Latest News - Special Offer - updated 03/Jan/2023
Latest News and Special Offer
Save £100 off all of our tours departing after 1 April 2023.
SPECIAL OFFER
Save £100 per person on all* of rail and culture tours departing on or after 1st April 2023 – bookings must be made by 15 January 2023
* excludes The Reagan Reunion
£100 will be deducted from you final balance (42 days before departure for Europe, 60 days for long haul).
Full List of Tours for 2023
These tours are almost full (hotel room wise):
- The Costa del Alco (places available on train only basis)
- Historic South-West Spain
- Springtime in Sicily
- Douro – Rail, River and Wine
- Rail and Natural Wonders of Alaska
Latest News
Portugal - The Return - Timings - 26/10/2022
Provisional timings for the “Portugal the Return” railtour.
Portugal – The Return
Sunday 6 November
Porto Sao Bento: 09:25
Aveiro: 10:25
Service train to Sernada
Sernada do Vouga: 12:25 (vintage train)
Aveiro Vouga: 13:49
Aveiro: 14:04
Aveiro Docks: 14:28 to 14:50
Aveiro: 15:25
Aveiro: 15:33
Coimbra-B: 16:13 to 16:25
Coimbra: 16:28 to 16:50
Entroncamento: 18:19
Monday 7 November
Tomar: 09:08
Entroncamento: 09:32 to 09:40
Rodao: 11:23 to 12:20
Castelo Branco: 12:45 to 14:02
Vilar Formoso: 16:35
Vilar Formoso: 17:20
Guarda: 17:52 to 18:22
Covilha: 19:00
Tuesday 8 November
Covilha: 09:30
Entroncamento: 12:56 to 15:05
Barriero: 17:30 to 17:40
Setubal: 18:04
Wednesday 9 November
Setubal: 09:02
Grando Norte: 09:53 to 09:58
Alcacer do Sal: 10:11 to 10:20
Tunes: 13:25
Tunes: 14:00
Lagos: 14:49 to 16:10
Tunes: 16:55
Tunes: 17:25
Setubal: 20:25
Thursday 10 November
Setubal: 09:32
Beja: 11:50
Beja: 13:55
Casa Branca: 14:40
Casa Branca: 15:05
Evora: 15:25
Evora: 15:45
Setubal: 19:09
Friday 11 November
Setubal: 10:12
Caldas da Rainha: 13:05 to 14:59
Porto Campanha: 20:10
Latest News
Latest News - 21/10/2022
Latest updates on our programme of tours for autumn 2022 and throughout 2023.
2022
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – departs 18 November 2022
2023
Let’s Clear Cambodia – departs 4 March
Full details are now available for this tour. It is already booking so well that it is already a “go”. Booking now to avoid disappointment. Full details Here.
The Amazing Railways of New Zealand – departs 1 April
This has been moved to April with even better content and the option to do just the North or South Island or both. Special main line train steam and diesel hauled on the South Island has been added. Click here for full details.
The South Sweden Explorer – departs 16 September
Postponed from 2022 we now have the new confirmed dates. Click here for full details.
Latest News
Latest News - 08/08/2022
Update on our “Portugal the Return” railtour and massive discount on our “A Royal Douro Cruise” for the final three cabins.
Portugal – The Return
I am sorry to report that CP (Portuguese national rail operator) have suddenly informed us that we have to move our tour to run two weeks later (so now flying out Saturday 5 November). Lack of resources is the reason as the peak season on the Douro is until 31 October.
A Royal Douro Cruise – £400 OFF – LAST CHANCE FOR THIS TOUR
We have just 3 cabins left for this cruise and we can offer them now at £400 off the original price, So £1,485 plus flight costs rather than £1,895. This is your last chance to travel on this historic boat with PTG. From 2023 we have to charge £2,450 per person, so we have decided to no longer offer this holiday.
Latest News
Latest News - 22/07/2022
With Covid travel restriction pretty much removed to all countries here is an update on our tours for the rest of the year (as of 22 July 2022)
Summer and Autumn 2022
6 July: Midnight Sun. Ran as advertised and was a complete success
7 July: The Douro – Rail River and Wine. Ran as advertised and was a complete success
13 August: The Southern Sweden Explorer – moved to summer 2023
19 August: Sardinia and Corsica. Due to no “green line” trains this summer this tour will now operate in October 2023
1 September: Anne’s Scotland. We need just 2 more bookings to confirm as go.
2 September: Will not operate due to poor numbers booked
3 September: Trains of the Dolomites – Sold out and will run as planned
8 September: Southern France and the Pyrenees – Just a few places left
13 September: Hidden Slovenia. Good booking and will run as advertised
16 September: Classic Baltics. TBC but should run as planned
17 September: Portmeirion and Snowdonia. Just a small group booked but we still hope to run the trip with a few adjustments to the itinerary.
18 September: Costa del Alco. Moved to January 2023
22 September: Vintage Port 43 – Just a few places left
29 September: Spectacular New England in the Fall. Just a few places left. Confirmed go.
30 September: Two cabins left. Contact us for special prices
8 October: Stunning Railways of Colorado in the Fall. Good bookings confirmed as go.
8 October: Montenegro. Expected to run as advertised
12 October: Magical Minho. Just one hotel room left.
13 October: The Railways Around Bilbao. Good bookings and will run as advertised
22 October: Portugal the Return. Almost sold out and only a couple of hotel rooms left.
18 November: Saudi Arabia. Good bookings and expected to run as advertised
Early 2023
7 February: Amazing Railways of New Zealand. Booking well and expect to run as advertised
Staff Break
Please note that our office is closed from 23 July to 7 August so we can have a well earned break. Anything urgent please email urgent@ptg.co.uk
Exceptional rail tours designed with the rail fans in mind
Rail tours designed with the rail fans in mind
Throughout our history, PTG has sought to provide a balance of holiday types; from the more adventurous, those culturally oriented, to those focused on relaxation and luxury. However, no matter what type of excursion you choose, at its core is a desire to satisfy the needs of those genuinely interested in all aspects of rail travel, notably the locomotives, their heritage, rail stock and the networks they use.
