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From new tours through ancient cities to small trains traversing big terrain – Chloe Cann looks at seven surprising rail journeys that your clients may not even know exist
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River cruising on the Irrawaddy? So 2014. This year Inside Burma has launched a range of train journeys for the more intrepid traveller. The 14-night Shan State Adventure is “not for the faint-hearted” states the operator’s collateral, with kayaking, cycling and trekking all part of the agenda. The slow train section of the itinerary takes in the former colonial hill station of Pyin Oo Lwin, the vertiginous Goteik viaduct, which spans a 300-metre-deep gorge, and the former royal city of Hsipaw. Ruth Hubbard, product manager at Inside Burma, says: “The scenery covers many a rural picture, full of farms and villages until you hit the mighty Goteik viaduct – the train goes mercifully slowly, allowing for plenty of photo opportunities. On board there’s no air conditioning, but then there are also no windows, and the breeze coming in is more than enough.”
Book it: The trip leads in from £2,095pp and includes all of the accommodation, train travel and private guided transfers. The price excludes flights. insideasiatours.com
Golden Eagle Luxury Trains’ Danube Express achieved a watershed moment last November – it became the very first European private train to be permitted to enter Iran. The hotel on wheels’ Jewels of Persia tour looks set to grow in popularity as diplomatic relations with the Middle Eastern state continue to thaw. Natasha Baker, sales and marketing manager at Golden Eagle, explains: “There are few destinations that exude the same entrancing charm as Iran right now. Boasting more Unesco World Heritage Sites than any other Middle Eastern country and a stunning collection of Islamic architecture, visitors will be pleasantly overwhelmed by the historic tales and traditions of ancient Persia. Our Jewels of Persia journeys aboard the Golden Eagle Danube Express offer a unique insight into this rarely visited, yet extremely welcoming country, discovering the sites of Persepolis, Shiraz, Isfahan and Yazd among others.”
Book it: The Heart of Persia tour leads in from £6,695pp all-inclusive, with two nights in Tehran and nine nights onboard the train. Golden Eagle pays commission to agents. goldeneagleluxurytrains.com
Four times larger and more than twice as deep as the Grand Canyon, Mexico’s Barranca del Cobre is surely one of Latin America’s best-kept secrets. And there’s no better way to explore the network of canyons, with their vast gorges and gullies, than by train, argues Rafe Stone, product manager for Central America at Journey Latin America. “The Copper Canyon railway is an engineering marvel of tunnels, turns and switchbacks that snakes its way from Chihuahua through the Sierra Madre Occidental. The train that runs through the canyon is by no means luxurious, but you’ll spend most of the journey out of your seat taking the air in between carriages and changing seats to get a better view. In addition to the spectacular natural attractions the Tahumara Indians, famed for their running skills, still live in the area in traditional cave dwellings.”
Book it: Journey Latin America’s 10-day Copper Canyon Railway and Baja Coast trip leads in from £2,512pp, including international and domestic flights, accommodation, transfers and the train ride. journeylatinamerica.co.uk
Buying an InterRail pass and taking to the tracks of mainland Europe has long been a rite of passage for school leavers. Clients looking for a pocket of Europe to explore by rail that has yet to be colonised by hordes of teenagers should consider Corsica, suggests Tim Fleming, sales and business development manager at Diamond Rail Holidays. He explains: “Corsica is not a destination people would associate with rail travel, but using the Eurostar and France’s network of high-speed TGV trains it’s easy to get to the south coast of France, and from there it’s just a short hop by ferry. Corsica’s quirky narrow-gauge railways are a real treat and travel through some wonderful scenery in the island’s centre that many visitors don’t get a chance to see.” The local “Trinicellu”, or Little Train, links capital Ajaccio with the small mountain town of Corte in the island’s belly, the coastal city of Calvi, and the old northern port city of Bastia.
Book it: Diamond Rail Holidays’ 10-day Highlights of Corsica itinerary is priced from £1,349pp. The price includes all transport, nine nights’ B&B accommodation, plus dinners and excursions while in Corsica. diamondrailholidays.co.uk
The TranzAlpine, which dissects New Zealand’s southern isle, is arguably the Kiwi nation’s most famous train journey, but there are several other Antipodean railroads more than worthy of your clients’ attention. Brian Hawe, product manager at 1st Class Holidays, recommends the Coastal Pacific. “The stunning mountain scenery, impressive coastline and the chance to stay in incredible Kaikoura make this an unbelievable way to get to Christchurch,” he says. The 216-mile journey traces the eastern shoreline, from the port of Picton to Christchurch, traversing 22 tunnels and crossing 175 bridges along the way. Passengers can drink in the Kaikoura Mountain ranges on one side and the rugged Pacific Ocean shoreline on the other, and have the option to break up the journey with a stop in the town of Kaikoura – a famed gateway for whale- watching excursions.
Book it: 1st Class Holidays offers a two-day trip with an overnight in Kaikoura and a whale watch cruise from £327pp. Price includes B&B accommodation. 1stclassholidays.com
The five “Stans” of central Asia have long evaded many travellers’ to-do lists, with a lack of publicity and inaccessibility likely contributing factors. But for clients intrigued by these remote nations Regent Holidays’ escorted 14-day Silk Road tour may just be the answer. Zigzagging through the steppe, deserts and ancient cities of Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, the privately chartered train provides an excellent introduction to the region, says Peter Wybrow, Regent Holidays sales specialist. “This is an excellent way of combining several of the ‘Stans’ in one trip in relative comfort or complete luxury if you choose the Kalif compartment,” he says. “The train suits most budgets as clients can share a four-berth compartment while onboard and enjoy the camaraderie of train travel, then they can pay a single room hotel supplement for the hotels en route to have some alone time after a busy day sightseeing, should they wish.”
Book it: Regent Holidays’ 14-day Silk Road tour is priced from £2,410pp, including accommodation, both onboard and in hotels, most meals, as well as transfers and guided excursions. International flights are not included. regent-holidays.co.uk
While South Africa boasts the famed Blue Train, neighbouring Namibia also boasts a railroad trump card. The Pride of Africa, run by Rovos Rail, allows clients to explore the manifold terrains of Namibia from the luxury of the privately run train. Gemma Townsend, product manager at Great Rail Journeys, explains: “On this journey, passengers travel from the rugged Atlantic coast in the west to the desert savannahs of the east. Guests experience the untamed beauty of the Kalahari Desert, the perfectly preserved 19th-century German town of Swakopmund and Namibia’s capital Windhoek – a lively, cosmopolitan city. Onboard meals are served in the charming Victorian atmosphere of the dining cars – there’s a selection of fine South African wines and a focus on local ingredients and traditional dishes.”
Book it: The 16-day trip leads in from £5,995pp, including breakfast, selected evening meals, international and local flights and all transfers. greatrail.com
