Travel Options
If you prefer not to fly or wish to avoid London Heathrow, other options to enable you to join the train. You can also make your own travel arrangements and let us book your hotels in Budapest, Istanbul or Warsaw. If you would like any further information, have any other travel request or would like a quote for a holiday without flights from London, please contact us.
Air Options
Lufthansa flights from Birmingham or Manchester via Frankfurt are available for all destinations at a supplement. Please contact us for full details and timing.
Flight Upgrades
Upgrades for British Airways and Lufthansa flights are available. Please note this must be requested at the time of booking.
Flight Timings
Provisional timings for British Airways flights from Heathrow are as follows:
| Budapest | Outward | Heathrow | 14:05 | Budapest | 17:40 |
| Return | Budapest | 13:30 | Heathrow | 15:10 | |
| Istanbul | Outward | Heathrow | 10:30 | Istanbul | 16:20 |
| Return | Istanbul | 13:55 | Heathrow | 16:05 | |
| Warsaw | Outward | Heathrow | 13:50 | Warsaw | 17:15 |
| Return | Warsaw | 11:55 | Heathrow | 13:40 |
You should ensure that you check confirmed timings on your travel documents.
Other Air Options
We may also be able to book other airlines, please ask at the time of booking.
Rail Options
Rail travel to or from Budapest and Warsaw is available at a supplement, though regrettably, is not available to Istanbul. Travel is in Standard Premier on Eurostar™ with onward travel from Paris or Brussels in First Class.
An overnight sleeper is involved, so UK departure is one day earlier and UK return one day later than by flying.
Sleeping compartments are two-berth. Singles plus a limited number with en suite shower and WC are also available. Supplements are available on request.
Routes and Timings
For The Transylvanian Budapest to Istanbul and The Istanbul Loop
Option to travel out by rail from London St Pancras International to Budapest.
Depart London St Pancras International mid-afternoon by Eurostar™. A meal and drinks are served en route to Paris Gare Du Nord arriving early evening. Walk to Paris Est (about 10 mins) and board the German overnight sleeper to Munich, departing mid-evening. Arrive Munich early morning and change to the Railjet to Budapest Keleti, arriving late afternoon.
For The Transylvanian Istanbul to Budapest, The Istanbul Loop and The Polish Explorer
Option to return by rail from Budapest to London St Pancras International
Depart Budapest Keleti early afternoon by Railjet to Munich. Change to the German Rail overnight sleeper to Paris Est. Arrive Paris Est and walk to Paris Gare Du Nord (about 15 mins) for the Eurostar™ to London, arriving early afternoon. A meal and drinks are served en route to London St Pancras International.
For The Polish Explorer
Option to travel by rail from London St Pancras International to Warsaw
Depart London St Pancras International mid-afternoon by Eurostar™. A meal and drinks are served en route to Brussels arriving early evening. Continue to Cologne and join the EuroNight sleeper to Warsaw Centralna arriving mid-morning.
For The Bosphorus to the Baltic
Option to travel by rail from Warsaw to London St Pancras International
Depart Warsaw Centralna early evening on the EuroNight sleeper to Cologne. Continue to Brussels to join the late morning Eurostar™ to London St Pancras International arriving early afternoon. A meal and drinks are served en route.
