Turkey

We come from a big country, but for some reason Turkey feels even bigger once you start traveling it. Buses seem to be the default transport for travelers – there is a plethora for good value companies and departures are frequent. But who wants to spend 12 hours on a bus?

The inexpensive air-conditioned train, with a bed in your private sleeper, meals in the restaurant car, whilst gently swaying as Turkish scenery rolls past is the best way to get to the great interior.

Try: Overnight from Istanbul to Göreme for the magical landscapes of Cappadocia.

Kazakhstan

You will have heard of the great rail trips in Russia, like the Trans-Siberian, but what about neighbouring Kazakhstan? Comfortable and safe in your private sleeper, you’ll cross the endless sea of steppe where two humped camels flicker past your window. Observe the frenzied action at impossibly remote villages as the train creates an instant, fleeting marketplace on the platform.

Try: Moscow to Almaty, Kazakhstan’s largest city, over five days. Continue from there to China.

Vietnam

Why would you fly between destinations in this long country when air-conditioned, safe and cheap trains get you there in much greater comfort, seeing gorgeous scenery on the way? You’ll pay the same price as the Vietnamese, have a bed to stretch out on may meet some locals.

Try: The stunning coastal section between Hué and Danang over the Hai Van Pass.

South Africa

Long-distance passenger trains are perhaps South Africa’s best-kept travel secret. It’s another big country that can be experienced at ground level in much greater comfort than days on a bus. The trains link major cities and are cheap and safe. Enjoy the restaurant cars and the tourist class of sleepers with two and four berth compartments.

Try: Johannesburg to Cape Town over 2 days.

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Train travel has been a growing trend in recent years and many tourists have actually fallen in love with the idea of setting up in a moving form of transport that allows you to enjoy the spectacular sights form ground level.

One company that offers great train services is Australia’s Great Train Journeys, which specialize in tours around Australia.

One of the most popular routes is from Sydney to Perth, stopping over in Adelaide.
As is the case with ships, trains also get a name and in this instance it is the Indian Pacific that makes the journey possible.

The Indian Pacific takes you from one great ocean to another on one of the world’s longest and greatest train journeys.

Most of your cruising will be across the vast continent of Australia, from the spectacular Blue Mountains to the treeless plains of The Nullarbor desert, where the train travels the world’s longest straight stretch of railway track (478 kilometers).

As a passenger you will get to see unique landscapes unfold and spot a fascinating array of wildlife from the comfort of the lounge or your cabin. 

You will get up close and see the sights of some of our most famous outback communes and see the fascinating landscape that is so often talked about around the world.

The train ride has scheduled stops at Broken Hill, Adelaide and gold-rich town of Kalgoorlie.

For more information head to www.gsr.com.au

In the past we used to love getting a window seat during a flight so we could marvel at the scenery during take off and landing.

Nowadays, we don’t seem to care whee we sit, as long as the flight is smooth, quick and problem free.

Travellers want more when they travel and it seems the novelty of flying is fading fast.

This new trend has made the possibility of relaxed, scenic filled travel even more appealing.

One of the growing trends in the industry is rail travel:

The train journey option has something special to offer every traveller. As the miles roll by, passengers can experience that rarity in a busy modern life – a leisurely time when idle moments invite contemplation and welcome new experiences.

Each turn of the track brings a fresh perspective: a changing vista, a charming railway stop, another passenger coming aboard.

One of the worlds greatest, and most popular, train journeys is British Columbia’s Great Train Adventure.

The Canadian scenic rail tour captures that sense of exploration, excitement and romance during the 450 mile route from Vancouver to Prince George, the geographic centre of the province.

The journey encompasses some of the most spectacular and varied scenery in British Columbia.

British Columbia’s Great Train Adventure explores the Coast Mountains, follows along the edge of the magnificent Fraser Canyon for thirty miles, crosses the ranch lands of the Cariboo Plateau, and passes through the forested lands of the Interior, giving passengers an all round spectacular experience.

Named after the Afghan cameleers who originally helped to open up the central desert region of Australia in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, The Ghan is both a luxury train and a 3000 kilometre railway journal that winds from Adelaide’s fertile countryside through to the rusty red outback of Central Australia and to the tropical splendour atop the country.

The railway line started out as the Northern Railway in 1878, at the height of a national railway boom in hopes of developing the farming and mining potential of inland Australia. Affectionately known as The Ghan, the line spanned from Port Augusta to the outback town of Oodnadatta in northern South Australia by 1891. Oodnadatta remained the end of the line for the following forty years.

In 1895, an effort to advance construction of the line commenced. It was stated: “the interior was not all desert, but had extensive areas of good land fit for cultivation and a variety of tropical products”.

The line was eventually extended to the central Australian township of Alice Springs in 1929, and remained there until 2003 when a major project to extend the line to Darwin, capital of the Northern Territory, was completed.

