New journeys from Great Rail

Great Rail Journeys has launched its Winter & Spring Holidays by Rail 2009/10 brochure featuring seven new itineraries including - in response to increasing demand - four new ideas exclusively for single travellers.

For an alternative winter rail experience, the company has introduced a new departure on the epic 17-day Trans-Siberian Express holiday which starts in London and finishes in Vladivostok and includes 11 nights on the Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian Express.

Highlights include stunning views of Russia – such as frozen Lake Baikal and remote Siberia – and central Asia.

There are also two new European Christmas Market breaks – a six-day Bavarian Christmas Markets tour and a five-day Markets of Luxembourg & Metz option – which combine free time to discover local festive gifts, handicrafts, food and mulled wine with a programme of organised excursions and sightseeing tours.

As an example of what’s new for single travellers, the six-day Festive Rüdesheim & the Rhine holiday – with Christmas and New Year departures – includes a journey on the Vulkan Express narrow gauge railway, a river cruise through the Rhine Gorge, a scenic journey into the Moselle Valley and Cochem with a wine tasting and a guided walking tour of Rüdesheim.

The other three new ideas are a five-day Rhineland Christmas Markets break, a nine-day Interlaken & the Jungfrau Express in Winter holiday and nine-day Festive Interlaken & Jungfrau at Christmas or New Year options.

Prices in the brochure lead in at £375 per person, twin-share for a four-day Rhineland Market Cruise – aboard MS Tranquility – which has ports of call in Cochem, Koblenz and Rüdesheim. Available with three departures – November 30th, plus December 7th and 14th– the price includes return rail travel from St Pancras International, transfers, three nights in two berth cabins with all meals and the services of a Tour Manager throughout.

For more information at reservations head over to Great Rail Journies.

Chris O'Toole