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Ffestiniog Travel · Escorted tour

Slovakia’s Hidden Gems

Ten-day escorted tour through Slovakia's mountains, castles, and heritage railways from Vienna

Illustration of Slovakia’s Hidden Gems

Ffestiniog Travel operates this 10-day escorted tour through Slovakia and Austria, beginning in Vienna and concluding in the historic mining town of Banska Stiavnica. The itinerary blends mountain scenery, castle exploration, and three distinct heritage railways: a diesel-hauled museum line through Orava Forest, a high-altitude funicular and narrow gauge electric train in the High Tatras, and a 90-minute steam-hauled trip on the Cierny Balog Forest Railway. Days flow between boutique hotels in small towns and the High Tatras region, with activities ranging from pottery workshops and wine tastings to visits to Spiss Castle (Central Europe's largest), cable car ascents to glacial lakes, and exploration of medieval towns and abbeys. The tour is led by a London-based tour leader and a local Slovak guide, with a group size capped at 15 people. It suits repeat rail travellers keen on heritage railways, history lovers drawn to Central European castles and cathedrals, and those who prefer guided comfort with included meals and transfers.

What to know before you look closer

  • Only one departure is currently listed: June 2027 at £3,990 per person

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.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2Wine tasting in Pezinok on the Carpathian Wine Route, including lunch at a mead producer
  • Day 4Diesel-hauled ride on the Orava Forest Railway followed by a visit to Orava Castle
  • Day 5Ferry crossing of the Orava reservoir to Slanica Island; drive through High Tatra Mountains to the Mountain Hotel Lujza Major
  • Day 6Funicular railway to Strbske Pleso and narrow gauge electric train to Tatranska Lomnica, then cable car ascent to Skalnate Pleso Glacial Lake
  • Day 8Ninety-minute steam-hauled round trip on the heritage narrow gauge Cierny Balog Forest Railway

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

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included in the price?
Yes. The from-price of £3,990 includes rail travel as specified: the Orava Forest Railway, High Tatras Funicular and narrow gauge electric train, and the steam-hauled Cierny Balog Forest Railway.
Is this an escorted tour?
Yes. Ffestiniog Travel provides a tour leader from London and throughout the tour, plus a local professional Slovak guide. The group is capped at 15 people.
What is included in the price?
Flights in Economy Class, rail travel as specified, coach and ferry travel, accommodation in private hotels and guest houses, all breakfasts, 9 lunches, 4 evening meals, admissions and cable car, transfers, local taxes and fees, gratuities, and guide services.
How many days and nights is the tour?
Ten days and nine nights. The tour departs London on Day 1 with a flight to Vienna and returns on Day 10.
What kind of hotels are used?
Good quality private hotels and guest houses with en-suite facilities. Specific hotels include Wine Hotel Matysak in Bratislava, Grand Hotel Trencin, Hotel Diana in Zilina, Mountain Hotel Lujza Major in the High Tatras, and Polana Hotel in Zvolen.
How much walking is involved?
Moderate. Days include walking tours of towns and villages, castle visits, and a cable car ascent to Skalnate Pleso Glacial Lake. Most travel between locations is by private mini-coach.

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