It’s a Christmas present that Lenka Duracikova won’t forget.

Tomorrow (Friday) she and her fiancé Paul Kennaugh, who live in Glen Mona, will leave the island and set out on a mammoth 1,400-mile trip so Lenka can celebrate a traditional Slovakian Christmas with her family in the city of Nitra for the first time in over a decade.

Paul told the Manx Independent that he managed to arrange the whole trip including boats, hotels and planning the route without Lenka knowing until he surprised Lenka - who works for Holland and Barratt in Strand Street, Douglas - for her birthday earlier this week.

He said: ’This has taken about 10 months to set up, in organising the trip itself as well as getting holiday booked with both of our employers, particularly hers as it’s a busy time in retail and no one should have been off.

’We had spoken about it before but never got around to doing this. We normally have my mother here for Christmas but she’s gone to my sister’s in the UK this year.

’Lenka’s father isn’t well so I felt that it was now or never.

’So I started planning this in February to make sure we could get the time off and then sort out everything else.

Going to extraordinary lengths to ensure Lenka could have the time off, he spoke to her store manager, colleagues and even head office to ensure she could go home for Christmas.

The trip will take the couple across to Heysham, down to Dover and over to France before driving through Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Austria and finally arriving in Slovakia on Sunday, December 23.

The following day, on Christmas Eve, when many of us will be panic buying forgotten presents, as well as bread and milk in Shoprite, Slovakia celebrates with a big meal, topped off traditionally with carp.

Lenka said: ’I’ve been in the UK for nearly 12 years, first in Nottingham and now in the island and it has been impossible to have a holiday over Christmas.

’I had absolutely no idea. My manager and colleagues never said anything so I was really surprised.’

Paul added that while Lenka was overjoyed, her first thought was whether his Land Rover would make the trip.

He said: ’I asked her if she was happy and she replied: "Oh yes" but then said, "Are we going in the Land Rover?". ’I said yes and she replied: "Are you sure it will get us there?".’

He said he had to reassure her and say the car had been for a full service and he’d got snow chains for the wheels.

Despite the very different Christmas, Paul is really excited about spending Christmas in Slovakia.

He added: ’There’s a big Christmas market in Nitra city centre so it will be great to experience this.

’There will be plenty of hot mead to drink and we’ll be able to see how they celebrate Christmas, including the traditional Christmas dinner of fish and different salads.

’However, we are taking over a turkey and all the trimming with us so we can cook a proper Christmas dinner.

’There’s also an outdoor hot spring spa heated by a local volcano that we visit during the summer. So even if it’s snowing you can bathe in volcanic water with temperatures up to 36 degrees which sounds like fun.

’Also while we are driving through France, Belgium, Luxemburg, Netherlands, Germany, Austria, I’m sure that there will be lots of sights to see. People in Germany are so friendly so I think that, at Christmas time, it will be even more so.’

The trip is not only a surprise for Lenka, but for her parents also who have no idea the couple are coming.

Lenka said: ’I’m really excited and it will be nice to see my mum and dad, especially on Christmas day. Paul is a very romantic person and he knows how much I love my family and that’s why, for me, this trip, at Christmas, it’s just the best present.’