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Cruise & Rail: Venice, Istanbul & the Balkans (2026)

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17 daysDuration
Cruise TourExperience this tour on a cruise
20 peopleMaximum group size
2 - 99 yearsAge range for participants
EnglishGuide language
Moderate
Involves sustained activity requiring a reasonable level of fitness and endurance.
Select Date
Best price guaranteedNo credit card or booking fees.Carbon neutral tours.

Itinerary

From the glimmering canals of Venice to the vibrant pulse of Istanbul, the “Cruise & Rail: Venice, Istanbul & the Balkans (2026)” tour delivers 17 days of remarkable discovery. Begin your journey aboard the S.S. La Venezia, where a private evening at St. Mark’s Basilica sets a luxurious tone. Traverse through picturesque port towns like Burano, Mazzorbo, and Chioggia, each brimming with unique character and artisanal treasures. Transition to the Golden Eagle Danube Express for an opulent overnight train journey, soaking in ever-changing views across Italy, Eastern Europe, and Turkey. The unique selling point lies in the tour’s seamless blend of river cruise romance and private rail adventure, granting VIP access and authentic cultural encounters in every destination. This is the ultimate getaway for travelers craving both elegance and exploration.

day 1Venice (Embark)

Arrive at Venice Marco Polo International Airport. If you have arranged a Uniworld arrival transfer, you will be greeted by a Uniworld representative and transferred to the ship. Unpack, relax and enjoy your first evening on the Venetian Lagoon.

day 2Venice

day 3Venice (Padua), Mazzorbo (Burano)

day 4Mazzorbo, Burano, Chioggia

day 5Chioggia

day 6Chioggia, Venice

day 7Venice

day 8Venice (Disembark), Transfer to Train (Embark), Trieste, Postojna

day 9Pula, Rijeka

day 10Sarajevo

day 11Mostar

day 12Belgrade

day 13Belgrade

day 14Sofia, Plovdiv

day 15Istanbul (Disembark)

day 16Istanbul

day 17Istanbul

What's Included

Accommodation
6 nights in a luxury cabin onboard the Golden Eagle Danube Express private train2 nights in Istanbul at the Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at Sultanahmet (or similar)1 Night in Belgrade at The Bristol Belgrade (or similar)7-night cruise in a riverview stateroom onboard the elegant S.S. La VeneziaWell-appointed en-suite sleeping cabins and suites on the train have remote-controlled air-conditioning and heating, individual bathrobes and slippers, wardrobes, large viewing windows, and day seating that converts into comfortable beds for the eveningLavishly appointed riverview staterooms and suites on the cruise have handcrafted Savoir® Beds of England, custom cotton sateen sheets and European duvets, and a menu of pillow optionsFree Wi-Fi
Meals
All meals onboard cruise and train, prepared using the finest and freshest ingredients15 breakfasts, 13 lunches, 15 dinnersCaptain’s Welcome and Farewell ReceptionsWelcome and Farewell Gala DinnersUnlimited beverages onboard, including fine wine, beer, spirits, specialty coffee and tea, soft drinks and mineral water
Transport
Cruise Ship
Excursions
15 days of excursions, all fully hosted by English-speaking local expertsState-of-the-art Quietvox portable audio-headset system on all excursionsUse of Brompton G-Line Bicycles and Nordic Walking sticks during your cruise
Experiences
7 countries: Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Serbia, Bulgaria, Turkey5 UNESCO World Heritage sitesServices of an experienced Uniworld Cruise ManagerGratuities for onboard personnel (ship staff, crew, Cruise/Tour Manager) are included during the cruise/tourCaptivating onboard local entertainmentCultural enrichment

Good to Know

Travel Insurance
Visa

Do you need help from our trip consultants?

If you have any question about this tour or need help with planning a trip, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us.

Our travel experts are ready to help.
Jane Andersen
Sine
Rasmus Juul Olsen

Why Book with Bookmundi

No credit card or booking fees.

Best price guaranteed.

Carbon neutral tours.Algorithms and machine learning enables Bookmundi to calculate the carbon footprint for each tour. We then subsequently offset carbon emissions for all tour bookings on Bookmundi via investments in carbon reduction projects to help combat climate change.

25,000+ trip reviews, with an average rating of 4.8 out of 5.

What are customers saying about Bookmundi

4.67/5
Excellent based on 848 customer reviews fromReviews.io

Bronwyn

Booking with Bookmundi is so easy. The website is straightforward and easy to use. Peter Adley is an absolute star! He is quick to respond to my many queries and to offer helpful guidance. I am looking forward to the 2 tours I have booked!
1 week ago

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