June 2006
Monthly Archive
Royal Canadian Pacific
Experience the pristine wilderness and stunning Rocky Mountain ranges right outside your window while wrapped in the comfort and sophisticated elegance of the Royal Canadian Pacific.
The Royal Canadian Pacific takes you through some of the most rugged, inaccessible and spectacular terrain in the world along the historic Canadian Pacific Railway lines.
Take in Banff, Lake Louise, Kicking Horse Resort in Golden, the Canadian Museum of Rail Travel in Cranbrook, the UNESCO World Heritage site Head-Smashed-In-Buffalo-Jump in the foothills of the Rockies, and the Homeplace Ranch in the Alberta Prairies.
This tour is a first class experience and a marvellous way to see otherwise hard to find places in Canada's beautiful countryside.
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Toronto, Niagara Falls, New York fly/train holiday
Enjoy a flight to Toronto, spend where you can spend 2 nights in exploring this diverse and interesting city.
The heading off early on an Amtrak rail trip where you can sit back and take in Ontario and New York State scenery, travelling through the Finger Lakes Region, New York's wine country and the Hudson River Valley to New York City.
Arrive in the evening into New York's Penn Station and spend 3 wonderful nights in the Big Apple before departing for your final destination of one of the seven natural wonders of the word – the Niagara Falls.
A seven day inclusive fly/train holiday covering two major urban centers in Canada and America, and a refreshing relaxing journey through some of the world's most beautiful scenery.
Includes all flights from the UK and accommodation.
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If you're interested in staying on in New York before flying home then check out the New York City Guide which has lots of useful info about the Big Apple.
Four day train excursion in Canada
A two-day passage aboard the world famous Rocky Mountaineer train and hotel lodging in Vancouver and Jasper.
Day 1 Vancouver Arrival
Arrive in Vancouver and spend time exploring this scenic city. Admission to the Vancouver Observation Deckat Harbour Centre with views of the city, mountains and ocean is included.
Day 2 Vancouver to Kamloops
Travel onboard the Rocky Mountaineer from the coastal city of Vancouver to Kamloops. You can see dramatic changes in scenery, from the lush green fields of the Fraser River Valley, through forests and winding river canyons surrounded by the peaks of the Coast and Cascade Mountains, to the desert-like environment of the interior.
Day 3 Kamloops to Jasper
Your journey continues north and east to the mighty Canadian Rockies and the province of Alberta. Today’s highlights include Mount Robson, the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies at 3,954 metres (12,972 feet), Pyramid Falls, as well as the climb over the Yellowhead Pass into Jasper National Park.
Day 4 Jasper departure
Your tour ends with check-out from your Jasper hotel.
Steam train trip in the Grand Canyon
Ride this classic train through the wilderness of Northern Arizona to the Grand Canyon.
You can choose to take the train up and back in one day with a stay over in historic Williams, or stay overnight at the Canyon.
Board the train starting at the charming 1908 depot and relax as the train sets off the 65 mile journey.
Travel through small canyons, high desert plains and pine forests. More information >>
Train trip and outlaws in Canada!
Alberta Prairie offers an exciting one day adventure on board a real steam or diesel-powered train. Different themes are enacted throughout the season, including murder mysteries, family, dinner theatre, seniors and teddy bear specials.
At some point during your excursion the train may be brought to a screeching halt. Look out! It’s the dreaded outlaw “Bolton Gang”. They are known to frequent these parts and on occasion hold up the train.
But fear not the Canadian Metis hero, Gabriel Dumont, is there to stops them. After a short but furious gun battle, the money the outlaws took from passengers is retrieved. Since it’s impossible to tell who the money belongs to, it is donated to a number of children’s charities.
All excursions include a full course buffet meal which is included in the fare, on board entertainment and maybe even a train robbery.
During your journey on board the train you will travel through the beautiful rolling and treed countryside of Alberta’s Parkland.
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Murder mystery on a train excursion
The Great Smokey Mountain Railroad delivered thousands of mountaineers from the wildness of their landlocked hills. A year after iron rails reached Asheville in 1880, workers scattered to the west of the city, digging, filling, and blasting an extension of the line that stretched 116 miles to Murphy, providing thousands with a path to reach the outside world.
Now you can ride a train through this beautiful part of the Smokey mountains and be entertained with a murder mystery performed but the Nightshade mystery theatre. The scenic vistas or star-lit skies of Western North Carolina pass by your dining car window as comic tales of intrigue unfold between the courses of a delightful dinner. Your skills as a sleuth will be needed to solve the ultimate mystery.
Enjoy a wonderful train trip and a few hours of entertainment.
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Steam train to the Indian hill stations
With a choice of iteneries this tour will take you into the heart of India by steam train.
