Ffestiniog Travel · Escorted tour

Slovakia’s Hidden Gems

Slovakia’s Hidden Gems, a rail journey with Ffestiniog Travel

Mountains, forests, majestic castles, traditional crafts, a steam forestry railway and lovely historic boutique hotels all await you on this tour.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Bratislava

    Flight to Vienna

    Afternoon flight from London Heathrow to Vienna from where our local Slovakian guide and mini-coach takes us to Bratislava for an overnight stay.

  2. Day 2overnight: Trencin

    The Carpathian Wine Route

    We visit a small workshop making traditional Slovakian pottery before a wine tasting in Pezinok. Continue to Modra and Dolna Krupa, with lunch at a mead producer, before visiting Trnava Cathedral and Trencin for an overnight stay.

  3. Day 3railovernight: Zilina

    Cicmany & Zilina

    Travel to the mountain village of Cicmany with its decorated wooden houses and take the local train from Rajecke Teplice to Zilina.

  4. Day 4railovernight: Oravske Jasenica

    Orava Forestry Railway & Orava Castle

    We visit a local cheese producer and the Orava Forest Railway Museum for a short diesel hauled ride, then Orava Castle and an overnight at a guest house in Oravske Jasenica.

  5. Day 5overnight: High Tatras

    Slanica Island, Klin & Trvrdosin

    Ferry across the Orava reservoir to Slanica Island, then the village of Klin and the UNESCO wooden church at Trvrdosin. Drive through the High Tatra Mountains to the Mountain Hotel Lujza Major for a 3-night stay.

  6. Day 6railovernight: High Tatras

    High Tatras

    Drive to Strba for a ride on the High Tatras Funicular Railway to Strbske Pleso, then the narrow gauge electric train to Tatranska Lomnica for a cable car ascent to Skalnate Pleso Glacial Lake.

  7. Day 7overnight: High Tatras

    Spiss Region

    We explore Kezmarok and Levoca, including St. Jacob’s Basilica and Spiss Castle, the largest castle in Central Europe, plus Spisska Kapitula Abbey and St. Martin’s Cathedral.

  8. Day 8railovernight: Zvolen

    Cierny Balog Forest Railway & Banska Bystrica

    A photo stop at Chmaros Viaduct at Telgart before arriving at Cierny Balog for a 90 minute steam-hauled round trip on the heritage narrow gauge forestry railway. Continue to Banska Bystrica before a 2-night stay in Zvolen.

  9. Day 9overnight: Zvolen

    Banska Stiavnica

    Drive to the historic city of Banska Stiavnica, a preserved Medieval town with a mining museum. Farewell dinner at our hotel.

  10. Day 10

    Flight from Vienna to London

    Transfer to Vienna Airport for afternoon flight to London.

Included

  • Flights in Economy Class by scheduled airline
  • Rail travel as specified
  • Other travel by private mini-coach
  • Accommodation in good quality private hotels or guest houses with en-suite facilities
  • All breakfasts, 9 lunches and 4 evening meals
  • Admissions as detailed plus cable car
  • Airport and other transfers
  • Local taxes/fees
  • All gratuities
  • Services of a tour leader from London and throughout the tour plus local professional Slovakian guide

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