Rail adventures

See the world from the other side of the tracks…

There’s a certain romance to rail travel. Trains cut through landscapes you may otherwise be unable to reach, often at speeds slow enough to soak everything in. Some tour operators base whole itineraries around the world’s finest rides, some use spectacular sections to link historic, exotic, remote and exciting spots. Here are nine rich and varied railway adventures for starters…

1. Wales

Steam through Snowdonia

Take to the tracks of northern Wales on Rail Discoveries’

Railways of Wales 2019 tour. Hop on the narrow-gauge Ffestiniog Mountain Railway through rugged Snowdonia National Park, skirt the park’s foothills on the Welsh Highland Railway and steam alongside the River Dee aboard the Llangollen Railway. Also visit eccentric Portmeirion, travel by horse-drawn barge and stay in the lovely Victorian town of Llandudno. Who: Rail Discoveries (01904 734939, raildiscoveries.com) When: Selected dates Mar-oct 2019 How long: 6 days How much: From £495 (excl flights)

2. Ecuador

Slice through the Andes Ride some recently reopened and scenically dramatic rails on Journey Latin America’s Picaflor: Ecuador on Track trip. Chug from the highs of the Andes to the Pacific coast at Guayaquil, via tropical lowlands, Otavalo’s colourful market, the Avenue of the Volcanoes and the switchbacks of the Devil’s Nose ( above), where the train is powered by steam. Who: Journey Latin America (020 3811 6079, journeylatinamerica.co.uk) When: 4 Oct 2018, 13 Jun & 3 Oct 2019 How long: 10 days How much: From £3,995 (incl flights)

3. Japan

View cherry blossom by train See a bit of everything Japan has to offer via a range of railways on Ffestiniog Travel’s Japan – Trains, Trams & Cherry Blossom trip. Ride along the black-sand Shonan Coast, take the steam-hauled Tobu Railway to Kinugawa Onsen, see blooming trees from the historic Chichibu Railway, hop on trams in Tokyo, Fukui and Osaka, visit the Kaya railway museum and end in the tropical Okinawa archipelago. Who: Ffestiniog Travel (01766 512400, ffestiniogtravel.com) When: 19 Mar 2019 How long: 19 days How much: From £4,995 (incl flights)

4. Namibia & South Africa

Hop aboard the Shongololo Express

Join Jules Verne to trundle through Namibia by Private Train. Traverse 3,000km of epic: pass through the ancient Namib Desert, spy wildlife in Etosha National Park, climb colossal dunes at Sossusvlei, peer into Fish River Canyon and traverse South Africa’s Northern Cape and Karoo to reach the garden city of Pretoria. Who: Jules Verne (020 3811 5962, vjv.com) When: 28 May 2018; 26 May 2020 How long: 14 nights How much: From £4,895 (incl flights)

5. Scotland

Choose a classic Celtic chug

Mix it up on Brightwater Holidays’ A Classic Scottish Steam Break. Ride the Jacobite steam loco from Fort William to Mallaig (crossing Glenfinnan Viaduct), take a paddle steamer across the Kyles of Bute and cruise the Trossachs’ Loch Katrine by steamship. Who: Brightwater Holidays (01334 897348, brightwaterholidays.com) When: 23 Aug & 11 Oct 2018 How long: 4 days How much: From £595 (excl flights)

6. Iran

Explore the Middle East in style

Access Iran’s finest sights on Golden Eagle Luxury Trains’ Heart of Persia trip. Visit the magnificent mosques, shrines and palaces of Tehran, Isfahan and Mashhad, head into the Shahdad Desert, explore ancient Yazd and the Unesco-listed ruins of Persepolis, soak up the culture of Shiraz and ride a pilgrimage train through the Alborz Mountains. Who: Golden Eagle Luxury Trains (0161 928 9410, goldeneagleluxurytrains.com) When: 8 Oct 2018, 30 Mar & 13 Oct 2019 How long: 14 days How much: From £13,395 (excl flights)

7. Peru

Appreciate the Inca by rail

See a fine slice of South America in style on Audley’s Luxury Peru by Rail: Cuzco, Machu Picchu and Lake Titicaca tour. As well as touring Lima, you’ll view the Sacred Valley from the Hiram Bingham train and head south aboard the opulent Belmond Andean Explorer. Who: Audley (01993 838620, audleytravel.com) When: Year round How long: 12 days How much: From £6,450 (incl flights)

8. Spain & Morocco

Zip through North Africa Go overland to Africa on Planet Rail’s Morocco’s Imperial Cities by First Class Rail and Ferry trip. After city breaks in Barcelona and Córdoba, you’ll cross to Morocco, utilising a new service – Africa’s speediest train – to maximise your time in fascinating cities like Tangier, Rabat, Casablanca and Marrakech. Who: Planet Rail (01347 825292, planetrail.co.uk) When: Year round How long: 14 days How much: From £1,495 (incl outbound rail and inbound flights)

9. Norway

Go from capital to coast by train

Go Over the Roof of Norway with Discover The World. Soak up the sites of capital Oslo before riding the Bergen Railway – considered one of the world’s most scenic train trips – to Myrdal. Disembark here for the dramatic switchbacks of the Flamsbana Corkscrew Railway, then explore the waterfalls, fjords, peaks and cafes of pretty Flam and Bergen. Who: Discover The World (01737 886131, discover-the-world.co.uk) When: Aug-nov 2018 How long: 6 nights How much: From £1,042 (incl flights)