Ffestiniog Travel - Rail Holidays of the World 2014 by Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways

Est. 1974

Rail Holidays of the

World 2014

Unforgettable Rail Journeys

Est. 1974

1989

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1974

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1984

See the World by Rail

40 Years

of World Tours... 1999

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2013

continue the journey with us...

iii.

Est. 1974

Switzerland Tourism

Welcome to Our Special ‘Rail Holidays of the World’ Anniversary Year We are hugely excited about our 40th Anniversary Year and believe our 2014 escorted tour programme will fulfil your expectations - offering a choice of rail holidays that present variety and value for money. Whatever you are looking for, we hope you will find it and travel with us during our celebration year. GRAND TOURS – when the rail journey is an integral part of the holiday. We plan our Grand Tours around the destination,

culture, leisure and unforgettable scenic routes. We strive to offer something special and 2014 plays host to three brand NEW UK ‘Grand’ tours covering Scotland, Wales and the West Country. In Europe we venture along the length of The Rhine and we push the boundaries into new territory by exploring the South Eastern European countries of Kosovo, Macedonia and Albania for the first time. Further afield we explore exotic Vietnam and venture around the Northern Hemisphere on our celebratory ‘Around the World’ tour to mark our Ruby Anniversary. CONNOISSEUR TOURS – refined tours that offer a mix of culture and leisure with a healthy dose of rich and stimulating rail

content to entice the enthusiast.This year we investigate the railways of Northern England, explore the many transport elements of beautiful Salzburg and introduce to our brochure line-up a rail adventure to Eritrea to experience the ‘Darjeeling of Africa’. These holidays mirror our ‘Grand’ tours but provide the optional extras that uncover some wonderful transport treasures. SIGNATURE TOUR – for the independent train traveller who has a special rail journey in mind. This could include anything

from a 14-day planned itinerary, to destinations around the world, to a 5-day trip following in the footsteps of Michael Portillo’s ‘Great Continental Rail Journeys’. Our expert consultants can adapt an existing escorted tour to meet your needs or originate a unique rail holiday for individuals, couples and groups. Keep checking our website at www.ffestiniogtravel.com to see examples of our ‘Signature’ tours. Throughout Ffestiniog Travel’s 40-year journey we have remained loyal to our railway roots and continue to support the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways through the profit we make. We are fortunate to have a devoted, long-standing team of travel consultants and enthusiastic tour leaders who are creative and specialists in rail travel. Having a dedicated ‘Ticket Only’ department ensures we are an authority on rail routes and rail operators in the UK, Europe and worldwide. For added assurance, as members of AITO, holding an ATOL licence, we provide a level of security and financial protection to give you extra piece of mind when travelling with us. We are grateful to our faithful followers, the customers that have been travelling with us for many years, some annually. We hope you return again to share this special year with us and we welcome new travellers who wish to experience unforgettable rail journeys. A special acknowledgement will go out to all those who holiday with use during 2014 in recognition of our special milestone and so I have great pleasure in inviting you to continue our journey with us…….

Maria Cook General Manager

Contents Christmas Tours

Christmas Market Munich & Signature UK Markets . . . . . Christmas & New Year in Switzerland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

World Tours 1 . . . . . . . . . . .2

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UK Tours GRAND TOURS Orcadian 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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West Country Wanderings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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Wales: From North to South . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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CONNOISSEUR TOURS FR ‘Behind the Scenes’ & The ‘Snowdonian’ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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Railways of the North . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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European Tours

GRAND TOURS Around the World Anniversary Tour . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . New England in the Fall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Explore Vietnam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mexico’s Copper Canyon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CONNOISSEUR TOURS Indian Hill Railways . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mountains, Trains and a Touch of the Old West – USA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Eritrea & Cairo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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ADVANCE NOTICE FOR . . . . . . . . . . . . (NEW) . . . . 45 INDIA & NEW ZEALAND 2015 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 WEEKEND CITY BREAKS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

GRAND TOURS

SIGNATURE TOURS

Snow on the Alps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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Northern Lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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SPECIAL INTEREST TOURS

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Pushing the Boundaries – Kosovo, Macedonia & Albania . . . . . 11/12

SPECIALIST OPERATOR TO ROMANIA

Slovakia – Romantic Mountains and Ancient Towns . . . . . . The Rhine – from Sea to Source

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TICKET ONLY

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THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53/54

Rural Romania – Where Time Stands Still . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Swiss Alpine Holiday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Green Hills of Spain and La Rhune . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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CONNOISSEUR TOURS Harz Autumn & Winter Galas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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Railways & War - Northern France . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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Behind the Scenes in Salzburgerland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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The Far West of Ireland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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Narrow Gauge Steam in Eastern Germany . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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Discover Poland ‘The Heart of Europe’ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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QUALITY CHARTER & SPECIAL BOOKING CONDITIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55 Booking Form . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Booking Conditions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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Rail Holidays of the World Our tour leaders are expert in researching destinations, rail journeys and sightseeing opportunities to create a rail holiday experience that fulfils all expectations. As an AITO member we offer quality, expertise, peace of mind and financial protection.

Ffestiniog Travel is owned by a Charitable Trust and profits go to support the world famous Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways. Llanberis Lake Railway

Christmas Market - Munich Thursday 28 November to Thursday 5 December 2013

CHRISTMAS TOURS

Our regular Christmas Market tour this year ventures east to the state capital of Bavaria. The Christmas Markets in Munich have been held in the Marienplatz since the 14th Century and visitors can expect unique Bavarian gifts in addition to the Lebkuchen (Gingerbread) and Glühwein (Mulled wine) favoured by those feeling the cold. Day 1 - Aachen We take a lunchtime Eurostar from London St. Pancras to Brussels where we connect to a high speed train to Aachen. Our hotel is a short walk away and dinner here is included. Day 2 - Bavaria and Munich Arrive Munich late afternoon. Our hotel is within the station building with tram and underground stops conveniently outside the front door. Included with the hotel room key is a public transport pass that will give us unlimited travel on the local transport in and around Munich for the duration of our stay. Day 3 - Bayerisch Eisenstein Optional excursion to Bayerisch Eisenstein. This village straddles the German/Czech Republic border and the railway station is actually located in both countries, being split down the centre by the border! A short walk from the station is a railway museum located in a 7 track roundhouse dating from 1877. Day 4 - Christmas Markets Free day to explore Munich and its Christmas

Markets. The main market is located in the city centre’s Marienplatz. Day 5 - Garmisch and the Zugspitz Optional excursion to Garmisch-Partenkirchen. From Garmisch we take the rack railway up Germany’s highest mountain, the Zugspitz. Day 6 - Salzburg Our German InterRail pass will allow us to visit Salzburg in Austria. The Christmas Market here traces its roots back to the 15th Century and is one of the largest in Austria. Day 7 - Königswinter To Cologne and our final overnight stop in Königswinter. Nestled between the Rhine and the Siebengebirge range (Seven Mountains), Königswinter is a summer tourist resort and our hotel for the night stands proudly on the river bank. Day 8 - Homeward Bound A morning departure by regional train to Cologne and high speed train to Brussels for Eurostar service to London.

UK Signature Christmas Market Mini - Breaks

York - 28 November to 1 December 2013 York’s Christmas Markets and Winter Wonderland are located on the outskirts of York, with a bus park & ride service from York centre. Its wooden chalets, ice rink, reindeer, gifts & food and many more attract thousands of people every year. Spend 3 nights exploring historic York and enjoy its Winter Wonderland and Christmas Markets.

Bath - 28 November to 15 December 2013 For 18 days, the quaint streets and square between the stunning Bath Abbey and the internationally renowned Roman Baths are transformed into a Christmas shopper’s haven – Bath Christmas Market. More than 150 traditional wooden chalets adorn the streets; each one offering unique, handmade and unusual gifts, decorations and food items – everything you will need for the perfect Christmas celebration.

Tel: 01766 772030

Edinburgh - 22 November to 5 January 2014 Edinburgh has several different Christmas Markets, from traditional German Markets, Highland Village Markets to Farmer’s Markets. Attractions include special ‘light nights’ with fireworks, an ice rink, Edinburgh big wheel and a 3D cinema. Spend 3 nights in Edinburgh to explore all these festive events, Cardiff - 14 November to 23 December 2013 Cardiff ’s St John’s Church provides the atmospheric back-drop for the Welsh capital’s Christmas Markets with festive foods, gifts and decorations sold from wooden chalets lined along the street. A 3-night stay gives you plenty of time to explore this great city.

www.ffestiniogtravel.com

PRICES per person: Escorted Holiday: £1,215 Single Room Supplement: £235 Deposit for this Holiday: £100 Rates of exchange used are as at 1st May 2013 Includes: ■

Second class rail travel throughout

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InterRail Pass for Germany Public transport ticket for Munich ■ Accommodation in good quality hotels on a bed and breakfast basis plus one evening meal ■ Services of a tour leader from London and throughout the tour, including the optional excursions ■

Lincoln - 5 December to 8 December 2013 Lincoln’s medieval square between the impressive Norman Castle and magnificent gothic cathedral is the perfect backdrop for a Christmas Market. Enjoy cultural entertainment and stroll around over 250 stalls nestled within the medieval square and surrounding area. A traditional, high quality event for all the family.. PRICES per person: Bath York Edinburgh Cardiff Lincoln

from £350 from £240 from £205 from £215 from £170

Rail trav.el can be arranged from/to home railway stations at an additional cost. Extra sightseeing attractions in each city can also be included at additional cost Includes: ■

3 night’s accommodation on B&B basis (accommodation may vary, all subject to availability) ■ Entry into the following – Roman Baths, Bath Abbey (Bath); York Winter Wonderland, York Minster and Tower (York); Edinburgh Castle (Edinburgh); Cardiff Castle, (Cardiff); Lincoln Castle, Lincoln Cathedral (Lincoln)

Christmas and New Year in Switzerland Friday 20 December 2013 to Thursday 2 January 2014 Celebrate the festive season in the idyllic setting of Switzerland in winter. Your travel pass allows you the freedom to do as you wish during the day whilst having the company of fellow travellers.

CHRISTMAS TOURS

Day 1 - To Basle Leaving from London St Pancras on a midmorning Eurostar to Paris, then by TGV to Basle for an overnight stay. Standard class travel with reserved seats.

Days 10 and 11 - Leisure Time With your Swiss Pass you can explore the numerous branch lines in the area. There will be an optional excursion offered each day again dependent on the wishes of the group and the weather.

Day 13 - A Brand New Year! A chance to celebrate your last full day in this wonderful setting. Again there will be an optional excursion on offer. Day 14 - To London Leave after an early breakfast to Zürich where we join the TGV to Paris. In Paris we connect with the Eurostar service to London St Pancras arriving back late afternoon. Standard class travel with reserved seats from Zurich.

Day 12 - New Year’s Eve Whilst today is nominally a free day we have planned that your tour leader will lead a trip to St Moritz using the famous Rhaetian Railways. We have arranged to have dinner in the dining car on the train between St Moritz and Chur on the return journey. A three course meal is included but drinks are extra.

Tel: 01766 772030

www.ffestiniogtravel.com

swiss-image.ch/Christof Sonderegger

Day 9 - Glacier Express Today we travel via the Glacier Express to Chur, a scenic journey at any time of the year! From Chur we continue to Rapperswil for a 5-night stay on a bed and breakfast basis. Hotel Speer is situated very conveniently opposite the station. We include dinner on New Year’s Day at a nearby restaurant.

Swiss Travel System

Days 3 to 8 - Leisure Time Free days based in Wilderswil with your first class Swiss Pass. The hotel is situated in the centre of the village about seven minutes walk from the station. There is also a regular bus service from outside the hotel direct to Interlaken West station. Your pass covers trains, trams and post buses so there is something for everyone. Your experienced tour leader will offer an optional excursion each day but the day to day plan will depend on the wishes of the group and the weather. Our comprehensive excursion list will be provided to give you some suggestions and if you wish to be independent your tour leader will be happy to help with timings and planning.

Switzerland Travel Centre

Day 2 - Bernese Oberland A free morning in Basle to explore this wonderful city. The extensive tram network is the way to get around and your travel pass is valid for this. When we leave in the early afternoon to Wilderswil, in the Bernese Oberland region, we will be travelling in first class using our Swiss Pass. The Hotel Bären is where we have a 7-night stay on half board and we will be made very welcome. There is also a special evening buffet included on Christmas Eve.

PRICES per person: Escorted holiday: Single room supplement: Discount for two travelling together: Deposit for this holiday:

£2,230 £286 £80 £100

Rates of exchange used are as at 1st May 2013 Includes: ■ ■

■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

Standard class travel to and from Switzerland First class Swiss Pass for unlimited travel on trains, postbuses, lake steamers, and many city buses and trams Glacier Express supplement Transfers in Paris Accommodation in good centrally located hotels on a bed & breakfast basis Dinners in Wilderswil New Year’s Eve dinner on the train New Year’s Day dinner in Rapperswil Services of a tour leader from London and throughout the tour 2.

Orcadian 2 – Greatest of British Railway Journeys

Est. 1974

Tuesday 1 July to Monday 14 July 2014 Inspired by the BBC TV travels of Michael Portillo, we sample Scotland’s “Highland” delights”, riding the spectacular “Kyle line” & “The Road to the Isles”, marvelling at the northern moors en route to Wick and Orkney, sailing on Loch Katrine with the steamer “Sir Walter Scott” and savouring Balmoral Castle on sublime Royal Deeside.

Day 1 - Welcome to Glasgow We enjoy a ‘Welcome Dinner’ on arrival when our tour leader will update us on travel plans and offer advice on how we might spend our free time. Overnight in Glasgow. Day 2 - A Morning at Leisure in Glasgow, with the Afternoon at Stirling Castle We have a free morning to explore this vibrant city where the excellent Transport Museum is highly recommended. A midday departure takes us to Stirling for an afternoon visit to the Castle to take in the “jewel” of the Stewart Court, see the Royal Apartments & Chapel, garden and much more. Overnight in Stirling.

Day 3 - Loch Katrine and on to Aberdeen This morning we have a memorable sail on Loch Katrine aboard the steam ship “Sir Walter Scott”, before heading north to the granite city of Aberdeen for a 2-night stay.

Day 4 - Royal Deeside A full day excursion along Royal Deeside for a morning visit to Crathes Castle & Gardens, followed by an afternoon at Balmoral.

Day 8 - To the Naorth. Another spectacular train journey across the unbelievably beautiful Caithness wilderness, to the Pentland Firth and an overnight stay in Wick.

Day 5 - Inverness, Capital of the Highlands We take the former Great North of Scotland line to Inverness for a 3-night stay. In the afternoon we join the “Nessie” search by taking a cruise on Loch Ness.

Day 9 - John O’Groats and on to Orkney A mid-morning departure by road takes us to the ferry terminal at Scrabster via a photographic stop at John O’Groats. An early afternoon sailing sees us into our Kirkwall hotel by late afternoon. Still plenty of time to visit the Cathedral or sample alternative spiritual uplifting at the nearby Highland Park Distillery! 2-night stay.

Day 6 - Kyle of Lochalsh Today we take the stunningly spectacular train ride to Kyle of Lochalsh, a truly “world class route”! There is a 2 hour stay over lunchtime. Day 7 - The Road to the Isles Today we have a full day excursion to Fort William for a cruise on Loch Linnhe, followed by an afternoon on the “Jacobite” steam train to Mallaig. Another truly “world class” rail journey!

Day 10 - Orkney Tour A full day’s tour of the “mainland” taking in Scara Brae, Skail House, Ring of Brodgar, Churchill’s “barrier ships”, the Italian Chapel and much more.

UK GRAND TOURS Day 11 - To the Grampians Another delightful journey, first by ferry to Thurso, then train via Inverness for an early evening arrival in Aviemore. Day12 - The Highland “Mainline” to Edinburgh This morning we take a return journey on the Strathspey Railway to Broomhill in the heart of “Osprey” country. After a lunch break in Aviemore, we take the early afternoon train direct to Edinburgh, our final overnight stay. There will be a ‘Farewell Dinner’ in our hotel. Day 13 - Edinburgh A day at leisure in Edinburgh. Optional visits include the Castle, former royal yacht ‘Britannia’ or the excellent Botanical Gardens. Day 14 - Homeward Bound Travel home from Edinburgh independently. PRICES per person: Escorted holiday:

£2,295

Single room supplement:

£575

Deposit for this holiday:

£100

Includes:

Tel: 01766 772030

www.ffestiniogtravel.com

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Rail travel in standard class throughout the tour

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Accommodation in good quality hotels on a dinner, bed and breakfast basis

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Welcome and Farewell Dinners

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Excursions in Orkney, the Jacobite Steam Train from Fort William to Mallaig, Loch Ness Experience, Balmoral, Crathes and Stirling Castles, a glass museum and a distillery or three!

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Services of a tour leader from Glasgow and throughout the tour 4.

West Country Wanderings Monday 12 May to Wednesday 21 May 2014 Inspired by the BBC TV travels of Michael Portillo, this tour offers a charming mix of rail travel, river cruises, renowned gardens and stunning scenery. It is the ideal way to discover the beauty of Britain’s West Country. Day 6 - Jurassic Coast Cruise We travel by rail to Exmouth, for a mid morning sail along the Jurassic coast with cream teas served on board. Once back on dry land, there will be some free time to grab some lunch and explore Exmouth. After lunch we board the Starcross ferry to cross the Exe. On arrival in Starcross we travel back to Exeter by rail. Day 7 - The ‘Round Robin’ Enjoy the scenic journey from Exeter to Paignton, where we board the ‘Dartmouth Steam Railway’ down to Kingswear. We then take the short ferry crossing over to Dartmouth. After time to explore and a lunch break, we take the boat cruise along the River Dart to Totnes, passing beautiful villages such as Dittisham and Galmpton – of Agatha Christie fame. There will be some free time in Totnes before we head back to Exeter by rail. Day 1 - Welcome We meet our tour leader in Taunton, for our overnight stay. A special ‘Welcome Dinner’ has been arranged for this evening. Day 2 - West Somerset Railway and Dunster Castle This morning we make a single journey on the ‘West Somerset Railway’ to Minehead. After lunch we transfer to Dunster Castle for a leisurely afternoon exploring the castle grounds and gardens, before continuing to Ilfracombe, our home for the next 2 nights. Day 3 - Lynton & Barnstaple Railway and Dartington Crystal We depart this morning for the ‘Lynton & Barnstaple Railway’ and a tour of their workshops. Our coach will then take us on to Torrington in time for a lunch stop at the famous ‘Puffing Billy’ restaurant. This afternoon we visit Dartington

Crystal where we will have a guided tour before returning to Ilfracombe. Day 4 - Onwards to Exeter We travel to Lynton where we board the funicular railway down to Lynmouth, the port devastated by the floods of 1952. Our coach will meet us in Lynmouth to transfer us to Barnstaple station for the First Great Western service to Exeter. Enjoy the remainder of the afternoon at leisure. Day 5 - South Devon Railway Travel by main line rail from Exeter to Totnes. A short walk from the station is the ‘South Devon Railway’, where we board the train to Buckfastleigh. Lunch will be provided on arrival and also a tour of their workshop. Enjoy some free time in the area before re-boarding the last train back to Totnes, where we travel by main line rail back to Exeter.

Day 8 - Eden Project This morning we travel again by rail to St. Austell. The afternoon will be at leisure at the aweinspiring Eden Project where lunch vouchers will be provided. Day 9 - Bodmin & Wenford Railway and the Lost Gardens of Heligan We make a return journey on the ‘Bodmin & Wenford Railway’, before heading to Padstow, the former terminus of “The Atlantic Coast Express”. In Padstow, there will be free time to explore the area and have lunch before we continue to Mevagissey for the Lost Gardens of Heligan. This evening a ‘Farewell Dinner’ has been arranged at the hotel. Day 10 - Journey home We say our farewells and check-out of the hotel. PRICES per person: Escorted Holiday: £1,140 Single room supplement: £205 Deposit: £100 Includes:

Tel: 01766 772030

www.ffestiniogtravel.com

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Accommodation in good quality hotels on bed and breakfast basis

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All transfers as stated

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All main line rail as stated travelling in standard class

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All travel on steam and tourist railways as stated

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All tours, excursions, cruises and admissions as outlined

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2 Dinners, 2 Lunches, 1 Cream Tea

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Services of a tour leader throughout the tour

Wales: From North to South Friday 12 September to Wednesday 24 September 2014

Day 2 - Welsh Highland Railway (WHR) Morning transfer to Dinas for a tour of the works before boarding the WHR to Porthmadog. We take the short walk down Porthmadog high street to the Welsh Highland Heritage Railway for a ride, shed visit and buffet lunch before being transferred back to the hotel. Day 3 - Snowdon Mountain Railway Coach to Llanberis where we take the early bird train to the summit of Snowdon (weather permitting). A buffet lunch will follow at the National Slate Museum before we board the Llanberis Lake Railway. Day 4 - Ffestiniog Railway (FR) Transfer to Porthmadog and take the FR to Boston Lodge Halt for a tour of the Engineering Workshops, the world’s oldest railway workshop complex. We continue our journey on the FR to Blaenau Ffestiniog. After lunch, we return by train to Porthmadog to enjoy some free time before heading back to the hotel.

Day 7 - Powis Castle & Welshpool and Llanfair Railway Today we visit Powis Castle & Gardens where lunch will be provided. We later take the Welshpool & Llanfair Railway before continuing by road to Aberystwyth, our home for the next 2 nights.

Day 11 - Pontypool & Blaenavon Railway and Caerphilly Castle This morning we visit the Pontypool & Blaenavon Railway before heading to the famous Caerphilly Castle.

Day 8 - Vale of Rheidol Railway Our journey takes us between Aberystwyth and Devil’s Bridge, reaching a height of over 600ft, affording superb views of the Rheidol Valley. Afternoon at leisure.

