RAIL ADVENTURES IN EUROPE

Train travel is easily the most underrated form of long-distance travel out there.

There's something old-school and charming about riding trains. Between the food car, the conductors, and the world flying by outside your window, there's a nostalgic appeal to train travel.

Travelling by train can be incredibly scenic. You can see cities, mountains and rivers from the seat of a train. Train travel is just an all-around better, more relaxing experience than its air and car counterparts. While those are mainly about getting from point A to point B, trains are about the ride.

Beyond the obvious Eurostar and Inter-rail options, there are multiple old-world routes still active through some of the best scenery in Europe.

Whatever it is that draws you to Rail travel in Europe, let me take you.

World Class Adventures has access to the best tour operators and will tailor the perfect holiday just for you.

Book the perfect Adventure - Complete an enquiry form or call me on 0117 452 1159 to get started!

My Favourite European Rail journeys:

• Coastal Trains along the French Rivera
  • Thirty charming train stations tempt you to board trains that travel right on the edge of the coast,  far closer to that beautiful blue sea than you can get in a car.   The stops vary from tiny, to gorgeous (Villefranche- and Theoule-sur-mer), to mythic (Cannes, Monaco), to… well, Italy!
• Glacier Express, Switzerland
  • The quintessential Alpine rail trip, this train has panoramic windows to make the most of the stunning scenery –The full route takes eight hours from St Moritz to Zermatt, crossing 291 bridges, passing through 91 tunnels and reaching an elevation of 2,033m.
• El Transcantábrico, Spain
  • Along the Bay of Biscay on Spain’s north coast on local stopping trains, the route begins at Irún, on the border with France.  Sights include the cities of San Sebastián, Bilbao, and Santander. Break the journey to see prehistoric painted caves (the replica at Altamira), the pre-Romanesque churches of Asturias, the magnificent Picos de Europa and endless cute beach resorts.
• Mariazell Railway, Austria
  • Austria has lots of scenic rail routes but the narrow-gauge line from St Pölten of Mariazell is widely considered the best. Travel in a steam-pulled carriage
• Wolsztyn to Leszno, Poland
  • In Poland, steam trains have been running non-stop for 110 years. Its “capital” is the town of Wolsztyn, western Poland, which is still served by regular daily services. However, funding cuts are now threatening this glorious, peace of history
• The Brocken, Germany
  • The Harzer Schmalspurbahnen is a 140km network of narrow gauge lines in the Harz mountains of former East Germany. The most popular is from Wernigerode through the woods up to the summit of the Brocken mountain
• Bernina Express, Switzerland to Italy
  • This network is a world heritage site because of its contribution to opening up the communities of the high Alps, but nowadays, the narrow-gauge line south from Saint Moritz is mostly used by tourists.  The train reaches a high point of 2,253 metres as it crosses the Bernina Pass into Italy before descending into Tirano, where it runs through the streets into the station as if it were a tram.
• Flåm Line, Norway
  • For its wild Scandinavian beauty the journey from Oslo to Bergen is a classic, but for even better scenery get off at Myrdal and take the branch line to Flåm, one of the steepest and most beautiful train journeys in the world. The route includes a horseshoe or “spiral” tunnel.

With 30 years of adventure travel experience, I select operators who deliver the best possible holidays for my clients. I remain independent and have the flexibility to provide you with the best package to suit your specific needs and budget. I search the whole market to find the best deals for every aspect of your trip so that you don’t have to, providing honest and impartial advice.

When I request quotes for a trip like this, I ask the operator for locally owned accommodation and local guides where the trip allows. I also follow my Animal Welfare Policy on any wildlife experiences. Holidays that include flights include a payment to Sustainable Travel International, which is part of the holiday price, and I keep a record of each one. My Traveller’s Pledge and full approach are on my Responsible Travel page.

Contact me today to start planning your exciting itinerary.  Complete an enquiry form or call me on 0117 452 1159!