Journeys as great as the destinations . . .

can there be a more civilised way to travel than by rail. Our journeys through the most scenic parts of the world are usually taken by day, and what you see from your seat is as much part of the holiday as arriving at the destination. We also feature trains that have an additional viewing car with extra large windows, a glass dome, or even an open-air section, so you can really appreciate the landscape.

A rail journey is a very different holiday experience, which is why people keep coming back year after year. From the comfort of your seat, you can appreciate the delights of the landscape as they unfold before your eyes. One of the joys of long distance rail travel is to savour the gradual change as you speed through the countryside. Every trip has its highlights - be it the sun-baked Red Centre of Australia, the snow-capped mountains of the Rockies, the mighty Rio Grande or the perfect symmetry of Mount Fuji - and the train is one of the best ways to appreciate them.

Africa

The Pride of Africa offers is a private train of unparalleled luxury and elegance, which recaptures the romance of the golden age of rail travel, whilst offering all the amenities one would expect from a 5-star hotel. Rohan Vos lovingly restored the carriages and steam locomotive which pulls us on the final leg of our journey. The on-board experience is something special - we are served by an enthusiastic team of chefs who use fresh, local ingredients to create authentic regional cuisine. Unlike many other 'hotel trains', the Pride of Africa makes a point of stopping around midnight every evening for about six hours to provide a peaceful atmosphere for you to enjoy a good night's sleep!

The Far East

Throughout Japan there is an extensive rail network served by local and express trains and the world-famous Bullet Trains (Shinkansen), which came into service in 1964. We use a number of Bullet Train services during our Japan holiday, and enjoy some of the smoothest train journeys in the world as we travel over the specially-built lines to reach speeds of up to 300km/h. In China, the Shangri-La Express is an exclusive private train, originally used by members of the Chinese Government - including Chairman Mao - to make official visits around this magnificent country. The train is modern and comfortable, allowing us to relax as we enjoy our journey across China discovering fascinating people, cultures and sights along the way.

North America

The Canadian was the last Trans-Continental train to be built for the famed Canadian Pacific Railway, and it is a true classic. The original stainless steel 'streamliner' coaches have been fully restored to their 1950s splendour and today carry passengers on a dramatic journey, crossing the rugged landscape of the Canadian Shield and the wide-open prairies, through the majestic scenery of the Rockies to Vancouver.

The Rocky Mountaineer service takes us through some of Canada's most spectacular scenery, always in daylight. We offer holidays on two different routes. One is the 'Kicking Horse' route between Banff and Vancouver, travelling through the Rockies past glaciers and lakes, river canyons and lush forests to the Pacific Ocean. The other includes the new 'Fraser Discovery' route from Jasper to Whistler, which offers the beautiful landscapes of the Jasper National Park and the ranch lands of the Cariboo.

The Whistler Mountaineer is a scenic train offering a unique blend of contrasts - cities and old-growth forests, bustling action and natural serenity, deep valleys and snow-capped peaks,
seascapes and mountain views.

Amtrak provides the passenger train services in the USA, and relaxing on-board one of its comfortable long distance trains is simply the best way to discover this vast country, its great cities and ever-changing landscape. We use legendary services such as the Capitol Limited and, in the west, the California Zephyr and Amtrak's flagship service, the Coast Starlight, for the fabulous journey from Seattle along the Pacific Coast to the warmth of Santa Barbara.

India

The first Palace on Wheels was formed from a collection of lavish private carriages used by wealthy Maharajas to travel around Rajasthan. The train came into service in 1982, offering its passengers a unique tour of Rajasthan, its great cities, wonderful wildlife, extravagant forts and palaces. Introduced to critical acclaim in 1988, we also travel on the Shatabdi Express trains in air-conditioned Executive Chair Class. These are a series of the fastest trains in India with speeds of up to 80mph, which connect the major cities of the country.

Australia & New Zealand

The Ghan is one of Australia's most famous trains, carrying passengers in comfort on an impressive journey of almost 1,900 miles (3,058km). We travel from the tropical city of Darwin in the north via Alice Springs to Adelaide in the south. Relax and enjoy the scenery as The Ghan takes us through the spectacular landscape of Australia's 'Red Centre' towards the rolling green hills of South Australia.

The Sunlander ploughs the East Coast of Australia between Brisbane and Cairns, against the backdrop of stunning scenery. While the Indian Pacific crosses this vast continent from Adelaide to Perth across the Nullabour Plain, and includes the longest straight stretch of rail track in the world.

In New Zealand, you can count on beautiful views around almost every curve in the track. Our journeys, all daylight trips, provide comfortable carriages with additional viewing platforms or cars to make the most of the scenery. The highlights of New Zealand are undoubtedly the TranzCoastal, which runs through vineyards and beside the Pacific and the TranzAlpine, which crosses the mighty Southern Alps over spectacular Arthur's Pass.

Russia

The Trans-Siberian Express holiday gives you the chance to make the world's longest and best-known rail journey in style. This private train offers beautifully furnished accommodation and exceptional round-the-clock service to carry us in comfort on this epic adventure across Russia. From magnificent cities and fascinating towns once closed to Westerners, to the dramatic frozen wilderness of Siberia, the Trans-Siberian Express is the only way to experience this vast, impressive country.