Contributors

Wanderlust is brought to life by people from all over the planet. Here are some of the award-winning writers and photographers who have crafted this issue – plus, we asked: what rail journey would you most like to experience in 2022?

PAUL WADE

Thuringia

Paul has been exploring Germany since childhood and loves the historic cities of Thuringia (p188), which he believes have not only top-class hiking and biking trails, but the country’s best sausages.

What rail journey would you most like to try in 2022?

“Riding the USA’S longest narrowgauge steam railway, the 103km Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad from Antonito, Colorado to Chama, New Mexico.”

GARETH CLARK

Rail journeys for 2022

Guidebook author (Luxembourg, Greece, Malta, Belgium, China), writer and Wanderlust sub editor Gareth indulges his love of trains this month, looking for this year’s top new rail adventures (p102). What rail journey would you most like to try in 2022?

“I’ve always wanted to ride from Canada’s Winnipeg to polar-bear capital Churchill, watching the aurora ripple overhead as I barrel across the silent tundra to the frozen shore of Hudson Bay.”

VICKY SMITH

Pembrokeshire

Vicky is a travel photographer and journalist who has visited all seven continents. She is fluent in Spanish, though it proved little help in exploring the coastal joys of Pembrokeshire in Wales (p180). What rail journey would you most like to try in 2022?

“I’d love to experience the Venice Simplon-orient-express, spiritual successor to its namesake. It even features restored vintage carriages from the original train.”

JULIET RIX

Rhodes

A journalist, author and editor, Juliet has travelled in 60 countries on seven continents. For this issue, she has chosen to stay a little closer to home, exploring one of her favourite places in Europe, peeling back layer upon layer of history on the Greek island of Rhodes (p148). What rail journey would you most like to try in 2022?

“Exploring the Canadian Rocky Mountains from the comfort of a panoramic viewing carriage.”

MIKE UNWIN

Nature in Sri Lanka

Travel and nature writer Mike has written over 38 books and was voted “UK Travel Writer of the Year 2013” (British Guild of Travel Writers). He is never happier than when spotting birds and beasties, as he demonstrates in his look at the wildlife of Sri Lanka (p84). What rail journey would you most like to try in 2022? “Cape Town to Victoria Falls. I would hop on in the shadow of Table Mountain and hop off into the spray of the great cataract.”

SHAFIK MEGHJI

Tierra del Fuego & Sucre

Award-winning travel writer and journalist Shafik specialises in Latin America and is the author of Crossed off the Map: Travels in Bolivia, which inspired his piece on Sucre (p184). He also takes us to Patagonia’s southern tip (p58). What rail journey would you most like to try in 2022?

“It’s got to be a toss-up between the Copper Canyon railway in Mexico, the Andean Explorer in Peru and the Reunification Express in Vietnam.”

CAROL CAIN

New York State

Brooklyn native Carol is the founder of Brave World Media marketing agency and the creator of Girlgonetravel.com. She lives, works and plays in New York State, a region she tells us all about in this month’s issue (p170). What rail journey would you most like to try in 2022?

“My dream trips are the Bernina Express, going from eastern Switzerland to Northern Italy, and riding The Jacobite steam train through Scotland.”

EMMA THOMSON

Sri Lankan rail journeys Emma is a journalist, author and speaker specialising in countries recovering from natural disasters, political upheaval or COVID-19. Sri Lanka was hit hard by the latter, and one of the best ways to put rupees back into its economy is by travelling its railways (p90). What rail journey would you most like to try in 2022? “I’m planning an Arctic rail odyssey across Norway, Sweden and Finland – keep your eyes peeled for it in an issue of Wanderlust.”