Day 12 - St Fagans and Cardiff Castle Morning visit to another of Wales’s National History Museums – St Fagans. Transfer back into the Capital for a tour of Cardiff Castle, before this evening’s ‘Farewell Dinner’.

Day 9 - Gwili Railway This morning we start our journey to the Capital, stopping en route to travel on the Gwili Railway, which will include a tour of the workshops and engine yard. Onward to Cardiff for a 4-night stay. Day 10 - Brecon Mountain Railway Morning transfer to the Brecon Mountain

Day 5 - Portmeirion and Bala Lake Railway Morning transfer to the Italianate village of Portmeirion where we will have a guided tour. A packed lunch will be provided by a local delicatessen. En route we stop at the Bala Lake Railway before we continue onwards to Llangollen for a 2-night stay. Day 6 - Aqueduct Cruise and Llangollen Railway Enjoy a trip on a canal boat across the famous Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with lunch served onboard. This afternoon we will board the Llangollen Railway for a return journey.

Tel: 01766 772030

Railway, where we will travel behind a vintage steam locomotive through beautiful scenery into the Brecon Beacons National Park.

www.ffestiniogtravel.com

Day 13 - Homeward Bound We say our goodbyes before departing for the journey home.

Day 1 - Welcome We meet in Caernarfon at the Celtic Royal Hotel for a 2-night stay. This evening enjoy a ‘Welcome Dinner’.

GRAND TOURS

Roy Broomhead

CADW, Welsh Government - Crown ©

This tour begins its journey through the stunning Snowdonia National Park and travels down the coast to Wales’s capital Cardiff. Visit many of Wales’s famous indepentent railways, castles and museums along the way.

PRICES per person: Escorted Holiday: Single Room Supplement: Deposit for the Holiday:

£1,415 £310 £100

Includes: ■

Accommodation in good quality hotels on a bed and breakfast basis

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4 Dinners, 11 Lunches

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All transfers as stated

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All railway Journeys as specified

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All tours, cruises, excursions and admissions as specified.

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Charter Train on the Pontypool & Blaenavon Railway

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Services of a tour leader throughout the tour 6.

Ffestiniog Railway ‘Behind the Scenes’ Thursday 5 June to Monday 9 June also Friday 17 October to Tuesday 21 October 2014

Day 1 - Arrive Beddgelert Check into the Royal Goat Hotel, our base for the next 4 nights. This evening we have a group welcome dinner served in the hotel. Day 2 - Ffestiniog Railway Coach transfer from our hotel to Boston Lodge for an in depth, behind the scenes tour of the works with access to many areas not usually open to the public. View loco preparation and take a tour of the Erecting Shop, Drawing Office, Stores, Running Shed, Old Loco Shed, and Carriage Works. Later we board the train and make a return trip on the Ffestiniog Railway to Blaenau Ffestiniog, returning back to Porthmadog. A sandwich lunch is included today. Our coach will return to Beddgelert in the late afternoon allowing a few hours to take in the harbour town. Day 3 - Behind the Scenes Special Train A private steam hauled two-coach train will provide a rare insight into the FR with stops at Minffordd Yard and the Slate Sheds, lonely Rhiw Goch signalbox and loop. We also take our train along the original ‘Dinas’, branch at Blaenau

Ffestiniog and to Glan y Pwll Sheds, Dduallt with its spiral and we go behind the scenes at Tan y Bwlch.There will be several photo opportunities not usually available en route at Rhiw Goch and Dduallt. We return via Porthmadog over the ‘Crosstown link’, stopping at Snowdon Mill, the former junction of the Gorseddau Tramway and Pont Croesor. The train continues to Beddgelert and we have the option of alighting at Nantmor, walking back along the Fisherman’s Path and taking photos of our train’s ECS working to Boston Lodge. A sandwich lunch will be provided. Day 4 - Welsh Highland Railway Today we take the Welsh Highland Railway from Beddgelert, climbing through the forest and over the railway’s highest peak at Pitts Head. On arrival in Dinas you have an option of a guided tour of the locomotive workshops or continuing on to Caernarfon to explore the town. A sandwich lunch is included today and after returning to Beddgelert in the evening we have a farewell dinner served in the hotel restaurant. Day 5 - Travel Home Independently.

The ‘Snowdonian’

Dan May

CONNOISSEUR TOURS

Now in its third year, this tour continues to attract those who covet the unique opportunity of exploring the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways and gaining an insight into normally unseen aspects of these preserved railways.

PRICES per person: Escorted holiday: Single room supplement: Deposit for this holiday:

£625 £45 £100

Includes: ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

Accommodation at The Royal Goat Hotel on a bed and breakfast basis Guided tours as stated Return journeys in 3rd class on the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways Special Train as detailed Three sandwich lunches and two dinners Transfers as stated Services of a tour leader throughout the holiday

IMPORTANT NOTE - Operational difficulties or requirements and other restrictions may limit or curtail some of the places to be visited but we do undertake to provide a unique insight unavailable to normal passengers or Society members.The special on Day 3 is expected to be steam hauled, however in certain circumstances a diesel may be used if steam traction is unavailable for any reason. Please note that as the railways’ timetables are yet to be published, the days may be switched to accommodate our visit.

Friday 11 April to Sunday 13 April 2014 The ‘Snowdonian’ steam train’s 80-mile journey along 2ft narrow gauge track through North Wales’s finest countryside is now a popular, annual event following the overwhelming success of its inaugural run in 2011 to celebrate the completion of the Welsh Highland Railway extension. This year’s ‘Snowdonian’ journey marks another special milestone when it becomes one of the first passenger trains to depart from Harbour Station’s new platform in Porthmadog! Day 1 - Boston Lodge On arrival you will meet for an evening tour of Ffestiniog Railway’s famous Boston Lodge Works - the world’s oldest railway workshop complex. You will travel to the works by diesel train connection from Harbour Station in Porthmadog followed by a meal at Spooners Restaurant.

Day 3 - Journey Home Some free time to explore the surrounding area before making your way home.

Day 2 - All Aboard the ‘Snowdonian’ You board the ‘Snowdonian’, an annual special train, and depart Porthmadog at 0845. Bacon baps will be served on departure and there will be a buffet lunch at Beddgelert together with tea and scones on departure from Caernarfon, all included in the price. Hot and cold beverages and snacks will be available from the buffet car throughout the journey. This will be one of the very first chances to depart from the brand new platform at Porthmadog. There will be plenty of photo opportunities available and also the chance to win a painting by Jonathan Clay.

Tel: 01766 772030

www.ffestiniogtravel.com

PRICES per person:

Based on Third Class Seats £395 Based on Observation Seats £450 Based on First Class Seats £515 (includes Bucks Fizz and Smoked Salmon breakfast on train) Single room supplement: £30 Observation and First Class seats are subject to availability at the time of booking. * We can arrange return rail tickets from your home station to Porthmadog, please contact us for details and prices. It is also possible to add additional nights either pre or post-tour * Includes: ■ ■ ■

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Accommodation for 2 nights at the Royal Goat Hotel in Beddgelert on B&B basis Transport to and from and tour of Boston Lodge Return rail travel aboard the ‘Snowdonian’ from Porthmadog - Caernarfon - Beddgelert – Blaenau Ffestiniog - Porthmadog in 3rd class with refreshments as indicated above Evening meal at Spooners and Farewell Dinner at the Hotel Snowdonian Souvenir Services of a Ffestiniog Travel Tour Leader

Friday 12 September to Friday 19 September 2014

Day 1 - Leeds and Liverpool Canal We meet at the Rendezvous Hotel in Skipton for a buffet lunch followed by an afternoon boat trip on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal through the picturesque countryside and Farnhill Woods. Day 2 - Embsay & Bolton Abbey Steam Railway Today we have some free time in Skipton to explore the “Gateway to the Dales” and its bustling market, medieval castle, canal and thriving shops, pubs and cafes. We also visit the Embsay & Bolton Abbey Railway to ride through the magnificent Yorkshire Dales scenery. Day 3 - Keighley and Worth Valley Railway An all day visit to the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway including a guided tour of the Museum of Rail Travel at Ingrow as well as the engine sheds and workshops. We travel through the “Brontë landscape” on “The Railway Children’s Railway”. Day 4 - Settle and Carlisle A leisurely start this morning before taking the train north over the Settle and Carlisle line through the remote Yorkshire Dales. We change trains in Carlisle and continue east along the Tyne Valley line, also known as the Hadrian’s Wall line, Britain’s first coast to coast railway stretching across England’s narrowest point. Overnight in Durham. Day 5 - Beamish Open Air Museum We visit the “Living Museum of the North” today. The museum stands in 300 acres of beautiful County Durham countryside and tells the story of Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian life in Northern England. Pockerley Waggonway gives a flavour of rail travel in the early 1800s, while Rowley Station is a typical Edwardian country station. We have an exclusive behind the scenes tour of the Waggonway and railway station. The fleet of beautifully restored trams and replica bus will help us explore this living museum.

Tel: 01766 772030

Day 6 - Durham A morning free to explore the historic city of Durham. During the afternoon we travel south east using the Esk Valley line through the Yorkshire Moors to Whitby. Don’t forget to sample some fantastic fish and chips from one of the many restaurants in Whitby. Day 7 - North Yorkshire Moors Railway Today we visit the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, taking the full day to savour the magnificent steam engines, beautiful rural stations and smartly uniformed staff. We will be able to break our journey at Goathland, which you may recognise as the bewitching Hogsmeade Station from the first Harry Potter film or as Aidensfield from ITV’s Heartbeat. We end the day with a Farewell Dinner. Day 8 - Goodbye We say our goodbyes in Whitby and travel home independently. Alternatively join an optional extension and travel by rail to York Day 9 - York Railway Museum Discover 300 years of history and 1,000,000 objects that changed the world! Explore the giant halls full of engines and railway legends, the world’s fastest steam locomotive, and the UK’s most majestic collection of royal carriages.Visit the warehouse full of curious railway treasures and see the engineers at work on the locomotives. Day 10 - Final goodbye Travel home from York independently.

www.ffestiniogtravel.com

Embsay and Bolton Abbey Steam Railway

CONNOISSEUR TOURS

The North of England boasts famous steam railways and with beautiful countryside as the backdrop it boasts some of the most scenic parts of the English railway network. This week long tour visits three preserved railways and also journeys on the Settle and Carlisle route through remote regions of the Yorkshire Dales and North Pennines.

Railways of the North

PRICES per person: Escorted holiday: Single room supplement: Deposit for this holiday:

£850 £155 £100

Optional Extension to York PRICE per person Escorted holiday: Single room supplement: Includes:

£210 £80

■ Rail

travel as specified in standard class rail journeys as specified on the following railways: Embsay & Bolton Abbey Steam Railway, Keighley & Worth Valley Railway and North Yorkshire Moors Railway ■ Skippered boat trip on Leeds and Liverpool Canal ■ Welcome Dinner in Skipton and Farewell Dinner in Whitby ■ Accommodation in good standard hotels on a bed and breakfast basis ■ All excursions and admission prices as listed ■ Services of a tour leader from Skipton and throughout the tour ■ Preserved

Europe

Snow on the Alps

Est. 1974

Tuesday 11 February to Thursday 20 February 2014

Swiss Travel Systems

GRAND TOURS

You are invited to join our annual holiday to the Swiss Alps. Majestic mountain scenery in winter sets the scene for an unforgettable experience.

Day 1 - Geneva We depart on Eurostar mid-morning from London St Pancras to Paris, then by TGV to Geneva for an overnight stay. Standard class travel with reserved seats.

Days 3 and 4 - Leisure Time Free time based in Brig. Your experienced tour leader will be available to offer an optional excursion each day. If you prefer to be independent they will be happy to help with times and planning. There are several narrow gauge branch lines nearby which are worth a visit, likewise the car-free resort of Zermatt is delightful.

Switzerland Tourism

Day 2 - Rhône Valley Free time in Geneva until we leave midafternoon to travel to Brig. The city is often dismissed as an administrative centre for many world famous organisations but it is a gem in its own right. Take time to explore the compact old town area as well as sampling the extensive tram network. When we leave by train for Brig we will be using our first class travel pass which is valid on trains, postbuses, lake steamers and many city buses and trams. On arrival into Brig we transfer to our hotel for a 3-night stay on a bed and breakfast basis.

Day 8 - At Leisure Again A second day at leisure and again, there will be the offer of an optional excursion. You can mingle with skiers in the chic resorts of Klosters and Davos or travel further afield using your travel pass. The choice is yours and your tour leader is on hand to help with planning.

Day 6 - Leisure Time A free day allowing you the chance to explore Chur and the surrounding area using the UNESCO World Heritage Rhaetian Railways network. Your tour leader will again offer an excursion every day dependent on the wishes of the group and the weather. Day 7 - Over the Alps on the Bernina Express Today we offer a full day excursion from Chur to Tirano travelling on the Bernina Express. This scenic route with its spirals and tunnels and reaching an altitude of more than 2000m is one of the highlights of this tour. Return by the same route.

Day 5 - To Graubünden Transfer by Centovalli line to Locarno where we have time for lunch. This line is one of the most scenic in Switzerland and takes its name from the number of side valleys along the route requiring bridges and viaducts to span them. Leaving Locarno we travel by train to Bellinzona before taking the San Bernardino postbus service to Chur. We stay in Chur for 4 nights on a bed and breakfast basis.

Tel: 01766 772030

www.ffestiniogtravel.com

Day 9 - To Basle We leave Chur after breakfast for the short journey to Basle. Once we have checked in to the hotel for an overnight stay with breakfast included, the rest of the day is your own. Basle is well placed to take a short excursion into the Jura region. As an alternative you can explore the city itself using the extensive tram network to get around. Day 10 - Au Revoir! Taking the early morning direct TGV service from Basle to Paris we make a connection with the Eurostar service to London St Pancras, arriving back early afternoon. PRICES per person: Escorted holiday: £1,680 Single room supplement: £176 Discount for two travelling together: £65 Deposit for this holiday: £100 Rates of exchange used are as at 1st May 2013 Includes: ■ ■

■ ■ ■ ■

Standard class travel to and from Switzerland First class Swiss Pass for unlimited travel on trains, postbuses, lake steamers and many city buses and trams Transfers in Paris Bernina Express supplement Accommodation in good centrally located hotels on a bed & breakfast basis Services of a tour leader from London and throughout the tour

Europe

Northern Lights

Tuesday 18 February to Thursday 27 February 2014

Sweden. A visit to the port of Narvik to watch this enormous industrial machine at work is a unique and enthralling experience. You may also want to visit the War Museum for an insight into the inspirational and heroic actions of the Nordic people.

Day 1 - London to Oslo Fly from London to Oslo and transfer to a centrally located hotel.

comfortable ferry for an overnight sailing to Tromsø where we once again have a chance to view the magnificent Northern Lights.

Day 2 - Heading North to Trondheim A scenic rail journey through the Gudbrandsdal valley, crossing the stunning Dovrefjell mountain plateau and National Park to Trondheim. An afternoon arrival allows time to explore this picturesque city. The main building in this historic town is the magnificent Nidaros Cathedral.

Days 6 and 7 - Tromsø at Leisure A 2-night stay at Tromsø. Surrounded by fjords and forests it offers a fascinating insight to Norwegian culture. You are free to explore this exciting University City, home to many absorbing museums, such as the Polar Museum and a cathedral. An optional evening excursion is available by cable car to Mount Storsteinen (421m), offering fantastic views whilst enjoying a sumptuous dinner in the mountain top restaurant.

Day 3 - Across the Arctic Circle Continuing north the scenery changes from breath-taking fjords to wondrous mountain passes - the photographic opportunities appear limitless from the comfort of the train. Experience the wonder of crossing the Arctic Circle, the summit of the line, then drop down to the coastal port of Bodo. Day 4 - Ferry to the Lofoten Islands A morning at leisure before setting sail on a remarkable journey to the Lofoten Islands. We take a late night guided walk to ‘Linken’, a view point above Svolvær to witness the most awe inspiring natural phenomenon known as the ‘Aurora Borealis’

Day 8 - By Road to Narvik This morning our tour continues by road to Narvik, giving you an opportunity to marvel at the unfolding scenery. Narvik has a vital role as the terminus of the iron ore rail route from

Day 5 - Discover Lofoten and Henningsvær Today we take a full day coach excursion to enjoy the beauty of the islands. Lunch is held at the Lofotr Viking Museum, an amazing insight into life during the Viking era. After lunch we continue to the charming coastal fishing port of Henningsvær, referred to as the Venice of the North, where magical waterways criss-cross the town. Dinner is taken prior to boarding our

Day 9 - By Train to Kiruna After a leisurely breakfast we depart by train for Kiruna. The Ofoten Railway is a stupendous journey, winding its way through vivid and scenic landscapes. We spend our last night in Sweden in Kiruna so it is fitting that our final afternoon excursion is to the famous Jukkajarvi Ice Hotel, where we can enjoy an iced cocktail in the amazing sculptured bar, made entirely of ice each year. Return to the hotel for a Farewell Dinner. Day 10 - Return to London Morning at leisure before transferring to the airport for our flight home, via Stockholm. NB. The Northern Lights are a natural phenomenon and therefore sightings cannot be guaranteed. We will be in the best place at the best time. PRICES per person: Escorted holiday: £2,650 Single room supplement: £495 Deposit for this holiday: £200 Rates of exchange used are as at 1st May 2013 Includes: ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

Tel: 01766 772030

www.ffestiniogtravel.com

GRAND TOURS

Terje Rakke (Lofoten Vinter)

A captivating tour of an ancient and enigmatic land where the wonders of nature and breath-taking scenery mirror centuries of culture and tradition.

Return flights in Economy Class by scheduled airline Standard class rail travel as specified Ferry Bodo to Svolvær includes Dinner Standard Cabin accommodation on board ferry Svolvær to Tromsø includes all meals Hotel accommodation in minimum 3* hotels with breakfasts Lunch & Dinner on Day 5 Farewell dinner on Day 9 Excursions detailed on Days 4, 5 and 9 Private transport by road Tromsø to Narvik All transfers between airport, hotels and railway stations Services of an experienced tour leader from London and throughout the tour 10.

Pushing the Boundaries Kosovo, Macedonia and Albania Est. 1974

Wednesday 7 May to Monday 19 May 2014 Our holidays to the Balkans have been a regular feature of our programme for many years and we have introduced new destinations as fast as the political situation in former Yugoslavia would allow. With Kosovo’s independence finally recognised by the majority of UN states in late 2012, the way is now open to complete our jigsaw of this beautiful area.

Day 1 - Via Munich to Pristina Flight from London Heathrow Airport via Munich to Pristina, capital of Kosovo. Transfer to our four star hotel in the centre of the city. The first thing that strikes us is how friendly the people are and how grateful they are that we are visiting their country to help their fledgling economy. Day 2 - Prizren and the Sharri Mountains Full day tour by road with English speaking guide to Prizren, close to the Albanian border – a day to unwind and enjoy the scenery. Prizren has a long history and is delightfully situated on the banks of a small river.

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Day 3 - Gračanica Monastery, Gazimestan and Peja Morning coach tour with English speaking guide to the historic Gracˇanica Monastery, founded in 1321 and still in use as a convent, also to Gazimestan. Afternoon train from Pristina to Peja, another riverside resort surrounded by the 9000ft high Rugova Mountains. Once again our hotel is central and at the start of the town’s pleasant traffic free zone.

Day 4 - Rugova Gorge Peja is the terminus of the rail line but the road winds up into the mountains towards the Montenegro and Albanian borders through some magnificent scenery. Today we have a short tour of Peja plus a coach trip to the Rugova Gorge, Decˇani Monastery and the small town of Gjakova. Day 5 - Return to Pristina After a free morning to stroll at leisure in Peja, we transfer to the station for the lunchtime train to Pristina, arriving mid-afternoon. It is a mere two or three minutes walk to the traffic free, tree lined boulevard that marks the city centre and here we will find numerous pavement cafés and restaurants. Day 6 - Onwards to Macedonia We have an early start today because the only train of the day to Skopje that doesn’t involve a long wait at the border goes at 0710! Trains within Kosovo are operated by the UN and so a change at the border is necessary. After a pleasantly scenic journey we arrive in Skopje,

Macedonia’s capital city, mid-morning and transfer to the hotel. The rest of the day is free. Our tour leader will arrange a short walk to show the layout of the city which, in our view, is one of Europe’s most beautiful. It was largely destroyed in a huge earthquake in 1963 but has been rebuilt in a neo classical-style with an abundance of green spaces, graceful bridges, statues and fountains. The city centre is less than ten minutes walk from our hotel and, across the river bridge lies the old quarter with its bazaar.

Day 11 - Relax by the Lake A full day to relax and take in the many sights which Lake Ohrid has to offer. Day 12 - Albania Albanian railways are totally isolated from the rest of Europe and we cross the border by road to Librazhd from where we catch the midday train to Tirana – another day of wonderful mountain scenery. Evening meal is included at our hotel today. Day 13 - Flight home via Munich Mid morning flight via Munich to Heathrow, arriving late afternoon.

Europe GRAND TOURS

Day 10 - Train and Coach to Ohrid We take the branch train to its upper terminus at Kicˇevo, then transfer to a coach for the final part of our journey to Lake Ohrid where we arrive around lunchtime. Ohrid is now both a Cultural and Natural World Heritage Site, one of only 28 sites on which UNESCO has bestowed this honour. Dating from before the 10th Century, the town’s lakeside position also makes it a prime tourist spot, though not internationally well known.

Although there are still peace-keeping forces in Kosovo, this holiday is perfectly safe. However it may not appeal to everybody as, apart from the hotels which are all of a good standard, there is little tourism infrastructure in Kosovo and none in Albania. You are advised to read the account of our research visit at www.ffestiniogtravel.com before signing up for this tour.