With PTG’s rail tours, having a trusted tour manager with you means not having to worry about such matters – it’s all taken care of for you.
Better still, you’re travelling with somebody who knows the landscape, has visited many of the places you’ll see before, and can take you to or point out things most travellers never notice or get to see.
Why should a PTG escorted rail tour appeal to a rail enthusiast?
The first point to note is that the tour managers leading this type of escorted tour are enthusiasts themselves. They like nothing more than engaging in discussions concerning the history of particular locomotives and rolling stock or the technology used over time, from steam through diesel, to electric.
Secondly, our tour managers tend to be experts in the local destinations our tours visit. They have conducted the tours many times and with passengers each with their own unique insights or expectations. You’ll not only gain a great insight into the trains we use on the particular tours, but also in the local culture and heritage of the places we visit. Our guides are expert at hunting out interesting sights that appeal to the particular audiences they escort.
So whether you’re a die hard rail fan or somebody with an interest in rail but wants to combine that with an excursion to explore a destination using rail, we have you covered.
We seek out local rail history
Every country has a deep history when it comes to rail travel. Consider the rugged history of rail transport in places like Alaska, ‘The Last Frontier’, or the ability to explore culturally rich destinations such as Machu Pinchu. Our tours cover global destinations and are not limited to just a few destinations. We have extensive tours through Europe and the UK too.
Explore the steam railways in Germany’s Harz Mountains, famous for its network of narrow gauge lines. It’s often referred to as the greatest steam railway in the world. Meander through the fairytale villages of the Harz Mountains, mysterious forests and stepping back in time.
If that’s not enough to whet your appetite, how about, for example, exploring deep into the history of what’s considered to be not only one of the most scenic railways in Europe, but also a unique narrow-gauge masterpiece in construction – the incredible “Šargan Eight” in Serbia.
We thoroughly research our tours, none more so than tours aimed at the hard core enthusiast. For example, if you’re looking for a rail journey few get to experience, then how about the array of unusual locomotives, rare lines and vintage rolling stock in Hungary and MÁV Nosztalgia. Note this is currently suspended at the time of writing due to the Ukraine crisis, but helps those interested develop a good understanding of the detail we incorporate into tours aimed to intrigue and excite devoted enthusiasts.
Our tours are ‘escorted tours’
There’s a considerable difference between tours that have a representative available to you at the locations you visit to that of a tour where there is a company representative with you 24/7.
For most travellers, the locations they visit will be entirely new experiences. As such, this can present challenges, such as buying tickets, identifying the correct stops on the various modes of transport available, finding food that’s suitable for their pallet or dietary needs or seeking out places of real interest and once their being able to explore and ask questions.
Regular package tours or those crafted by the travellers themselves, require a good degree of extra effort in the final stages of planning once at a destinations. Circumstances can change, travel can be unpredictable. Although it can be fun, waking up and deciding what to do where to go and what specifically to see once there, is an overhead that unless planned meticulously, takes time out of a valuable day’s holiday – not to mention what happens when something doesn’t work out.
With PTG’s rail tours, having a trusted tour manager with you means not having to worry about such matters – it’s all taken care of for you.
Better still, you’re travelling with somebody who knows the landscape, has visited many of the places you’ll see before, and can take you to or point out things most travellers never notice or get to see.
We look after the travel details, letting you get the most out of your excursion
The key to a successful holiday, no matter whether it’s just a fun family vacation or an enthusiasts rail tour, is great planning and preparation.
We realise that some of the more dedicated travellers and rail enthusiasts actually like to do a lot of the planning themselves too. Our approach is designed to remove the burden of the more mundane aspects of the process and let you become intimately involved in the base itinerary we follow.
Our itineraries are detailed, providing a day-to-day view of travel planes, activities etc. and our tour managers are always open to suggestions if when visiting a destination other points of interest crop up – time permitting of course.
When you book one of our tours, you can rest easy knowing that all the basic travel arrangements and accommodation has been taken care of and assured.
Tours for rail enthusiasts and rail fans created by rail enthusiasts and rail fans.
If you are a rail fan and want to indulge your passion through an escorted rail tour dedicated to the things in life that interest and inspire you, then check out our rail tours for enthusiasts. We’ve invested years of time and effort to bring these tours to you. Led by experienced travellers and rail enthusiast, you can let your passion run wild, as you’ll be among like minded travellers. You’ll meet new friends with a common interest. you can even book a trip with friends who enjoy the passion of rail travel and the deep histories found within the rail networks of the countries we visit.
Check out our rail enthusiast tours here and give us a call to discuss or just book online for the respective tours.
Escorted holidays by rail - let the train take the strain
Escorted train holidays - let the train take the strain
Are you looking for a holiday with a bit of a difference? Perhaps also one that can take you off the beaten track and show you the side of a country many travellers won’t get to see? If so, this article will help you gain insights into a form of travel that many holiday makers simply overlook: train holidays!
Creating a holiday around rail travel is perhaps one of the best kept secrets of holiday making today. Not only do benefits include pre-planned itineraries, being escorted by knowledgeable guides and all travel and accommodation being taken care of for you, but you get to visit places that ordinarily are not within the typical reach of the average holiday maker.
