Why travel by train?
Going on a railway journey can be one of the best ways to travel across a vast area on holiday. Railway journeys are not only an environmentally responsible way of travelling, but the Great rail journeys also allow you to travel across several countries and experience many cultures. Apart from the obvious environmental benefits, when travelling by train you also get to see a lot more as the scenery glides by, and you’ll often have the additional option of stopping off en route.
Options for travelling by train There are several ways to incorporate train travel into your holiday. Firstly you can choose to travel to your destination by train. This allows you to really cut the carbon footprint of your holiday, with the added benefit of having additional stop-offs on the way. On responsibletravel.com there is a specific section for holidays which you can get to
without flying and you can find out
how to get to your destination by train.
It is also possible to have the train journey as a small or even main part of your holiday. It can either be that one leg of the journey is by train such as the
Trans-Siberian railway or you might be going by train all the way to your destination, like for example in this trip from
London to Aqaba, Jordan, by rail. Browse our full section on
train journeys
Finally, you can explore the destination itself by train. Go on a holiday where part of the trip is to go on one of the world’s great railway journeys such as
Machu Picchu by train or Vietnam's Reunification Express.
Far-flung destinations Travelling by train doesn't mean you are limited to destinations nearby, and it is possible to go to exotic locations ranging from Marrakech to Kyrgyzstan as the above examples highlight. Remember that any distance covered on a train is a part of your holiday where you’re not flying or driving and – a part from human-powered methods of transport such as walking or cycling – is one of the more environmentally friendly methods of transport, as well as giving you a chance to mix with the locals and enjoy the scenery.
Quotes from other responsible travellers
Every day we receive independent reviews from travellers who have been on a holiday booked through responsibletravel.com and below is a selection of the comments we have had from fellow travellers who have travelled by train on their holiday:
Rashmee Thiyagalingam comments on the
Trans-Mongolian Express Railway trip: "The train journey from Beijing to St Petersburg with stops in Mongolia, Siberia and Moscow- the whole trip was fantastic. Most memorable? staying at the Ger camp in Mongolia surrounded by beautiful scenery. And the banya by the side of the world's deepest lake, Lake Baikal. ...Definitely the best holiday we've ever been on. Such diverse peoples met and such huge distances covered within such a short space of time."
Valerie Amar-Matthews says of the same holiday: "All of it was a highlight: from meeting fellow travellers to travelling in a small group of like-minded people with the freedom of going off to do my own thing if I want, to the actual train travel and site visits as well as variety and quality of accommodations. ...This was I trip I had always wanted to do and had considered organising it all on my own, but the organisation provided was great and flexible enough, all at a good price considering what I would have paid otherwise"
Josie Galloway and Piers Williams say of their trip to
Thailand : "The Southern Explorer was also a great experience. Though I had dreaded the train journey at the start of the holiday it turned out to be a fantastic experience, fairy lights and disco music in the dining car, and we slept really well!"
Colin Mercer recommends travelling by train to
Scotland: "Traveling by train from London enabled me to see the countryside and experience local “culture”."
Tony Ellingham points to train travel as one of the highlights of his trip to Sri Lanka: "The variety was the highlight. By saying that I can point to three things which stood out. The amazing train journey from Kandy to Ella. It's a slow (about 15kmh) rickety train, which is all the better for seeing the wonderful scenery unfurl as you go up into the hill country..."
Responsible options for train travel A quick guide to train travel options and resources on responsibletravel.com:
Considering going on a train journey on your next holiday? Why not get in touch with Rosy at
rosy@responsibletravel.com or phone +44 (0)1273 600030 so we can help you plan your perfect trip!
