The Alps And More
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(Escorted)
Saturday 28th June - Saturday 12th
July
2008 |
A selection of
wonderfully scenic train journeys in Germany,
Switzerland, Italy and Austria together with visits
to steam tourist railways, a cruise on a Rhine
paddle steamer and free time in the exciting capital
of Vienna, make this a holiday for all tastes.
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Price per person: |
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Includes standard class rail
journeys, hotels and breakfasts, Global Inter Rail
for unlimited travel on state railways and Rhaetian
Railway, excursions as detailed and Vienna City
Travel ticket. |
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Escorted holiday: |
£1370.00 |
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Single Room Supplement: |
£200.00 |
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Deposit for the holiday: |
£100.00 |
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Insurance if required please add on:
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£27.00 |
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(Click map to enlarge) |
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Day 1 - Our journey begins
By Eurostar from the new St. Pancras International
station in London to Brussels and by connecting
service to Cologne. Here we change for a train along
the scenic River Rhine to Koblenz and St.
Goarshausen in the Rhine Gorge.
Day 2 - A trip into the past
We visit the Kasbachtalbahn at Linz am Rhein, a
steeply graded preserved branch line operated by the
once ubiquitous fourwheeled German railbus. Return
to St. Goarshausen for overnight.
Day 3 - Cruising the Rhine
What could be more delightful than a leisurely
cruise along the Rhine on the genuine old time
paddle steamer, “Goethe”? Our destination is
Rüdesheim where there is time for sightseeing before
the return trip.
Day 4 - Onwards to Switzerland
Our destination today is Chur in Easter Switzerland,
arriving early evening.
Day 5 - Free in the Swiss Alps
A free day based in Chur gives us the chance to use
our Inter Rail pass to ride some of the fabulous
Swiss Alpine rail routes. The famous resorts of
Klosters, Davos and Arosa are just a short train
journey away by the metre gauge Rhaetian Railway.
Day 6 - Across the Alps to Italy
The Albula Pass line from Chur to Samedan (near St.
Moritz) is one of the classics of railway
engineering. The Rhaetian Railway uses a series of
hairpins and spirals to gain height and the views
are wonderful. From Samedan we take the line down
the Engadine Valley to Zernez and then a private
charter post bus for the short journey across the
Italian border to Malles. Here we meet up with the
recently reopened line to Merano before a final
journey to Bolzano in the Italian Alps.
Day 7 - Brenner and Tauern Passes
Two more mountain passes but this time by main line
train – firstly the Brenner to Innsbruck in Austria
and then the Tauern. Journey’s end today is Graz in
the south of the country.
Day 8 - Narrow gauge steam
Coach transfer to Stainz for a return trip on the
narrow gauge steam Flascherlzug to Preding. Return
to Graz for overnight.
Day 9 - More narrow gauge steam
The second preserved steam line in this area is the
Feistritztalbahn which runs from Weiz to Birkfeld.
Once again we have a coach transfer to and from the
train.
Day 10 - Graz and the Semmering Pass
Graz itself is well worth exploring and we have a
free morning here before taking a train over the
Semmering Pass to Vienna.
Day 11 - Mountaineering by train
A day excursion by train to Puchberg and an ascent
of the Schneeberg by rack railway. Once again the
views are magnificent. Return to Vienna for
overnight.
Days 12 and 13 - Exploring Vienna
At leisure in Vienna. The sightseeing here is
legendary but the city also has an interesting and
very comprehensive transport system including trams
and underground rail. We have included a
city travel ticket for our stay here so that we can
make the best use of our time. If there is
sufficient interest, our tour leader will organise a
day trip to Mariazell by narrow gauge train from St.
Pölten. This would be covered by our Inter Rail
card.
Day 14 - The Danube and the Rhine
We start our homeward journey by taking a EuroCity
train across northern Austria and Germany to Cologne
for an overnight stay.
Day 15 - High Speed to London
An easy journey via Brussels and Eurostar will bring
us back into London St. Pancras by mid afternoon.
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