Accessibility and experience
While it is of course entirely possible to get a good feel for the culture and what a county can offer by visiting a major city or resort, the best experiences are there for those who are prepared to explore a bit further. Several options are open to travellers, including self-drive, local escorted tours, coaches and hiring a local taxi driver for a day.
Opting to drive while on holiday is a great way to see a country and gives you the freedom to explore, but naturally this comes with some downsides. The main downside is that you have to do the driving and the risks associated with that, including driving on unfamiliar roads with unfamiliar laws. Plus of course, it can be tough to get help if you break down or wander into places that may not be best suited to tourists.
If you use a local service for tours as many do while on holiday, you’ll probably get bundled in with a merry throng of other tourists and get taken around the typical tourist sites with all that entails. To be honest, that’s enough for many holiday makers, but it won’t satisfy those keen adventure seekers that really want to dig deeper into the cultural, historical, and scenic aspects of the places they visit. Also, being part of a local tour while on holiday often ends up being a bit of a rushed affair, as the guide tries to pack in as much as possible to give value for money.
For those seeking a more relaxed and well planned adventure, with little if any planning to do yourself, then an escorted rail holiday could be the next holiday for you.
Using local rail services mean you can reach parts of a destination country many travellers never get to see. You get to share a very ‘local and authentic experience’ and often get to explore the more exotic side a destination has to offer. Suddenly, that mediaeval castle offering outstanding views and a dining experience, or more remote towns with their own traditional festivities, become accessible in relative comfort and ease, instead of requiring you to hire a car and driving yourself.
Probably the best aspect of a rail based holiday is that these experiences can be strung together, one after another as part of a well planned itinerary of a week or two. Doing that yourself, driving or using a local coach, bus or taxi, will prove a bit of a strain after a while. So, as the saying goes – “why not let the train take the strain?”
Convenience and comfort
Many of our clients are repeat clients who just love the convenience of travelling with an experienced guide and following a well thought through and planned itinerary. Every time is a new and rewarding experience, with little required of our clients other than to sit back, relax and enjoy the journey.
Comfort on a rail based holiday is paramount. A huge part of the experience is with the trains we choose to use throughout the itinerary. As you might expect, we look to deliver an experience that rewards both train travel lovers and enthusiasts alike. This includes using heritage trains as well as those that are more modern and luxurious.
Similarly, while trains are a means of exploration and need to afford a good level of comfort, our hotel accommodation is also chosen to deliver an authentic experience and a comfortable one. For those looking to experience luxury train rail based holidays, check out our ‘Escorted Train Holidays in Style” page.
Authenticity and experience is central to our escorted tours
As a holiday by rail company, we’ve been offering escorted rail holidays for over 20 years. Our tours are well proven with guides that have years of experience with the destinations visited. At the heart of our itineraries is the desire to offer a truly authentic experience. This means we aim to please clients with not only discerning requirements but also those with quite varied expectations.
Ask any traveller what they look to get out of an excursion and you’ll likely get a very wide range of needs. There are those who want to enjoy the train transportation as a more unusual way to get around on holiday, but are there for the cultural aspects of the destination, such as food and drink and history. Others are there to enjoy and experience scenery that’s difficult to access on a regular package, city or resort based holiday. Then you have the holidays for train enthusiasts, a part of our client base. Enthusiasts are there for the trains themselves, as well as the other aspects of the tour. This is the reason we choose the trains we use carefully indeed.
Not just rail travel
Many of our tours use a destination country’s rail transport network, both public and heritage, as part of the experience and to get to where we need to go. But, it’s not the only transport we use. Some of our tours will incorporate river transportation too. For example, a cruise along Portugal’s Douro, or using the tram systems in a number of cities.
Rail travel – a greener way to travel?
Travel these days is quite a contentious subject where environmental impact is concerned. Train travel can be a greener way to travel, simply because:
- You’re using an existing system that would be used in any case.
- You’re not adding to CO2 emissions by using your own transportation, such as a car.
- Many of our European tours offer a way to reach the start of your adventure by train rather than by Air, although air travel is still the easiest and likely most economical way to join your tour.
As time moves on, tour operators such as ourselves will continually look for ways of reducing our carbon footprint by using more environmentally minded services and third parties with similar desire to help reduce their environmental impact.
Try an escorted rail holiday for a change
Given the problems we have faced over the past couple of years, the desire to get away is extraordinary. However, restrictions remain and many would-be holiday makers choose to stay at home. Those that can travel often find that popular destinations are busy, accommodation hard to get and flights even more so, and expensive.
An escorted rail holiday offers an alternative; a way of beating the crowds, avoiding the crush and seeking out the lesser visited places. Checkout our latest brochure here.
Historic South-West Spain
Tour Date: 28 February to 9 March, 2024Location: Spain
The PTG slogan is “rail and culture” and that is exactly what this tour sets out to achieve, with a combination of trains, historic towns and sights, beautiful scenery and stunning hotels and Paradors.
The PTG slogan is “rail and culture” and that is exactly what this tour sets out to achieve, with a combination of trains, historic towns and sights, beautiful scenery and stunning hotels and Paradors.
With options to travel out from the UK by rail or air, we gather together in Madrid before setting out on our rail tour of historic South-West Spain, taking in the passenger railways from Madrid down to Zafra and visiting some of Spain’s most important historic locations, including some that are well off the beaten track. We also slip into Portugal to visit a town built on a hill and fortified as a defensive measure against attacks from Spain.
