Enjoy two amazing rail rides combined with culturally rich UNESCO-designated viewing experiences as you ascend the highlands of India and Sri Lanka by steam and historic trains in early 2024.

Specialising in rail tours, Ffestiniog Travel is making his first trip back to the Indian Sub-Continent since the pandemic. On these tours, he will travel through stunning, varied scenery, including mist-clad mountains and golden beaches along India's UNESCO Heritage Mountain Railways, Darjeeling, Kalka Shimla, and Nilgiri. In Sri Lanka, he will board the nostalgic Viceroy Special train and explore the country.

Maria Cook, General Manager, said, “Ffestiniog Travel has been touring this region for over 20 years, and these timeless train journeys never fail to leave an indelible travel memory on our travellers. We are looking forward to returning to India and Sri Lanka and working with our local ground handlers once again, who are essential in helping us create unforgettable holidays.

“These tours particularly depend on the hard work and devotion of the people who maintain these incredible and cherished railways that climb to great heights, mostly steam-hauled. The Darjeeling Railway's Ghum (Ghoom) station is the highest railway station in India at 2,258m (7,407ft), Ooty on the Nilgiri line is second at 2,210m (7,251ft) and Shimla on the Kalka Shimla Railway is third at 2,086m (6,844ft)." She continued.

“It is an amazing feat when you consider that the Kalka Shimla Railway celebrates its 120th anniversary in 2023, and pre-dating this was the narrow gauge Darjeeling Railway, which began operating in 1881; the Nilgiri Railway opened in 1908. The privilege of travelling on these railways is thanks to the hard work of the local people who battle to maintain complex rail routes across arched bridges, snake-like twists and turns, and hairpin bends in harsh environments that are subject to climatic uncertainties.”

The sole steam train in Sri Lanka, the 75-year-old Viceroy Special, has been offering chartered trips for more than 37 years. It transports passengers from Kandy to Rambukkana on a nostalgic and cosy ride across the country's magnificent landscapes. Diesel power enables the train to ascend to higher elevations that offer breathtaking views even though the train reaches the top at Pattipola at 6,226 feet, the highest altitude a 5'6" wide gauge mainline track can reach anywhere in the world.

Indian Hill Railways

Rail rides on this excursion will provide steep inclines and breathtaking vistas for passengers. Take a 19-day guided vacation that transports you back in time to the Raj era and visits the three most remarkable trains that formerly connected India's British Hill Stations: the Kalka Shimla Railway, the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, and the Nilgiri Rack Railway. Beyond the tracks, you'll come across some of the most recognisable locations in India, such as the Golden Temple and Sikh holy city of Amritsar, the Atari-Wagah border crossing, Delhi's most famous sites, India Gate, and the renowned Taj Mahal and Red Fort in Agra.

Before heading south to explore Coimbatore and the Blue Mountains onboard the Nilgiri Rack Railway, take pleasure in trips in a private heritage carriage on the Kalka Shimla Railway, two privately chartered steam train journeys on the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, and a ride on the wonderful 'Joy' train to the summit at Ghoom. This tour is a sensory explosion of sights, sounds, fragrances, and breathtaking train rides.

This 19-day guided Indian Hill Railways vacation, which departs on February 11, 2024, is priced at £6,850 per person (two sharing) and includes all rail travel (including private steam charters), transfers and excursions, hotel B&B, flights, 16 lunches, and 12 dinners.

Sri Lanka by Rail – Viceroy Special

An essential component of this 12-day vacation to Sri Lanka is the train ride. Take a ride on the historic Viceroy Special steam train and the Viceroy II, which offer a touch of elegance, comfort, and nostalgia from bygone eras while travelling along one of the best rail lines in the world. Along the trip, take in the numerous delights of this lovely nation, including UNESCO World Heritage Sites, breathtaking terrain with contrasts, incredible animals, and some of the nicest beaches you will ever come across.

The route begins in Colombo and travels through the hills to Kandy, then crosses the Demodara Nine Arch Bridge, passes through a variety of landscapes and geographical elevations, mountains, and valleys to Nuwara Eliya, and ends at the summit at Pattipola, which is 6,226 feet higher than any other place in the world for a 5'6" broad gauge mainline. Highlights of the journey include stopping at the UNESCO World Heritage Sigiriya Rock Fortress, Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka's former mediaeval capital, the Dambulla Cave Temple, and the Old Town of Galle. You can also enjoy a jeep safari in Minneriya National Park and the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage, where you can witness amazing wildlife.

The trip, which departs on March 16, 2024, costs £6,040 per person and includes airfare, hotel bed and breakfast, private bus transportation, all train excursions, a welcome supper, nine meals, and the services of a local English-speaking guide and a UK tour leader.

Discover More: Indian Hill Railways Trip & Sri Lanka by Rail Trip