Railtrail A4 STEAM Brochure 2018

Chabowka 2018, the Tatras & Slovakia Steam

N E W T O U R

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.

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, ★ ★ 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 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

Fares From £1795

Cierny Balog Railway

10 DAYS

© AdobeStock

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)

DEPARTS

Thursday 16 August 2018

HOTELS 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.

Book now – online at www.railtrail.co.uk or telephone: 01538 382323

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