As you would expect from a “Vintage” tour, we stay at top quality hotels, including the Paradors in Mérida (a former 18th century convent), Zafra (a majestic castle, formerly the palace of the Dukes of Feria) and Plasencia (the stunning 15th century Santo Domingo Monastery) and in Caceres at the 16th century Oquendo Palace. In Madrid we will stay at a good quality hotel near Atocha station.
For rail fans we cover the passenger lines between Madrid and Zafra, using the high-speed line south from Madrid to Puertollano where catch a broad-gauge train along the sparsely served line westwards to Mérida. As well as the other main lines from Mérida south to Zafra and north to Plasencia and eventually back to Madrid on this classic route, we have the opportunity to take in the branch from Caceres to Valencia de Alcántara. A new high-speed line, Spain’s first broad-gauge high-speed line, has been built alongside the classic line, and we will use this new line. We also include a visit to the Rio Tinto Mine Museum, south of Zafra, with its own railway, which of course we will travel on. We hope to have a steam-hauled train here.
At this time of year, the weather should be comfortable and without the excessive heat experienced in the summer months.
Your Tour Manager for this trip is Marion. Should you have any queries about the itinerary or if you wish to have a chat with her about the trip, please feel free to e-mail her on marion@ptg.co.uk.
Availability
Tour Highlights
Day 1 Wednesday 28th February, 2024
We will be offering both flight and rail options for travelling to Madrid. We will meet up at our hotel near Atocha station for the first night.
Day 2 Thursday 29th February (B,D)
Leaving Madrid, we head south on the high-speed line to the town of Puertollano. Here we join a train on the very scenic, but sparsely served, classic line heading westwards to our base for the next two nights, the UNESCO listed town of Mérida. This line meanders through rolling countryside with few settlements of any great size, so it is easy to understand why the eastern end of the line has only two trains per day. We soon find ourselves following the River Guadiana into Mérida, and have a brief view of the Roman Circus, one of many Roman remains in Mérida, a town founded by the Romans in the 1st century B.C. Mérida station is an important railway junction, with lines from four directions (north, south, east and west) all crossing here, though the line from Puertollano is the only route to enter the station on the eastern approach. We arrive at the parador mid-afternoon, so you will have free time to enjoy the facilities in the parador or begin exploring the town. The parador is very well-located for the historic centre. Over the course of its history, the building that now houses Mérida Parador has had different uses, including as a convent, a hospital, an asylum and even a jail. Today it still houses historical remains dating back 2000 years. The interior cloister and Jardín de Antigüedades (Garden of Antiquities), a collection of Mudejar, Roman and Visigothic archaeological pieces, are both truly fascinating locations. The Parador stands in a peaceful square decorated with orange trees. Welcome dinner in the parador.
Day 3 Friday 1 March (B,D)
This morning we will meet our local guide Javier, who will also be joining us on certain other days. Our guided tour will begin inside the parador, as it is an important historic building in its own right. From here Javier will lead us on a walk around Mérida’s historic sights which you will be able to visit later in your free time (most are included in the Monuments Pass), but the highlight of the tour is the visit to the Roman theatre and amphitheatre. We can also find a 792-metre-long Roman bridge over the River Guadiana, the Temple of Diana and the Aqueduct of Los Milagros. The National Museum of Roman Art, with over 36,000 exhibits from the local area, is well-work visiting. Another highlight is the Alcazaba, a 9th century Muslim fortification, the best-preserved example in Spain. We will visit the theatre and amphitheatre as part of the morning guided walk, and the afternoon will be free so that you can visit the other historic sites at your own pace. Dinner in the parador.
Day 4 Saturday 2 March (B,D)
Today we have a free morning for final explorations in Mérida and after lunch we catch a train south to Zafra. Zafra Parador will be our home for the next two nights. The building was originally a majestic castle dating from the 15th century and is itself one of the highlights of the holiday, with well-appointed rooms, a swimming pool and a beautifully maintained garden. Many of the rooms face onto an attractive inside courtyard, as being a former castle, the outer walls do not have many windows!
Day 5 Sunday 3 March (B,L,D)
A very full day today, as we head south from Zafra by coach to visit the Rio Tinto Mining Park. Accompanied by an English-speaking guide from the park, we will spend the day visiting the different sections of the park-museum, including the train that runs through incredible landscapes, a river unique in the world for the colour and composition of its waters, a territory that shows the traces of 5,000 years of mining activity, a museum full of cultural heritage jewels, a house that transports us to Victorian England … even a walk on another planet, Mars, without leaving Earth! Today’s train should be steam-hauled. Lunch in a local restaurant is included and dinner is in the parador.
Day 6 Monday 4th March (B)
We have a free morning to explore Zafra. Look out for the attractive Plaza Grande and the Plaza Chica. After lunch we return to Zafra station for our train to Caceres. On arrival in Caceres, we transfer to our hotel, and after time to settle, we have time to explore the historic centre.
With sunset at around 7 pm, the old town is illuminated, and looks quite splendid. Though it was founded by the Romans, we can still see architecture of many other cultures that occupied the city, including the Moorish city walls and Renaissance and Gothic architecture. The town can really be divided into three – the ancient walled town, the old town just outside the wall and centred on the Plaza Mayor with the typical narrow, winding streets, and the modern town that has grown over the years.
Day 7 Tuesday 5th March (B)
Today we visit Trujillo by coach, on the Route of the Conquistadors, and once again accompanied by Javier. Highlight is Trujillo Castle, built in the 13th century on the site of an Arab fortress at the highest part of the town. It also boasts an important group of churches and manor houses near the central Plaza Mayor. This part of Spain is famous for its wine and Iberian ham, and we will stop off at a local winery for a visit and the chance to taste some of their wine.
