If how you get there is as important as the destination, a holiday by rail might be for you.
Whether you want to splash out on a luxury cabin or bunk up on budget, journeying by train, whether it be to Venice, Moscow or Darwin, is an essential part of the holiday, offering unrivalled views into the remote corners of the globe you’d otherwise miss…
Trans-Siberian Express
Covering almost a third of the globe, the Trans Siberian Express is the longest continuous rail line on earth. The most usual route taken by travellers is Moscow to Vladivostok, passing through the most remote reaches of Siberia over a distance of around 6,000 miles. A popular extension is a ferry ride from Vladivostok to Niigata on the west coast of Japan. Tickets are sold through various operators (a google search for ‘Trans Siberian express tours’ throws up plenty) and vary in price according to how many stopovers you make, whether you join an organised tour or tailor your own independent trip, and what kind of carriage you opt for (styles range from the very basic to the super luxurious).
The Orient Express
To describe the most celebrated railway line in the world as glamorous might be understating the matter somewhat. Hop into a world class carriage at London Victoria, order a cocktail or two and watch Europe glide by for the 48 hours it takes to arrive in Venice, one of the most romantic cities in the world. Tour operators are plenty (see the results of a google search, and offer various alternatives on the typical journey, including stopovers in Prague and/or Budapest and extensions to Rome. Life on the railway is dangerously laid back, with fine Italian cuisine and wines at your service.
Eurostar
This recent addition to the world’s great railways is more than just a quick way of getting from London to Paris. There are, in fact, over 100 destinations. Main destinations include Disneyland resort Paris, Lille and Brussels, while connections can be made to the all corners of France. Blitz the Riviera with a connection to Nice followed by a railway tour through the coastal towns of Cannes, Toulon and Montpellier. More.
The Royal Hungarian Express
Kings, queens and heads of state have rubbed shoulders on this super luxurious steam loco. Journeying from Budapest through Lake Balaton and the Siberian border, these days the carriages are specially chartered by various tour operators like Great Rail Journeys, who organise stopovers with sightseeing and meals included in the price. This is one of the few old school trains to have showers as well as washbasins.
The Ghan
Board Australia’s most celebrated railway in Adelaide and step off in Darwin two days later having whizzed through almost 2,000 miles accommodating the Red Centre and Alice Springs. Connections to Sydney and Melbourne are available. The journey is made once a week in both directions. More.
Channel 4 is not responsible for the content of third party sites. Images courtesy of Great Southern Railway and Orient Express Hotels (UK).