Day 7 - At Leisure in Skopje A free day in Skopje. Much of the city is traffic free and exploring on foot is relaxing and rewarding. Day 8 - Through the Mountains to Bitola Macedonia is a mountainous country and, leaving the city behind, we soon find ourselves in a stunning landscape of high mountains and wide open valleys. The train climbs steeply for much of the three and a half hour journey and, once again, we find a pleasant small town at the end of the line. Day 9 - Bitola City Tour Bitola, situated close to the border with Greece, has a long history dating back to Roman times. We have a short city tour before catching the train back to Skopje for our final evening in the capital.

Tel: 01766 772030

www.ffestiniogtravel.com

PRICES per person: Escorted holiday: £1,650 Single room supplement: £265 Deposit for this holiday: £200 Rates of exchange used are as at 1st August 2013. Includes: ■

Flights in Economy Class by scheduled airline Rail travel as specified ■ Other travel and transfers by private coach ■ Accommodation in good quality hotels on a bed and breakfast basis plus one evening meal in Tirana ■ Excursions as stated ■ Services of an experienced tour leader from London and throughout the tour ■ English speaking local guides where appropriate ■

12.

Slovakia – Romantic Mountains and Ancient Towns Est. 1974

Monday 9 June to Monday 23 June 2014

www.slovakia.travel/Daniela Foríšeková

Slovakia is one of the most beautiful but lesser known countries in Central Europe. There is an abundance of mountains, historic towns and unspoilt villages which we are sure will appeal to all.

Day 1 - To Cologne Mid-morning Eurostar from London St Pancras to Brussels then onward to Cologne for an overnight stay. Day 2 - Onwards to Prague Departing Cologne after breakfast we first travel to Berlin where we change trains. From here we continue to Prague for an overnight stay and welcome dinner. We meet our local guide who will be with us until the end of Day 12 and will give a short presentation to help us get the best from the tour. Day 3 - Into Slovakia We leave after breakfast on a direct train to Žilina, crossing the border at Horní Lidecˇ. Continuing via Vrútky we arrive into Banská Bystrica late afternoon. We will be based here for 4 nights on a bed and breakfast basis. Dinner is also included tonight.

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Day 4 - The National Park A full day excursion by train to Dedinky. We travel through the valley of the Hron River on a wonderfully scenic route.

Day 5 - The Forest Steam Railway at Cˇiernohronská Lying about 40km from Banská Bystrica we have a full day excursion to this narrow gauge line. A barbecue lunch is included. Day 6 - UNESCO Site We take the train to the historic town of Banská Stiavnica in the UNESCO Heritage area. As well as having time to explore the town, we will visit the open air mining museum and the mineralogy museum. Lunch is included. Day 7 - Into the Mountains Time to leave central Slovakia and head for the High Tatra Mountains which form the border between Slovakia and Poland. We take the very scenic horseshoe route via Vrútky then the electric main line to Poprad Tatry. From here one last short journey on the Elektricka tram will take us to our hotel in Stary Smokovec where we stay for 5 nights on a bed and breakfast basis. Day 8 - River Rafting No need to be concerned! This is a very sedate ride on a wooden raft with someone else

doing all the work. The Dunajec River forms the border with Poland and you should be able to travel virtually to the border point on the river. The water is not deep and there is no danger. Following the rafting experience, we will have a barbecue lunch. We return to Stary Smokovec via Kezmarok. In medieval times, Kezmarok was one of the most important towns and has a well preserved wooden church. Day 9 - Spisský Castle No visit to Slovakia would be complete without a visit to this breathtaking site, the largest castle ruin in central Europe. The walk up to the ruins itself is quite challenging and requires good strong footwear but even from down at road level it is a sight worth seeing. Combined with a visit to the town of Levocˇa with its Gothic town centre and the highest wooden altar in the world this is a memorable day out.Travel today is by private coach. Days 10 and 11 - Relax We have included in the cost of the holiday a rail pass for the Elektricka tram network so you can explore as little or as much as you wish for the next two days. Our local guide will offer an

Europe GRAND TOURS Matej Sanitrár

www.slovakia.travel/Alexander Vojc¨ek

www.slovakia.travel/Jaraslav Tomko www.slovakia.travel/Alexander Vojc¨ek

escorted excursion both days but those who wish to be independent can enjoy the funiculars and a cable car ride in the vicinity. Included is a return journey on the Hrebionek funicular operating from Starý Smokovec. With its large glazed sidewalls and roof, passengers get to enjoy the beauty of the High Tatra peaks.

Day 13 - Explore the City A free day to explore the city at leisure. A 1-day public transport ticket is included in the holiday to help you get around. The main sights are all contained within the five historical districts linked by the famous Charles Bridge.

Day 15 - Return to London Taking a local train to Cologne we join the direct ICE train to Brussels Midi station where we make a connection with Eurostar. We arrive back into London St Pancras late afternoon

Day 14 - Wuppertal Travelling from Prague via Berlin we arrive into Wuppertal at tea time. We include a local transport card which will allow you the opportunity to travel on the famous suspension railway.

PRICES per person: Escorted Holiday: £1,910 Single room supplement: £390 Discount on Global InterRail for Senior Citizens £35 Deposit for this holiday: £100 Rates of exchange used are as at 1st August 2013.

Day 12 - Prague Beckons We return by the most direct route to Prague for a 2-night stay on a bed and breakfast basis. Dinner and farewell to our local guide.

Tel: 01766 772030

www.ffestiniogtravel.com

Includes: ■ ■

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Rail travel as specified in standard class Global InterRail Pass for unlimited rail travel on free days Tatra Pass for unlimited travel on local Tatra rail network Public transport ticket for Prague Accommodation in good hotels on a bed and breakfast basis Other meals as specified Excursion and admission charges as listed Services of a tour leader from London for the duration of the holiday as well as a local professional guide for Days 2 to 12 inclusive.

14.

Rhine – From Sea to Source

Est. 1974

Friday 6 June to Wednesday 18 June 2014

Switzerland Tourism

The mighty Rhine is still an important waterway for the movement of goods. We follow its course from the North Sea to its source in the Swiss Alps.

Day 1 - The Mouth of the Rhine Depart from Harwich on the overnight boat to the Hook of Holland, situated at the mouth of the Rhine. Cabins and breakfast included. Day 2 - To Koblenz We depart the Hook of Holland by train and journey via Rotterdam and Utrecht to Arnhem. There is time for lunch and a chance to view The John Frost Bridge where the WWII battle “Operation Market Garden” took place. We continue from Arnhem, via Cologne, to Koblenz for a 2-night stay. Koblenz is the site of the “Deutsches Eck” a monument on the banks of the Rhine at the point where the river is joined by the Moselle.

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Day 3 - On the River We take a day trip on the river on the paddle steamer “Goethe” as far as Rüdesheim. We pass numerous castles and the Loreley rock as well as the castle in the middle of the river at Kaub, before reaching Rüdesheim mid-afternoon. We return to Koblenz by train along the east bank of the river.

Day 4 - Onwards towards Switzerland We leave from Koblenz following the west bank of the river until we cross to the east side at Ludwigshafen. We continue on to Basle Bad station where we change trains and follow the river as far as Waldshut which is on the German bank. We stay here for 3 nights. Day 5 - The Rhine Falls Although Waldshut is geographically in Germany it is included on our Swiss Pass. For the next 8 days we will be travelling in first class and the travel pass is valid on many forms of transport. Today’s excursion takes us to Schaffhausen and Stein am Rhein with an opportunity to visit the Rhine Falls. The Falls are considered to be the most powerful in Europe and in June the water volume should be high following the snow melt. Day 6 - We take to the River Again! A leisurely day which begins with a journey to Basle by train and tram. From Basle we take a boat trip on the Rhine as far as Rheinfelden. On our return to Basle Schifflande in the afternoon, there is an optional excursion on one of the foot

ferries that ply their trade across the river before returning to our hotel. Day 7 - To Graubünden An easy morning transfer from Basle to Chur where we stay for 3 nights. Our hotel is situated in the pedestrianized old town, a short distance from the station. Chur is the home of the UNESCO World Heritage Rhaetian Railways network, which celebrates its 125th Anniversary in 2014. A great way to explore the region is by taking one of their charming red trains into the surrounding area. Arosa, Davos and Klosters are all within easy reach. Day 8 - Towards the Source We begin the day by taking the Rhatische Bahn to Thusis then changing to the Postbus to Bellinzona via Splugen following the upper reaches of the source of the Hinter Rhine as we travel. We have a break for lunch in Bellinzona before taking a train up the Southern ramp of the scenic Gotthard main line route as far as Göschenen. Here we change to the MGB metre gauge train to Andermatt and the Oberalp Pass.

Europe GRAND TOURS NBTC

Day 9 - Explore Free day. An opportunity to travel to St Moritz using the Rhatische Bahn system, crossing the Landwasser river over the famous viaduct and following the Albula river to the Albula tunnel. Both the Landwasser and Albula are tributaries of the Rhine. The tour leader will offer this as an optional escorted excursion. (free of charge on the Swiss Pass). Day 10 - Into the Rhône Valley Today we leave Chur on the world famous Glacier Express which follows the upper reaches

of the Vorder Rhine. Crossing the Oberalp Pass and travelling through the Furka Tunnel we emerge into the Rhône Valley at Brig, where we stay for 2 nights. Day 11 - At Leisure A free day in Brig with a chance to visit Zermatt and the Gornergrat with its views of the Matterhorn. Again there will be an optional excursion on offer. Day 12 - To Strasbourg Leaving Brig after breakfast we travel via Basle to Strasbourg for an overnight stay. Day 13 - Home Taking the morning TGV service to Paris we connect with the Eurostar service to London St Pancras, arriving there mid-afternoon.

Switzerland Tourism

At the Oberalp Pass there is a replica of the lighthouse at the Hook of Holland and it stands close to the point where the Vorder Rhine rises. There is also a small exhibition of the River Rhine close by. Return by train to Chur.

PRICES per person: Escorted Holiday: £1,985 Single room supplement: £178 Discount for 2 travelling together: £65 Deposit for this holiday: £100 Rates of exchange used are as at 1st August 2013

GNTB/Merten

Includes:

Tel: 01766 772030

www.ffestiniogtravel.com

■ Travel to and from Switzerland in standard class ■ First class Swiss Pass for unlimited travel on trains, postbuses, lake steamers and many city buses and trams ■ Transfers in Paris ■ Glacier Express supplements ■ Accommodation in good, quality hotels on a bed and breakfast basis ■ Cabin and breakfast on overnight ferry sailing ■ Services of a tour leader from London and throughout the tour

16.

Rural Romania – Where Time Stands Still

Est. 1974

Sunday 22 June to Thursday 3 July 2014 Also Sunday 21 September to Thursday 2 October 2014 UK’s Leading Specialist Operator to Romania

Ramona Cazacu

Come back with us to a bygone age when rural life meant working fields with horses, stacking hay in real haystacks and meals were prepared from home grown produce. Visit remote Saxon villages with their fortified churches in Transylvania, enjoy village life in Maramures‚ and the painted monasteries of Bucovina. Stay in family run “homestay” accommodation and ride three steam narrow gauge railways.

Day 1 - Flight to Cluj Napoca Afternoon flight from London via Bucharest for a late evening arrival in Cluj. Overnight hotel stay. Day 2 - Saxon Villages Morning train from Cluj to Medias arriving in time for lunch (included). Before Romania was unified, this area of Transylvania was settled by German speaking Saxons and we visit some of their villages by private minibus, staying for 2 nights in homestay accommodation in one of the villages. (All our homestay accommodation has been specially converted for tourist use and includes en-suite facilities). Dinner at the accommodation. Day 3 - Biertan, Richis and Malancrav We continue our tour of the Saxon villages, visit fortified churches and have lunch with a village family. Lunch and dinner included.

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Day 4 - Sighişoara Medieval Fortress The beautiful fortified citadel of Sighis‚oara is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and birthplace of Vlad the Impaler (better known to us as

Count Dracula). We have a few hours here and then continue into Eastern Transylvania, an area settled by Hungarians. We find several former Hungarian villages with their distinctive white Catholic churches. Accommodation with dinner for 2 nights at a homestay in one of the villages. Day 5 - Sovata Narrow Gauge Steam Railway The line from Sovata to Campu Cetatii, a return trip of approximately two hours, was once part of a much longer route that formed part of a network of lines serving rural communities. They closed after the fall of Communism when faster road transport took over. This section reopened in private ownership in 2010. We also have time to explore the spa village of Sovata and nearby Corund. Dinner included at our accommodation. Day 6 - Onwards to Maramureş We cross the mountains into the district of Maramures‚, a remote region where life has remained almost unchanged for centuries. The feudal system dominated here until the mid-

19th Century and, even today, strip farming is practised. We stay for one night in Vis‚eu de Sus, centre of the logging industry. Lunch included. Day 7 - Steam on the Forestry Railway There is no road access to much of the Vaser Valley and so the timber is removed by train. We take a ride along the 20km route behind steam and, of course, have the opportunity to see the logging trains in action. BBQ lunch provided at the upper terminus. In the afternoon we drive to our next homestay in Hoteni. Here the family have carefully preserved their traditional Maramures‚ wooden buildings and have adapted them to comfortable accommodation without losing any of their character. Dinner at our accommodation included. Day 8 - Merry Cemetery Today being Sunday, the local people wear their very colourful traditional dress. We visit the famous Merry Cemetery where the gravestones have been painted by local artists to depict the lives of those who have passed away. We have lunch (included) and then take

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an afternoon tour of some of the local villages before returning to Hoteni for overnight. Dinner at the accommodation.

GRAND TOURS

Ramona Cazacu Ramona Cazacu

Day 10 - Painted Monasteries We visit the Painted Monasteries at Sucevita and Moldovita and charter a private train on another former logging railway – this one no longer in normal commercial service as there is an adequate road in the same valley. Lunch with a village family and dinner at our accommodation.

Ramona Cazacu

Day 9 - The Prislop Pass and Bucovina We now leave Maramures‚ and drive over the Prislop Pass into Bucovina. We will take a picnic lunch – the summit of the pass makes an ideal spot if the weather is favourable. Dinner at our accommodation also included.

Day 11 - Return to Cluj We visit the Voronet Monastery before catching the early afternoon train across the mountains to Cluj, arriving mid-evening. Day 12 - Cluj to London Transfer to airport for flight to London, arriving early afternoon. Please be aware that Romanian railways still have the traditional low European platforms and high trains. It is therefore more than ever essential that you travel with luggage which is easily manageable. Due to the limited number of rooms in “homestay” accommodation, this tour will be limited to 12 persons.

Tel: 01766 772030

www.ffestiniogtravel.com

PRICES per person: Escorted holiday: £2,090 Single room supplement: £150 Deposit for this holiday: £200 Rates of exchange used are as at 1st August 2013. Includes: ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

Flights in Economy Class by scheduled airline Rail travel as specified Other travel by private minibus Three narrow gauge steam railways Hotel accommodation in Cluj Other accommodation in good quality guest house or family homestay with en-suite facilities

■ All breakfasts, seven lunches and eight evening meals ■ Admissions to monasteries, fortified churches and Merry Cemetery ■ Airport and other transfers ■ Services of an experienced tour leader from London and throughout the tour plus local professional Romanian guide

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Swiss Alpine Holiday

Est. 1974

Monday 8 September to Monday 22 September 2014

Switzerland Tourism

This classic tour gives ample opportunity to explore by train and see the varied, scenic sights of Switzerland.

Day 1 - London to Switzerland Depart on Eurostar mid-morning from London St Pancras to Paris, then onwards by TGV to Basle, where we have an overnight stay. Standard class with reserved seats.

Day 5 - The Bernese Oberland We travel into the region dominated by the peaks of the Eiger and Jungfrau via a metre gauge railway line which rises steeply from the lakeside at Montreux. The wonderful panorama of Lake Geneva soon gives way to the mountains and we end our journey in Thun.The town is situated on the lake of the same name and the skyline is dominated by the castle. We are based here for a 3-night stay.

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Days 3 and 4 - Leisure Time The Swiss Pass provides the opportunity to take the train into the Jura region, very close to the French border, or alternatively relax with a trip on the lake. Our experienced tour leader will be available to offer an optional escorted excursion each day, and, for those who prefer to be more independent, they will be happy to assist with planning and timings.

swiss.image.ch/Stephan Engler

Day 2 - Neuchâtel Free morning in Basle to explore the city and its extensive tram network. From Basle we will be travelling in first class using our unlimited first class Swiss Pass, which is provided as part of the holiday. We depart early afternoon for the short journey to Neuchâtel where we have a 3-night stay. It is an ideal centre from which to explore the area and a list of suggested excursions will be available which can be taken using your travel pass.

Days 6 and 7 - Explore There is so much on offer in this region ranging from lake steamers to mountain railways and cable cars. Our excursion list will hopefully help to ensure everyone gets the most out of the region and once again our tour leader will be offering an optional excursion each day. Day 8 - Glacier Express After a short journey by train south to Brig we will make a connection with the world famous Glacier Express. One of Switzerland’s most scenic journeys, we are afforded the best views through the panoramic windows so sit back, relax and enjoy the spectacular scenery as we travel to Chur, which is the oldest city in Switzerland. We stay for 4 nights in this charming historic city and our hotel is in the traffic free area of the old town. Day 9 - Explore Chur is the home of the UNESCO World Heritage Rhaetian Railways which celebrates its 125th Anniversary in 2014. So what better way to explore than by travelling on one of their charming red trains into the surrounding area. Arosa, Davos and Klosters are within easy reach.

Europe GRAND TOURS

Swizerland Tourism

Day 12 - Ticino and Centovalli Leaving Chur after breakfast we travel on the San Bernardino postbus to Bellinzona. From here it is a short journey by train to Locarno where we have time for lunch. After lunch we travel by the Centovalli line, one of the most scenic in Switzerland, and eventually arrive into the Rhône Valley at Brig. We stay here for 2 nights.

Our excursion booklet has lots of options and there will be an optional excursion each day.

Day 11 - Further Leisure Time A day at leisure to explore the city of Chur with its cobbled streets and 13th Century Cathedral or to use the Rhaetian Railway network one last time! There will be an optional excursion offered by our tour leader.

swiss-image.ch/Stephan Engler

Day 10 - Bernina Express A full day excursion from Chur to Tirano in northern Italy. This route is the only NorthSouth Alpine rail crossing and the summit of the line lies at an altitude of 2253m (7391ft). The panoramic windows of our first class coach give us a wide vista and the many spirals and tunnels all make this a wonderful day out.

Day 13 - Furka Steam Today we have a full day excursion. We start by taking the local train from Brig to Realp to join the Furka Bergstrecke. Operated by steam this rack line uses the original track bed of the Glacier Express route over the pass. We take a full return trip to Oberwald and at the end of the day return to Brig by local train. Day 14 - To Basle Free time in Brig - a chance to take the train to Zermatt, the traffic free resort nestling at the foot of the Matterhorn. Return to Brig in time to leave mid-afternoon to Basle for an overnight stay. Day 15 - To London We take the morning TGV service direct to Paris. We make a connection with the Eurostar service to London St Pancras, arriving early afternoon. Standard class with reserved seats. PRICES per person: Escorted Holiday: £2,350 Single room supplement: £255 Discount for 2 travelling together: £75 Deposit for this holiday: £100 Rates of exchange used are as at 1st August 2013. Includes:

Tel: 01766 772030

www.ffestiniogtravel.com

■ Rail travel to and from Switzerland in standard class ■ First class Swiss Pass for unlimited travel on trains, postbuses, lake steamers and many city buses and trams ■ Transfers in Paris ■ Bernina and Glacier Express supplements ■ Furka steam excursion ■ Accommodation in good, quality hotels on a bed and breakfast basis ■ Services of a tour leader from London and throughout the tour

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Green Hills of Spain & La Rhune

Est. 1974

Thursday 12 June to Thursday 26 June 2014

Bob Cable

Following a successful tour in 2013 we are re-running this superb holiday that combines the northern “Green” coast of Spain with its spectacular coastline and vibrant cities with a short visit to south western France. We travel by rail on many metre gauge lines, take the rack railway up to La Rhune and include time to explore Bilbao, Leon and Santiago de Compostela.

Day 1 - By Eurostar to France Mid-morning departure from London St. Pancras to Lille then TGV to Poitiers for an overnight stay. Day 2 - San Sebastian We continue our journey and reach the Spanish border at Hendaye. Here we change to the metre gauge train for the short journey to San Sebastian, a thriving coastal town. Day 3 - San Sebastian to Bilbao A scenic electrified metre gauge line links San Sebastian with Bilbao and we will arrive around lunchtime. The afternoon is free to relax and explore this famous city where an excellent metro system makes getting about easy.

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Day 4 - The Basque Railway Museum Excursion by coach to Azpeitia to visit the Basque Railway Museum with its excellent collection of locos and rolling stock and which also runs steam train rides.

Day 5 - West to Santander The FEVE metre gauge rail network performs all the functions we would normally expect from a busy standard gauge main line – suburban lines around the cities, longer distance passenger routes and lots of freight. Today we have a morning journey from the splendid Bilbao Concordia station to Santander with a free afternoon to explore this bustling resort or take an optional trip inland into the mountains on the RENFE main line towards Madrid. Day 6 - Santander to Gijon Morning departure from Santander to Gijon. Change trains at the busy junction of El Barron. Day 7 - Free day in Gijon A free day in Gijon with its wide beach, historic and artistic heritage. Alternatively, use your FEVE rail pass to visit nearby Oviedo. Day 8 - More Coastal Scenery We continue by local train to Pravia where we

change to the train for Ferrol. En route we enjoy more superb coastal scenery and fishing villages. Ferrol is at the western extremity of FEVE so a connecting coach takes us to Santiago de Compostela for a 2-night stay. Day 9 - Santiago de Compostela A day at leisure to wander the narrow streets and piazzas of this historic pilgrimage city. A visit to the famous cathedral is well worthwhile. Day 10 - Santiago to Leon We take a cross country main line train link from Santiago to Leon. Day 11 - FEVE Train to Bilbao There is just one train per day on this recently reopened cross country line – over 150 miles of wild moorland and mountain scenery. As this doesn’t leave until early afternoon, we have a free morning to relax in one of the most historic regions of Old Castile and take in the sights of Leon.

