discover Romania’s countryside while visiting Sighișoara or marvel at the baroque architecture of Brasov. (Better yet, enjoy the contrast by seeing them both.) You’ll also have time to sample Bulgarian cuisine that’ll give you the energy you need to cycle your way through Veliko Tarnovo, one of the oldest cities in the world.
Travel Style: Rail – Get closer to the big cities, isolated communities, and stunning landscapes of the world’s greatest destinations via train-based adventures on iconic rail routes like the Glacier Express, the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, and the Trans-Siberian.
Service Level: Standard – Comfortable tourist-class accommodations with character; mix of public and private transport.
Physical Rating: 2 – Light walking and hiking suitable for most fitness levels. Nothing too challenging.
Trip Type: Small Group. Small group experience; Max 16, avg 12.
Age requirement: 12+

Option 1

12 Days Shongololo Express in a Gold Cabin
Airport Transfers

£ 3 450
€ 3 825
$ 4 475
R 59 800
(Based on 2 people sharing)

Option 2

12 Days Shongololo Express in a Emerald Cabin
Airport Transfers

£ 4 320
€ 4 795
$ 5 615
R 75 000
(Based on 2 people sharing)

Dune Express- Pretoria to Swakopmund

Our packages have been designed by our travel specialists to deliver matchless experiences while catering to your every need. This travel experience combines flights, airport transfers, accommodation in select Hotels and Resorts and hand-picked activities and experiences in select World’s Ultimate destinations.

Why Choose this trip
This spectacular 12-day journey starts in Pretoria and winds its way to the coast of Namibia, a country of compelling beauty, abundant sunshine and seemingly endless space. First stop is Kimberley for a visit to the Big Hole and diamond mine museum village before continuing on to Upington for a walking tour and wine tasting. After crossing the border, guests visit the Fish River Canyon, second in size to the Grand Canyon, followed by tours of historical towns Lüderitz, Kolmanskop and Keetmanshoop.
Day seven sees guests overnighting at a Sossusvlei lodge, surrounded by the dramatic dunes of the Namib-Naukluft Park, with visits to the natural Sesriem Canyon and the 170m-high star-dune “45”. The train then leaves the vast stillness of the Kalahari Desert for a city tour of Windhoek. On day ten guests travel to the Etosha National Park for an overnight stay with game-viewing activities before ending the journey in the quaint seaside town of Swakopmund and Walvis Bay. Available in reverse.

DAY 1 The train departs from Rovos Rail Station in Pretoria for Kingswood for our overnight stop.
DAY 2 Visit the Big Hole and Diamond Mine Museum in Kimberley.
Return to the train in Kimberley and depart for Upington.
DAY 3 Morning tour of Upington and wine tasting at Belazel Brandy & Wine Cellar.
The train departs Upington for Nakop for border formalities with Namibia. Overnight Holoog.
DAY 4 Morning visit to the Fish River Canyon, the largest in the southern hemisphere.
Return to the train and depart for Aus for overnight.
DAY 5 Full-day tour of the ghost town Kolmanskop and Lüderitz, well known for its colonial architecture and wildlife.
The train departs for Keetmanshoop for overnight.
DAY 6 Morning tour of Keetmanshoop. See the Giant’s Playground with its 20km-long dolerite dykes as well as Quiver
Tree Forest, home to 300 species of the Aloe dichotomy.
Return to the train and depart for Mariental.
DAY 7 Transfer to Sossusvlei Lodge in the Namib-Naukluft Park. Visit the Sesriem Canyon, shaped over millions of years
by the Tsauchab River. Overnight at lodge.
DAY 8 Enjoy sunrise from Dune 45 followed by brunch at the lodge. Take a scenic drive through the Namib-Naukluft Park.
The train departs for Rehoboth for overnight.
DAY 9 City tour of Windhoek. See the Trans-Namib Transport Museum, the Alte Feste (Old Fortress), the Evangelical
Lutheran Church – a striking landmark – and the Namibia Craft Centre in the old Breweries Building.
Return to the train and depart for Otjiwarongo.
DAY 10 Transfer to a lodge in Etosha National Park. Enjoy game-viewing activities. Overnight at lodge.
DAY 11 Enjoy a morning game drive before checking out and returning to the train.
Rejoin the train in Otjiwarongo and depart for Kranzberg for overnight.
DAY 12 Arrive at Swakopmund Station where your tour ends. Check out of the train.
MEALS ON THE TRAIN (unless adjusted)
Breakfast 07h00-09h00 • Lunch 13h00 • Dinner 19h30.