Beginning in Calcutta with a streetcar tour of all the famous places of this amazing city, the tour moves on to take the overnight Darjeeling Mail to New Jalpaiguri.
There are then several steam train excursions on the 2-foot-gauge Darjeeling Himalayan Railway with its 5% grades and tours of its loco shops and museum.
You will be able to see spectacular views of Kanchenjunga the third highest mountain in the world from the famous Batasia Loop. A great opportunity for photographers as there will be endless opportunities for great pictures of this stunning high altitude scenery and nature.
Some of the other excursions on this tour are riding the Shimla Mountain Railway in the Himalayan Foothills, enjoying a Shimla steam charter, watching the sun set over the Taj Mahal, shopping at lively bazaars and cruising the River Hooghly.
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Luxury train trip in South Africa
The Blue Train rivals many a five-star hotel in terms of grace, ambiance, comfort and style. The suites have been designed to offer guests and travellers the best the world can offer.
A sophisticated, opulent atmosphere, gourmet menu and the finest South African wines sourced from boutique vineyards, make dining on The Blue Train a magnificent experience.
The Blue Train’s own team of chefs have developed a menu to delight the most discerning palate. Also, to ensure the ultimate in hospitality, professionally trained staff are on call for guests in each suite 24 hours a day.
The 380-meter long (416 yards) train has 18 carriages, which accommodates up to 82 passengers and travels at a maximum speed of 110km/h (68mph).
Trip details
The route between Pretoria and Cape Town is a 27 hour journey through some of the most diverse and spectacular scenery the sub-continent has to offer.
Board The Blue Train in Pretoria and travel south through farmlands and along the ‘golden arc’; visible only by the mining shafts in the distance.
En-route to Cape Town stop in Kimberly, once the epicenter of a worldwide diamond rush, for an off-the-train excursion. Take a tour through the streets of modern day Kimberly to visit the Kimberly Mine Museum and the ‘Big Hole’, the largest hole in the world excavated by hand.
Reboard The Blue Train and continue on to a South bound journey into the heartland of the Great Karoo where you will see vineyards and orchards as you descend through mysterious and beautiful valleys and mountains, such as Drakenstein, Slanghoek and Elandskloof – towards Cape Town’s imposing and instantly recognisable Table Mountain, gateway to the African continent.
For more information about Hotels in Johannesburg, Hotels in Cape Town or Hotels in Sandton visit cheaper than hotels which has a great selection of hotels in South Africa and worldwide.
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Charming Quebec by steam train
Discover eastern Canada’s most scenic rail line as you travel on board the oldest operating steam train in the nation.
The train takes you for a 64 km round trip on the banks of one of Canada’s most beautiful natural reserves, the Gatineau park. Discover the enchanting landscapes of western Quebec’s Outaouais region.
You can sit back and relax aboard the climate-controlled cars and let the “clickety-clack” of the wheels carry you back to a by-gone era.
Tour highlights: In Wakefield, don’t miss the spectacular pivoting of the 93-ton steam engine on the last operating manual turntable in Canada.
Take part in a guided tour throughout the village or take a peak inside the cab of the steam engine.
During your stop, visit the many shops and restaurants of Wakefield.
The musicians will offer a short performance in the park. Trip details:
The complete five hour round trip consists of a two-hour stop in Wakefield and travel time is a hour and a half in each direction.
The 909 steam engine is a type 2-8-0 and was built in Sweden in 1907. It is the only operating European steam engine in Canada and one of the last operating excursion steam engine in Canada.
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Steam trains and aeroplanes…
Kingfisher Railtours offers a very special steam train trip to the biggest airshow on the south coast of England, which this year is expected to include displays on selected days by the ‘RAF Red Arrows’, the ‘Battle of Britain Memorial flight’, ‘Falcons freefall parachute team’ and many, many more international aircraft.
If that is not enough the train will be steam hauled, most appropriately, by ex – Southern Railway Battle of Britain Pacific ‘Tangmere’.
From London the Battersea ‘Tangmere’ will be take the train with a full head of steam onto the Brighton line for a fast run past Gatwick Airport and towards the Sussex Downs passing Lewes prior to arrival in Eastbourne, where around four hours will be available at your leisure to view the spectacle of ‘Airbourne 2006’.
Eastbourne owes much to the Victorians who laid out many beautiful parks and gardens and built the pier. This elegant town has many charms awaiting your discovery.
Our return in the late afternoon will be diesel hauled for the short journey along the spectacular coast to Hastings, where ‘Tangmere’ will once again take charge as we travel through the beautiful Sussex Weald passing Battle and Tonbridge.
On arrival at Battersea we say farewell to our gallant steam traction as we return homeward behind a more modern locomotive.
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