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Rail tracks in Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia

Vacations by train

Our specialists have ridden the rails throughout the world. We've crossed the Red Centre of Australia on the Ghan, western Rajasthan on the Maharajas' Express and experienced Japan's world-class rail network aboard the super-sleek bullet trains.

If you’d like to make a train journey part of a wider trip, or plan a vacation that centers on train travel, we can suggest options for the country you want to visit, or recommend countries where we’ve personally experienced the journey and know it’s well worth taking.

Speak to one of our Global Travel Advisors
Audley Travel Specialist Elizabeth

Start planning your tailor-made trip by contacting one of our Global Travel Advisors

Recommended destinations for a rail vacation

Our specialists can help you plan your trip, individually focusing on your tastes and interests, to the destinations below.

Our recommended rail itinerary ideas

Our itinerary ideas will give you a starting point for what your trip could entail. Treat them just as inspiration, as each trip is created uniquely for you and there are many more options available.

Our expert guides to choosing your rail vacation

Penned by our specialists from their own travels, these guides aim to inspire you with suggestions of where to spend your vacation. Giving tips for what to experience and recommendations for where to stay, we share our ideas for the best destinations to consider.

  • Top train journeys
    The Ghan, Central Australia

    Top train journeys

    Top train journeys

    A great rail journey can leave long-lasting memories of a country. Relaxing in a train enables you to cover great distances while taking in the beauty of the passing scenery.

    Read this guide
  • Luxury railway journeys
    Rovos Rail, Livingstone & The Victoria Falls

    Luxury railway journeys

    Luxury railway journeys

    Cross countries and continents in a time-honored fashion on a luxury train journey. Sit back in a luxurious carriage with the scenery passing by and a personal butler looking after your every need.

    Read this guide
  • Luxury rail journeys through India
    The Maharajas' Express Train

    Luxury rail journeys through India

    Luxury rail journeys through India

    India specialist and former Mumbai resident Alison shares her experiences of luxury train journeys in India. She has picked out some of the most interesting routes and explains why they’re a fascinating way to explore India.

    10 min read

    Read this guide
  • New Zealand railway journeys
    View from the TranzAlpine train, South Island

    New Zealand railway journeys

    New Zealand railway journeys

    New Zealand has a triumvirate of great rail journeys across North and South Islands. They’re windows onto the country’s scenic splendor, but they’re also civil engineering masterpieces, says Audley New Zealand specialist (and train aficionado) Joe.

    6 min read

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  • South America’s greatest railway journeys: Peru’s Andean Explorer & Ecuador’s Tren Crucero
    Belmond Andean Explorer Sleeper Train

    South America’s greatest railway journeys: Peru’s Andean Explorer & Ecuador’s Tren Crucero

    South America’s greatest railway journeys: Peru’s Andean Explorer & Ecuador’s Tren Crucero

    Travel on South America’s foremost luxury sleeper train service, Peru’s Belmond Andean Explorer, or voyage down Ecuador’s Avenue of Volcanoes on comfortable day trains. Audley specialist Holly describes why you might want to experience the continent from a railway carriage.

    6 min read

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  • Japan’s bullet trains: an all-you-need-to-know guide
    Shinkansen

    Japan’s bullet trains: an all-you-need-to-know guide

    Japan’s bullet trains: an all-you-need-to-know guide

    Japan has long been celebrated for its high-speed train innovations. Japan specialist Phil explains why, for him, Japan’s bullet trains are an ideal way to see the country. He shares his experiences riding the trains through Japan and how to incorporate them into your trip.

    7 min read

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  • Train journeys in South Africa
    Rovos Rail

    Train journeys in South Africa

    Train journeys in South Africa

    Watch the scenery unfold as the clackety-clack of rail tracks pass beneath you. A trip on the famous Blue Train or Rovos Rail in South Africa are two of the great train journeys of the world.

    4 min read

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