Day 8 Wednesday 6th March (B,L)
Portugal calls today, as we travel west over the border to the hilltop village of Marvão, on the highest point of the Serra de São Mamede, overlooking the Spanish border. Only accessible from the east, due to steep slopes on the other sides, it played a fundamental role in major military conflicts, including the fight between the king D. Dinis and his brother D. Afonso (1299), the Dynastic Crisis of 1383-85, the Wars for the Restoration of Independence (1640-68), the War of Spanish Succession (1704-12) and the Peninsular Wars (1807-11).
Inside the walled village you find a fascinating small town, and spectacular views in all directions. Marvão railway station used to be the border station on the line used by the international Lusitania train until it was withdrawn and the line closed a decade ago. However, the Spanish side of this line is still open, albeit with a very limited service, and we shall catch a train back to Caceres from the station on the Spanish side of the border, Valencia de Alcántara. .
Day 9 Thursday 7th March (B)
We head north mid-morning to our final historic town, Plasencia, a walled market town. It is best known for the 12th century double line of walls, including 68 towers and six gates. We can also see the remains of a Roman aqueduct, and, in the old quarter, palaces, ancestral homes and magnificent cathedrals.
Our home for the next two nights is Plasencia Parador, located in an old convent and renowned for its excellent food. The building is quite stunning, and it is a fitting location to end our tour of Historic South-West Spain. After arriving, you will have time to relax and enjoy the Parador or explore the small historic centre.
Day 10 Friday 8th March (B,D)
A more relaxing day to finish, but we will still explore some of the area’s history. Joined by Javier for the last time, our coach will take us first to Yuste Monastery. This Hieronymite monastery was founded in 1408-1414 under the patronage of the Infante Ferdinand, brother to Henry III. It has one gothic and one renaissance cloister, both still standing since the church was built in 1508-1525. Under the Confiscation Law of 1836, the complex was sold and began to fall into disrepair until it was purchased in 1857 by the Marquis of Mirabel who began to restore it and opened a new church on the site.
We then move on to the charming village of Garganta de Olla, to see very well-preserved examples of popular architecture and some buildings that date back to the days of the emperor, such as the brothel used by his soldiers. We return to Plasencia to give you time to explore the historic centre a little more or simply enjoy the ambience and facilities of this stunning Parador. Farewell Dinner in the Parador.
Day 11 Saturday 9th March (B)
This morning we return to Madrid by train in time for lunch and to catch afternoon flights home.
By its nature, on this trip you need to be able to walk around locations with steep hills, stairs and cobbled streets, and be able to lift your luggage on and off trains.
Holiday Prices (per person)
- From Heathrow (BA 11:30): £2,275
- From Gatwick (Iberia 10:40): £2,275
- From Stansted (Ryanair 12:45): £2,260
- From Luton (Easyjet 13:10): £2,250
- From Manchester (Ryanair 10:15): £2,295
- From Edinburgh (Easyjet 12:00): £2,295
- From St Pancras (Eurostar): POA
- Join in Madrid: £2,045
Options
- Single use room Supplement: £690
Deposit
- Travelling by air: £500
- Overland by rail: £800
- Own travel: £300
Online Booking
Please note that you cannot book a flight inclusive trip on our website but if you select the flight option you prefer then we will contact you with the flight details and convert your booking into a flight inclusive package.
Click here to see our Booking Conditions
Click here to see our Privacy Policy
We recommend you also check the FCO website for the latest travel advice https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice
Travel from UK
in 2024 it is expected that there will be direct flights, to Madrid, from Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Bristol, Manchester and Edinburgh. Also travel by rail from London St Pancras.
Hotels
- Radisson RED Madrid (1 night)
- Mérida Parador, Mérida (2 nights)
- Zafra Parador, Zafra (2 nights)
- Hotel NH Collection Palacio de Oquendo, Caceres (3 nights)
- Plasencia Parador, Plasencia (2 nights)
Let's Clear Cambodia
Tour Date: Spring 2025Location: Cambodia
A rail-tour of this fascinating country by private train covering every section of rail.
This tour operated as a great success in March 2023. We are planning a re-run for spring 2025.
A rail-tour of this fascinating country by private train covering every section of rail.
The Kingdom of Cambodia in South-East Asia has recently refurbished its former French Colonial metre-gauge railway, which is now an active freight carrier with a skeleton passenger service. There are two rail lines, totalling 612km of single-track with passing loops. One route goes north-west from Phnom Penh the capital, to Poipet, where there’s a connection to the Thai railway network. The other line goes south-west to the port at Sihanoukville on the south coast.
The mainstay traction for the Royal Railway is a fleet of 10 Indian-built ALCo YDM4 locomotives which the Railway purchased from IRCON in Malaysia in May 2019 after the national carrier, KTMB, declared them surplus to requirements. The ALCos work anything and everything on the network including oil trains to Sihanoukville, and also passenger trains during holidays, when trains need to be strengthened.
We are chartering a train to give us a week of rail-travel in a program to travel the whole of the Royal Railway network using YDM4 locomotives to haul our train to both Poipet and Sihanoukville. Highlights should include the Docks lines at Sihanoukville and also a day is planned in the Phnom Penh area to cover all the entire available track in the vicinity of station, locomotive shed and wagon repair shops. On this day it’s planned to use a top & tail formation with locomotives at each end and to change the locomotives as often possible.
Cambodia is full of diversity and offers a variety of interest for visitors. In the capital Phnom Penh, there are Palaces, Pagodas and, from a dark period in its history, the infamous Kymer Rouge Prison and the Choeung Ek genocide centre. There’s the magnificent Mekong River, with freshwater Irrawaddy dolphins to the north and the Tonle Sap Lake, containing comprehensive floating villages to the north-west. Finally, and close to the lake, there’s the world-famous temple-complex of Angkor Wat. Stay on with us for a few days to experience these national treasures.
