It’s hard to replicate the same level of relaxation and atmosphere on other modes of transport that you get from a rail journey. Busy roads when you are driving and cramped conditions when you are flying can’t compare to the comfort and enjoyment that can be had when travelling by rail.
Another advantage of going by rail is that you can actually make stops on your way, taking some time to visit the charming towns and villages that you’re passing through.
Train journeys truly are the most relaxing, flexible way to travel. We’ve highlighted some of our favourite Great Rail holidays for your perusal; ones that are guaranteed to offer the most relaxing kind of holiday.
First Class Glacier Express
This is truly the best way to take in the sights during the winter season. This journey across the Swiss Alps will take you to snow-capped mountains and stunning wintery forests.
On the third day, after reaching Luxembourg, you will take the mountain railway to Zermatt, passing through eight tunnels and 42 bridges, witnessing the gorgeous vistas and the beautiful hamlets and villages along your way.
This will be followed by the Bernese Oberland, a day in the Western Alps, the beautiful Graubunden Canton, Poschiavo, the Eastern Alps, the Rhine Gorge and finally, Cologne.
The Harz Mountains Journey
This trip begins in London, where you will take the train first class to Cologne. You will then take a coach to the Harz Mountain range to witness its beautiful forests and lakes. After travelling by rail to Goslar, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, you’ll be given a guided tour of the town.
To follow will be a ride on the classic Brocken Railway, taking you to Wernigerode, which you are free to explore at leisure. The trip will be capped off with a visit to Quedlinberg, after which you will return to Cologne, then London.
The Burns Celebration Tour
January is often the month of austerity in England, with waistlines and wallets given a reprieve after the festivities of Christmas and New Year’s Eve. But in Scotland, usually on the 25th, celebrations break out again for Burns Night, when the country’s greatest literary figure is toasted.
It’s a night we all should experience, and there’s no better way to do it than by rail. The first leg of your journey will begin in the pulsing city of Glasgow after which you will travel to Glenborrodale on the West Highland Line.
After eating delicious haunch of venison for dinner at Glenborrodale Castle (the traditional Burns Night haggis will almost certainly be at hand), you will travel to the Isle of Mull. After a day of leisure to explore the region, you will move on to Glencoe before returning to Glasgow.
