Train journeys.

Before we go any further, I feel it is only right that the Orient Express, - both the Venice-Simplon express and Eastern & Oriental express - and South Africa’s ‘Blue train’, have the first honourable mention. The two most luxurious and well-known trains on the planet, renowned for their elegance and attention to the finest of details, and deservedly so. You will pay handsomely for the ride, but be sure; you will be well rewarded with fine-dining and consummate service. For the trip of a lifetime see, www.bluetrain.co.za  and www.orient-expresstrains.com

Australia’s huge land mass can be crossed, west to east, in a little under three days on the ‘Indian Pacific.’ The train departs twice weekly, from the grip of the seduction of Sydney, crossing the rugged ‘blue mountains’ of New South Wales, and travelling south to one of Australia’s best kept secrets, leafy Adelaide. The destination is the most remote city in the world, Perth. A modern, vibrant city with fine parks, miles of fine sandy beaches, genuinely friendly people, and more ‘coffee and cake’ shops than I have seen anywhere! There are two more stops along the route, to Kalgoorlie, a thriving gold-mining town, and a sure to be interesting, ‘outback’ stop at Broken Hill, commonly known as Silver City, due to its many silver mines. The coast-to-coast journey costs from £560. Check out www.seat61.com for details of all Australia’s train routes.

For a unique experience, the five-star ‘Desert Express’, is Namibia’s twice weekly journey between the capital, Windhoek and the country’s premier coastal resort area, Swakopmund. The Atlantic coast beaches are stunning, the wildlife exciting and the scenery spectacular. Only one and a half days on board, but you will have the chance to watch the sunset over the vast Namibian dunes and the thrill of an early morning game drive in the Oropoko game reserve, famous for its lions. You won’t find any package-holiday-makers on this trip, you will feel intrepid! Per person cost £130, a bargain! For more details, www.desertexpress.com.na  

If I said you would be meeting up with the ‘Rocky Mountaineer’, you would probably picture a big, butch Canadian mountain-guide in a lumberjack shirt with grappling irons at the ready. Maybe - but in this case, I am referring to a big, butch, first-class Canadian train – without any lumberjack livery – that will take you into the heart of the ‘Rockies’. Can you imagine; travelling through awe-inspiring canyons, past raging rivers? Do you fancy a giant snowmobile ride across the incredible Columbia ice-field, to the Athabasca glacier, or lunching at a sky-high restaurant above the thundering Niagara falls? With stops at Jasper, Banff, Vancouver and Toronto this is one trip I have added to my ‘must-do’ list. The train runs from April to October. Check out http://www.rockymountaineer.com/  they offer a 6 day ‘gold-leaf’ holiday, inclusive of five nights accommodation in superior hotels, all transfers, half board dining arrangements and a helicopter glacier tour, for £1030.

If mountains and ice-fields appeal, but the journey to Canada doesn’t, the ‘Glacier Express’ is the European version and equally appealing. A seven night trip inclusive of UK flights to Bergamo, transfers, four-star hotel accommodation on a half board basis, and first-class ‘panorama’ seating starts from £945 with Voyages Jules Verne, http://www.vjv.co.uk/.  To quote from the company literature ‘…….as to travel only a short section, or with inferior comfort, or viewing position, would be to devalue this awe-inspiring scenic experience.’ With such majestic places as Zermatt, Lake Como and St Moritz on the tour who can doubt their claims. There are also 291 bridges to cross and countless ‘peaks, passes and glaciers’ to gaze at. Sounds great, doesn’t it? The service runs from June to September.