Our special train will be formed of fresh-air stock (with opening windows) in which we will have room to circulate during the tour. There will also be a visit to Phnom Penh Locomotive Shed to for inspection and photos of the resident fleet and of the steam locomotives that are stored.
So, we should “Clear” Cambodia in one go – ride the entire track, see all the rolling stock including stored and plinthed steam locos. Where there are depots or stabling points, we will have time to see everything present.
Each day we do not plan to depart before 09:00 and aim to finish by 17:00. A very leisurely pace for the whole tour is planned.
Map (Shutterstock)
Part 1 – The Rail Tour
Day 1 – Saturday
Various flight options but if you want to do it with just one stop-over then you need to fly from London Heathrow. From Manchester and other UK airports you need to fly first to Frankfurt and then onward from there. From Heathrow there are three main options; via Singapore (Singapore Airlines), via Bangkok (Thai Airways) or via Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia Airlines). Journey time is around 15 hours in total and flights are about £850 (Economy). We can arrange a stop–over in any of the cities should you wish us to do so. We also recommend, if you have time, to arrive a day earlier so giving more time to acclimatise.
Day 2 – Sunday
Arrival into Phnom Penh: Road transfer to our hotel for free time to acclimatise, welcome dinner and overnight in Phnom Penh hotel.
Day 3 – Monday
The first day with our charter train, formed of three carriages with opening windows and hauled by one of the YDM4 locomotives. We will have plenty of photo stop as we travel from Phnom Penh to the coast at the important port city of Sihanoukville. Overnight in Sihanoukville. The town of SihanoukVille is surrounded on 3 sides by the Bay of Thailand. From the beaches and surrounding hills, many of the bay’s small islands can be seen. Many of the beaches are filled with grass hut restaurants and bars, some of the beaches are rocky, there are a couple are large resorts, and some are pure sandy beach.
Day 4 – Tuesday
It’s a short day today as we head from Sihanoukville to Kampot and back to Sihanoukville. The line is built on the land between the sea and the Preah Monivong Bokor National Park. The Park is located at the southern tip of the Elephant Mountains near the Cambodia – Vietnam border. Preah Monivong National Park, also known as Bokor National Park, encompasses 982 square miles of evergreen rain forests south of Phnom Penh. It is home to several endangered species. Again, we should have plenty of time for photo stops and also at least one change of locomotive. We return to Sihanoukville and continue through the station an into the docks area. This is only a short branch as we are almost certainly the first passenger train to ever visit it. We should be back in Sihanoukville by mid-afternoon so plenty of free time. Overnight in Sihanoukville.
Day 5 – Wednesday
With hopefully a different YDM4 loco in charge, we head back to Phnom Penh. Phnom Penh is Cambodia’s capital and largest city, located at the junction of the Mekong and Tonle Sap rivers. Temples and museums are part of the cultural and historical attractions of the city. It is easily accessible due to a vast infrastructure catering to visitors, and many believe it to be one of the nicest cities in Asia since Cambodians have not yet grown jaded by mass tourism. We expect to arrive by 4pm to give you free time for your own exploration from our city centre hotel. Overnight in Phnom Penh.
Day 6 – Thursday
It’s a A longer day today and we expect to start at 9am and complete our journey by 6pm. With a different YDM4 loco in charge we head north-west to the city of Battambang (the 3rd largest, after Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville). Battambang is a classically quaint provincial capital – old-world architecture and even older pagodas set picturesquely along a river, and even though the city is one of the country’s largest, it is still lightly touristed. In town, charming colonial-era buildings line narrow lanes, including the ‘walking district’ near the market where contemporary art galleries, local and foreign cafes, shops and bars inhabit the old shophouses. Again, we will have plenty of photo stop. The railway line lies between the Cardamom Mountains and the vast Tonle Sap Lake. Spanning more than 4.4 million hectares of rainforest in south-western Cambodia, the Cardamom Mountains remains Southeast Asia’s largest remaining rainforest. Inhabited by a swathe of endangered wildlife, the expansive woodland is also home to about 25,000 people, many of whom are ethnic minorities. The Tonle Sap Lake is the largest freshwater lake in South East Asia and one of the most productive inland fisheries in the world. Overnight in Battambang.
Day 7 – Friday
Today, we complete the railway, as we head north from Battambang to the border town of Poipet (Poi Pet). Our train will go beyond the station and right to the Thai border (and possibly into Thailand itself). The line north of here was closed for many years but reopened in 2018. There is a strip of land here between the Cambodia and Thailand border posts. Once the no-go part of Cambodia for tourists, notorious for its squalor, scams and sleaze, Poipet has recently had a facelift. Due mainly to patronage from neighbouring Thais, where gambling is illegal, casino resorts such as Tropicana and Grand Diamond City are turning the town into a Cambodian Las Vegas! After a short break, head south again and back to Battambang for our overnight stay. Again, plenty of photo stops and we expect our day to last from 09:00 to 16:00.
Day 8 – Saturday
Our final long journey as we return south to Phnom Penh for our overnight stay.
Day 9 – Sunday
Today, is the final day with our charter train and we plan in the Phnom Penh area, to cover all the available track in the vicinity of station, locomotive shed and wagon repair shops. It’s planned to use a top & tail formation with locomotives at each end and to change the locomotives as often possible. In addition to YDM4, we hope to utilize ČKD Bde410 series, ČKD BB1010 series, Alsthom BB1050 series and CRRC Qishuyan CKD6D BB1060 locomotives. We plan to start around 10:00, have a break for lunch, and finish by 15:00. It’s our final night in Phnom Penh unless you’re joining us to see more of the country outside the railway.
