The Award Winning Leader in Escorted Worldwide Rail Holidays
Known as much for its bustling cities as its wild, dramatic landscapes, the United States needs no introduction
Known as much for its bustling cities as its wild, dramatic landscapes, the United States needs no introduction. The Statue of Liberty in New York, San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge, and the White House in Washington DC are recognisable even to people who have never visited this awe-inspiring country.
Take in Mann's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood or witness the cosmopolitan splendour of the Big Apple; ponder the history of the infamous Alcatraz on the West Coast or discover spectacular natural phenomena like the Grand Canyon; every one of our USA rail tours is designed to make your holiday as enjoyable as possible.
Spectacular colours and beautiful mountain scenery come together on an autumn adventure along America's East Coast. We stay in Cape Cod, Boston and the White Mountains, experiencing the region's terrific scenic railways on a seasonal tour that brings out the very best of stunning New England.
… see more10 days from £2,395 pp
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Discover three fascinating cities and one world wonder on a captivating 10-day tour of North America. From the powerhouse of Washington D.C., our tour takes us to chic New York, absorbs the beauty of Niagara Falls from its Canadian side, and explores bustling Toronto.
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Historic tracks lead us on a rail tour through the heartland of great American music - from Nashville, home of Country Music, to the Blues, Soul and Rock 'n' Roll of Memphis and the jazz of New Orleans. Then enjoy an unforgettable private dinner and performance with a member of the Cash Family.
… see more14 days from £2,595 pp
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Travel the length and breadth of the Lone Star State, on a tour of five iconic cities. From Dealey Plaza and the homestead of TV's 'Dallas', we explore the cowboy heydays of Fort Worth and the world's live music capital, Austin, before strolling through San Antonio's history and ending in futuristic Houston, the home of modern space travel.
… see more12 days from £2,945 pp
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Awe-inspiring scenery at the Grand Canyon and Yosemite contrasts with the glitz and glamour of Las Vegas on this truly sparkling holiday. Combine that with the charming towns and pretty scenery of the Golden State, stunning scenic daytime railway journeys, the Grand Canyon and the magic of Hollywood for a truly unforgettable experience.
… see more14 days from £2,995 pp
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Discover some of the most pivotal moments in the history of the world's largest superpower, the USA. From the hardships of the pioneers, who came to colonise this harsh environment, through the Revolutionary and Civil wars, to the founding fathers and the creation of the US constitution. America's history may not be long, but it is most certainly captivating.
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View tour details >At the heart of each of our escorted USA tours is a programme of excursions chosen for their particular social, historical, or cultural interest. These short expeditions range from journeys on heritage railways to steamboat cruises along the mighty Mississippi. For example, some of our American tours include visits to Mount Washington Cog Railway in New Hampshire and Martha's Vineyard in New England.
When exploring the USA by train, you will be joined on your journey by one of our experienced Tour Managers, who will answer any questions you may have. Our professional staff are very familiar with the places you will visit and know all the essential details, from must-see places to the best eateries in town.
Tour Managers understand the traditions of the American people and can help unravel the social idiosyncrasies of any location on your route, such as tipping in restaurants - in many cases, the gratuity - usually 10% - will be paid for you by the Tour Manager, leaving you to enjoy your holiday.
Local guides are used on a variety of activities to share their knowledge of the immediate area and its attractions. Guests also have plenty of free time for exploring independently on our USA rail holidays, or to enjoy the amenities of their hotel.
Accommodation, flights, rail travel, and excursions are all included in the price of your holiday. The comprehensive nature of our great value itineraries means that our customers have little extra to pay whilst they are travelling through the USA.
Flights to North America depart from London but there may be the option to fly from Manchester, and seats are provided in Economy Class with the possibility of upgrading to Business Class or First Class for an extra supplement. However, you should discuss this with your agent when booking one of our USA rail tours.
Accommodation is chosen because it offers value for money, excellent service, and a good location. Whenever possible we pick hotels that are locally run so guests can enjoy a more personal atmosphere. Often, accommodation can be a highlight itself; for example, selected tours of the USA by rail include a night aboard the RMS Queen Mary.
The infrastructure that connects the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of the United States is one of train travel's greatest achievements, and our escorted America tours are set up to take advantage of this heritage. Our trains have lounge chairs positioned to provide the best views, all in air-conditioned comfort.
For long distance travel, our USA train tours use the legendary Amtrak trains, including the Coast Starlight and the California Zephyr. On our themed railway excursions, nostalgic carriages and uniformed staff evoke the same elegant atmosphere of the golden age of rail travel.
The cabins on our American routes are comfortable and practical with two reclining seats by day and double bunks by night. Upgrading provides a larger room and an extremely generous lower bunk. Overnight journeys through North America are in Superliner roomettes.
