Top Trips for Scenic Train Journeys
Content and CRM Executive
Who doesn’t love a scenic train ride? Embrace the romance of our Rail Trips and join us for some of the world’s most beautiful train rides.
Loved by over 40s
Edinburgh and the Scottish Highlands by Train
Scotland’s ruggedly handsome landscape, dominated by craggy peaks, luscious forestry and serene highland lochs, was made to be explored by train. Tracks have been carved into this untameable land for over 200 years, and there’s a real sense of exploration to be had by chugging through the Highlands. Our Rail Trip was designed to showcase the Scottish countryside at its most majestic, so every train ride included in the itinerary is scenic, starting with the overnight sleeper from London to Fort William – the views are even better over a hearty Highland breakfast. There is one train ride that stands above the rest, however, and that’s the Jacobite steam train from Fort William to the west coast town of Mallaig. The train itself is fantastically old fashioned, steaming its way across the Scottish Highlands at a soothingly gentle pace. The most picturesque point? It has to be the curving Glenfinnan Viaduct, which you’ll cross on day three of our trip. If it looks familiar, that’s because this route, and the countryside it calls home, was the cinematic embodiment of the Hogwarts Express in the Harry Potter films.
From US$2109
Next available from 25th Sep 2023
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Trip highlights and details
STARTS AT
London, England
ENDS AT
Edinburgh, Scotland
DURATION
7
GROUP SIZE
15
PHYSICAL RATING
Moderate
STYLE
Discovery
Flash Sale
A Taste of Taiwan by Train
This gorgeous island nation off the coast of China glistens with the green of its rice paddies, forests and valleys, not to mention a huge coastline. Our Taiwan trip is an almost perfect loop of the island, starting at the northern tip in the capital, Taipei, heading down the west coast to Taichung and Kaohsiung in the south, before heading up the east coast to Hualien and back to Taipei. Every journey between the country’s skyscraper cities offers a beautiful insight into rural Taiwan, but the locomotive highlight of our trip has to be the eastern stretch. We’ll wind directly along the stunning East Coast National Scenic Area, sandwiched between the island’s luscious greenery and the shimmering blue waters of the Pacific Ocean. You’ll pass mountains, volcanic rock formations, sandy beaches and coastal terraces, spotting a diverse array of flora and fauna as you go.
From US$1522
Next available from 30th Dec 2023
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Trip highlights and details
STARTS AT
Taipei, Taiwan
ENDS AT
Taipei, Taiwan
DURATION
9
GROUP SIZE
16
PHYSICAL RATING
Moderate
STYLE
Discovery
Berlin to Budapest: The Best of Central Europe by Train
Nowhere captures the romance of train travel quite like Central Europe, which is why we simply had to bring this classic Euro Rail Trip to life. It focuses in on five of the region’s most historically significant, culturally rich and aesthetically delightful capital cities – Berlin, Prague, Vienna, Bratislava and Budapest. The train rides along the way will showcase the charm of rural Europe, from its fairytale towns and villages to vast forests and famous river valleys. Our favourite route is the journey from Berlin to Prague, which ploughs straight through the verdant greenery of the German-Czech border, passing countless quaint little medieval towns along the way. An honourable mention goes to our regional train detour, from Vienna to the picturesque Danube town of Krems, which acts as our gateway to the sumptuous Wachau Valley.
From US$2473
Next available from 13th Apr 2024
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Trip highlights and details
STARTS AT
Berlin, Germany
ENDS AT
Budapest, Hungary
DURATION
10
GROUP SIZE
18
PHYSICAL RATING
Light
STYLE
Discovery
Flash Sale
Japan by Train: The Grand Tour
The eye-watering speeds of Japan’s bullet train network allows us to see so much of this country’s surprisingly diverse natural landscape in so little time. That’s the inspiration behind this comprehensive 12-day Rail Trip, which manages to fit Osaka, Hiroshima, Kyoto, Hakone and Tokyo in one trip, and that’s just the cities. You’ll also get to explore Lake Ashi, Miyajima Island, Arashiyama bamboo forest and the Japanese Alps. It’s hard to pick just one route as the most scenic stretch, but keep an eye out for Mount Fuji on the journey between Takayama and Hakone, seeing Japan’s tallest mountain from one of its iconic high-speed trains is a moment you’ll never forget.
From US$2774
Next available from 12th Oct 2023
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Trip highlights and details
STARTS AT
Osaka, Japan
ENDS AT
Tokyo, Japan
DURATION
12
GROUP SIZE
16
PHYSICAL RATING
Moderate
STYLE
Discovery
Secrets of Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka’s rural railways are a little more rustic, but no less spectacular. The routes between Kandy and Ella, right in the central hills of the island, are truly special. We’ll embark on a lovely, gently undulating journey from Nanuoya to Haputale, passing endless easy-on-the-eye tea plantations en route. A day later we’ll also walk across Nine Arches Bridge – a gorgeous old stone structure crossing the valley – and you can witness trains passing from a different, equally scenic perspective – cameras at the ready!
From US$
Next available from 1st Jan 1970
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Trip highlights and details
STARTS AT
Colombo, Sri Lanka
ENDS AT
Kosgoda, Sri Lanka
DURATION
12
GROUP SIZE
14
PHYSICAL RATING
Moderate
STYLE
Discovery
Classic Northern Italy by Train
You may not associate Italy with efficient, high-speed rail, but you will after joining us on this nine-day classic across the most iconic regions of the north. We’ll start in Rome, before heading north to Florence and Siena, continuing up through Emilia-Romagna, stopping off at Bologna and Parma, before finally reaching Milan, with an extra little day trip to Lake Como thrown in. It’s a trip full of ancient cities, glamorous piazzas and utterly sumptuous culinary delights, but the most scenic stretch of our Italian extravaganza has to be the early routes through the Tuscan countryside. The journey from Rome to Florence is spellbinding, as you whizz through the rolling hills of Tuscany, embellished with local vineyards and olive groves, the occasional ancient church or cute medieval town. You’ll never want the journey to end, not until you realise that when you arrive you’ll be able to explore those old towns and sample that delicious wine for yourself.
From US$
Next available from 1st Jan 1970
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Trip highlights and details
STARTS AT
Rome, Lazio
ENDS AT
Milan, Lombardia
DURATION
9
GROUP SIZE
14
PHYSICAL RATING
Light
STYLE
Discovery
Volcanic Iceland Epic Trip
meet our Local Insider
Hanna
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A GUIDE?
2 years.
WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR JOB?
It's the personal contact, the personal experiences. I love meeting people from all over the world... I really like getting to know everyone and feeling like I'm traveling with a group of friends.
WHAT DESTINATION IS ON YOUR TRAVEL BUCKET-LIST?
I have so many places on my list, but I would really lobe to go to Africa. I consider myself an “adventure girl” and Africa feels like the ULTIMATE adventure!
Every CULTURE TRIP Small-group adventure is led by a Local Insider just like Hanna.
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Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.
Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.
Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.
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