Day 10 – Monday
Today, we head for the airport to return to the UK but, as you will probably only visit Cambodia once in your lifetime we, thoroughly recommend you stay on for a week to see the some of the culture highlights of this fascinating country.
Part 2 – Palaces, Temples and the Mekong River
As well is its re-laid rail infrastructure, Cambodia is full of diversity and offers a variety of interest for visitors. In the capital Phnom Penh, there are Palaces, Pagodas and, from a dark period in its history, the infamous Kymer Rouge Prison and the Choeung Ek genocide centre. There’s the magnificent Mekong River, with freshwater Irrawaddy Dolphins to the north and the Tonle Sap Lake, containing comprehensive floating villages to the north-west. Finally, and close to the lake, there’s the world-famous temple-complex of Angkor Wat. Stay on with us for a few days to experience these national treasures and if you wish anything to be added in the general vicinity of our tour, please let us know.
Your Tour Manager for this trip is Ray. Should you have any queries about the itinerary or if you wish to have a chat with him about the trip, please feel free to e-mail him on ray@ptg.co.uk.
Monday
The tour will follow from our rail tour commencing at our Phnom Penh hotel. We aim to leave at c.9:30 with the opportunity to say farewell to those who are not joining us. We will travel NW following the Mekong to Kampong Cham – if you wish, we can stop at the Spider Market on the main road and try fried tarantula! At Kampong we visit Wat Nakor, a 12th century Ankorian temple, and then a fascinating bamboo bridge over a part of the Mekong. We take our lunch here before crossing the Mekong and continuing to Kratie for our hotel on an island in the Mekong (1N).
Tuesday
After breakfast, we will go a few km north to the Kampi rapids and take to the water, where we hope to see a shoal of the rare and freshwater Irrawaddy Dolphin this rural region. We will then transfer to Kompong Thom (1N). We will break our journey to visit Phnom Srei & Phnom Bros (man and woman mountain) where we can see monkeys. We will also visit the Hindu temple at Phum Prasat.
Wednesday
We have time to visit an ancient Angkorian bridge as we travel onwards to Siem Reap (2N). After checking-in to our hotel, we visit what might be regarded as the pearl in Cambodia’s Crown, the magnificent Angkor Wat. We can walk around the artefact then stay to watch/photo the evening colours as the sun sets.
Thursday
A prompt start this morning, we visit the 150km long Tonle Sap, a natural Mekong balancing Lake and take to the water to view one of the unusual Vietnamese Floating Villages with their church. We return for lunch and in the afternoon, go again to the archaeological area to see the ancient capital of Angor Thom.
Friday
Today we travel to Battambang (1N) on the opposite side of the lake. On the way, we visit the Puok Village Silk Farm, and discover this ancient craft. Then, we call at the magnificent temple of Banteay Top, followed by the huge 13th century moated temple of Banteay Chmar. After lunch, we can observe the village life of the Khmer people before travel through scenic rice paddies to our detination.
Saturday
From Battambang, we complete our circle of Tonle Sap Lake to return to Phnom Penh (2N). We will break firstly at the floating village of Kompong Luong prior to lunch. At the confluence of the Tonle Lake and Tonle River at Kompong Chhnang, we will see traditional Khmer pottery made. Our final call will be to the 17th century abandoned city of Oudong, to view the temples and stupas which cover the hillsides.
Sunday
Our day will be spent in and around Phnom Penh and first we visit Tuol Sleng Museum, the former school in Phnom Penh which the Khmer Rouge used it as their notorious Torture Prison. Prior to lunch, we visit the ‘Killing Fields’ of Cheung Ek. In the afternoon we have a leisurely visit to the Royal Palace, and Silver Pagoda. For those with a thirst for more detail, we can have a final call at the National Museum then after, we hope you will all join us for a sunset cruise and drink on the Mekong followed by our final dinner.
Monday
This will be our departure day and rooms can be retained for a late check-out.
Prices (per person) – TBC for 2025
- Full 9-day holiday joining in Phnom Penh: £2,650
- Full 10-day holiday including flights from London Heathrow: £3,750*
(via Singapore, with Singapore Airlines) - Full 10-day holiday including flights from Manchester: £3,750*
(via Singapore, with Singapore Airlines) - Special trains only: £2,050
- Supplement for single use of double room: £190
- Palaces and Temples Add-on: £1,250
- Mekong River cruise: from £1,600
* with flight price confirmed once tour a definate go
Online Booking
Various flight options but if you want to do it with just one stop-over then you need to fly from London Heathrow. From Manchester and other UK airports you need to fly first to Frankfurt and then onward from there. From Heathrow there are three main options; via Singapore (Singapore Airlines), via Bangkok (Thai Airways) or via Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia Airlines). Journey time is around 15 hours in total and flights are about £850 (Economy). We can arrange stop overs in any of the cities should you wish us to do so.
Railway Ramble – Vale do Vouga
Tour Date: May 9 to 16, 2024Location: Portugal
We are once again offering you the chance to relive the experience of travelling on now closed railway lines in northern Portugal, albeit at a much slower pace than was possible by train! But the scenery is the same, and now we have much more time in which to enjoy it.