Option 1 – Five Star

3 Nights’ Five Star accommodation on board the Rovos Rail in a Pullman Suite
All-inclusive basis (all meals and drinks included)
Game Drive included
Private Airport transfer in Zimbabwe
Return Economy Class flight

£ 1 400 ex London
€ 1 650 ex Amsterdam
$ 1 750 ex New York
R 22 895 ex Pretoria
(Based on 2 people sharing)

Option 2 – Five Star

3 Nights’ Five Star accommodation on board the Rovos Rail in a Royal Suite
All-inclusive basis (all meals and drinks included)
Game Drive included
Private Airport transfer in Zimbabwe
Return Economy Class flight

£ 2 800 ex London
€ 3 300 ex Amsterdam
$ 3 500 ex New York
R 45 860 ex Pretoria
(Based on 2 people sharing)

Step aboard the World’s most luxurious train! Embark on a 3 Night journey to the Victoria Falls on board the Pride of Africa.

Our Rovos Rail packages have been designed by our travel specialists to deliver matchless experiences while catering to your every need. This travel experience combines flights, airport transfers, accommodation in select Hotels and Resorts and hand-picked activities and experiences in select World’s Ultimate destinations.

Rovos Rail
Since its establishment in 1989, Rovos Rail has earned an international reputation for its truly world-class travel experiences. Step aboard the wood-panelled coaches – classics remodelled and refurbished to mint condition – and enjoy fine cuisine in five-star luxury as some of the most varied scenery imaginable unfolds beyond the windows. In a series of train journeys lasting from 48 hours to a month, the Pride of Africa links some of Africa’s greatest destinations from Cape Town at the tip of Africa to Dar es Salaam in Tanzania, from scenic splendours as diverse as the game reserves of Mpumalanga to the Victoria Falls, from the desert landscapes in Namibia and the stark beauty of the Karoo to the lush cane fields of KwaZulu-Natal and the magnificent Garden Route along the Cape south coast. The trains – which may be hauled by steam, diesel or electric locomotives at various stages of the journey – carry a maximum of 72 passengers in 36 superbly appointed suites.

Victoria Falls Journey
Relive the romance of a bygone Africa on a nostalgic expedition to one of the seven Natural Wonders of the World. Experience a 1600-kilometre journey through truly African scenery as Rovos Rail’s luxurious train meanders westwards through Mafikeng into Botswana and then north towards Mahalapye, crossing the Tropic of Capricorn just after Gaborone. Once the train has passed through Botswana it arrives at Plumtree in the late afternoon for border formalities with Zimbabwe. Continuing in a northwesterly direction, the train passes Bulawayo heading towards Thompson’s Junction and Hwange Game Reserve, where animals can be spotted from the train. The surrounding area offers travellers many recreational activities including cruises, whitewater rafting on the Zambezi River as well as superb game viewing and photo safaris. Depending upon the railway’s capacity this journey could be routed northwards through Beitbridge and Zimbabwe.

Victoria Falls
The Victoria Falls, the world’s largest waterfall and a UNESCO World Heritage site, is one of the greatest attractions in Africa. It is located in the Zambezi River, which forms the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe. It is the only waterfall in the world with a length of more than a kilometre and a height of more than a hundred metres. The noise of Victoria Falls can be heard from as far as 40 kilometres away, while the spray and mist from the falling water is rising to a height of over 400m. The water level varies throughout the year with its peak in April, at the end of the rainy season and its lowest level in October and early November.

World’s Ultimate Accommodation
World’s Ultimate Experiences offers accommodation that will ensure that you experience the best of your chosen destination. You could also choose to extend your journey with a few nights in Zimbabwe or Zambia so that you can experience the true splendour of the Victoria Falls. Below are the hotels that we offer – Other hotels or resorts of your choice not featured on our website can be quoted on, should you wish.