According to recent booking trends, rail vacations are gaining in popularity around the world. Imagine relaxing in a comfortable seat with a latte or Champagne flute in hand, feeling the gentle pull of the engine carrying you gracefully over a seemingly infinite track, watching an ever-changing parade of breathtaking scenery — mountain passes, deep gorges, undulating fields, twisting rivers — paused on occasion with a rushing race into a darkened tunnel.
That journey is enhanced even more on a modern luxury train that creates an experience akin to a cruise. With experts on board to tell you fascinating stories about the history of the destinations, the train takes you through the most interesting parts of each region, all while you enjoy included meals and drinks.
The best part about rail vacations is how unhurried the journey is. “Slow travel” — the idea of slowing down as you travel to better soak in the local culture and environment — is one of the main tenets of experiential travel. A journey by train unfolds at a relaxing pace, giving you time to make meaningful connections with those on board as well as gain a more authentic understanding of places you stop to discover.
Intrepid Travel
One of our favorite tour partners, Intrepid Travel, has responded to this rise in train travel by adding six new trips to its existing rail product. Spanning four continents and ranging from nine to 11 days, the new trips include unforgettable journeys on iconic rail networks through Vietnam, China, Laos, Malaysia, Kenya, Eastern Canada and Northern Sweden.
On these trips, the journey by train is as much a part of the experience as the end destination. There are no internal flights; rather, you’ll spend more time interacting with locals and fellow passengers, seeing more of the countryside and venturing to less-visited places.
Contact our travel agency to learn more about rail journeys or Intrepid Travel.
Beautiful architecture in a train station
Dining in private compartment
