I love travelling by rail, and where it can easily be switched in in place of a flight or a drive, why wouldn’t you want to take the weight off, shirk the hassle, and maybe even pack a little picnic for the ride?

Train travel is undeniably evocative and romantic. But actually, it’s also quite practical too. Tell me, would you rather have two hours faffing around prior to a flight, airport admin and luggage limitations, or simply sink into a roomy train seat, bunkette or private cabin, stash your bag and simply watch the surroundings unfold around you for a few hours?

Of the many trips I’ve booked, there are a few utterly standout ones that I’d love to share with you. Who knows, they might inspire your appetite for a rail adventure…

1)      I don’t think I’ll ever beat this one. Although, unbelievably, when I wrote about it on social media, someone else booked something very similar too! This most-epic European rail trip started by rail from Warrington Bank Quay to London, before crossing to Brussels by Eurostar and connecting onto an overnight sleeper train to Vienna. From Vienna, it was another overnight train to Venice, and then Ancona for a ferry across the Adriatic to Patras, then a car hire, then a ferry from Volos to the final destination, Skiathos! All without a flight in sight.

2)      You can’t talk about rail without talking about the incredible Rocky Mountaineer. On the bucket lists of many, this journey through Canada’s spectacularly dramatic Rockies combines jaw-dropping surrounding around every corner with the utter luxury that comes with having gourmet dining and drinks, stellar service and al fresco areas to step out and soak in the scenery. My most popular itinerary is the two-day/one-night ‘First Passage to the West’ journey which teams perfectly with time in beautiful Banff and vibrant Vancouver. Also works a treat finished up with an Alaska cruise!

3)      Overnight trains are becoming a big thing. And there’s just something that feels so special about doing it. My clients on a trip to Vietnam were tossing up between the quick hop on a flight from Hanoi to Hoi An, or settling in for an overnight service on the Laman Express instead. By booking early, I managed to bag them two private twin bunkettes for the four of them, and a night that - while they possibly wouldn’t repeat(!) – ended up being one of the highlight moments of their trip. Card games, drinks, food and a slow journey through Vietnam’s lush countryside before waking up in the morning to a new city.

Feeling the temptation to take to the train tracks? Whether it’s the Orient Express, Rovos Rail, Bernina Express, or simply switching out a flight or a transfer for an overnight or regional rail, I’ll help you figure out what works and whip up an itinerary around it that saves on stress and delivers on a more relaxed, leisurely way to get from A to B.

Get in touch now to start planning your next adventure by rail.