Rail tour specialist Ffestiniog Travel sees growing interest in sustainable holidaying as travellers turn to trains to explore Europe!

General manager Maria Cook commented; “In addition to our escorted rail tours to Europe we are receiving a growing amount of enquiries about our tailored rail holidays and, as a supplier of European rail tickets, we are getting more and more people booking Continental train tickets through us.

“We put this down to a combination of post-COVID apprehension about flying and that travellers are rapidly becoming more mindful about how they holiday and reach their chosen destinations.  The train is regarded as a carbon light form of transport and so enables travellers to do their bit towards helping preserve the planet!.”

As a specialist rail tour operator, Ffestiniog Travel (FT) is ahead of the game in offering lower carbon footprint tours by using the train. For many years its customers, which are predominantly 50+, have wanted to make responsible choices when booking their holidays, so FT guarantees transparency when recommending tours that meet that demand.

A selection of its European escorted tours in 2022 purposely uses scheduled train services where possible, in order to avoid plane or chartered road travel, thereby reducing its carbon toll. Below are just three examples:

One climate friendly tour is the 5-day Bonn & The Rhine in Flames. This single-centre rail break showcases the cultural delights of Bonn, during the 'Rhein in Flammen' festival. With all travel taking place on scheduled services or on foot, this relaxing getaway offers customers a low-carbon opportunity to enjoy this charming and historical city. Journeys include the Eurostar and ICE trains to Cologne, a tram ride to Königswinter, a cog railway ride up the Drachenfels hill 'Dragon Rock', a boat cruise along the Rhine during Europe's largest river boat parade and 'Rhein in Flammen' firework display and a return trip on the Schwebebahn hanging railway – made notable by the fact the wheels are on the roof!

Departs Thursday 5 May 2022. From £785pp, the price includes all stated rail travel, unlimited local travel in Bonn city area, excursions as per the itinerary, 4 nights hotel accommodation with daily breakfast, and the services of a tour leader throughout.

A first class 15-day escorted rail tour Swiss Alpine Holiday takes you on a train journey through majestic mountains and lush Alpine scenery in early summer. All journeys are by scheduled service including the world famous UNESCO 'Rhaetian Railway' - making this a low carbon footprint holiday! Travel by Eurostar and via Aachen by train to Switzerland with stays in Chur, Bellinzona and Interlaken where you can explore independently with a first class travel pass or join daily escorted excursions, including a return journey on the fabulous Bernina Express.

Departing 7 June 2022, the price is from £2,990pp (two sharing) including all rail travel, first class travel when in Switzerland and on the Bernina Express , 14 nights in good quality hotels on a B&B basis, one evening meal, optional excursions as per the itinerary and  the services of a tour leader throughout.

Combine the culture of Italian cities, its great lakes with the stunning Alps mountain range – all by train on a 15-day rail tour of Florence, Lake Garda & the Swiss Alps. Travel by scheduled train service from your local railway station across Europe to Florence to soak up its wonderful renaissance art and history with additional time to explore Pisa and Genoa before heading to Lake Garda by train to relax and explore using local boat and bus services. Finally enjoy the Swiss Alps up close with unforgettable journeys on the Glacier and Bernina Express trains and a further chance to sightsee independently with a Global InterRail Pass.

Two departures – Monday 13 June and Monday 12 September 2022. From £2,630pp, the price includes all rail travel, a Global InterRail Pass for unlimited travel throughout the holiday, 14-night B&B hotel accommodation, 2 evening meals, free rail travel from your home station on the day of outbound and return travel. The services of a tour leader throughout who will provide expert advice for independent travel and arrange and lead escorted excursions.

For those who prefer independent, unescorted holidays, FT can also plan rail routes, book and supply train tickets and organise accommodation and sightseeing en route as part of its Ticket Only and Tailored Rail services. Travellers can choose a European journey, no matter how complicated, as FT has the expertise and know-how to make it happen. 

Maria Cook added; “Taking the train as part of a holiday, extended tour or travel adventure certainly fits with a more mindful approach to exploring Europe and facilitates a growing trend towards a more leisurely and slower pace of touring – ideal for those who have the time to do so and relish the idea of a rail journey that is proven to be sustainable with a low carbon footprint.

“As a travel company whose profits support the preservation of heritage rail, we have always endeavoured to offer a choice of tours that are kind to the environment and offer a more sustainable way to holiday.”

ENDS

Notes to Editor

Owned by a Charitable Trust with profits supporting the world-famous Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways, Ffestiniog Travel was established in 1974, making it one of the UK's longest running rail holiday operators, arranging rail tours around the UK, Europe and worldwide. The company prides itself on developing unrivalled rail holidays while supporting the preservation of the world's oldest narrow-gauge railways. Appealing to train enthusiasts as well as holiday makers who enjoy the train journey being part of the holiday, Ffestiniog Travel has more than 45 years in operation, boasting in-depth expertise, and whose founder is still part of the business today.