Europe Day 13 - Bilbao to St. Jean de Luz We have another chance to enjoy the metre gauge line to San Sebastian and Irun before a short rail journey into South Western France. Our base for the next 2 nights is the resort of St. Jean de Luz, some eight miles south of Biarritz.

GRAND TOURS

Day 12 - At leisure in Bilbao A free day for sightseeing or to explore the very many railway options which radiate from Bilbao.

Day 14 - Rack Railway to La Rhune Coach transfer to Col St. Ignace where we join the rack railway for the spectacular ascent of La Rhune (2970ft). This line has vintage electric locos and equally vintage rolling stock and a journey time of 35 minutes each way. Time is allowed at the summit where there are the usual refreshment facilities. On our return to St. Jean de Luz, there will be time to look around the town.

Day 15 - Journey home A TGV service direct to Paris and Eurostar to London sees us back at St. Pancras late afternoon.

PRICES per person: Escorted holiday: £1,895 Single room supplement: £495 Deposit for the holiday: £100 Rates of exchange used are as at 1st August 2013. Includes: ■

Standard class rail travel FEVE pass ■ Accommodation in good, quality hotels on a bed and breakfast basis ■ Excursions as specified ■ Services of an experienced tour leader from London and throughout the tour ■

Tel: 01766 772030

www.ffestiniogtravel.com

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Wednesday 16 October to Wednesday 23 October 2013 We return to Wernigerode to enjoy three days of steam trains with the glorious Harz Mountains as the backdrop. It is a tour with a wonderful mix of steam, scenic views, culture and convivial company. Day 1 - To Aachen Lunchtime Eurostar to Brussels to connect with high speed train to Aachen. Day 2 - Onwards to Wernigerode Morning train via Cologne and Hannover to charming Wernigerode for a 5-day stay at the Weisser Hirsch hotel. Day 3 - The Brocken Free morning before departing Wernigerode behind one of the railways historical Mallets (built in 1897). We travel towards Drei Annen Hohne and up the Brocken reaching 1,141m for spectacular views. Day 4 - Eisfelder Talmuehle and Freight Trains Today we travel between Wernigerode and Eisfelder Talmuehle with loco 99 6101 hauling our heritage passenger train joined by the railway’s flagship ‘LKM’ locomotives with a rake of mixed freight wagons. Lots of run-pasts allow for plenty of photo opportunities. A double departure from Eisfelder Talmuehle is planned.

Day 5 - Classical Selketalbahn Our heritage train explores the Selketalbahn where we hope to shunt some wagons in Elend and Benneckenstein, take the balloon loop in Stiege and make a double departure from Alexisbad. Day 6 - Wernigerode at Leisure A free day to explore enchanting Wernigerode. Day 7 - Wuppertal We travel via Hannover and by fast train to Wuppertal. The afternoon is free to explore and your local transport card (included in price) allows free travel on Wuppertal’s famous suspension railway.

John Robson

Europe CONNOISSEUR TOURS

Harz Autumn Gala Day 8 - Homeward Bound Return home via regional train to Cologne, high speed line to Brussels and finally London. Please note that the details of the Harz Gala program and the availability of the steam locomotives are subject to change. PRICES per person: Escorted Holiday: Single Room Supplement: Deposit for this Holiday:

£1,110 £125 £100

Rates of exchange used are as at 1st May 2013 Includes: ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

Second class rail to and from Wernigerode Accommodation in good standard hotels on a bed and breakfast basis 3-day Gala Program Public transport ticket for Wuppertal Transfers as stated Services of a tour leader from London and throughout the tour

Harz Winter Gala Tuesday 25 February to Tuesday 4 March 2014 Enjoy three days of steam trains in the Harz Mountains in winter with the chance of scenic snow-capped scenery as a backdrop. Day 1 - Overnight in Aachen Eurostar via Brussels and on to Aachen for dinner (included) and overnight stay. Day 2 - Arrive Wernigerode Via Cologne and Hannover to Wernigerode and a 5-night stay at the Weisser Hirsch hotel. Day 3 - Explore Wernigerode A free day to explore charming Wernigerode with its castle standing proudly above the town which you can reach on foot or by road train. The railway will be operating a standard service so feel free to explore further afield. Days 4 to 6 - Steam Gala Three days of special steam trains. The programme for this weekend is yet to be decided but there will be plenty of opportunities for photo run-pasts, double departures and unusual workings.

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early afternoon. After checking in to our hotel, the InterCity Hotel Wuppertal, the afternoon is free to explore. A local transport card is included for the Rhine-Ruhr area which, of course, includes free travel on Wuppertal’s famous suspension railway. Day 8 - Return Journey A morning departure by regional train to Cologne to connect with a high speed line to Brussels and finally London. Please note that the details of the Harz Gala program and the availability of the steam locomotives are subject to change.

PRICES per person: Escorted Holiday: Single Room Supplement: Deposit for this Holiday:

Rates of exchange used are as at 1st May 2013 Includes: ■ ■

Day 7 - Wuppertal We take the morning train back to Hannover, continuing by fast train to Wuppertal, arriving

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Tel: 01766 772030

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www.ffestiniogtravel.com

£1,025 £162 £100

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Monday 30 June to Wednesday 9 July 2014

Bob Cable

CONNOISSEUR TOURS

After last year’s successful visit to Jersey and Northern France we return to mark the 100th Anniversary of the start of WW1 and the 70th Anniversary of the allied invasion of France by taking a fascinating tour of Northern European battlefields and memorials.

Day 1 - Jersey We cross the English Channel by ferry to Jersey. A ‘Welcome Dinner’ will be served in the Hotel Revere in St Helier, our base for the next 2 nights. Day 2 - Occupation Today we look at the impact on Jersey by centuries of occupation at various times by the Romans, French and Vikings. The occupation that left the greatest mark was by Germany between 1940 and 1945. Explore the German gun emplacement at Noirmont, the underground tunnels and military hospital at St Lawrence. We visit Mont Orgeuil Castle, the Pallot Railway Museum and ride the Victorian steam train. Day 3 - Mont St. Michel Ferry over to St. Malo, and by road to Mont St. Michel, a World Heritage Site, to admire this historic island commune. We continue to nearby Pontorson where we board the train for Caen for a 2-night stay. Day 4 - From 1066 to “D-Day” After visiting the famous Bayeux Tapestry we focus on the liberation of France in 1944, visiting Pegasus Bridge, ‘Juno Beach’, Colleville Cemetery and an extended visit to Arromanche, where you are free to tour the many sites commemorating the D-Day invasion. The remnants of Churchill’s legendary “Mulberry” floating harbour are visible all along the shore line.

Day 6 - Fontainebleu and CdF Pithiviers By coach to The Palace of Fontainebleau - its art treasures and gardens are a feast for the eyes. After lunch, we visit the nearby CdF Pithiviers narrow gauge railway – an example of the way redundant wartime material was reused to rebuild a crippled nation. Day 7 - Amiens and CdF Froissy The “petit train de la Haute-Somme” is the last remaining section of the extensive military railway network built for use in Northern France during WW1. The military museum at Froissy station displays up to 40 locomotives and 120 items of rolling stock that served the trenches during the Battle of the Somme. Overnight in Amiens. Day 8 - Trench Warfare Experience the WW1 ‘front line’ at the underground museum in Albert which depicts the life of soldiers in the trenches in 1916. We visit the English cemetery at Pozieres, the War Graves Commission at Thiepval and the International Museum to uncover the origins of

Day 5 - Paris We depart for Paris with a free afternoon to explore at leisure. 2 night stay.

Tel: 01766 772030

www.ffestiniogtravel.com

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Railways & War – Northern France

the conflict and its consequences. We end our day in the pleasant riverside town of St.Valery, our home for 2 nights. Day 9 - Railways of Baie de Somme Spend the day savouring the three connected lines that comprise the CdF Baie de Somme. The railway is noted for its unique metre and standard “mixed” gauge track work. Day 10 - Homeward Bound We return home via the coastal line to Calais and board the Eurostar train to St. Pancras. PRICES per person: Escorted Holiday: Single Room Supplement: Deposit for this Holiday:

£1,525 £275 £100

Rates of exchange used are as at 1st August 2013 Includes: ■

Ferry from UK to Jersey (Departure port to be confirmed)

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Ferry from Jersey to St Malo

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Standard class rail as specified

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Accommodation in good quality hotels on a bed and breakfast basis

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Excursions as specified

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Welcome and Farewell Dinners

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Services of a tour leader from UK and throughout the tour 24.

Tuesday 26 August to Thursday 4 September 2014

CONNOISSEUR TOURS

Based in Salzburg, this unique tour is a feast of transport offerings and includes some special items exclusive to Ffestiniog Travel.

arrival back into St Wolfang we cross the lake to St Gilgen on the nostalgic paddle steamer “Kaiser Franz Josef ” built in 1873. Return by road to Salzburg.

Day 7 - Salzburg Again Chartered steam train to the Stiegl Brewery where we enjoy a guided tour followed by lunch. Bus to Freilichtmuseum (open air museum) for a tour and the chance to ride the 1.7 km long Museumbahn.

Day 1 - London to Cologne Depart on lunchtime Eurostar from London St Pancras to Brussels, then onwards to Cologne for an overnight stay. Day 2 - Cologne to Salzburg Leaving Cologne after breakfast we follow the course of the river Rhine southwards as far as Mannheim before turning south east via Ulm to Salzburg. We are based here for 7 nights. Day 3 - Krimml Full day beginning with coach transfer to Zell am See where we board the steam train for the return journey to Krimml. Whilst at Krimml there is time to visit the famous waterfalls and lunch is also included. We end the day with a guided tour of the depot at Zell before returning to Salzburg by road.

Day 5 - Salzburger Lokalbahn A full day, including a guided tour of the depot and a private charter train, when there will be lots of photo opportunities and run-pasts to capture some good images. The train will carry a buffet car. Day 6 - St Wolfgang Coach transfer to St Wolfgang, followed by a visit to the depot of the Schafbergbahn which is the steepest cog wheel railway in Austria. We then take a chartered steam train to the summit and back with photo stops and time for lunch. On

Day 4 - Salzburg A morning ride on the funicular Festungsbahn to the fortress which towers over the city. After a guided tour of the fortress and lunch (included) we descend on the “Reisszug” – the oldest preserved funicular in the world – before a trolley bus city tour on a historic vehicle and a visit to the trolley bus depot.

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Behind The Scenes Salzburgerland

Tel: 01766 772030

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Day 8 - Berchtesgaden Train to Berchtesgaden with a break before continuing to Freilassing for a visit to Lokwelt. This museum is based in a former depot and is a mix of new technology and restored items. There is even a simulator for those wishing to try to drive a loco! Return by train. Day 9 - Return to Cologne Time to say farewell and head for home. We travel via Frankfurt to Cologne for an overnight stay. Day 10 - To London Early morning train from Cologne will make a connection in Brussels with Eurostar and we arrive back into London St Pancras early afternoon. PRICES per person: Escorted Holiday: Single room supplement: Deposit for this holiday:

£1,780 £288 £100

Rates of exchange used are as at 1st August 2013 Includes: ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

Rail travel to and from Salzburg in standard class Accommodation in good, quality hotels on a bed and breakfast basis 3 lunches All excursions as detailed Services of a tour leader from London and throughout the tour

Travel on Iarnród Éireann’s modern fleet and enjoy the mellow and sometimes wild scenery. Experience a unique form of rail travel at the Lartigue Monorail, enjoy steam at the West Clare Railway and recall the nostalgic era of the first transatlantic passenger flights by flying boat at Foynes Flying Boat Museum. Day 7 - Dingle Peninsula Tour of the scenic Dingle Peninsula by road stopping at Dingle, Lispole and Blennerville, which were part of the old Tralee and Dingle Railway. Continue by train from Killarney to Cork for a 2-night stay. Day 8 - Free Day in Cork or Trip to Cobh A free day in Cork or travel on Cork’s local railways to Cobh Harbour and the excellent Heritage Centre located in the station buildings (admission extra). From here the Titanic departed on its fateful journey. You can also ride the reopened line to Midleton, part of the old branch to Youghal.

Irish Rail

Day 9 - To Dublin via Waterford By train to Limerick Junction, traditionally the most eccentric of Irish stations, where we change for the cross country route to Waterford. We join the afternoon train to Dublin via Kilkenny and our final night’s stay. Day 6 - Visits to Foynes Flying Boat Museum and Listowel Morning departure by coach to Foynes famous Flying Boat Museum, where they have captured the romantic era of the first transatlantic passenger flights by flyingboat and we also learn how Irish Coffee was invented. Continue to Listowel to visit the recreated Listowel & Ballybunion Monorail. This extraordinary ‘cameo’ recreation captures much of the charm and demonstrates the extraordinary hardware of the original line closed in 1924. Continue to Tralee for an overnight stay.

Day 2 - At Leisure in Dublin Time to explore Ireland’s largest city and the many attractions it has to offer including Dublin Castle, Trinity College, Guinness Brewery and St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Day 3 - Dublin and Onward to Galway A morning departure by train across the centre of Ireland to Galway. 1-night stay in Galway.

PRICES per person:

Martin Shrubsole

Day 4 - Galway to Ennis and the West Clare Railway Mid-morning departure from Galway, travelling the Western Corridor to Ennis. By coach from Ennis to Moyasta Junction, headquarters of the West Clare Railway. Their original steam locomotive will be operational and although only a small length of track is in use it is nonetheless well worth a visit. We stop in the little coastal resort of Kilrush on our way to Limerick for a 2-night stay.

Day 10 - Ferry to Holyhead Transfer to Dublin Ferryport for a morning sailing to Holyhead.

Martin Shrubsole

Day 1 - Ferry from Holyhead to Dublin Meet at Holyhead for the early afternoon ferry to Dublin and transfer to a central hotel near Heuston Station for 2 nights.

Day 5 - Free Day in Limerick. Limerick, a vibrant riverside city with a rich medieval past. There is plenty to see and do here. Further rail travel is also possible and a good option is an afternoon trip to Ballybrohpy, via the little used ‘back’ route, returning via Limerick Junction.

Escorted holiday: Single room supplement: Deposit for this holiday:

www.ffestiniogtravel.com

£1,295 £285 £100

Rates of exchange used are as at 1st August 2013

Day 1 - Arrive Beddgelert Includes: Check into the Royal Goat Hotel, our base for ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

Tel: 01766 772030

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Thursday 18 September to Saturday 27 September 2014

CONNOISSEUR TOURS

The Far West of Ireland

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Ferry Holyhead to Dublin and return 8 in 15 Day Explorer Pass for travel on free days Hotel accommodation in minimum 3* hotels with breakfasts Excursions as detailed on Days 4 & 6 Private transport by road as detailed on Days 4, 6 & 7 Transfers between ferry port and Dublin Hotel Services of an experienced tour leader throughout the tour

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Narrow Gauge Steam in Eastern Germany

Est. 1974

Saturday 13 September to Saturday 27 September 2014 Our Eastern Germany tours have always proved popular and this is no exception. We take in local railways, including narrow gauge lines, which thrived during the cold war and many have survived to continue the job for which they were built. These steam lines combined with the stunning scenery and fascinating towns and cities make for a fantastic holiday.

Day 1 - Aachen We take a lunchtime Eurostar to Brussels for a connection to the German border town of Aachen. Our hotel is a short walk from the station. Dinner tonight is included and served in the hotel restaurant. Day 2 - Eastbound to Dresden Today we cross Germany for Dresden and a 4-night stay in a hotel located within a stoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s throw of the main station, ideally situated for using our city transport pass valid for the duration of our stay. Day 3 - Narrow Gauge in the Dresden Area Two narrow gauge steam lines are almost within the city limits making it possible to ride the Weisseritztalbahn in the morning and to Radeburg in the afternoon. This still leaves some time available for city sightseeing.

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Day 4 - Zittau A short journey from Dresden by main line train takes us to Zittau, close to the Czech border. Here we find yet another steam survivor operating on two routes to Kurort Oybin and Jonsdorf. We have time to ride both lines before returning to Dresden in time for an evening meal (not included).

Day 5 - Cranzahl and Oberwiesenthal We head first along the main line in the direction of Chemnitz but change at FlĂśha to an attractive branchline heading south into the mountains. At the sleepy town of Cranzahl we will find a steam train simmering peacefully on the adjoining platform.The train will then take us through delightful forest and upland scenery to Oberwiesenthal where we arrive at lunchtime. Return to Dresden is via the same route.

Day 6 - Northwards to Stralsund Today we head first to Berlin, then on to Stralsund in northern Germany. This city was once a Hanseatic port and has a long seafaring tradition. Once again our hotel is located adjacent to the station. Day 7 - The Molli A short journey via Rostock brings us to Bad Doberan, home of the steam railway

Europe CONNOISSEUR TOURS

Day 8 - The Island of Rügen The Baltic Sea is a popular seaside resort for German people and the Isle of Rügen is a particular favourite destination. Its narrow gauge railway and steam trains are an important tourist attraction. We ride the line for its entire length before returning to Stralsund. Day 9 - Stralsund to the Harz Mountains We take the main line to the lovely old town of Wernigerode where we stay for the next 4 nights. Half timbered buildings dominate the town centre where our well appointed hotel stands across the square from the old Rathaus (town hall).

commanding views across the west and today there is a museum at the summit telling the story of its role in the cold war period. Day 13 - To the Rhine Valley With a change of train in Hannover and Cologne we head back to the West and down the Rhine to St Goar.This attractive town is situated below the ruins of Burg Rheinfels across from its sister town of St Goarshausen with its own famous castles “Katz and Maus”. We stay here for 2 nights. Day 14 - Goethe Paddle Ship After a leisurely morning to take in St Goar we board the paddle ship “Goethe” for a cruise up the river. Built in 1913, the paddle ship brings back an elegant atmosphere to the Rhine Valley. Day 15 - Auf Wiedersehen We retrace our steps back up to Cologne and then through Brussels and home to London, arriving mid-afternoon.

Days 10, 11 and 12 - Explore the Harz Narrow Gauge Railway The Harz Narrow Gauge Railway (HSB) is by far the largest of the lines we visit, with a network of over 100km from Wernigerode in the northwest to Nordhausen in the south and the UNESCO World Heritage town of Quedlinburg in the east. We have a Harz Rover ticket for unlimited travel and your tour leader will devise three full day excursions covering the complete network including an ascent of the Brocken line (a “must do” on a clear day). The Brocken was a look out and “listening” post in Soviet days due to its

Tel: 01766 772030

www.ffestiniogtravel.com

affectionately known as the Molli. The line runs to the coastal resort of Bad Kühlungsborn and famously runs through the streets of Bad Doberan just inches from pavement restaurants! The afternoon is free to explore Bad Doberan, Rostock, and return to Stralsund at your leisure.

PRICES per person: Escorted Holiday: £1,950 Single room supplement: £325 Deposit for this holiday: £100 Rates of exchange used are as at 1st August 2013. Includes: ■

Standard class rail as specified InterRail Pass for unlimited rail travel within Germany ■ Harz Rover ticket for unlimited travel on the Harz narrow gauge railway ■ Accommodation in good quality hotels on a bed and breakfast basis ■ Excursions as specified ■ Welcome dinner in Aachen ■ Services of a tour leader from London and throughout the tour ■

28.

Discover Poland ‘The Heart of Europe’

Est. 1974

Saturday 13 September to Sunday 28 September 2014

Bob Cable

A compelling tour that includes the renowned Wolsztyn Experience, a private chartered train on the Piaseczno Railway, a poignant trip to Auschwitz and a visit to the unique Wieliczka Salt Mines. If you are looking for something different and original, then this tour is for you.

Day 2 - Poznan City Tour Enjoy a tour of Poznan this morning, visiting Poland’s very first cathedral St Peter and Paul’s, the Main Square and the Old Town Hall, once renowned as the most beautiful building north of the Alps. In the afternoon, there will be an optional visit to the Maltanka Park Railway, one of the last 600mm narrow gauge railways in Poland.

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Day 3 - German Defensive Underground Bunkers and Lagow Castle A full day coach tour of the Mie˛dzyrzecz Fortification Region, Oder-Warthe Bogen, a fortified military defence line in Western Poland. In the underground system there are railway stations, workshops, engine rooms and barracks. Afterwards we journey the short distance to Lagow for lunch in the covered courtyard of the castle.

Day 4 - Wolsztyn – Where Steam Still Reigns We board the steam train to Wolsztyn, ‘the centre of steam in Poland’ where main line steam locomotives still operate scheduled passenger and freight trains on the main line – the last area in Europe where this is still the case. Wolsztyn’s shed is a real working roundhouse that has been fully operational for more than 100 years.

Day 7 - Kos´cierzyna Railway Museum Displaying mostly steam locomotives with several diesel and electric locomotives, as well as electric multiple units and diesel multiple units. Late afternoon we continue by rail to the port city of Elblag, where dinner will be included at our hotel - a former water mill.

Day 5 - Zninska Railway By private coach to Znin to join the 600mm gauge Zninska railway to Gasawa. On our return we stop at Biskupin, an important archaeological site, before reaching Wenecja. After visiting the Narrow Gauge Railway Museum at Wenecja we head back to Znin by train and then return by coach to Poznan. Day 6 - Rail to Kosćierzyna Today we travel by rail to the Gdansk Pomerania region, where our coach will be waiting for us at Kosćierzyna railway station with our luggage. We overnight in Kosćierzyna.

