Rail vacation tips
Survival tips
Our Railway Vacations
Scotland by railway vacation
Experience authentic Scotland independently and car-free
Trans Mongolian railway vacation
Ride the Iconic Trans-Mongolian Railway in all it's glory.
Ireland vacation by train
Discover contrasts of Dublin, Galway and Belfast, car-free.
Southern Europe rail tour, 16 days
Tour through the best of Southern Europe in 3 weeks!
West Highland Line railway vacation in Scotland
Take the "The World's Best Rail Journey" to the Isle of Skye
Railway tour of Morocco
Rediscover Morocco's two greatest Imperial Cities by rail.
Japan small group vacation by bullet train
Japan's must-see cities and beautiful, rural countryside
North india rail tour
Take the train right to the heart of India’s colourful cultural northern region
Trans Mongolian express rail tour, Beijing to St Petersburg
ride the rails on this once-in-a-lifetime trip
Eastern europe by train, the Iron Curtain tour
Whizz around Europe's lesser-visited cities by rail!
India by Rail, Northeast & Darjeeling
Get off the beaten path and see India in a very untypical way – by train
Complete India by rail, 6 weeks
A 6 week trip that circles India by train
Balkans rail vacation
Travel through seven countries in the Balkans.
Scotland island hopping vacation, car free
Explore three contrasting Scottish islands car-free
Central Europe rail tour, 15 days
An exciting trip around the continent's fairytale cities
Reunification Express vacation, Vietnam
Most wonderful way to travel from north to south of Vietnam
Trans Mongolian vacation, tailor made
Ride the Iconic Trans-Mongolian Railway in all it's glory.
Bulgaria vacation by train
Self-guided trip by slow-ride train through best of Bulgaria
Southern India and Karnataka rail tour
Take the train from Goa to Kochi via Karnataka and see the breathtaking ruins of Hampi
Ecuador by train vacation, culture and nature
Encounter Ecuador's stunning landscape by train
Grand Trans Siberian rail tour
From the Pacific to the Baltic on the Trans-Siberian Railway
St Petersburg to Vladivostok on the Trans Siberian
Russia, Mongolia & Japan on the Trans-Siberian Railway
Ireland train vacation, wild Atlantic way
Spend a week on Ireland's acclaimed touring route by train
Rail tour in North Highlands & Orkney
Scotland’s geographic extremities & ancient history by train
Winter Trans Siberian rail vacation
Siberian snowscapes from Vladivostok to St Petersburg
Silk Road 30 day overland tour
Travel through Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan & China
Naadam Festival vacations in Mongolia
Become a Nomad and celebrate Naadam Festival with the locals
Calcutta to Amritsar rail journey
The plains of India into the Himalaya
Classic Trans Siberian railway tour
Classic trans Siberian railway tour from Moscow to Vladivostock
Food tips
Robert Kidd: “Sadly the food and drink on the trains in Scotland are not great, so it is always good to bring your own snacks. Especially if you like fruit and healthy snacks. You can usually get tea, coffee and water, but extra snacks in your bag is a good idea. The food in Scotland itself, however, is superb”.Tips on fellow travelers
Rachel Wasser, Innovation Manager with our railway vacation expert supplier, G Adventures, offers great rail vacation tips: “My main piece of advice is to explore. Don’t lock yourself in your cabin and just emerge at the next destination. Wander the train, hang out in the dining car – some of my best stories are from meeting friendly locals in the dining car. Mostly, just enjoy the ride!”Packing tips
Rachel Wasser: "Pack a quick dry face towel for the trains as it helps to stay feeling fresh. A head torch is useful for finding your way around or reading in bed. Slip on sandals are great for wandering around. Earplugs and toilet paper are essential! Pack everything you will need for the journey in a day pack so you can stow your large luggage somewhere out of sight and you won't have to dig around for anything. Bring lots of books and playing cards. I also have an abundance of plastic bags I collected along the way for trash, tissue paper, etc. You'll be surprised at how quickly your cabin can fill up! A reusable mug and camping cutlery are also must-haves. Most trains provide boiled water so pick up some hot chocolate packets, instant mashed potatoes or pot noodles and you're good to go."Overnight tips
Our top Railway Vacation
Scotland by railway vacation
Experience authentic Scotland independently and car-free
This trip can be tailor made from April to the end of October.
Rail vacation tips from our travelers
We have selected some of the most useful rail vacation tips that our guests have provided over the years to help you make the very most of your vacation - and the space inside your suitcase.


"Take warm clothes if you are going in the autumn and a mug and spoon for the train. Learn some Russian before you go and take maps of the train journey as these are a great way to start conversations." - Sally Foote on our Trans-Mongolian Express vacation
"Travel with elasticated waistbands, the food is plentiful and very good." - Anne Feeley on our Scotland Luxury Rail Vacation.


"Take cleaning wipes, a sheet, sleeping bag, black out mask and earplugs for the overnight train between Hanoi and Hue. Not essential but does aid sleep!" - Hilary Sibley
"Read your guidebook in advance - sometimes it was hard keeping all the info from the guides straight and we got lots of different versions of what stuff was/ meant etc. Be prepared to carry luggage up and down steps a lot and lift it up and down from high racks on the trains. The hotels were very very basic. No hot water in Fez a lot of the time. Food can be pretty samey - especially the breakfasts - lots and lots and lots of bread!" - Miriam O'Keeffe on our Moorish Spain to Marrakech by rail vacation