As rail tour specialist Ffestiniog Travel celebrates its 50th year in 2024 it also reports a bumper booking year so far!

The company has seen a significant increase in advance bookings over the last few months as travel confidence among the over 50s returns to pre-pandemic levels. The expert train holiday company is hoping an online preview of its forthcoming 2025 escorted tour programme will continue to benefit from this 'booking early' trend.

It has launched a digital 2025 Pre-brochure listing all its escorted tours together with departure dates in 2025.

Ffestiniog Travel General Manager, Maria Cook comments: Our aim is to get an 'at-a-glance' tour overview into the public domain as early as possible to capture those travellers that are planning ahead. If our customers are aware of where we can take them by train next year it may sway them from holidaying with someone else!

“We are seeing a return to normal trading conditions, in particular a decline in the last-minute booking trend brought on by the pandemic. By knowing what tours we are running next year enables our travellers to register their interest. We don't publish prices and full itineraries for most of the tours until late August to allow us to get the best price and finalise all the details so our customers can see the comprehensive content that demonstrates real value for money.

Full details and prices are now available on its 2024 Christmas and early 2025 winter and long-haul escorted tours outlined in the Pre-brochure and on the website – they include:

Christmas Market Munich – Departs 28 November 2024 – 8 Days from £1,665pp

This festive rail tour takes the train to Munich to enjoy its Christmas Markets with optional excursions to nearby railways, the Zugspitz Rack Railway plus further festive shopping in Salzburg and Bonn.

Christmas & New Year in Switzerland – Departs 22 December 2024 – 13 Days from £3,950pp

A festive rail tour that takes travellers across the glorious snow-drenched Swiss Alps by train and offers an opportunity to celebrate a 'White Christmas' with fellow travellers in stunning surroundings.

Snow on the Alps – Departs 11 February 2025 – 10 Days from £2,850pp

A popular rail holiday touring the mountains and Alpine winter wonderland of the Swiss Alps on board the UNESCO Rhaetian Railway, including the spectacular Bernina Express.

Northern Lights – Departs 20 February 2025 – 9 Days from £3,700pp

A chance to tour Norway and Sweden by rail in winter and experience an ancient and enigmatic land that delivers wonderful scenery as you cross the Arctic Circle by train and visit the Lofoten Islands to catch a glimpse of the amazing Aurora Borealis.

The Very Best of New Zealand – Departs 22 February 2025 – 24 days from £8,400pp

The company's tour to New Zealand in early 2024 was such a success it is returning in 2025! This 24-day tour covers the highlights of both North and South Islands and includes stopovers in Singapore to break up the travel. Truly a holiday of a lifetime!

Canada in the Snow – Departs 16 February 2025 – 11 days from £4,150pp

Canada in winter is every bit as beautiful as summer but very, very different. Memories of a frozen Niagara Falls, an early morning sunrise reflecting off the snow covered Prairies at 20 degrees below and the Rockies with their winter mantle will stay with you forever. Travel in style on VIA Rail's famous Canadian train and stay at top quality hotels.

Indian Hill Railways – Departs 16 February 2025 – 19 days from £6,850pp

This successful annual tour to India that rides the three magnificent railways that served the former British Hill Stations remains a firm favourite since Ffestiniog Travel introduced it over 20 years ago. Unforgettable rail journeys combine with cultural excursions that stimulate all your travel senses.

Alongside regular favourites Ffestiniog Travel previews five brand new tours in its 2025 European listing. Travellers can experience Portugal's tram and train heritage with stays in Lisbon, Coimbra and Porto; Explore Austria's Tyrol region and neighbouring countries by train and tram; the South of France in autumn is a great time to visit charming heritage lines and take in Nice, Perpignan and Carcassone.; Ride hundreds of kilometres of tram lines in Budapest, Bratislava, Brno and Prague or join two new Small & Traditional tours that discover the highlights of Bosnia Herzegovina and the interesting rural region of the Italian Dolomites.

Closer to home the company will escort travellers to Scotland for a new immersive history and wildlife tour of Shetland and Orkney and for the rail enthusiasts it has created a unique rail-themed itinerary that coincides with next year's Stockton & Darlington Railway Bicentenary.  

Maria added: “We hope this pre-brochure serves to capture interest among 'early holiday bookers' and prompts them to add a tour or two to their potential 2025 travel plan.  It is an eclectic programme of rail holidays which we hope inspires every type of train tourist, rail enthusiast and general traveller.”