On-board dining is provided in the buffet carriage. A range of snacks and sandwiches is also available on our trains. The American predilection for caffeine means that customers on our America rail holidays can always enjoy a cup of quality coffee on their journey.
In addition, fresh towels and complimentary water are available to travellers on our USA holidays, with a shower and W.C in the carriage.
The United States is one of the most environmentally diverse places on earth; the dry climate of the Deep South - Texas, Georgia, Alabama, etc. - stands in stark contrast to the serene, snowy landscape of Alaska and the tropical wetlands of the Everglades in southern Florida.
As part of our brochure of USA holiday packages, Great Rail Journeys offer you the chance to explore as little or as much of North America as you would like.
In the northeast, our escorted tours in New England introduce the passenger to the most incredible sights at times when they are at their most extraordinary; in this case, the autumn, when the local forests are aflame with colour. Visits to Boston, Cape Cod, and the stunning White Mountains are also included on some of our tours of the north-eastern USA.
The Midwest, inclusive of Illinois, Indiana, and the rolling plains of Kansas, is home to an array of awe-inspiring monuments and natural attractions. Chicago and Detroit are arguably the most well-known settlements in the region, and passengers on our USA tours can experience the 'Windy City' for themselves with a trip up the 103-floor Willis Tower.
The West Coast of America is the location of such memorable places as Seattle, Santa Barbara, and the Napa Valley. The latter destination benefits from a Mediterranean climate, and is famous throughout the United States for its wine. The granite cliffs of Yosemite National Park can also be found here on the West Coast, close to Sacramento.
Moving south, the city of New Orleans in Louisiana is regarded by many music fans as the home of jazz. Equally, Nashville in Tennessee has a rich history in country music, and lays claim to the world's largest music museum - as well as the world-famous Jack Daniel's Distillery, a popular destination with USA rail travel enthusiasts.
Visits to Elvis Presley's Graceland and the Lookout Mountain Incline Railway - the world's steepest passenger railway, climbing to an incline of 72.2 percent - also feature in some of our USA rail holidays.
Standing apart from the mainland United States, Alaska is the country's largest state but the least densely populated. Towering fjords and unspoilt scenery, as well as wildlife such as bears, beluga whales, and bald eagles, combine to ensure our USA rail holidays are a memorable experience for guests.
Great holiday, well planned and extremely enjoyable. Would strongly recommend it.
The holiday was great. Well organised and everything worked smoothly
Found all the arrangements to be well done leaving us to enjoy the whole experience.
Excellent trip from start to finish with a fantastic group superbly managed by Caroline Macintosh
Lived up to 'premium' expectations. Well organised and managed. Group size just right. Good balance between organised and free time. Fantastic hotels - quality and location.
Every aspect of the time we spent on the Rocky Mountaineer train was an experience of sheer luxury. On boarding the train with the red carpet treatment and getting to know the staff on board was an easy experience. The food served with silver service and excellent cuisine even satisfied my wife? The driver of the train new exactly when to slow down when interesting views were to be had. It was a nice touch to be welcomed by a whole line of uniformed staff when reaching Vancouver. We were sad to leave the train. A wonderful experience throughout and the highlight of our holiday. Congratulations.
very well organised and great value for money.tour guide Chris was fab,didnt intrude too much but told us what we needed to know.hotels very good quality,loved not having to deal with our suitcases and all the coach drivers we had were really good,especially Tom who took us up and down the mountain in the snow safe and sound.Denver and thd Rockies were disappointing,would have liked to have stayed jn Chicagoi longer instead.hated the sleeper compartment, would have preferred to have slept in a normal seat,they were far comfier but apart from that, everything else was amazing,would definately travel with you again and recommend you.
By Lorna Heatley
28 March 2018
We all know that Yellowstone has an incredible amount of natural beauty. Old Faithful, Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone Lake, and the Lamar Valley are just a few of the awe-inspiring sights created and controlled entirely by nature.
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By Katie Shaw
15 March 2018
Canada is an untamed treasure trove of beautiful, wild landscapes and remarkable native wildlife.
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By Lorna Heatley
23 February 2018
Happy Birthday Mr President! No, we're not talking about the current one, we're talking about the original. The number one. The man who started it all: George Washington, who is celebrated on Presidents Day, that took place on the 19th of February this year. What better way to celebrate his country than having a look at some of its most spectacular natural wonders?
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By Lorna Heatley
1 December 2017
Do you want to be part of it? Do you want to want to wake up in the city that never sleeps?
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Fabulous and so well organised. Every day was great and we like that there is thought given to including enough free time in each place. We like Great Rail Journeys very much having done two this year! We had Peter as our Tour Manager and he looked after us all brilliantly! He certainly made all the travel very smooth and easy. Thanks go to him. Great area to enjoy. Thoroughly recommended.