Why should you go on a rail holiday?

Whether you’re setting off on one of the world’s greatest rail journeys or getting a taste of daily life, you’ll find everything from unmissable scenery to vintage glamour, epic adventures and new perspectives on a country.

And rather than focusing on navigating unfamiliar roads, or leaving the destination miles below as you fly overhead, a train journey brings you closer. So settle back in your seat and enjoy the views through the window, with these five reasons why you should go on a rail holiday. All aboard!

Unbeatable views

Imagine spotting Africa’s wildlife from the windows of your train, or the soaring snowy peaks of the Rocky Mountains? Or cross from one coast of New Zealand to the other, navigating precipitous gorges, across cleverly engineered bridges and through precisely designed tunnels.

TranzAlpine, New Zealand

You’re spoiled for choice in India too, whether you head up towards the foothills of the Himalayas or travel past the majestic palaces of Rajasthan or the Golden Triangle. Closer to home, you could chug through the Swiss Alps, past lakes and chalet-dotted slopes too.

With landscapes unfolding before you like a live-action guidebook, you’ll find plenty of rail journeys where you can hardly resist pinching yourself at the succession of sights.

Travel in style

Cramming yourself into an economy plane seat rarely screams glamour. But swap the average low-cost flight for a rather more stylish rail journey and you’ll be able to transport yourself back to the golden age of travel.

When it comes to glitz and glamour, it’s hard to beat the Venice Simplon Orient Express, with glamorous 1930s styling and impeccable service. Enjoy a four-course dinner in the hand-restored 1920s restaurant cars as you voyage from Paris to Venice, champagne in hand.

Or in Canada, upgrade to Goldleaf Class aboard the Rocky Mountaineer for heated, adjustable seats, panoramic windows and a succession of drinks and treats brought to your seat, plus a separate dining car with food cooked to order.

Rocky Mountaineer interior

And in Africa, the vintage Rovos Rail is easily the most stylish way to explore. Expect plush leather sofas and armchairs in the observation and lounge cars, and a journey interspersed with trips to the wood-panelled dining cars for four-course meals and world-class wines, sleeping your own private Pullman suite.

For something rather different but equally stylish, think high-tech instead of retro, with a journey on Japan’s famous bullet trains, reaching speeds of up to 198mph.

Authentic experiences

It’s not only about luxury if you’re travelling by train, but a chance to get a taste of daily life as you go. There are few countries which can compete with India when it comes to rail journeys, thanks to a famously extensive railway network connecting every corner of the country. While some routes, like the toy train of the Kalka-Shimla Express, are favourites with tourists, you’ll also find plenty of others where it’s easy to get chatting to locals among your fellow passengers, to share experiences.

Vietnam has its own share of fascinating long-distance routes too, or how about the shorter scenic journey from Ella railway station in the hills of Sri Lanka travelling to the hill station Nanuoya near Nuwara Eliya, where there’ll be plenty of locals going about life as you explore.

They might not always be the smoothest of rides, but that’s all part of the fun.

Indian railways

Relaxed adventures

Whether you’re after luxury, landscapes or local life, one of the biggest temptations to book a rail trip is having the chance to relax. Perhaps it’s the echo of a less frenetic age, when slow travel was the only option, or simply the opportunity to hand over all responsibility for the journey, without facing the stresses of the airport.

But there’s nothing quite like sitting back and watching the world go by out of your carriage window – made all the more relaxing, of course, if you’re also getting served drinks at your seat, or falling into a comfortable sleeper carriage to end the day, lulled to sleep by the gentle clatter of the train on the tracks. So let the train take the strain, and relax.

Big distances, low-effort

Long-haul can be low effort if you’re travelling by train. It might not be as fast as a plane, but there’s something very tempting about climbing aboard and knowing that’s the last effort involved until you reach your destination.

The world’s longest non-stop rail route connects Moscow and Pyongyang, covering 6,346 miles and taking seven days and 20 hours, but if you don’t fancy that, there are plenty of other more tempting options. The Ghan in Australia covers 1,851 miles over three days, travelling between Adelaide and Darwin (or vice versa), passing through the country’s Red Centre, while the California Zephyr in the USA travels from Chicago on the east coast to Emeryville, near San Francisco Bay in the west, journeying for around 52 hours and more than 2,400 miles.

Not tempted by the idea of sleeping aboard? The Rocky Mountaineer in Canada has two and three-day itineraries where you’ll spend your daylight hours on the luxurious train before being whisked to a hotel to sleep at night. Can’t decide? Our Trans Canadian Rail Odyssey includes a journey on The Canadian from Toronto to Jasper, sleeping on board, before taking the Rocky Mountaineer from Banff to Vancouver with an overnight stay in Kamloops, for the best of both worlds.

Explore our range of rail holidays and discover stunning routes in Canada, Switzerland, New Zealand and more.