Bob Cable

Day 1 - Fly to Poznan Flight from London to Poznan, one of the oldest cities in Poland, where we base ourselves for the next 5 nights.

CONNOISSEUR TOURS

The Polish Tourist Office

Day 9 - Piaseczyn´sko-Grójecka Narrow Gauge Railway Charter Today we have our very own private charter train on this railway, with a track gauge of 1000mm. We will follow a 28km route with beautiful and interesting views from our carriage, a replica of the historic ‘Wernigerode’.

Europe

Day 8 - Rail to Warsaw Today we head south on the direct service to Warsaw. We transfer to our hotel where we stay for 2 nights.

Day 11 - Wieliczka Salt Mine and Auschwitz Birkenau A private coach takes us to the Wieliczka Salt Mine, often referred to as the “Underground Salt Cathedral of Poland”. Carved into the salt chamber are beautiful, amazing underground lakes, majestic construction carpentry and unique salt sculptures. After lunch, we continue to Auschwitz Birkenau, the largest concentration camp in occupied Europe during 1940-1945.

Ramona Cazacu

Day 10 - Rail to Krakow Enjoy a free morning in Warsaw. For tramway enthusiasts, there is an extensive system whereas, for those who enjoy something more leisurely, there are regular boat cruises on the Vistula River.This afternoon, we depart by rail for Krakow, where we spend the next 4 nights.

Day 13 - Funicular Railway and Chabówka Heritage Park Early departure by train to Zakopane for the Funicular Railway to the peak of Mt. Gubalówka. After lunch in a Highlander’s Inn, we continue by rail to Chabówka and visit the Open Air Heritage Park, to see up to 90 historic railway vehicles on display. We arrive back in Krakow late this evening for dinner at our hotel.

The Polish Tourist Office

Day 12 - Krakow Enjoy a full day at leisure to explore Krakow using your travel card, which entitles you to free travel on the city buses and trams as well as free entry to many of the museums. We later enjoy a traditional Jewish dinner in a local restaurant.

Day 14 - Wooden Architecture Route We travel by coach along part of The Wooden Architecture Route, which stretches for about 1500km passing over 200 churches, belfries, granaries, cottages and manor houses. This allows us to see the countryside off the main tourist routes. Lunch is included today in a local wooden inn. Day 15 - Rail to Wroclaw After breakfast, we transfer to the railway station for our train to Wroclaw, known as Poland’s little Venice. Enjoy the afternoon at leisure before we have a farewell dinner in our hotel. Day 16 - Homeward Bound We transfer to the airport for our flight to London.

Tel: 01766 772030

www.ffestiniogtravel.com

PRICES per person: Escorted Holiday: £2,850 Single room supplement: £500 Deposit for this holiday: £200 Rates of exchange used are as at 1st August 2013. Includes: ■

Flights in economy class Rail travel as specified ■ Other travel by private coach/minibus ■ Accommodation in good quality hotels on a bed and breakfast basis ■ All tours, excursions and admissions as specified ■ Private charter train on Piaseczyńsko-Grójecka Railway ■ Krakow Travel Card ■ 15 breakfasts, 9 lunches and 4 dinners ■ Local guides throughout ■ Services of a tour leader from London and throughout the tour ■

30.

Around The World Anniversary Tour

Est. 1974

Departing Saturday 3rd May 2014 Join us on our ‘Around the World Anniversary Tour’ to celebrate 40 years of Ffestiniog Travel rail holidays. Full day-to-day itinerary details of this railway odyssey, a fitting 40-day journey around the globe’s Northern Hemisphere, are available on our website, but below is a flavour of what you can expect. You are invited to dip in and out of this ‘Grand Rail Tour’ at certain points along the route so please contact us direct to discuss the options and costs.

Europe

Our 40th Anniversary Tour begins in London, where we meet up at the St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel for a “Welcome Dinner” before catching the morning Eurostar to our first overnight call in Frankfurt and on to Vienna for a 2-night stay to explore the magnificent Austrian capital. A rail journey to Budapest for another 2-night city stay is followed by a short flight to Moscow. Our 2-day stay includes sightseeing tours of the Russian capital’s famous landmarks including the Kremlin, St Basil’s Cathedral and Lenin’s Tomb and we even take in a performance at the Bolshoi Theatre.

Eastwards

On Day 9 we board the Tsars Gold Luxury Train for an 11-day journey where we will meet up daily in the restaurant car and bar for some convivial conversation with fellow travellers as the train journeys through Kazan and Yekaterinburg, into Siberia via Novosibirsk and across the River Yenisei at Krasnoyarsk before reaching our first stop-over destination of Irkutsk, known as the ‘Paris of Siberia’. We overnight on the shores of beautiful Lake Baikal. Our luxury train journey continues to Ulaanbaatar where we transfer to Terelj National Park which is famous for its unique granite rock formations, pristine alpine scenery and diverse flora and fauna. We overnight in a traditional Mongolian ger - a sturdy wood and felt tent.

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Tel: 01766 772030

China

On Day 20 we arrive in Beijing Central Station, the end of our epic Trans-Siberian journey. We stay at the Aman Summer Palace hotel situated just steps from the East Gate of the Summer Palace grounds. We take in Tiananmen Square, the largest city square in the world, the Forbidden City and the Temple of Heaven. A full day trip to the Great Wall of China follows. We take the train in 1st Class seating to Xian for a 2-night stay

www.ffestiniogtravel.com

in the Shangri La Hotel, enough time to visit the Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum, Bell Tower and the Wild Goose Pagoda. We then take an overnight rail journey to Shanghai and the Les Suites Orient Bund, a city centre retreat and our base for the night which allows time for a tour of this exciting and expanding city including its famous waterfront, The Bund, with its modern skyscrapers and colonial buildings, and then on to Nanjing Road, the busiest shopping street in Shanghai. Tours also include visits to the Oriental Pearl TV Tower,Yu Garden and Xintiandi.

Please visit our website for full details and costs or call us direct to chat through any element of this 40-day ‘Around the World’ tour that interests you.

SECTOR COSTS:

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We take a flight from Shanghai to Vancouver on Day 26, as we cross the International Date Line we actually go back in time! A 2-night stay at the luxurious Fairmont Hotel allows time to explore this cosmopolitan Canadian city and its memorable panoramic viewpoints. We visit Grouse Mountain, which boasts North America’s largest aerial tramway, and Vancouver Island with bustling downtown Victoria and its world-famous Butchart Gardens. We board the celebrated Rocky Mountaineer for a Goldleaf journey to Kamloops taking in the rushing waters of Hell’s Gate in the Fraser Canyon and the steep slopes and rock sheds along the Thompson River. Our journey continues eastwards through the mighty Canadian Rockies with its snow-capped peaks and glaciers for an overnight at the Rimrock Resort, Banff where we visit the National Park of Banff and take an Ice Explorer tour onto the Athabasca Glacier. Another famous train, Via Rail’s Canadian, takes us on to Toronto – a 3-night journey travelling through the Prairies, Saskatoon and onwards to Winnipeg before reaching Sioux Country located in the Northern Ontario Forest and finallyToronto for 2-nights at the Fairmont Royal York hotel and the base from which we visit Niagara Falls. A fullday’s journey on the Maple Leaf train service takes us to our final destination, New York, and a 3-night stay. There will be a free day to explore the wonders of New York and a “Farewell” dinner at The View Restaurant, New York’s only revolving rooftop restaurant and lounge, before flying home, arriving back in the UK on Day 40!

The cost for the full itinerary is £19,695 per person sharing a twin/double room Single room supplement: £3,640 Deposit for any sector: £200

Sector 1: London – Moscow: £4,060 per person sharing a twin/double room. Single room supplement £830. The above price includes a direct flight with BA back to London in Economy Class. If you prefer to return overland a price is available upon request. Sector 2: London – Beijing: £12,275 per person sharing a twin/double room. Single room supplement £3,050. The cost includes a direct flight from Beijing to London on BA in Economy Class. Alternative arrangements can be made on the return to include stops in the Far East. Sector 3: London/Moscow – Beijing/London: £9,500 per person sharing a twin/double room. Single room supplement £2,675. Fly London to Moscow, meet up with the group as far as Beijing, then return on a direct flight with BA back to London. Beijing to London flight will be in Economy Class

GRAND TOURS

Canada and North America

PRICES per person:

Sector 4: London/Vancouver – New York/London: £7,475 per person sharing a twin/double room. Single room supplement £590. Depart on a direct BA service to Vancouver return flight from New York on the overnight flight back to London. Flights based on Economy Class in both directions. ■

Flight upgrades (Premium or Business Class) are available and also connecting regional flights from Edinburgh, Glasgow and Manchester upon request. ■ The flights between Beijing and Vancouver can be upgraded to Business class at a supplement of approximately £2,000 ■ Return from New York to the UK by Cruise, supplements are approximately £1,000 for an outside cabin with sea view.

Includes: ■

1st Class Rail tickets whenever possible Tsars Gold Luxury Train, Goldleaf on the Rocky Mountaineer & Sleeper Touring Class (the old Silver & Blue) on The Canadian ■ Economy Class Flights ■ Hotels as named within the itinerary ■ Excursions as noted ■ Transfers on arrival and departure where necessary ■ Special Welcome/Farewell Dinners ■ Breakfasts, lunches and dinners as indicated in the day-to-day itinerary ■

Excludes: ■

Visas: Russian, Mongolian and Chinese Visitor Visa ■ Insurance: Worldwide cover to include Canada and USA ■ Expenditure: Personal expenses of any kind ie. room service, newspapers, tips, taxi etc. ■ Excess fees: Your baggage allowance will be advised prior to departure

Tel: 01766 772030

www.ffestiniogtravel.com

32.

New England in the Fall

Est. 1974

Friday 26 September to Saturday 11 October 2014

Hobo Railroad

Magnificent mountains and beautiful lakes create a perfect backdrop for New England’s spectacular and dramatic display of fall foliage. View this stunning landscape with day cruises on Lake Winnipesaukee and Lake Champlain and by rail on some of New England’s most scenic railroads.

Day 1 - Fly London to Boston A late morning flight from London to Boston. Day 2 - Explore Boston A chance to explore the sights and sounds of this historic city. Follow the Freedom Trail’s 2.5 mile brick-lined route that leads you to 16 historical sites and tells the story of the American Revolution. Visit the Harbour or take a stroll across the “Common”. Day 3 - Onwards to Maine A leisurely morning before we board Amtrak’s “Downeaster” service to Portland, the largest city in the State of Maine. Day 4 - Discover Portland A free day to discover this wonderful city in a variety of ways, as there is plenty to see and do here. Take a cruise of Casco Bay or visit the Narrow Gauge Railroad Museum. A trolley tour of the historic sites is a great way to get around or simply take a walk along the cobbled streets of the “Old Port” section of the city. A visit to a seafood restaurant is a must!

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Day 5 - Maine to New Hampshire Today we travel by road in our private coach, taking the scenic route via Fryeburg to North Conway which is nestled in the heart of the Mt. Washington Valley. This will be our home for the next 5 nights. Free afternoon for local exploration.

Day 6 - Conway Scenic Railroad This morning we travel first class aboard the “Notch Train.” Enjoy some of the most dramatic natural scenery in the East as we travel through spectacular Crawford Notch – past sheer bluffs, steep ravines, cascading brooks and streams, panoramic mountain vistas. We cross Frankenstein Trestle and Willey Brook Bridge enroute to Crawford and Fabyan. A three course lunch is included onboard. Day 7 - Lake Winnipesaukee We travel south today to Wolfeboro where we board M/S Mount Washington for a 2 hour cruise on Lake Winnipesaukee. We disembark at Weirs Beach and have the opportunity to spend

a little time here before heading to the historic “Shaker” village near Canterbury. Here we will get a unique insight into how life was lived without modern facilities - including a fascinating steam powered washing machine. Day 8 - Mount Washington Cog Railway The summit of Mount Washington awaits us this morning as we take a ride on the Mt. Washington Cog Railway, the first mountain-climbing cog railway in the world.The summit offers spectacular views spanning the mountains and valleys of New Hampshire, Maine and Vermont, north into Canada and East to the Atlantic Ocean. We also have an afternoon visit to the Hartmann Model Railroad to look forward to.

Day 15 - Homeward Bound Some free time today to enable further sightseeing or perhaps a little last minute shopping before we take an early evening flight back to London arriving the following morning.

Day 12 - Green Mountain Railroad Another day of “leaf peeping” as we make a return journey on the Green Mountain Railroad. The rest of the day is free to spend at leisure. Day 13 - New York Boarding Amtrak’s “Vermonter” we make the journey south to New York. Sit back, relax and enjoy the majestic autumn colours of New England. The farm and forest landscapes, mountains and valleys, lush green hills, acres of maple trees and miles of curving riverways are right outside your window.

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Day 14 - Free Day A free day today to explore the famous sights of the ‘Big Apple’.

Hobo RR/Tom Stundis

Eileen Clayton

Day 10 - Onwards to Vermont A choice of options today as we make our way to White River Junction. Visit Clarke’s Trading Post and take a ride on its 2.5 mile long, 2ft gauge steam railway or visit The Flume, a natural gorge extending 800ft at the base of Mount Liberty.

Day 11 - Lake Champlain By road we make the scenic journey to Burlington. What better way to take in the magnificent views and fall colours of Vermont’s Green Mountains and New York’s Adirondaks than with a cruise on Lake Champlain. Lunch is included during the cruise.

GRAND TOURS

Day 9 - Hobo Railroad Foliage Train A chance today to fully appreciate the spectacular autumn colours as we travel onboard one of the Hobo RR’s special fall foliage trains. We take a route that is only travelled at this time of year from Meredith heading north towards the White Mountains, passing Lake Waukewan and Lake Winona, then along and over the Pemigewassett River from Ashland to Plymouth. Lunch is included in Plymouth before we make our return journey. By road we travel onwards to Lincoln and return via the famous Kancamagus highway which is also regularly frequented by Moose who like to water up at the roadside lakes.

PRICES per person: Escorted holiday: £3,800 Single room supplement: £980 Deposit for this holiday: £200 Rates of exchange used are as at 1st August 2013. Includes: ■ ■

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Tel: 01766 772030

www.ffestiniogtravel.com

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Flights in Economy Class by scheduled airlines Amtrak rail journeys on “Downeaster” and “Vermonter” services in standard class Rail journeys as specified on the following Railroads: Conway Scenic Railroad, Mt. Washington Cog Railway, Hobo Railroad and Green Mountain Railroad Cruise on Lake Winnipesaukee Cruise and Lunch on Lake Champlain Accommodation in good standard hotels on a room only basis Three course lunch onboard the “Notch” train Lunch on Day 9 in Plymouth All excursions and admission prices as listed Coach travel and transfers as specified Services of a tour leader from London and throughout the tour

34.

Explore Vietnam Plus the North Borneo Railway Est. 1974

Friday 24 October to Friday 14 November 2014

Footprint Vietnam Travel

Rail and sail to our new exciting destination for a blend of exotic landscapes and culture together with a short visit to Sabah to ride the full length of the North Borneo Railway.

Day 2 - At Leisure in Kuala Lumpur After the transfer to the Dorsett Regency Hotel we have time to adjust to the climate and new time zone and generally unwind.The hotel has an outdoor swimming pool and is centrally located close to the shopping malls. Day 3 - Kuala Lumpur City Tour Morning half-day tour with English speaking guide visiting, amongst others, the Petronas Twin Towers, Merkeda Square, Central Market and the very palatial Old Railway Station.

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Day 4 - Flight to Hanoi Morning flight to Hanoi where we are met by an English speaking guide for transfer to the Santa Barbara Hotel.

Day 5 - Full Day Escorted Sightseeing Tour of Hanoi Learn about Vietnamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fascinating history and culture on our city tour which includes a restaurant lunch (included), a cyclo trip around Hoan Kiem Lake and Old Quarter plus a Water Puppet Show. Day 6 - Hai Phong and Ha Long Early start for train to Ha Phong and road transfer to Ha Long. Wecome aboard our sailing junk â&#x20AC;&#x201C; specially converted for tourists of course! Lunch on local seafood (included) whilst sailing through stunning island scenery. We moor for dinner at a local restaurant (included) and overnight on board in private cabins. Day 7 - Breakfast Al Fresco What a way to start the day whilst making for our next stop at Luon Cave! Lunch (included)

is served on the way back to Hal Long. Road transfer back to Hanoi. Day 8 - By Train to Hue Full day train journey to Hue. Transfer on arrival to Asia Hotel.

Footprint Vietnam Travel

Day 1 - Heathrow to Kuala Lumpur Midday flight from London for an overnight journey.

Day 16 - Flight to Saigon We take an early flight to Saigon and transfer to the Silverland Spa Hotel before a full day city tour.

Day 10 - Hue to Hoi An Visit Dong Ba Market before a four hour road transfer to Hoi An with fabulous coast and mountain sightseeing en route. Overnight at Thuy Duong 3 Hotel.

Day 17 - Mekong Delta Transfer to Cai Be for a boat trip through the floating market and secluded canals. Stop for a lunch (included) with seasonal fruits, then head onto the mighty Mekong River itself (1km. wide here). Return to hotel around 1730.

Day 22 - Arrive London Early morning arrival into London.

Day 18 - Goodbye Vietnam, Hello Sabah Mid-morning flight via Kuala Lumpur to Kota Kinabalu. Transfer to Pacific Sutera Hotel for a 3-night stay. Day 19 - North Borneo Railway The public timetable does not allow for a full return journey over this scenic line within one day and so we have chartered a railbus. The return trip is expected to take about 12 hours and we will have transfers to and from the station. Day 20 - Steam Train to Papar The more usual public excursion is the steam

Footprint Vietnam Travel

Day 12 - Nha Trang by Train Transfer to Danang station to catch the midmorning train to Nha Trang, arriving mid-evening. Catering is available on the train. Transfer to Asia Paradise Hotel.

Day 21 - Free Day with Evening Flight Relax before we transfer to the airport for midevening flight via Kuala Lumpur.

GRAND TOURS

Day 11 - Hoi An and Tra Que The ancient town of Hoi An on the banks of the Thu Bon River is a World Heritage Site. This morning we travel into the surrounding countryside and visit local farmers in Tra Que where all crops are grown organically using traditional methods. Learn how to cook Vietnamese style and then have lunch with our host family (included). Head back to town for a short tour of Hoi An itself.

train over just part of the line and so we take this too! This includes a visit to Tien Shi Temple and “tiffin” lunch served on the train (included).

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Day 9 - City Tour by Boat and Cyclo Morning cruise on the Perfume River with lunch at a local restaurant (included) before visiting the royal tombs.

Day 13 - Coastal Cruise Full day exploring off shore islands and beaches – swimming gear useful! Lunch served on board (included). Day 14 - Through the Mountains to Dalat Scenic road trip to Dalat, arriving mid-afternoon. Overnight Ngoc Lan Hotel. Day 15 - Dalat’s Rack Railway Dalat was formerly accessed by a long and spectacular railway with rack sections but, sadly, this was lost in the Vietnam War. (The original locos went to the Furka Oberalpbahn in Switzerland). A short section of line survives and we ride it today as part of our guided tour of the area. Lunch included.

PRICES per person: Escorted holiday: £3,375 Single room supplement (including junk): £550 Deposit for this holiday: £200 Rates of exchange used are as at 1st August 2013. Includes: ■ ■ ■

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Tel: 01766 772030

www.ffestiniogtravel.com

Flights in Economy Class by scheduled airlines Rail travel as specified Road transfers as specified using air conditioned vehicles All excursions and site visits as detailed above with English speaking guide Hotel accommodation on a bed and breakfast basis plus one night on specially converted junk cruise All breakfasts, nine lunches and one dinner Services of an experienced tour leader from London and throughout the tour plus local guides as appropriate

36.

Mexico’s Copper Canyon

Est. 1974

Friday 24 October to Tuesday 4 November 2014

Brenda Redzlaff

With 87 tunnels, 39 bridges and a climb of 7800ft, the Copper Canyon route is one of the railway wonders of the world. We ride the line from coast to summit, stopping over at remote villages en route and enjoying rural Mexico at its best.

Day 1 - Our Journey Begins We fly by scheduled airline from London to Guadalajara and settle into the Hotel de Mendoza in the historic district of the city. Dinner (included) at the hotel. Day 2 - Tequila Express Transfer to the station to ride the Tequila Express to Amatitlan where we have a tour of the Herradura tequila production plant, buffet lunch and traditional Mexican entertainment at the Hacienda San Jose del Refugio. Return by train to Guadalajara late afternoon.

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Day 3 - Flight to Los Mochis We have a short early flight to Los Mochis at 0805 and therefore must take breakfast (not included) at the airport. On arrival at Los Mochis, transfer to the Hotel Santa Anita. A city tour is arranged before we take a yacht cruise on the Topolobampo Bay where the dolphins are almost certain to greet us and put on a display. We have a free afternoon before evening meal (included) and a brief discussion with our local English speaking guide who will accompany us for our Copper Canyon adventure.

Day 4 - By Rail to Bahuichivo Breakfast is served in the dining car as our train starts its 5 ½ hour journey on the Chihuahua al Pacifico Railroad through the Sierra Madre Mountains to Bahuichivo. Construction of the railroad commenced in 1900 but was not finished until 1961. We have reserved seats in the first class section of the train. At Bahuichivo we have a bus transfer into a remote valley, at the head of which we find the small village of Cerocahui. We stay at the small and picturesque Mision Hotel on a full-board basis starting with lunch today. Additionally, a plentiful supply of purified bottled water is available in the hotel lobby. Free afternoon to explore the village or visit the mission church next door dating from 1556. Day 5 - Urique Canyon Morning bus tour to the rim of the stunning Urique Canyon, the deepest in this canyon system. Meet the local Tarahumara Indians before returning to the hotel for lunch. Afternoon optional walking tour (5 miles of relatively easy footpaths) to Cerocahui Waterfall.

