Is the train travel included in the price?

Yes. The from-price of GBP 1,275 includes the international train from Trieste to Ljubljana and the three-day special charter train around Slovenia. The outbound and return flights or rail from the UK are your own responsibility.

Is this an escorted tour?

Partially. A PTG Tour Manager escorts the group from Day 1 through Day 3 (Trieste to Ljubljana arrival). The three-day charter train and the Lake Bled leg are unescorted; you explore on your own.

NH Trieste for two nights, Hotel Slon in Ljubljana for four nights, and Bled Rose Hotel at Lake Bled for two nights.

What is the charter train?

A vintage diesel-hauled train with carriages featuring opening windows. Routes include the steep-gradient line to Koper and freight-only branch lines around Slovenia; couples have reserved bay seating.

How do I get to Trieste?

Multiple options are offered: direct flights from London Gatwick, Heathrow, or Stansted to Trieste or Venice; or flights via Milan, or overland via Eurostar and Munich. PTG provides guidance on each gateway.

What is there to do on free days?

In Trieste, explore the harbour city or ride the funicular. In Ljubljana, visit the castle, take a river cruise on the Ljubljanica, or explore the railway museum. At Lake Bled, walk the lake, visit the castle, or ride the ski lift.

PTG Tours · Escorted tour (partially escorted - see guiding)

Trieste, Ljubljana and Lake Bled – with Private Train

Nine-day Slovenia rail tour from Trieste with private charter train

PTG Tours operates this 9-day rail journey to Slovenia and northern Italy, departing from Trieste and concluding with a flight or onward rail home from Ljubljana. You spend two nights exploring the harbour city of Trieste, followed by a recently reintroduced international train crossing the border through mountains into Slovenia. Four nights in Ljubljana anchor the tour, interrupted by three days aboard a rare vintage diesel-hauled charter train that winds through Slovenian mountains and freight-only branch lines, with opening windows and reserved seating; this journey is explicitly the last opportunity to ride these particular carriages before withdrawal. Two final nights at Lake Bled offer free time to walk the lake shore, visit the castle, or take a river cruise. The tour is escorted by PTG staff through Day 3 only; the charter train and Lake Bled leg are unguided, giving independent explorers and repeat rail travellers room to navigate at their own pace. Hotels are three-star properties; the itinerary balances free days with rail journeys through unspoilt terrain.

What to know before you look closer

The tour is escorted by PTG staff only through Day 3 (arrival in Ljubljana); Days 4-8 are entirely unguided, including the three-day charter train.
The exact routes for Days 5 and 6 of the special charter train were still being finalised at publication; confirm the itinerary with PTG before booking.
The charter train represents the last opportunity to ride these particular vintage carriages before they are phased out of service.
High single supplement: the pack gives no priceSingleFrom, but confirms deposit of GBP 100 and balance payment separately, suggesting variable pricing by occupancy.

Day by day

Day 1railovernight: Trieste
Fly or travel overland to Trieste
Flights from London Gatwick or Heathrow direct to Venice, then transfer to Mestre railway station and an early-evening train through to Trieste. Alternative direct flight from Stansted to Trieste; from Manchester via Milan Malpensa and an onward train; overland option via Eurostar/Munich with an overnight in Munich before continuing to Mestre.
Day 2overnight: Trieste
Trieste
A day to explore the harbour city of Trieste, including the funicular up into the Opicina hills (unique in Europe for its combined tram-and-cable section). Free day for own exploration with a guidebook provided.
Day 3railovernight: Ljubljana
Trieste to Ljubljana
A recently reintroduced international train crosses the border from Italy to Slovenia through the mountains to Ljubljana, arriving mid-afternoon. Late afternoon and evening free for own exploration; meet up with the PTG tour manager. The tour is not escorted by PTG staff after this point.
Day 4railovernight: Ljubljana
Special charter train (day 1 of 3)
Travel by special charter train formed of carriages hauled by a vintage diesel locomotive, with two reserved seats per person (a bay of four for couples). Exact routes still being finalised but expected to include the steep-gradient line to Koper and freight-only branch lines; first/last days expected to run Ljubljana–Divača–Koper–Sežana–Nova Gorica–Jesenice–Ljubljana and Ljubljana–Kočevje–Ljubljana.
Day 5railovernight: Ljubljana
Special charter train (day 2 of 3)
Continuing the three-day special charter train tour around Slovenia; itinerary for this day was still being agreed at time of publication.
Day 6railovernight: Ljubljana
Special charter train (day 3 of 3)
Final day of the special charter train tour around Slovenia, described as the last chance to hire such a train before the carriages and locomotives are phased out.
Day 7railovernight: Lake Bled
Free day in Ljubljana; on to Lake Bled
Free day to explore Ljubljana, including the castle (via funicular), a river cruise on the Ljubljanica, or a visit to the railway museum. Evening train from Ljubljana to Lesce-Bled for the first of two nights at Lake Bled.
Day 8overnight: Lake Bled
Lake Bled
Free day to explore Lake Bled: walk around the lake, visit the castle, ride the ski lift, or take a horse-drawn coach.
Day 9rail
Return to UK
Transfer to Ljubljana airport for direct flights to Gatwick or Heathrow. Alternative routings via Salzburg (for Stansted) or Munich (for Birmingham, Manchester or onward rail to St Pancras) for other UK gateways.

The moments this trip is built around

Day 2Ride the Opicina funicular from Trieste, a unique European cable and tram combination climbing into the hills above the harbour.
Day 3Cross the border on a recently reintroduced international train through the mountains from Trieste to Ljubljana.
Day 4Board the vintage diesel-hauled charter train for the first day of three, travelling steep-gradient lines to Koper and freight-only branch lines.
Day 7Take an evening train from Ljubljana to Lesce-Bled, arriving at Lake Bled for two nights of free exploration.

Questions travellers ask

Is the train travel included in the price?: Yes. The from-price of GBP 1,275 includes the international train from Trieste to Ljubljana and the three-day special charter train around Slovenia. The outbound and return flights or rail from the UK are your own responsibility.
Is this an escorted tour?: Partially. A PTG Tour Manager escorts the group from Day 1 through Day 3 (Trieste to Ljubljana arrival). The three-day charter train and the Lake Bled leg are unescorted; you explore on your own.
What are the hotels?: NH Trieste for two nights, Hotel Slon in Ljubljana for four nights, and Bled Rose Hotel at Lake Bled for two nights.
What is the charter train?: A vintage diesel-hauled train with carriages featuring opening windows. Routes include the steep-gradient line to Koper and freight-only branch lines around Slovenia; couples have reserved bay seating.
How do I get to Trieste?: Multiple options are offered: direct flights from London Gatwick, Heathrow, or Stansted to Trieste or Venice; or flights via Milan, or overland via Eurostar and Munich. PTG provides guidance on each gateway.
What is there to do on free days?: In Trieste, explore the harbour city or ride the funicular. In Ljubljana, visit the castle, take a river cruise on the Ljubljanica, or explore the railway museum. At Lake Bled, walk the lake, visit the castle, or ride the ski lift.