This year we will walk the closed section of the Vale do Vouga Line which ran between Aveiro and Viseu. Part of the line, from Aveiro to Sernada do Vouga, is still open, so on our first day we will ride on a train as far as Macinhata to visit the charming little museum before making the short hop by train to Sernada in time for lunch. We then begin our walking in earnest as we follow the old alignment towards Viseu, walking on average 15 km per day. Each morning our transport will take us to the starting point of the walk for that day, and collect us at the end of the day and bring us back to Aveiro. All seven nights will be in the lovely town of Aveiro. On one of the days, we will take a break from walking to travel by train along the northern section of the line from Oliveira de Azeméis to Espinho.
At this time of year, the weather should be comfortable and without the excessive heat experienced in the summer months. On the walking days, we aim to cover an average of 15 km per day.
Your Tour Manager for this trip is David. Should you have any queries about the itinerary or if you wish to have a chat with him about the trip, please feel free to e-mail him on david@ptg.co.uk.
From: Gatwick, Luton, Stansted, Bristol, Manchester, Edinburgh
Availability
Tour Highlights
Day 1 Thursday 9th May
Fly from various airports in the UK direct to Porto, and transfer by metro and suburban train to Aveiro.
Day 2 Friday 10th May (B,D)
The first section of the Linha do Vouga as far as Sernada do Vouga is still open, and the first 2 kilometres beyond Sernada are now covered by a road without a suitable pavement for pedestrians to walk on, our minibus will take us directly from our hotel to the start of the walk at Carvoeiro. From here the walk is well-defined and highlights today include Santiago Bridge and four tunnels. Our minibus will be waiting at Cedrim to take us back to Aveiro, with our Welcome Dinner at an excellent local restaurant.
Day 3 Saturday 11th May (B)
Returning to Cedrim on our minibus, we restart our walk from where we left off yesterday, covering the 15 km to Nespereira do Vouga. While this section has no major bridges or tunnels, it is a particularly scenic section of the line. Return to Aveiro at the end of the day.
Day 4 Sunday 12th May (B)
We take a break from walking today and instead over the whole of the remaining parts of the Vouga metre gauge system that are still open. We start by walking to Aveiro station to catch a train to Macinhata to visit the lovely little railway museum there before making the final hop by train to Sernada do Vouga, crossing the only remaining road-rail bridge in Portugal. Sernada is where the maintenance depot for the whole Vouga system is located, and is now also home to the Vouga Historic Train and is where other out-of-use steam locos and railcars are stored. The central section of the line, between Sernada and Oliveira de Azeméis, has no public service due to the poor track conditions, but is still used to move the diesel units to and from Sernada for maintenance. As it is an open railway, we cannot walk along the track, so our minibus will take us, calling in at some of the stations along the route. At Oliveira de Azeméis we take a service train to Espinho, and from there, a suburban train back to Aveiro.
Day 5 Monday 13th May (B)
Today we return in our minibus to Nespereira do Vouga to walk another 15 kilometres as far as Vouzela, one of the major towns on the line. Of particular note today is the impressive viaduct that takes the line through Vouzela. From here we return to Aveiro.
Day 6 Tuesday 14th May (B)
Heading back to Vouzela , the site of the station has been redeveloped, but there is still a water tower that marks the location. The first section of line today is now a road, but we soon find ourselves back on the track bed. Our destination today is Moçâmedes, and the route is a mix of dirt track and cycle path. A highlight today is a grand curved viaduct at São Pedro do Sul.
Day 7 Wednesday 15th May (B,D)
Our last day of walking takes us from Moçâmedes to the main town of Viseu, the largest town in Portugal without a railway station. However, in the past, Viseu was served by two metre gauge lines, the line we are walking on this week from Aveiro and also the Linha do Dão which connected to the main broad-gauge line from Lisbon to Guarda at Santa Comba Dão. Annoyingly, as we get closer to Viseu a lot of the old line has been built over with new roads, but we can still trace the approximate route it took. We return to Aveiro for our Farewell Dinner in a local restaurant.
Day 8 Thursday 16th May (B)
We return to Porto by suburban train and then catch the metro to the airport for our flights home.
The main objective of this trip is to enjoy the scenery we pass through and the company of the group, so the pace will be leisurely, and a balance will be struck depending on the abilities and desires of the participants in the group. Normally we limit our walk to a maximum of 20 km (12 Miles) in one day, though usually it is less.
Holiday Prices (per person)
- Full 8 day holiday from Gatwick: £1,595
- Full 8 day holiday from Stansted: £1,595
- Full 8 day holiday from Bristol: £1,595
- Full 8 day holiday from Manchester: £1,595
- Full 8 day holiday from Porto: £1,350
Options
- Single room Supplement: £330
Deposit
- £500
Price includes
- All travel and excursions as outlined in the itinerary
- En-suite accommodation
- Meals as shown in the itinerary; B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner
- Services of our tour manager. Holiday is fully escorted.
Online Booking
Please note that you cannot book a flight inclusive trip on our website but if you select the flight option you prefer then we will contact you with the flight details and convert your booking into a flight inclusive package.
Click here to see our Booking Conditions
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We recommend you also check the FCO website for the latest travel advice https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice
Hotels
Hotel in Aveiro (7 nights)
Flights
BA2872 14:15 Heathrow to Porto (arr.16:35)
TP1331 12.00 Gatwick South to Porto (arr.14.25)
EZ2097 07:20 Luton to Porto (arr. 09:45)
FR1275 11:40 Stansted to Porto
EZ6147 18:10 Bristol to Porto
Overland by Rail
It is possible to travel from the UK to Porto via rail:
2 May: London – Paris, Paris – Hendaye (night in hotel)*
3 May: Irun* – Madrid – Vigo (night in Vigo)
4 May: Vigo – Porto
Hendaye (France) and Irun (Spain) are each side of the border and only half a mile apart.
Return by rail is similar but with a night in Monforte de Lemos and Hendaye.