Up until 1929, virtually all goods transported to Alice Springs were done so by means of camel trains driven by Afghan tribesmen. These men were adept at handling these hardy ‘ships of the desert’ and the camel trains would meet the train at the railhead in Oodnadatta. The camel trains carried goods ranging from pianos, automobiles and furniture to food supplies, mail, publications and clothing on to Alice Springs. The arrival of the camel trains was always a time of great excitement. The camels remained a viable means of transport in Central Australia for so long because the use of motor transport was hindered by a lack of roads and reliable fuel supplies.

Much of The Ghan’s legend comes from the various mishaps that occurred during its early life. The 1520 kilometre journey from Adelaide to Alice Springs required it to pass through some of the driest and most arid country on earth. If it did rain, the dry rivers would usually flood and sweep away railway tracks, bridges and other infrastructure. Often the train would run weeks, if not months behind schedule. At one point The Ghan did not reach Alice Springs for three months, requiring essential supplies to be flown into the down for survival.

The Ghan’s route was relocated a considerable distance to the west by 1980 and the line was upgraded from a narrow gauge to a wider, safer structure. This put an end to The Ghan’s reputation of unreliability and preserved the Australian icon.

Today, anyone can travel on The Ghan in world-class luxury. The renowned attraction enables travellers to see the real Australia in true comfort. The 3000 kilometre journey begins in Adelaide and takes two days to reach Darwin. The towns of Port Augusta, Alice Springs, Tennant Creek and Katherine are all on the way.

The Darjeeling – from the little town of New Jalpaiguri to the rolling Darjeeling hills, the Darjeeling Hill railway is small but offers a fantastic view of the Indian countryside. With a 2 foot gauge and 86 kilometre long track, the Darjeeling line has no tunnels, thus allowing the traveller to indulge in an uninterrupted view of the breathtaking scenery of the Himalayas. For seven and a half hours, rail, nature and travel lovers will delight in this iconic train ride. There are also direct connections to Guwahati, Delhi, Calcutta and other Indian cities.

The Matheran – For a 77 year old line, the Matheran is in quite good shape. It connects Neral to the tiny Matheran resort atop a hill close to Mumbai. As the train wheezes into the fresh mountain air for its one and a half hour duration, passengers will be privy to outstanding views of India. The lack of transport options to Matheran makes the resort itself an unusual but peaceful retreat.

Apart from these two major train services in India, there are a few smaller services in other areas. Four of the most popular include the Fairy Queen, the Palace on Wheels, the Royal Orient and The Deccan Odyssey. All of these services offer vacation packages with special stop-offs at major destinations, meals and accommodation.

Passengers aboard the California Zephyr are spoiled for choices when it comes to seating. The spacious coach seats are extremely comfortable while the roomettes and bedrooms in the Superliner sleeping cars are the pinnacle of train luxury. The Dining Car serves full a la carte meals while the Café Bar offers casual meals like sandwiches, snacks and beverages. There is also a Sightseer Lounge Car with large picture windows and movie screenings for adults and children alike.

The journey itself involves an amazing three-day sightseeing tour of American history and landmarks. The first day winds through the historic trail of gold prospectors and carpetbaggers from the Gold Rush days in Illinois farming country travelling through quaint rural townships, across the majestic Mississippi River and into Iowa. The Zephyr chugs along patiently while time seems to stand peacefully still in the mid west.

By day two, passengers aboard the Zephyr will have arrived in cosmopolitan Denver. The skyscrapers of the ultra-modern metropolis are dramatically imposing against a backdrop of the massive Rockies in the far, far distance. For a city of its size, Denver is remarkably unpolluted and the air is refreshing. Passengers have a change to stretch their legs while the train refuels and is cleaned before taking off again onwards to the Front Range of the Colorado Rockies where foothills jut from the sweeping plains. Plunging deep river valleys littered with pine trees and ochre hillsides are laden with bubbling streams.

The views from the train windows are extremely captivating, especially those of the Sightseer Lounge Car. The stunning landscape is usually uninterrupted by man-made obstacles apart from glimpses of the Zephyr itself as it snakes its way along the river courses and valleys. Passing through the Moffett tunnel, the Zephyr meanders the nine-mile long tube of darkness to emerge from the other side. Suddenly, the dramatic display of rivers, mountains and pines dominate the view as the train returns to freedom and continues to chug along its path.

By the third and final day, the Zephyr is in the Nevada flatlands and is well into California. In the High Sierras passengers are treated to a never-ending procession of dramatically beautiful views, broken only by the occasional bridge or mountainside itself. The Zephyr passes by Alpine Donner Lake in its serene valley of sweeping ranges.

When the Zephyr finally arrives at the Emeryville terminus, shuttle buses running to San Francisco are ready to meet the passengers. The no-rush journey and unparalleled scenery of the North American continent now seems a distant memory, but one clear and inspiring and to be recalled often with a smile.