The best holidays are about more than just reaching your destination—they’re about the incredible moments you experience along the way. This is why we’re so thrilled to share some fabulous new rail tours that allow you to meet the locals, soak up the scenery, and arrive at the heart of the action - the kind of meaningful, immersive, slow travel holiday we at Travel Counsellors love.
Japan - Land of the Rising Sun
The 60th anniversary of Japan’s Shinkansen network makes this a great year to finally head East and experience the wonders of the world’s first bullet train. You’ll also get a taste of more modestly paced trains on this 13-day trip, getting you under the skin of this enigmatic country. Highlights include exploring traditional culture in Edo-period Takayama, visiting a folk village, touring a 600-year-old market, and tasting the products of a sake brewery.
Scenic Vietnam
Vietnam’s North-South railway line was built in 1899 and is sometimes called the Reunification Express for its symbolic role in reconnecting the North and South after the war. This tour includes overnight trips from Hanoi to Hue and Quy Nhon to Ho Chi Minh City over 15 incredible days in this mesmerising country – which also include homestays in the Mekong Delta and Da Bac and a vegetarian feast at a Buddhist monastery.
Express to the Orient: Paris to Istanbul
Taking you right back in time, this 15-day trip uses local trains to follow the original Orient Express train route from Paris to Budapest, before following the historic Simplon-Orient-Express route from Belgrade to Istanbul. Along the way, you’ll get the chance to immerse yourself in a whole host of local experiences, including a traditional Serbian lunch, a visit to Buda Castle, and leisurely hours enjoying Budapest’s and Vienna’s coffeehouse culture.
Paris to Rome by Rail
This journey ties together the bustling, history-drenched centres of two of Europe’s most epic cities while making scenic stop-offs along the way, including in Lucerne, where you can take the world’s steepest cogwheel railway to the peak of Mount Pilatus. You will also get to ride the Gotthard Panorama Express train from Lucerne to Bellinzona and see the mighty Alps from lots of different angles.
Trans-Mongolian Railway Adventure
One for those looking for a truly remote rail experience, this once-in-a-lifetime spectacular takes in the sweeping grasslands of Mongolia, the dunes of the Gobi Desert, and the vast steppes of Khustai National Park. You’ll take a deep dive into Inner Mongolia and spend a night in a desert camp before experiencing the dazzling lights of Beijing and a bullet-train ride to Chifeng.
To book your train adventure or for more information about other rail holidays, call your Travel Counsellor today.
Corfu's eastern coast is quieter than the north and west of the island, and that's largely the point. Domes Miramare sits on this stretch of shoreline looking out across the Ionian Sea towards the Greek mainland - a beachfront property with 113 suites, residences, and private villas, and an adults-only policy that starts at 16.
Gliding through deep, glacier-carved valleys offers a travel experience that few other journeys can match. Cruising through the world's most dramatic waterways as you experience these breathtaking natural wonders is an experience that will live with you forever. Below is a collection of some of the best, most beautiful, and breathtaking fjords in the world, stretching from the Arctic Circle to the southern tip of the Americas.
Summer 2026 is shaping up to be a season where travellers are mixing the familiar with the less obvious. The big names are still popular for a reason: they’re easy to reach, reliable in terms of weather, and offer plenty to do. But there’s also a growing shift towards destinations that feel a bit more manageable in peak season, whether that’s smaller islands, lesser-known coastal towns, or places that reward a slower pace. With short-haul travel across Europe continuing to expand, it’s easier than ever to combine both. Below are five destinations to have on your radar: two well-known favourites, and three that offer something slightly different without taking you too far out of your comfort zone.