Day 6 - By Train to Divisadero We rejoin the train at Bahuichivo to continue the climb to Divisadero with lunch in the dining car (included) en route. At Divisadero, two canyons meet and the view from our Hotel Posadas Mirador is stunning. Once again we are on full board for our stay here. Day 7 - At the Canyon Rim A morning bus tour to scenic overlooks is arranged plus a spectacular cable car ride across the canyon itself. After lunch another optional walk is available. Day 8 - Train to El Fuerte A free morning to explore the local village or take a walk down to Julio’s cave below the hotel. After lunch we join the westbound train to return through the canyon as far as the Spanish colonial town of El Fuerte. Here we will find dinner awaiting at the Hotel Posada Hidalgo where we stay overnight. Day 9 - Spanish Conquests This morning we take a guided walking tour to learn about the Spanish conquests dating back

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to 1564, a gentle river float and a visit to the Mayo Indian Museum. After lunch at the hotel, we transfer by road to Los Mochis (about 1 ½ hours) in time for evening meal (included). Day 10 - Return to Guadalajara Transfer to the airport for the late morning flight to Guadalajara, arriving early afternoon. Time to explore the lovely plazas and one of the largest markets in Mexico that are within walking distance of the hotel. A farewell dinner has been arranged at a local restaurant (included).

GRAND TOURS

Day 11 - Flight Home Our time is our own until our transfer to the airport for the flight home. Day 12 - Arrive London Morning arrival in London.

PRICES per person: Escorted holiday: £3,320 Single room supplement: £295 Deposit for this holiday: £200 Rates of exchange used are as at 1st August 2013. Includes: ■

Flights in Economy Class by scheduled airline Rail travel as specified ■ Other transfers and travel. ■ City tours as detailed ■ Excursions (yacht cruise, Urique Canyon, cable car, river float) ■

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Hotel accommodation All breakfasts (except Day 3), seven lunches and nine dinners ■ Services of an experienced tour leader from London and throughout the tour plus local guide from Los Mochis back to Los Mochis ■

Tel: 01766 772030

www.ffestiniogtravel.com

38.

Indian Hill Railways

Est. 1974

Sunday 9 February to Saturday 1 March 2014

Michael Whitehouse

A repeat of our hugely successful tour to India that includes the three Hill Station railways as featured in the popular BBC series. This wonderful tour combines the three most exceptional railways that served the former British Hill Stations. Engineering excellence, fierce gradients and stunning scenery make for a memorable tour.

Day 2 - Arrive in India Arrive in the Sikh holy city of Amritsar for a 2-night stay. Afternoon free to relax. Day 3 - Full Day in and Around Amritsar Morning sightseeing tour of Amritsar including the stunning Golden Temple. Afternoon visit to the Atari-Wagah frontier post, a thoroughly unusual and unexpected experience. Day 4 - By Rail and Road Across the Punjab Morning train across the Punjab to Ludhiana and onward by road to Nalagarh and the romantic Nalagarh Palace Hotel.

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Day 5 - Kalka Shimla Railway By road to Kalka where we visit the extensive 2ft 6in gauge workshops of the Kalka Shimla Railway. Later we travel by privately chartered carriage or railbus over this astonishing line to Shimla, the former summer capital of British India. We remain here for 2-nights on full board.

Day 10 - Sightseeing in Delhi We visit some of the many famous sights of Delhi including the India Gate, Rajpath, Qutab Minar, and Humayun’s Tomb. Afternoon visit to the famous Delhi Railway Museum.

Day 6 - Old Colonial Shimla Sightseeing tour of Shimla including Viceroy’s Lodge, formerly the seat of power of the Indian Raj and the colourful Hanuman Temple. Day 7 - Free Day in Shimla Enjoy a free day in Shimla before an evening train departure to Kalka with a simple dinner served on board (included), perhaps the only 2ft 6in gauge railway in the world to offer this facility. Onward by night train in air-conditioned, 2-tier sleepers on the Kalka Howrah Mail.

Day 11 - Flight to Bagdogra Morning flight to Bagdogra in West Bengal where we transfer to our hotel for lunch (included) before an afternoon visit to the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR) depot at Siliguri Junction. We stay here for 1 night on full board.

Day 8 - Sightseeing in Agra Breakfast will be served before we arrive at Tundla (Agra) for an overnight stay. Sightseeing will include the ‘Baby Taj’ and the wonderful Mogul Red Fort with views across the Jamuna River to the Taj Mahal. Day 9 - Visit the Taj Mahal Visit the sublime Taj Mahal at dawn, a truly unforgettable experience. Later we visit Akbar’s Mausoleum at Sikandra before continuing by road to Delhi for 2 nights.

Bob Cable

Day 1 - Fly London to Amritsar Evening flight from London to Amritsar via Delhi.

CONNOISSEUR TOURS

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Day 12 - From Siliguri to Kurseong Depart from Siliguri Junction on our charter train made up of two very comfortable 1st Class carriages, hauled by a B Class 0-4-0. Proceed to Chundbhati where we transfer to road vehicles for a visit to the running shed and works at Tindharia.There will be many stops and buses running in parallel for photography. This magnificent line climbs to over 7,000 feet using zig-zags and loops with fabulous views. Continue by road to Kurseong for a 1-night stay on full board. PLEASE NOTE that in the event that one or more sections of the line are reopened the train will continue either to Tindharia or Kurseong without the transfer to road transport.

Days 14 and 15 - Magical Darjeeling Two full days in Darjeeling for general sightseeing or further travel on the DHR. On the last day we

Ray Smith

Day 13 - Another Day on the DHR Second day of the charter continues from Kurseong to Darjeeling. The train winds its way straight up the main street of Kurseong and other villages before reaching the summit at Ghoom and descending into Darjeeling. A 3-night stay on full board.

tanks up the astonishing escarpment into the Blue Mountains. Coonoor to Ooty will be diesel hauled. A 2-night stay on full board. Day 19 - The Cool Blue Mountains Whole day sightseeing, including the Dodabetta Peak, the Botanical Gardens, a tea garden and Coonoor station and shed. Return to the hotel for a Farewell Dinner. Day 20 - Journey Home Most of the day at leisure before returning by road to Coimbatore then flight to Mumbai.

Ray Smith

Day 21 - Fly to london Early morning flight to London arriving same day.

have a farewell trip on the DHR by travelling on the ‘Joy Train’ from Darjeeling, round the Batasia loop, to the summit at Ghoom where we visit the fascinating DHR museum. Day 16 - Fly to Chennai Return to Bagdogra by road and then fly to Chennai via Calcutta. Overnight in Chennai. Day 17 - Train to Coimbatore We take a late morning train across Southern India from Chennai to Coimbatore arriving in the early evening. A 1-night stay on full board. Day 18 - Nilgiri Railway We depart on the metre gauge Nilgiri Rack Railway, steam hauled from Mettupalayam to Coonoor. The train will be hauled (or rather pushed) by one of the huge SLM built rack

Tel: 01766 772030

www.ffestiniogtravel.com

PRICES per person: Escorted holiday: £4,600 Single room supplement: £975 Deposit for this holiday: £200 Rates of exchange used are as at 1st May 2013. Includes: ■

Flights in Economy Class by scheduled airlines Accommodation in good standard hotels on a bed and breakfast basis ■ 15 Lunches and 12 Dinners ■ Rail travel in Chair Car accommodation ■ Privately chartered carriage or Railbus Kalka to Shimla ■ One overnight in 2-tier air-conditioned sleeper ■ Chartered steam trains on the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway ■ 1st Class travel on the Nilgiri Rack Railway ■ All transfers as stated ■ All excursions and admission charges as listed ■ Services of a tour leader from London and throughout the tour ■

40.

Mountains, Trains and a Touch of the Old West The Best of Colorado

Est. 1974

Thursday 12 June to Tuesday 24 June 2014

D&S Railroad

This holiday includes the definitive selection of the very best and most famous railroads of Colorado. Many were pioneering lines of the Old West, now preserved as a living legend. All run through magnificent Rocky Mountain scenery.

Day 1 - Our Journey Begins Flight from London to Denver with transfer to our centrally located hotel.

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Day 2 - The Georgetown Loop Denver, the “Mile High City”, is situated at the point where the plains of the Mid West meet the Rocky Mountains and, within a few minutes of leaving our hotel, we are already in the wonderful scenery for which the area is renowned. Because the various railways we will visit are not rail connected to each other, we have an air conditioned coach at our disposal for the whole of the holiday. We stop first at Golden to visit the Colorado Railroad Museum and then head for Georgetown, a beautifully preserved mining town, to ride the Georgetown Loop narrow gauge line. The high spot of the train journey is a high curved trestle bridge. We return to Denver for overnight.

Day 3 - Lunch at the Royal Gorge We now head south to Canon City and the Royal Gorge Railroad where lunch is served in the diner (included) as we follow the raging Arkansas River upstream through the gorge. This was once part of a transcontinental main

line and, even today, our train will be hauled by one of the iconic U.S. streamline diesel locos. Overnight stay is in Colorado Springs. Day 4 - Pikes Peak and Leadville A short coach transfer to Manitou Springs before a morning ascent of Pikes Peak (14,110ft) by cog railway. In the afternoon we drive through the Rockies to Leadville, at 10,350ft the highest city in the USA and once the setting of Doc Holliday’s last shoot-out. As its name suggests, the town was once an important mining centre. Day 5 - The Leadville, Colorado and Southern Railroad We take a two and a half hour trip on the standard gauge preserved line, the far end of which is close to the Continental Divide – from here, streams flow east to the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic and west to the Pacific. In the afternoon

World CONNOISSEUR TOURS

Royal Gorge Railroad

Day 6 - Durango and Silverton Transfer to Durango for a morning steam train journey through the Animas Canyon to the old mining town of Silverton, now beautifully preserved as a reminder of the Wild West. There is time for lunch here before returning by train to Durango for coach transfer to Pagosa Springs. Day 7 - Cumbres and Toltec We head for Chama, New Mexico and join the narrow gauge steam train on the Cumbres and Toltec Railroad. The long climb to the summit at Cumbres Pass (10,015ft) is a real struggle for our loco but we can simply enjoy the fantastic views back down the valley. After lunch at Osier (included), we continue to Antonito where we change to a standard gauge train for the remaining short section to Alamosa. Day 8 - Taos Pueblo The multi-storied pueblo village is the largest of its kind in the USA and has been continuously inhabited for over 1000 years. It is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and makes for an interesting day trip by coach.

standard gauge Rio Grande line over the La Veta Pass to the picturesque mountain town of La Veta and return. The pass itself is the highest crossing of the Rockies by standard gauge train. The full excursion is just under nine hours which includes two hours for lunch and leisure in La Veta. Once again the train is steam hauled and we are assured of another memorable day. Day 11 - Return to Denver It’s now time to head back to Denver where we should arrive in the early afternoon. Days 12 and 13 - Denver and Home Most of today is free and there is certainly plenty to see in the city. Our hotel is just around the corner from the main shopping area whilst a ten minutes walk or a free bus ride up the Mall, brings us to the imposing parliament buildings of the state government. We have a transfer to the airport in time for an evening flight to London where we arrive the following lunchtime.

Day 9 - Monte Vista The same railroad company that brought us to Alamosa also operates a three hour return trip along the valley to Monte Vista. In the afternoon, our coach will take us to the Great Sand Dunes National Monument nearby. Day 10 - La Veta Pass Colorado’s newest preserved line is the

Paul Davies

we have a coach journey across the Poncha and Wolf Creek Passes to Pagosa Springs.

PRICES per person: Escorted holiday: £2,920 Single room supplement: £355 Deposit for this holiday: £200 Rates of exchange used are as at 1st August 2013. Includes: ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

■

Tel: 01766 772030

www.ffestiniogtravel.com

■

Flights in Economy Class by scheduled airline Rail travel as specified Other travel and transfers by private coach Admission to Colorado Railroad Museum Hotel accommodation on a room only basis (some hotels also provide a complimentary breakfast but this is not universal in the USA) Lunches on the Royal Gorge and Cumbres and Toltec Railroads Services of an tour leader from London and throughout the tour

42.

Eritrea & Cairo

Est. 1974

Tuesday 28 October to Sunday 9 November 2014

Martin Padgett

Bordering the Red Sea, Eritrea boasts spectacular scenery and a southern Italian culture. It is also untouched by tourism. Travel by chartered steam train on what is known as the ‘Darjeeling of Africa’. This 950mm narrow gauge railway travels through spectacular scenery as it climbs over 7,500ft from the Red Sea to the Eritrean capital Asmara. The tour returns via Cairo and Alexandria to sample their transport systems.

Day 1 - Fly to Asmara Flight from London to Asmara via Cairo.

Day 5 - Double Head to Nefasit We rejoin our chartered steam train for a morning departure as we continue to Nefasit (Mallet + Mallet Double Head Ghindae to Nefasit). Lunch will be served on the train (included) before returning to Asmara, again with many photo opportunities.

Day 2 - Arrive Asmara Arrive in the Eritrean capital Asmara early morning and transfer to our hotel. Rest of the morning at leisure before transferring to a local restaurant for lunch (included) followed by a half day city tour.

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Day 4 - Steam to Ghindae Early morning transfer to photograph the train coming out from the Port. We board our chartered steam train and travel from sea level to Ghindae, high in the mountains, with many photo stops en route. The railway, restored after damage caused during World War II and many years of civil unrest, is an engineering feat, climbing to heights exceeding that of its namesake - India’s Darjeeling Railway. A packed lunch will be included today. Return to Asmara by bus arriving in time for dinner at the hotel (included). 5-night stay in Asmara.

GARDEL Bertrand

Day 3 - Asmara to Massawa Our city tour continues before an afternoon departure by bus for Massawa. On arrival in Massawa we will check in to our hotel and then take a city tour. There will also be an optional evening visit to the Port of Massawa to photograph the steam train. Dinner will be taken at a local restaurant (included).

Day 6 - Keren Market Morning departure by bus for Keren to arrive in time to see the Camel Market and other markets before they finish at midday. Further sightseeing will include British and Italian War Cemeteries, the old railway station and Maryam Dearit, a shrine found inside a Boabab Tree where Italian

World

soldiers would seek refuge during air raids. We take lunch at a local restaurant (included) before returning to Asmara for an afternoon at leisure.

Day 9 - Fly to Cairo Early morning transfer to the airport for our flight to Cairo. On arrival we transfer by road to Alexandria for a 2-night stay. The rest of the day is at leisure to explore this coastal resort.

Martin Padgett

Day 8 - Final Chartered Railcar & Steam Train Morning departure from Asmara by Littorina (railcar) for Nefasit. On arrival we will find the Mallet waiting at Nefasit to return us to Asmara on our final run, allowing a final chance for photographs of the train and the magnificent scenery. Packed lunch included.

CONNOISSEUR TOURS

Day 7 - Steam to Arbaroba or visit Kohayto Morning visit to the railway’s workshop and loco depot where hopefully the 202 Breda loco will be steamed for shunting. We take lunch at a local restaurant (included) before continuing by chartered steam train to Arbaroba and return to Asmara. There is an alternative sightseeing trip available for those not wishing to partake in the Workshop visit, to the archeological site of Kohayto, noted as one of the best sites in Eritrea.

Day 10 - Alexandria Sightseeing We take a leisurely breakfast before setting off with a local guide to ride the city’s tram system.

Day 12 - Great Pyramids & Nile Cruise Today we take a private tour of the Great Pyramids of Giza. Following lunch at a local restaurant (included), we continue to the Egyptian Museum. Return to the hotel to freshen up before taking a River Nile Cruise with dinner and Egyptian show included.

GARDEL Bertrand

Day 11 - Egyptian Railway Museum Morning transfer to the station to board the train for Cairo. Arriving late morning, the Cairo hotel will store our luggage whilst a local guide will take us by tram to the railway station and Egyptian Railway Museum.

In the event that the political situation in Egypt does not improve, the tour will end on Day 9 with a reduction in price.

Day 13 - Fly Home Morning transfer to the airport for our flight home, arriving London midday.

PRICES per person: Escorted holiday: £3,570 Single room supplement: £460 Deposit for this holiday: £200 Rates of exchange used are as at 1st August 2013. Includes: ■ ■

■ ■ ■ ■ ■

Martin Padgett

■ ■

Tel: 01766 772030

www.ffestiniogtravel.com

■

Scheduled flights 12 nights accommodation on a bed and breakfast basis Transfers as specified Chartered steam train as detailed Chartered railcar as detailed 7 Lunches and 3 Dinners Entrance fees & alternative sightseeing tour on Day 7 Tram Tickets for Alexandria & Cairo Services of a local English speaking guide in Eritrea and Egypt Services of a tour leader from London and throughout the tour 44.

India & New Zealand

Est. 1974

We are currently in the process of planning two big tours for 2015 for which you may wish to start saving! Below is a taster of both that will hopefully tempt you into joining us.

ADVANCE NOTICE

NEW ZEALAND IN STYLE New Zealand in Style - March 2015 March 2015 (Grand Tour) (Grand Tour)

Bob Cable

We fly to Christchurch, stopping en route in Hawaii for a tour of Pearl Harbour. Our 4 week itinerary will cover the highlights of both the North and the South Islands of New Zealand, taking in the spectacular rail journeys offered by Kiwi Rail, including the TranzAlpine and the TranzCoastal. Travel through remote national parks, across spectacular volcanic landscapes, over braided river valleys and alpine passes and along rugged coastlines with steep mountains on one side and the Pacific Ocean on the other. We will also be visiting many of New Zealand’s preserved railway lines including the famous ‘Kingston Flyer’ steam railway which is now back in service. The itinerary includes many other attractions such as whale watching, the Bay of Islands and the Glowworm Caves at Te Anau. We have incorporated several cruises, including Milford Sound and the ferry linking the two main Islands. There will be a unique opportunity to travel on a private charter train on the ‘Plains Vintage Railway’. We fly back from Auckland via Fiji where a ride on the ‘Sugar Cane Train’ will also be included. This will be a trip of a lifetime and certainly one to remember!

David Oakley

45..

Ramona Cazacu

2015 will mark 15 years since Ffestiniog Travel operated its first of a series of 14 tours to India. Great Little Trains of India is a new offering particularly designed to appeal to those who have been to India before and who would like to see more that this Sub-Continent has to offer, but with a return visit to the wonderful Darjeeling Himalayan Railway. In a country with passenger trains that pull 20 plus carriages, operates huge freight trains and broad gauge tracks, the three remaining 2 foot gauge railways, distant relatives of the Ffestiniog Railway, are a quaint anachronism. This tour will include the Neral to Matheran line near Mumbai, the last remaining 2 ft gauge, part of the Scindia State Railways at Gwalior and the ever popular Darjeeling Himalayan Railway. Also new is a daylight journey down the Konkan Railway, the railway that the British never built, that follows the Arabian Sea coast to Goa and an unusual opportunity to ride up two of the ‘Ghat Sections’ of lines climbing from the coastal plains up the Western Ghats. These lines boast spectacular scenery and unique operating systems. The tour will be led by our most experienced guide who has led the majority of our past India tours. Combined with wonderful sight-seeing in Mumbai, Goa, Hyderabad and Gwalior, not to mention Darjeeling and the Himalayas, this is truly a tour for the ‘Connoisseur’.

David Oakley

GREAT LITTLE TRAIN OF INDIA Great Little Train of India - January 2015 January 2015 (Connoisseur Tour) (Connoisseur Tour)

In Association with

Your Inspirational Alternative to Flying Visit www.roadrailandsea.co.uk for more details quoting the reference numbers in brackets. Entrance to tourist attractions and some restaurants can be arranged by Ffestiniog Travel in advance of your trip.

Simon Buckley

From 3 days Explore the cobbled streets and medieval squares of beautiful Lille – just over an hour from London. Leave St Pancras on Friday afternoon, and spend three days exploring the fairytale charms of Lille. This magical long weekend promises lifelong memories of cobbled, medieval streets, hidden candlelit bars and pleasures of great art, in this unique corner of Europe where France and Flanders seamlessly meet.

Brussels – Fairytale Streets, Modern Shopping and Cultural Charm (RRS004)

Simon Buckley

Lille – Discover Europe’s Hidden jewel, where France meets Flanders (RRS008)

A Long Weekend in Salzburg – An Austrian Gem (RRS029) From 4 days Take the train to beautiful Salzburg; the birthplace of Mozart, where music fills the streets and theatres every night of the year. Ringed by snowpeaked mountains and crossed by a sparkling jade river, this beautiful city combines ancient, onion-domed churches with cosy restaurants and lofty medieval palaces. Anyone wondering what to do in Salzburg will be overwhelmed by possibility – spend the weekend exploring the old town, with its unchanged artisan shops and centuries old inns, visit the beautiful churches and cathedral, which resonate with history, or follow the skipping steps of the Von Trapps through the city’s famous squares, before taking a horse drawn carriage through the streets.

