Brimming with beautiful scenery, fascinating cultural sites and characterful cities, towns and villages, Bulgaria is particularly intriguing when explored from the comfortable of a privately chartered steam train. This new nine-day escorted tour does just that, using historic carriages from the Royal Train of King Boris III for several of its journeys. Departing 11 May, Bulgaria by Steam costs from £3,750 pp (two sharing) including flights (London Heathrow), eight nights’ B&B, eight dinners, all rail journeys and excursions as per the itinerary, and the services of a tour leader from London and throughout the tour. 

Created with the rail connoisseur in mind, this 16-day escorted tour ticks of many of South Africa’s key sights – think Cape Town, Robben Island, Shamwari Private Game Reserve, Knysna, Johannesburg and more. It also spends three days at the famous Stars of Sandstone Steam Festival, where a myriad of steam-driven vehicles and machines await. Departing 22 March 2017, South Africa & Stars of Sandstone costs from £3,995 pp (two sharing) including international (London) and domestic flights, 15 nights’ B&B, all rail journeys, excursions and admissions as per the itinerary, welcome & farewell dinners, and tour leader. 

Enjoy the festive traditions of the Baltic coast resort of Stralsund - a UNESCO World Heritage town - during an eight-day escorted tour that combines Christmas Market shopping opportunities with optional excursions that train enthusiasts will adore. Visit the narrow gauge steam railways of Bad Doberan and the Island of Rügen, or use the included InterRail pass to enjoy unlimited mainland rail travel for the duration of your stay. Departing 24 November, the price is from £970 pp (two sharing) including standard class rail throughout, InterRail pass for Germany, seven nights’ B&B, one evening meal and tour leader. 

Much-awaited movie sequel to The Da Vinci Code and Angels & Demons, Inferno has now hit UK cinemas. Reprising his role as Prof. Robert Langdon, Tom Hanks follows clues linked to the medieval poet Dante in a race across Europe. Follow in his footsteps, albeit at a more relaxed pace, on a six-night holiday that explores the secret passageways of Florence’s Palazzo Vecchio and visits the Hall of Geographical Maps, the Florence Baptistery, Dante’s Death Mask and more, before moving on to Venice. The price is from £1,075 pp (two sharing) including rail travel, B&B, a full-day ‘Dan Brown’ tour of Florence, and excursions.