Railtrail A4 STEAM Brochure 2018

Book now – online at

www.railtrail.co.uk

or telephone:

01538 382323

Chabowka 2018,

the Tatras & Slovakia Steam

DAY 1

Meet your Tour Manager at London Heathrow

for our afternoon flight with British Airways to

Krakow, from where we transfer to the 4* Grand

Ascot Hotel close to Krakow’s Old Town. (D)

DAY 2

No visit to Krakow would be complete without

a visit to the Salt Mines at Wieliczka, the oldest

operational mines in Europe and also a UNESCO

World Heritage site. Our guided tour uncovers

a remarkable underground ‘cathedral’ with

intricate carvings from the salt miners, including

a statue of Pope John Paul II, and even an

underground post office made from salt. Back in

Krakow, we enjoy a guided tour of the city with a

local guide, including a walk along the Royal Way,

viewing Wavel Hill, home to the castle in which

Polish kings lived, as well as the Cloth Hall and

St Mary’s Church amidst Europe’s largest fully-

intact medieval square. (B,D)

DAYS 3 & 4

We spend two days at the Parowozjada Festival

in Chabowka, with a guided tour of the open air

museum in the former locomotive shed, which

houses exhibits related to the history of Polish

railways. On the tracks there will be a parade of

steam, electric and diesel locomotives, wagons

and ploughs. There will also be steam excursions

included during the festival, with more details

available closer to the date. We provide packed

lunches during the festival days. (B,L,D)

DAY 5

Departing Krakow today, we take the scenic local

train southwards into the Tatras, following the

Skawa and Raba valleys climbing to the resort

town of Zakopane. Formerly the playground of

Polish artists and writers, Zakopane still boasts

leafy avenues and beautiful villas. On arrival we

enjoy a guided orientation tour of the resort,

DEPARTS

HOTELS

Thursday 16 August 2018

Last year we featured for the first time the Parowozjada Steam Festival at

Chabowka, with steam excursions included. This year’s tour takes in even

more! Flying from Heathrow, we explore Krakow, enjoy the Steam Festival,

visit the UNESCO World Heritage Wieliczka Salt Mines and take the train

to Zakopane in the beautiful Tatras. But that’s only the beginning, as we

transfer across the mountains into Slovakia to sample the Vychylovka

Forest Railway. We follow this with the unique Cierny Hron narrow-gauge

railway, famously running through a football stadium, before ending our

tour in Bratislava with a privately chartered heritage tram ride.

Cierny Balog Railway

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

★

Flights in BA Euro Traveller Class

from Heathrow to Krakow & Vienna

to Heathrow

★

Guided sightseeing tour of charming

Krakow

★

Two day ticket to the Parowozjada

Festival in Chabowka

★

Steam excursions from Chabowka

during the festival (destinations to be

confirmed)

★

Excursion to the UNESCO World

Heritage Wieliczka Salt Mines

★

Train journey into the Tatras to

Zakopane

★

Coach ride through the Tatra

Mountains into Slovakia

★

Visit the historical logging switchback

railway of Vychylovka

★

View the Vlak Hurban armoured train

★

Steam through the football stadium

on the Cierny Hron Narrow-Gauge

Railway

★

First Class rail journey between

Zvolen & Bratislava

★

Discover Bratislava on a vintage tram

excursion

★

Dinner every evening & 3 packed

lunches

Fares

From

£1795

before free time ahead of dinner at the Hotel

Mercure Kasprowy. (B,D)

DAY 6

Driving through the rugged Tatra Mountains,

we visit the first of our Slovak narrow-gauge

railways, the Vychylovka Forest Railway for a

steam ride on the preserved 3.5 km section of

track. The 760 mm gauge track was constructed

between 1915 and 1918 for the transportation

of timber, with switchbacks used to overcome

steep gradients. Although the railway was closed

in 1971 and much of it dismantled, a section

was reopened in 1994 and we experience this

line from Kubatkovia to the first switchback.

Continuing southwards we view the Vlak Hurban

armoured train in Zvolen, a replica of the train

constructed in Zvolen in 1944 during the Slovak

National Uprising against the Nazis. Our hotel in

Zvolen is the Hotel Academic. (B,D)

DAY 7

Our second Slovak narrow-gauge steam

experience takes us eastwards to Cierny Balog

to ride the 760 mm gauge Cierny Hron Railway.

During our visit we take in the Blue Route

through historic logging settlements, with the

main attraction of passing between the football

pitch and grandstand of the football club TJ

Tatran Cierny Balog in Janosovka, made famous

by many online videos on social media. We also

feature the longer Red Route through beautiful

countryside and the Cierny Hron river valley

and find time to visit the Ciernohronska Railway

Museum in Cierny Balog itself. (B,L,D)

DAYS 8-9

We transfer to Zvolen station for a journey in First

Class to Bratislava, the Slovak capital. We check

in to our hotel, the 4* Hotel Avance Bratislava

with a free afternoon to explore this compact

and attractive capital city on the Danube or visit

either the imposing castle or one of the city’s

transport museums. During our stay we will

also feature a privately chartered vintage tram

journey around Bratislava’s Old Town. (B,D)

DAY 10

We depart Bratislava for Vienna International

Airport and our afternoon flight back to

Heathrow. (B)

DAYS

Grand Hotel Ascot, Krakow

A modern 4* hotel in the heart of Krakow and

conveniently situated just a short walk from

the Old Town.

Mercure Kasprowy, Zakopane

A 3* hotel with great views of the Tatras

set within walking distance of the centre of

Zakopane, the hotel features two restaurants,

a bar, a traditional inn, plus a swimming pool

and sauna.

Hotel Academic, Zvolen

In the heart of Zvolen close to the main

pedestrianised shopping street, the Academic

is a 3* hotel with modern, well equipped

rooms, restaurant and bar.

Hotel Avance, Bratislava

A small 4* hotel set in the historical heart

of Bratislava and close to the Danube with

stylish, modern rooms, restaurant and a small

wellness area.

FARE

From London Heathrow Airport

to Krakow & Vienna to £1995

London Heathrow

Join at Krakow Hotel & Leave

from Bratislava Hotel £1795

(Land Only) **

Single Traveller Supplement £595

9 nights’ bed, breakfast & evening meal, plus 3 packed

lunches

All excursions and admissions as detailed

Services of experienced Railtrail Tour Manager

** Please note that this tour will operate subject to a

minimum number of passengers being reached. Please

do not book your own flights until the tour has been

guaranteed as Railtrail cannot be held responsible for

extra expense incurred in the unlikely event that the

tour does not operate.