Price from £285pp based on second class Eurostar and accommodation based on twin share (B&B basis)

From 3 days Spend a weekend time-travelling in this lovely old city, which offers the ancient charms of guildhalls and galleries alongside sleek, modern bars and restaurants. Big enough to suit every taste but small enough to stroll around, Brussels is curious, creative and complex. Price from £365pp based on second class Eurostar and accommodation based on twin share (B&B basis)

Paris – Enjoy the Romance, Charm and Fun of the French Capital (RRS005)

Tel: 01766 772030

Lyon – Spend the Weekend in the Food Capital of France (RRS017) From 3 days Spend a wonderful weekend in Lyon, the food capital of France. Travel by train and stop off in Paris for a luxurious lunch, before speeding through the heart of the French countryside to arrive in Lyon just two hours later. On the way back, there’s time to see more of Paris. A weekend in Lyon is an escape into food, history and culture, in one of France’s most beautiful cities, built around the Rhone and Saone rivers that converge here. Famous for its gastronomy, Lyon is also a busy, working city, with a thriving centre full of quirky shops and bars. Price from £275pp based on second class Eurostar and accommodation based on twin share (B&B basis)

www.ffestiniogtravel.com

Simon Buckley

Price from £375pp based on second class Eurostar and accommodation based on twin share (B&B basis)

Price from £490pp based on second class rail, a 2-berth sleeper on overnight train and accommodation based on twin share (B&B basis)

Simon Buckley

From 3 days Whether you prefer serious sightseeing or gentle strolling, Eurostar takes you to the heart of Paris with no stress – so you’re ready to embrace the city’s charms as soon as you step off the train. A thousand and one books have surely been written about travellers journeying from London to Paris – but the trip never becomes less enticing or romantic. There is guaranteed delight in three days exploring the French capital, and travelling by train means the journey becomes part of the pleasure.There will be time for plenty of sightseeing – the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, The Louvre and the Pompidou Centre are the big game of Paris and always rewarding – but Paris is also a city that’s perfect for wandering – find boutiques in the Latin Quarter, stroll the banks of the Seine, or take the Metro to the flea market at Porte de Clignancourt.

WEEKEND CITY BREAKS

Weekend City Breaks

46.

Signature Tours

Est. 1974

If you haven’t found the right rail holiday among our escorted tour programme for 2014 why not create your own. Our team of expert travel consultants provide a Signature Tour service that will help you plan and fulfil your dream rail journey. We produce personalised, bespoke tours that meet the desires of individuals, couples and groups of friends. Talk to us about your ideas and our team will work with you to plan your itinerary and you won’t have to commit to anything until you are entirely happy with your own

Colin Churcher

Robin Lush

personal, ‘signature’ tour. Here are just three Signature Tour examples we produced in 2012 / 2013.

Grand Rail Tour of England and Wales As a specialist Rail Tour Operator we regularly prepare tailor-made tours for overseas and UKbased rail enthusiasts. To illustrate the kind of tours we arrange, we have prepared a 21-day ‘unique’ tour of England and Wales to illustrate the opportunities for a ‘Signature’ Rail Holiday in England and Wales

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Begin with an overnight stay in London and visit the London Transport Museum before boarding the train to Leeds. Excursions in the Yorkshire region include a ride on the ‘Keighley and Worth Valley Railway’, also known as the Railway Children’s Railway, a tour of the Haworth Motive Power Depot to see the engines under repair and the working fleet, and no visit to

Yorkshire would be complete without seeing the National Railway Museum in York. Travelling further north take a ride on the ‘North Yorkshire Moors Railway’ and the ‘Scarborough Spa Express’ steam train, before continuing by rail to Darlington. The North East leg includes a visit to the Beamish Open Air Museum with its vintage trams and buses and George Stephenson’s cottage, birthplace of the world-famous railway engineer who pioneered the steam locomotive The Rocket. By rail to Carlisle, then travel on the ‘Settle and Carlisle Railway’ before boarding ‘The Statesman’ which passes the Brief Encounter refreshment room made famous in the classic 1945 movie. The ‘Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway’; a heritage steamer from Pooley Bridge

to Glenridding and a bonus visit to Manchester Airport for a tour of Concorde and Nimrod would complete the North West leg of this tour before travelling by rail to Llandudno. You are spoilt for choice in Wales - travel on the Conwy Valley Line, the Welsh Highland and Ffestiniog Railways, Llangollen Railway and cruise along the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct. A tour of Ffestiniog Railway’s famous Boston Lodge is also included. A vintage steam-hauled train between Bridgnorth and Kidderminster on the Severn Valley Railway plus a visit to the Didcot Railway Centre complete the journey which ends in London. Prices available on request

Europe Classic Switzerland by Rail

the postbus route over the San Bernardino Pass to Chur. Three days in Chur gave them plenty of time to explore the Rhaetian Railways, including a full day excursion on the Bernina Express to Tirano and return. On the final day a short transfer on the main line from Chur took them

to Zurich airport for their flight home.

Safari before travelling South to Bangkok. An escorted tour to Ayutthaya included a visit to Bang Pa-In Summer Palace, one of the most beautiful Summer Palaces in Thailand and was followed by a visit to Wat Yai Chaimongkhol to see the biggest, reclining Buddha and the ruins of the old Royal Grand Palace & Temples. A tour to the Bridge over the River Kwai included a visit to the war museum and a chance to ride the locally known “Death” train, and a longboat to the bridge. A welcome beach break at Phi Phi Island followed, before continuing to Kuala Lumpur by train and the 5th and final Jewel of this tour, Malaysia. A visit to the Batu Caves was

a must before a return to Singapore. Extra tours here included the Haw Par Villa, Singapore’s Chinese mythology theme park, and visits to Kranji Dam, Kranji War Memorial, Bright Hill Temple and Changi. The return to the UK was by schedule airline.

SIGNATURE TOURS

Our clients wanted to sample the scenic Swiss Railways using the wonderfully flexible Swiss Pass so we prepared an 11-day trip starting with a return SWISS flight from Heathrow to Zurich. Using the Swiss Pass they travelled via Bern and Interlaken Ost to Wilderswil for a 3-night stay that gave them time to explore the mountain railways and cable cars of the Jungfrau region or to relax on the lake. From Wilderswil they transferred by train via the Lötschberg route to the Rhône valley and Brig.Their 1-day stay in Brig was for the purpose of riding on the Furka steam line which operates in the summer season over part of the original route of the Glacier Express. From Brig they used the scenic Centovalli line to Locarno where a connection was made with

Swiss Travel Systems

Mr & Mrs Ian Coane of Dorset and their friends Mr & Mrs Chris Hillier - June 2013

Price with first class Swiss Pass - £1,528 per person Mr & Mrs Coane commented: “All ran very smoothly, thanks to your efficiency and helpfulness.”

World Far Eastern Jewels Tour

Mr David G Coates of Wrexham July/August 2012 A 21-day tour of Singapore, Vietnam, China, Thailand and Malaysia that explored the culture of 5 jewels of the Far East. The first jewel was Singapore where the tour began with dinner at the Clarke Quay before a tour of the city by night. 10 days were spent at the second jewel Vietnam, touring around Phnom Penh with visits to the Khmer Rouge sites of Choeng Ek and Tuol Sleng and contrasting visits to the Royal Palace and the Silver Pagoda. Saigon showed a lighter side of this historic culture that included a Water Puppetry Show. Other highlights were the Thien Hau pagoda, Notre Dame Cathedral, the former Presidential Palace, War Museum, Chinatown and the Ben Thanh Market. Hanoi again offered something different such as the Temple of Literature, known as the first university of Vietnam and the impressive Ethnologic Museum, the History Museum and the beautiful West Lake. A trip to the peaceful lake of Hoan Kiem and the Ngoc Son Temple was followed by a leisurely 5-day cruise to Halong Bay. The 3rd jewel was Hong Kong and mainland China. An evening Bay Cruise and Firework Show was enjoyed in Hong Kong before departing by rail to the wonderful city of Xi’an and a visit to the famous Terracotta Warriors. Thailand next and a trek around Chiang Mai in the North, exploring the local Longneck Hill Tribe and taking an Elephant

Tel: 01766 772030

www.ffestiniogtravel.com

Price based on travel in 2012 - £8,500pp Mr Coates commented: “After Sheryl managed to get me back from China to the UK all the way by train in 2009, Ffestiniog Travel was my first stop for organising another trip to Asia in 2012.Yet again I had an amazing time experiencing everything from the bright lights of Singapore, to the camps in Cambodia, amazing views during a cruise of Halong Bay and Scuba diving for the first time off Phi Phi Island. Will be booking again soon for a trip to Japan.”

48.

Special Interest Tours

Est. 1974

Robert Callow

We have, for many years, provided the travel expertise for numerous interest groups who wish to pursue their hobbies and activities further afield and we are particularly committed to helping organisations develop their programme of specialist tours. We have particular specialism in arranging holidays for rail enthusiasts, but we also provide a service to wider special interest groups, arranging travel and accommodation for organisations such as geology and music groups, gardening clubs, history and art societies and have worked very closely with the Wilmslow Guild for 15 years to allow many of their study groups to extend their knowledge further by organising field trips at home and abroad. Each tour is accompanied by a tour leader who is a specialist in the chosen subject and, whilst they are not strenuous tours, we should mention that they are an educational experience as well as a holiday. Numbers can range from small parties of just 5 to up to 30 depending on destination. Below is a selection of Special Interest Tours we have organised recently.

Wild Flowers of Majorca April 2012, 2013, to be repeated March 2014 Majorca, largest and most diverse of the Balearic Islands, is home to an extensive flora, seen at its best in Spring. We have run a specialist tour to the Island for the last two years, led by Dr Robert Callow, and the tour is proving popular among those interested in gaining knowledge of flowers further afield. Our tour party stayed on the quiet and beautiful north coast, visiting a wide range of natural habitats, encompassing marshland, mountain valleys, rocky shores and sand dunes, as well as formal gardens and Neolithic sites. Some plants are familiar, being native to Britain. Some exhibit features adaptive to the Mediterranean climate. Others are unique, their characteristics and distribution bearing witness to the thirty million year old history of the western Mediterranean. It is a wonderful way to appreciate this beautiful Balearic Island from a different perspective that also nourishes your personal interest in flowers. Full details on our web site or brochure available. 49.

The Geology & Scenery of Angelsey April 2013 The popular holiday destination of Anglesey has been designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, for its lovely beaches and interesting natural history, and more recently as the UNESCO Geopark of Geomon, for its unique geology. The ancient rocks which underpin this beautiful island were formed more than 600 million years ago in deep oceans towards the South Pole. Plate tectonics moved these rocks northwards into tropical seas where continents were squeezed together to produce the complex patterns of folds and faults seen in the cliffs around Rhoscolyn and Holyhead. The younger sandstones and fossiliferous limestones of eastern Anglesey were then deposited and subsequent ice ages and seas level changes carved out the landscape seen today. A 7-day self-drive Study Tour was led by Dr. Christine Arkwright, a geology tutor with the Open University and Wilmslow Guild and an expert in running geology field trips and study tours in the UK for undergraduate summer schools and adult education courses.

The Aldeburgh Festival June 2013 This very successful tour was organised for the Wilmslow Guild as part of their music appreciation courses and was led by Roger Wilkes. Roger read music at Clare College, Cambridge, and at London University. He has been music tutor at the Guild for 20 years, is President of the North West Early Music Forum and serves on the Council and Academic Board of the Guild of Church Musicians.The Aldeburgh Festival is an annual event which was founded in 1948 by Benjamin Britten, Peter Pears and Eric Crozier. The 2013 Festival was a special occasion to mark the centenary of Britten’s birth and a highlight of the programme was a performance of “Peter Grimes” in the open air setting of Aldeburgh Beach.

Specialist Operator to Romania SPECIAL INTEREST TOURS

Ramona Cazacu

Ffestiniog Travel, through their partnership with owner managed local operator My Romania, are now one of the UK’s leading tour specialists to the country – and not just for holidays by rail. We are able to offer, for groups or independent travellers, other special interest holidays to the country including culture and history, walking and wildlife. In 2013 we led three very successful escorted tours to Romania, two of the tours were limited to 12 people only to ensure our travellers get the best experience they can. Variously described as “Europe’s last wilderness” and “Europe’s best kept secret”, Romania is a true gem of a destination. With a rich and varied history, stunning mountain scenery and a rural way of life unchanged for centuries, it has a charm of its own and yet is almost unknown. Sooner or later, we fear, it will be “discovered” and then, perhaps, the charm will disappear. Meanwhile it remains the preserve of a handful of very specialist tour operators. Amongst its many attractions is Transylvania with its castles and unspoiled forests and mountains, still home to bears, wolves and other rare fauna. Then there are Bucovina’s famous painted monasteries and the northern region of Maramures¸ where old wooden houses and churches stand in villages where most people live by agriculture and follow traditional crafts and customs. Everywhere in rural Romania we find horses and carts instead of tractors and villages with traditional looking wells. Such scenes have now become unique in Europe. In addition to well-appointed hotels and guest houses, Romania boasts a large number of homestay premises where local enterprising families have converted or modernised their properties to be suitable for visitors. Such amenities include full en suite facilities, lounge or similar area to relax and, occasionally, a small library. Invariably, these properties are in rural areas well away from main centres of population and they allow the visitors to immerse themselves in village life, eating and drinking home grown organic produce – fruit and vegetables, meat, dairy products, honey, jam and bread all come from the village. We have available to us a number of such homestays in the Saxon and Hungarian villages of Transylvania, also in Maramures¸ and Bucovina. Almost all the money spent on these holidays goes directly into Romania’s local economy – locally owned accommodation, restaurants, transport and so on, not forgetting local guides who rely on visitors for their livelihood.

Ramona Cazacu

Regular tours from 2009 to 2013 plus June and September 2014

Ramona Cazacu

“One of the best tours I have ever had” Mr P. Butler, Phillipines

Tel: 01766 772030

www.ffestiniogtravel.com

50.

Swiss Travel System

Ticket Only

Est. 1974

Passengers now travel by train more than at any time in the railway’s history and, believe it or not, an important ingredient in this is travelling for pleasure, either to visit friends and relatives or, increasingly, simply riding the trains to visit new places or enjoy the scenery. There are probably a number of issues which have influenced the trend, ranging from the introduction of Eurostar services from London to Paris and Brussels in the 1990s, suddenly making it a whole lot easier to visit continental Europe, or for environmental issues (Eurostar proudly boasts that it is a carbon neutral mode of transport) to customers themselves aspiring to something a little different from their customary fortnight in the sun. Travelling by rail is not only environmentally friendly (up to 90% less CO2 emissions than flying) but also an enjoyable way to start your holiday. With rail travel your holiday starts the moment you step onboard the train when you can sit back and experience the sights and sounds of the countryside and cities you pass through before reaching your destination. Here at Ffestiniog Travel we have been booking international rail journeys for 40 years and our dedicated ticketing service provides a one-stop-shop for rail journeys throughout the world. No longer is the ‘holiday by rail’ the preserve of the enthusiasts pursuing their hobby. Today’s rail travellers have a broad range of interests and come from a wide background.

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Rail Europe

Our rail ticket department operates its own website www.myrailtrip.co.uk which details selected routes, fares and passes for travel in the UK, Europe and worldwide.

UK TICKETS UK Tickets

TICKET ONLY

Purchasing rail tickets in the UK can be a minefield with different types of fares, routes and validities. Our expert team of travel consultants can guide you through and obtain the correct ticket for your requirements. Rail travel doesn’t have to be as expensive, as it can sometimes appear, and we can advise you on the best time to travel or discuss all the options that might make your rail journey cheaper. If you are a student or aged between 16 and 25, travelling with children or if you are over 60 then it could be worth buying a railcard. Railcards offer a discount of up to a third off rail fares and depending on the journey can save you more than the full cost on the first use.

EUROPEAN European Tickets TICKETS We at Ffestiniog Travel are extremely proud of our European ticketing department. As one of the leading retailers of European tickets in the UK we have direct access to many rail operators booking systems and can provide tickets for the majority of trains in Europe. We will advise you on whether individual tickets or a general railpass will be better and can arrange seat reservations for those trains that require booking. It is often cheaper to purchase a ‘through’ ticket to your destination rather than individual tickets for each part of your journey and we will work out the best route. Whether you require a simple point to point ticket or your journey is more complicated, with many stopovers en route, we will be more than happy to send you a detailed quotation. Rail passes are available for each country in Europe, in most cases the InterRail range are the most suitable. InterRail passes are also available for the whole of Europe covering travel for up to a month. When travelling in Switzerland you can’t beat the Swiss Pass. This pass offers unlimited travel on Railways, boats and most alpine postbuses. The Pass also allows free travel on public transport in 38 towns and cities. Don’t forget to ask for tickets from your home station. In most cases we can offer CIV tickets to London International. These fares, in addition to including the London Underground from your terminal station to London St Pancras, offer a level of flexibility and assurance that normal ATOC tickets don’t. If your connecting train is late then Eurostar are bound by the International Conditions of Carriage (Convention Internationale pour le transport des Voyageurs or CIV) to carry you on the next available service.

Tel: 01766 772030

WORLDWIDE TICKETS

Worldwide Tickets

Some of the most evocative images of travel are those of the great train journeys of the world. In Canada – The Rocky Mountaineer and Canadian; In Australia - The Ghan, The Indian Pacific and The Overland; In Russia - The Trans-Siberian and Trans Mongolian. Ffestiniog Travel can advise and book many of the iconic train journeys of the world. We are also UK Sales Agents for Japan Rail Passes. If you are contemplating touring a Continent or country and have considered rail as the most enjoyable and sustainable way to travel, why not discuss with us the various options available?

www.ffestiniogtravel.com

The www.myrailtrip.co.uk website is constantly changing, providing news updates on train travel and special offers. Visit our website to find out more about our train ticketing services or visit our Facebook page and click like to get regular updates about rail travel, find us at www.facebook.com/FfestiniogTravel

52.

Things You Need to Know

Est. 1974

Your Financial Protection

Switzerland Tourism

The air holiday packages in this brochure are ATOL protected by the Civil Aviation Authority. Our ATOL number is 3047. Non-air packages are protected by our Association of Bonded Travel Organisers’ Trust Ltd Bond. (For full details please see booking condition number 14 on page 58)

To book a holiday, please fill in the forms on pages 56 and 57, remembering to complete both sides and send it to us with the deposit shown in the price box for the holiday chosen. For unescorted holidays, we will ask you for further payment as soon as we commit to various advance purchase tickets on your behalf for flights, train tickets etc. These are non-refundable and so it is important that your travel insurance is in place at this stage. An invoice will be sent to you for the balance of money due about 12 weeks in advance of travel, for payment 10 weeks before the holiday start date. During these last 10 weeks, we will be paying large sums on your behalf which we will be unable to reclaim and your commitment is therefore vital during this period. What the Price Includes ■ Second class rail travel with seat reservations as appropriate (first class is included where shown). ■ Economy (or equivalent) class on scheduled flights as appropriate from London Heathrow or Gatwick (other airports by arrangement for escorted and unescorted holidays). Please be aware that, in the case of escorted holidays, if you choose to fly from a regional airport or go by rail and, for some reason (e.g. weather) the main group is unable to fly, you will arrive at your destination without your tour leader and may incur additional hotel or transport costs until you meet the group. Flight upgrades may be available upon request. ■ Sleeping berths on overnight trains where applicable. ■ Bed and breakfast appropriate to the country being visited. For USA and Canada it is unusual for breakfast to be included but it is becoming more common for hotels to provide a very simple continental breakfast. ■ All transfers on escorted tours where appropriate. Transfers on unescorted tours by individual arrangement. ■ Local and airport taxes where applicable. What the Price Excludes ■ Single room supplements – we charge these at cost. ■ Lunch and evening meals except where indicated in the itineraries. ■ Passport, visa and personal expenses. ■ Rail tickets to and from London or other joining points mentioned in the itinerary (we can supply these upon request).

53.

Hotels Generally, we use good quality, medium sized hotels (the equivalent of 3-star rating) with private facilities. Inevitably, the choice of hotels is limited in some remote areas and here we would use the ‘best available’. Sometimes, we use 4 or even 5-star hotels where we can take advantage of good offers or contract prices. Please remember that hotels are often rated in official guide books by their facilities and not their quality. We have come across, and occasionally use, some amazingly clean, comfortable and good value 2-star establishments which can never aspire to a higher rating because they cannot ‘tick all the boxes.’

Health, Fitness and Luggage Throughout our time of organising railway holidays, we have found that most of our customers prefer to handle their luggage themselves, thus removing the delays in bags arriving at rooms and eliminating the need to have bags packed for collection before breakfast. We therefore do not include baggage handling in the cost of the tours and this should to be taken into account when packing for the holiday. Because the holidays that we offer are based on travelling, it is important that customers are reasonably fit. If you have any doubts please telephone us to discuss your particular situation and we will do our best to accommodate you. Our Booking Condition number 20 explains the need for you to notify us of any medical problems which could affect your fitness to travel – we are required by law to notify airlines of clients with reduced mobility including people with walking difficulties, broken limbs, also pregnant women.

Insurance We, Ffestiniog Railway Holdings Ltd, (Ffestiniog Travel) act as an Introducer Appointed Representative for the purposes of your travel insurance, appointed by Global Travel Insurance Services Ltd who are authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority whose status can be checked on the FSA Register by visiting www.fsa.gov.uk/register or by contacting the FSA on 0845 606 1234. Address for correspondence: Global Travel Insurance Services Limited, The Turret, 25 Farncombe Road, Worthing, West Sussex, BN11 2AY. Telephone 01903 235042, Fax 01903 229389. Email enquiries@ globaltravelinsurance.co.uk website www.globaltravelinsurance.co.uk We will send you an application form on booking enabling you to arrange this insurance. If preferred, you can go to our website where you can obtain a quotation and arrange the insurance on line. Beyond providing this information, we are not allowed to assist you in any way in the arrangement of your travel insurance or give any advice. It is a condition that you purchase sufficient travel insurance to cover the duration of your holiday and that you provide Ffestiniog Travel with the details required on the booking form. Each holiday in the brochure includes the day of departure and the day of return and this is the period to be used for insurance purposes. Please ensure that the travel insurance policy is suitable for your needs. Use of Rover Tickets Where tours are based on rover tickets such as InterRail, availability and validity are based on the best information at the time of going to press. These are outside the control of Ffestiniog Travel and are therefore subject to change. Privately Organised Groups Our holidays are ideal for private groups of ten or more.They can be taken at any time of the year (although charges may vary with the season) and are available with or without a tour leader. This is a service that we have provided for many years for groups from clubs and societies creating tours to meet their specific requirements. Passport and Visa Information (Applicable to British Citizens) ■ A full British passport is required for all non UK holidays in this brochure. Please allow at least 6 weeks and preferably three months for issue and renewal. ■ Outside Europe, many countries stipulate that passports must be valid for at least six months beyond the date of your intended visit.

Tel: 01766 772030

Visas are not required for holiday visits to Argentina, Bolivia, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Namibia, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, South Africa or Thailand. ■ In the case of the USA, UK citizens may enter the country on the Visa Waiver Programme. An ESTA authorisation is required even for transit which must be applied for in advance of travel. Applications can be made on line at www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel or Ffestiniog Travel can apply on your behalf (£20 fee applicable). Please be aware that, for entry on this programme, your passport must be machine readable and, if issued after 26 October 2005, must have a digital photograph imprinted on the page rather than glued on. ■ A visa for Australia can also be issued electronically by notifying the immigration computer if you supply Ffestiniog Travel with a clear photocopy of the data page of your passport. There is a fee of £20 for this service. ■ Visas are required for visits to Belarus (even for transit), China, India, Russia, Mongolia, Vietnam, Eritrea and Egypt. Advice will be given when booking a holiday. ■

Speak to Us If you have a problem, if you do not understand anything or want to know more, contact us and we will be pleased to help. Telephone: 01766 772030 Email: info@ffestiniogtravel.co.uk website: www.ffestiniogtravel.com

THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW

Health Precautions and Immunisations Recommended The following information is accurate at the time of going to press but you should also seek the advice of a qualified practitioner. ■ European destinations in this brochure plus Australia, Canada, New Zealand, USA: None ■ Peru, Bolivia, Hong Kong, Singapore, South Africa, Egypt: Hepatitis A, polio, tetanus, typhoid, hepatitis B. ■ China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Namibia, Peru, Sri Lanka, Thailand: hepatitis A, hepatitis B, malaria, polio, tetanus, typhoid. ■ Japan, Mexico: tetanus, hepatitis A, hepatitis B. ■ Eritrea: hepatitis A, hepatitis B, meningococcal meningitis, tetanus, typhoid, malaria. ■ Vietnam: hepatitis A, hepatitis B, Japanese encephalitis, polio, tetanus, typhoid, malaria. ■ Russia: hepatitis A, hepatitis B, Japanese encephalitis, polio, tetanus, tick-borne encephalitis, typhoid. ■ Mongolia: hepatitis A, hepatitis B, tetanus, tick-borne encephalitis, typhoid. The type of malaria tablet and dosage varies from place to place and from time to time. For up to date information on any health precautions, please consult your G.P. or visit website: www.hpa.org.uk

Acknowledgements: Our thanks for assistance and photographs to our tour leaders, Ffestiniog travellers, tourist offices, railways, other organisations and individuals who have helped us to plan the holidays and helped put this brochure together. Front cover images by Switzerland Tourism and Irish Rail. Airlines Used for Ffestiniog Travel Holidays We use scheduled services provided by major airlines. The arrangements are not definite at the time of printing and we cannot give you any firm information about the airlines or the type of aircraft on which you will travel. We are required by law to notify airlines of clients with reduced mobility problems including people with walking difficulties, broken limbs and also pregnant women. Extensions to Escorted Tours If you participate in one of our escorted tours and you would like to extend your holiday, we recommend that you do so at the end of the escorted tour, rather than at the beginning. This eliminates the risk of your being ready to embark on an escorted group tour which is unable to depart the UK due to, for example, a volcanic ash cloud, airline or train strike action, extreme weather conditions etc. RATES OF EXCHANGE Rates of exchange used for calculating prices in this brochure are those applying at 1st May 2013 and 1st August 2013, please see price box for each tour. True rates are usually slightly better than tourist rates published in the most popular newspapers but, for ease of reference by customers, the tourist rates at that time are set out below. £1 sterling buys Australia (AUD) Canada (Can$) Denmark (Den kr.) Euro ( ) Japan (Yen) Norway (Nkr) New Zealand (NZD) Sweden (Skr) Switzerland (CHF) USA (US$)

www.ffestiniogtravel.com

1st MAY 2013

1.42 1.49 8.39 1.13 144.09 8.40 1.68 9.50 1.38 1.48

1st AUGUST 2013 1.60 1.49 8.14 1.10 141.71 8.63 1.77 9.53 1.35 1.45

54.

QUALITY CHARTER

Est. 1974

QUALITY CHARTER

The Association of Independent Tour Operators AITO is the Association for independent and specialist holiday companies. Our member companies, usually owner-managed, strive to create overseas holidays with high levels of professionalism and a shared concern for quality and personal service. The Association encourages the highest standards in all aspects of tour operating. Exclusive Membership AITO sets criteria regarding ownership, finance and quality which must be satisfied before new companies are admitted to membership. All members are required to adhere to a Code of Business Practice which encourages high operational standards and conduct. Financial Security An AITO member is required to arrange financial protection for all holidays and other arrangements (including accommodation only) booked by customers with the member under the AITO logo. This financial protection applies to customers who are resident in the UK at the time of booking and to most overseas customers who have booked directly with the member. In doing so, the member must comply with UK government regulations. Members are required to submit details of their financial protection arrangements to AITO on a regular basis. Accurate Brochures and Websites All members do their utmost to ensure that all their brochures and other publications, print or electronic, clearly and accurately describe the holidays and services offered. Professional Service and Continual Improvements All members are committed to high standards of service and believe in regular and thorough training of employees. Members continually seek to review and improve their holidays. They listen to their customers and always welcome suggestions for improving standards. Monitoring Standards AITO endeavours to monitor quality standards regularly. All customers should receive a post-holiday questionnaire the results of which are scrutinised by the Association. Sustainable Tourism All members acknowledge the importance of AITOâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Sustainable Tourism guidelines, which recognise the social, economic and environmental responsibilities of tour operating. Those demonstrating their achievements beyond the pure acceptance of this principle are recognised by the award of 2 to 5 star status. Customer Relations All members endeavour to deal swiftly and fairly with any issues their customers may raise. In the unlikely event that a dispute between an AITO member and a customer cannot be settled amicably, AITOâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s low-cost Independent Dispute Settlement Service may be called upon by either side to bring the matter to a speedy and acceptable conclusion. Ffestiniog Travel is a member of the Association of Independent Tour Operators. To contact the Association, visit www.aito.com or call 020 8744 9280.

SPECIAL BOOKING CONDITIONS Steam Trains and Tourist Railways The tours in this brochure that feature steam haulage are almost exclusively based on either visits to preserved railways or the operation of steam locomotives on national or private railways purely for tourist purposes. If, despite our best efforts, a steam locomotive is unavailable on the tour day due to non-completion of repairs/overhauls, breakdown or other factors such as fire bans, a train may be cancelled or diesel hauled. Our limit of liability to you will be to refund any costs we can recoup from operators resulting from such cancellation/non provision. We may not receive refunds from some operators in such circumstances.You agree that the non provision of a steam locomotive or cancellation of any sort of special train, or scheduled train on private or preserved railways will not be considered grounds for cancellation by you and normal cancellation charges will apply. 55.

Booking Form Please make sure you have read the Information and Booking Conditions (Pages (Pages 50-52 53, 54 and and 55) 58) before completing, signing and returning your form. Please use block capitals to fill out the form. Contact us direct if you have a problem. Title

First Names *(please underline the first name you normally use)

Surname

Date of Birth

*Please make sure you enter the name details exactly as entered on the Passport. Contact Numbers

Address

Home tel: Work tel: Mobile: Postcode:

Email:

Name of Holiday as shown in the Brochure

You can, at any stage, ask for your details to be removed from our database. Please indicate by ticking this box if you don’t wish to receive marketing communications. Date of Departure

Hotel Room Requirements

Non-smoking (please tick) subject to availability

Twin or Double (either) Swiss Holidays

Twin (only)

Tick box to claim a discount for 2 travelling together at all times

Willing to share (Twin)

Enter details

Single Please tick if required

Connecting flights from regional airports and upgrades available upon request

UK Holidays Railcard Type

Amtrak upgrade to Deluxe Bedroom Accommodation Railcard Number Security No. last 3 digits on reverse

Deposit payment by Debit/Credit Card (or by cheque below) Card Number:

Expires end

Name on Card:

Amount £

Signature credit/debit card only:

Date

A 2% charge applies when paying by credit card (not debit cards). I enclose a cheque remittance of £ being deposit(s) as shown in the price box for each holiday. I understand on behalf of myself and my party to take the holiday as advertised and to pay the balance of the money required no later than 10 weeks before the date of departure. I have read and understood the booking conditions and have signed and dated the form. PLEASE NOTE: Your signature below will also be taken as an indication that you and members of your party are not travelling against the advice of a qualified medical practitioner. PLEASE TURN OVER.

Expiry Date

O S’ T T I N A GE A Y EL ONL V A TR TAMP S Our question to you . . . . . . .? Are you an existing Ffestiniog Traveller? (please circle as appropriate). If not, how did you hear about Ffestiniog Travel?

YES Signature

Date 56.

Additional Information Needed to Process your Booking Additional Information Needed to Process your Booking Passport Information Passport NameInformation Passport Number Passport Number

Name

Issue Date

Expiry Date

Nationality

Issue Date

Expiry Date

Nationality

Passport Issuing Authority Passport Issuing Authority

Airlines are now required to forward Passport Information to the relevant Immigration Department of the country you are visiting prior to arrival. Airlines are now required to forward Passport Information to the relevant Immigration Department of the country you are visiting prior to arrival.

Personal Information To comply with the Data Protection Act, any medical information provided here will not be disclosed to your insurance provider. It is your responsibility to ensure that any Personal Information relevant information is passed to your insurance company. To comply with the Data Protection Act, any medical information provided here will not be disclosed to your insurance provider. It is your responsibility to ensure that any relevant information is passed to your insurance company. Medical Information Dietary Requirements Emergency Contact Details (e.g. diabetic) Medical Information (e.g. diabetic)

(e.g. vegetarian) Dietary Requirements (e.g. vegetarian)

(name & tel. no.) Emergency Contact Details (name & tel. no.)

Insurance Company

Policy Number

24hr Emergency No

Insurance Company

Policy Number

24hr Emergency No

Insurance Information Insurance Information

We are required by law to notify suppliers of clients with reduced mobility including people with walking difficulties, broken limbs, also pregnant women. Please indicate here if you have reduced mobility and other information you believe to be relevant to your booking. We are required by law to notify suppliers of clients with reduced mobility including people with walking difficulties, broken limbs, also pregnant women. Please indicate here if you have reduced mobility and other information you believe to be relevant to your booking.

Are you travelling with anyone else who has sent us a booking form independently? If so, whom? Are you travelling with anyone else who has sent us a booking form independently? If so, whom?

Return the Signed Form to: Return the Signed Form to: 5050

5050

57.

Ffestiniog Travel 1st Floor Unit 6 Ffestiniog Travel Snowdonia Business Park 1st Floor Unit 6 Penrhyndeudraeth Snowdonia Business Park Gwynedd Penrhyndeudraeth LL48 6LD Gwynedd LL48 6LD

Tel: 01766 772030 Fax: 01766772030 772049 Tel: 01766 Email: info@ffestiniogtravel.co.uk Fax: 01766 772049 Web: Email:www.ffestiniogtravel.com info@ffestiniogtravel.co.uk Ffestiniog Travel is the trade name of Ffestiniog Railway Web: www.ffestiniogtravel.com Holdings Ltd. Company No 2555576 Ffestiniog Travel is the trade name of Ffestiniog Railway Holdings Ltd. Company No 2555576

Booking Conditions In these conditions ‘the Company’ means Ffestiniog Railway Holdings Ltd., trading as Ffestiniog Travel; ‘the traveller’ includes any person or child travelling with or in the care of the traveller or for whom he makes any booking arrangements with the Company; ‘hotel’ includes any accommodation offered or provided to the traveller. 1. All reservations are accepted subject to the Company’s booking conditions. Reservations should be requested on the official Booking Form or, when applicable for tailor-made holidays, in a letter giving the full details of transport and accommodation required. Booking Form and/or letter should be signed by a person over 18 years and should be accompanied, where appropriate, by a deposit. A Booking Confirmation will be sent by the Company acknowledging this payment. 2. Any deposit paid to the Company by the traveller shall not be repayable by the Company in circumstances where the travel arrangements are cancelled by the traveller. The deposit is repaid to the traveller in circumstances where the Company cancels the travel arrangements, or where the travel arrangements are so altered by the Company that cancellation is offered to the traveller. 3. The Company may, without notice to the traveller, alter or substitute any route, method of carriage, carrier or hotel reservation without any liability whatsoever, provided that the Company gives its reasons for so doing and that such alterations shall neither increase the charge payable by the traveller nor be of a lower standard than the Company has contracted to provide to the traveller. In the event of a major change of itinerary being required, the traveller will be informed of such a change as soon as it becomes necessary and offered the alternative of a full refund, or transfer to another tour. A major change is defined as one which the Company makes prior to departure involving changing the departure time by more than 24 hours or deleting a substantial part of the itinerary. If the traveller wishes to cancel as a result of such a change, this must be done in writing within 14 days of the date when such notice is sent.The liability of the Company is limited in such circumstances to a full refund of all monies paid. Optional excursions do not form part of the itinerary in the context of this clause. 4.The price of the holiday is subject to surcharge on the following items: government action, currency (any changes in the rate of exchange between the pound sterling and the relevant foreign currencies between 1st May 2013 or 1st August 2013 as appropriate and the commencement of the holiday, please see price box for each tour), aircraft fuel, overflying charges, airport charges, increases in scheduled air fares and insurance costs. In the event of increases to any of the above, the Company shall be entitled to recover from the traveller any such increase above 2% of the total price of the holiday excluding excursions, amendments and insurance costs. If this means that the price of the holiday rises by more than 10%, the traveller has the option of cancelling the holiday and having refunded all monies paid, less any cancellation fees levied by the various hotels and transportation companies. In order to offset the cost of this undertaking, the Company will not guarantee to reduce the cost of the holiday in the event of a favourable change in the exchange rate but we will look at each case on its merits. Surcharges will not be levied by the Company at a later date than 30 days before the commencement of the holiday. 5. All arrangements made for carriage, conveyance, refreshment or accommodation are subject to the conditions of the person or company providing the carriage, conveyance, refreshment or accommodation and also are subject to the laws of the country in which it is provided. 6. In the event of insufficient bookings being received to enable the Company to qualify for group travel concessions for escorted holidays, the Company reserves the right to cancel the tour.This will not normally be done less than eight weeks before departure. The liability of the Company is limited in such circumstances to a full refund of all monies paid.This condition does not apply to unescorted holidays. 7. Prices are based on double room occupancy at hotels. If for any reason travellers are accommodated in single rooms, the appropriate single room supplement must be paid by the traveller. 8. All transportation and accommodation is arranged by the Company upon the express condition that it is liable only for the provision of services required for the performance of the contract and that such services shall offer a reasonable standard in relation to the cost of the holiday. 9. The Company shall not be held liable for the death, bodily injury or illness of the signatory to the contract or of any other person nominated on the Booking Form, except when caused by the proven negligence or omission of its employees or those of its agents or suppliers whilst acting within the scope of and in the course of their employment. The Company does not accept responsibility for services or facilities which are not part of its agreement or advertised in the brochure or on its website. E.g. Excursions booked whilst away or any service or facility which your hotel or other supplier agrees to provide for you. 10. The Company will take all reasonable care in making arrangements for transportation and accommodation but does not own or operate the transportation and accommodation suppliers referred to in the brochure. The Company accepts liability for acts or omissions of the employees of these suppliers only in so far as such liability arises from its contractual obligations and on the clear understanding that the traveller will make every effort to resolve any problems during the course of the holiday. Unresolved problems must be reported to the Company in writing within 28 days of the completion of the holiday. 11. Where international transportation services by land, sea or air are governed by international conventions, the obligations and liabilities of the Company and its suppliers are limited in the manner provided by such conventions. 12.The contract and any claims arising shall be governed by English and Welsh law and all proceedings shall be within the exclusive domain of the English and Welsh courts. 13. Responsibility cannot be accepted for losses or additional expenses due to delay, irregularity or change in air, rail, road, sea or other services, sickness, quarantine, strikes, war, weather or other causes. However the Company will make every effort to give advice and assistance in such cases. 14. Consumer Protection – In accordance with “The Package Travel, Package Holidays and Package Tours Regulations 1992”, all passengers booking with Ffestiniog Travel are fully protected for the initial deposit and subsequently the balance of all monies paid to us, including repatriation if required, arising from cancellation or curtailment of your travel arrangements due to the insolvency of Ffestiniog Railway Holdings Ltd. Holidays with flights included – your financial protection. All the flights and flight-inclusive holidays in this brochure are financially protected by the ATOL scheme. Our ATOL number is 3047. When you buy an ATOL protected flight or flight inclusive holiday from us you will receive an ATOL

Tel: 01766 772030

Certificate. This lists what is financially protected, where you can get information on what this means for you and who to contact if things go wrong. We, or the suppliers identified on your ATOL Certificate, will provide you with the services listed on the ATOL Certificate (or a suitable alternative). In some cases, where neither we nor the supplier are able to do so for reasons of insolvency, an alternative ATOL holder may provide you with the services you have bought or a suitable alternative (at no extra cost to you). You agree to accept that in those circumstances the alternative ATOL holder will perform those obligations and you agree to pay any money outstanding to be paid by you under your contract to that alternative ATOL holder. However, you also agree that in some cases it will not be possible to appoint an alternative ATOL holder, in which case you will be entitled to make a claim under the ATOL scheme (or your credit card issuer where applicable). If we, or the suppliers identified on your ATOL certificate, are unable to provide the services listed (or a suitable alternative, through an alternative ATOL holder or otherwise) for reasons of insolvency, the Trustees of the Air Travel Trust may make a payment to (or confer a benefit on) you under the ATOL scheme.You agree that in return for such a payment or benefit you assign absolutely to those Trustees any claims which you have or may have arising out of or relating to the non-provision of the services, including any claim against us, the travel agent (or your credit card issuer where applicable). You also agree that any such claims may be re-assigned to another body, if that other body has paid sums you have claimed under the ATOL scheme. For more information about financial protection and the ATOL Certificate go to: www.atol.org.uk ATOL protection does not apply to all holiday and travel services listed in this brochure. For more information about financial protection for those holidays that are not ATOL protected please see below. Holidays without flights included – As a member of the Association of Bonded Travel Organisers Trust Limited (ABTOT), Ffestiniog Travel has provided a bond to meet the requirements of the Package Travel, Package Holidays and Package Tours Regulations 1992. In the event of Ffestiniog Travel’s insolvency, protection is provided for non-flight packages commencing in and returning to the UK and other non-flight packages excluding pre arranged travel to and from your destination. Please note that packages booked outside the UK are only protected when purchased directly with Ffestiniog Travel. In the above circumstances, if you have not yet travelled you may claim a refund, or if you have already travelled, you may claim repatriation to the starting point of your non-flight package. N.B. Neither of the above bonds can be used to reimburse the costs of other expenses such as travel insurance, visas, vaccinations etc. In order to adequately meet its responsibilities under the law, the Company may, in the case of tailor made holidays, require to specify the airline, hotels or other suppliers used in the package. Please note that the sale of individual elements such as rail tickets, ferries, flights or accommodation only does not constitute a package in terms of the 1992 regulations. However flights are protected financially by the ATOL licence and “accommodation only” is protected financially by the ABTOT bond. 15. If you have a dispute with your tour operator which you are unable to resolve, you may call upon the low cost AITO Independent Dispute Settlement Service (details on request). Claims which exceed £2,500 per person or £10,000 per booking form, or claims which apply principally or exclusively in respect of (or as a consequence of) illness or physical injury are not admissible for settlement under the service. 16. Cancellation of a booking is effective only when received in writing by the Company.Cancellation fees are applicable as follows: More than 10 weeks’ notice ................................................................................. loss of deposit 70 to 42 days’ notice .......................................................................................................... 50% of the cost of the holiday 41 – 15 days’ notice ............................................................................................................. 90% of the cost of the holiday LESS than 15 days’ notice .......................................................................................... 100% of the cost of the holiday It is a booking condition that you purchase suitable and adequate travel insurance cover for the duration of your holiday. 17. A fee of £25 per booking will be charged for each amendment to a confirmed booking. This charge will not be levied until both the customer and the Company have agreed the final itinerary i.e. it will not be charged to customers who have made a booking and paid a deposit pending discussion on the details of the itinerary. Please note amendments cannot be accommodated less than 30 days before departure. 18. No tickets or other documents or vouchers will be released by the Company unless and until the full balance of the cost, as confirmed, shall have been paid to the Company. Such cost will be detailed to you in the final invoice. 19. Data Protection. In agreeing to these booking conditions, you acknowledge that we will collect personal information which is relevant to your holiday, including items related to diet or health.These may be passed on to suppliers, often abroad, to enable them to deliver the service required. We undertake not to pass on this information for any purpose other than in the provision of your holiday. 20. It is the traveller’s responsibility at the time of booking to provide the Company with full and accurate details of mobility, health and fitness and to notify the Company of any changes between booking the holiday and the date of travel.The Company reserves the right to terminate without notice the travel arrangements of any customer who does not comply and who, in the Company’s opinion, is not physically able to commence or continue a holiday. In these circumstances the Company’s obligations to the traveller shall cease, full cancellation charges shall apply and the Company shall not be liable for any refund, compensation or other costs. Please note that the Company’s rights in connection with the above may be exercised by the Tour Leader at the start of the escorted holiday or even during the holiday itself. Please note also that the Tour Leader cannot provide individual assistance with handling luggage.

www.ffestiniogtravel.com

Est. 1974

Ffestiniog Travel 1st Floor Unit 6, Snowdonia Business Park Penrhyndeudraeth, Gwynedd LL48 6LD Tel: +44 (0)1766 772030 Email: info@ffestiniogtravel.co.uk Web: www.ffestiniogtravel.com