ALL ABOARD
BEST FOR NATURE-LOVERS
ARCTIC NORWAY AND THE MIDNIGHT
SUN IN LOFOTEN
ITINERARY: Fjords, mountains, waterfalls
and fi shing villages.
TRAINS: Bergen Railway, Flåm Railway,
Nordland and Raumabanen Railway
Take a journey from Oslo on the Bergen
Railway, snaking around mountains, glaciers
and fj ords towards Norway’s second-largest
city. After exploring Bergen, board the famous
Flåm Railway for an unforgettable ride along
one of the steepest lines in the world. Cruise
on Geirangerfj ord, Europe’s highest fj ord,
then continue by train to the former Viking
capital of Trondheim. Cross the Arctic Circle
on board the Nordland Railway to experience
the midnight sun before ending the trip in
Svolvær, the heart of the Lofoten Islands.
DETAILS: Visit late May to mid June, when
the sun never sets in Lofoten. The 12-night
inclusive tour, departing from Heathrow,
costs from £3,095 per person. greatrail.com/
tours/norway-and-the-arctic-circleBEST FOR CITY EXPLORERS
EUROPE’S GRAND IMPERIAL CITIES
ITINERARY: Vienna, Budapest, Prague
and Berlin.
TRAINS: Eurostar, Railjet, InterCity Express
and Children’s Railway
After an overnight journey from London’s
St Pancras International to Brussels, it’s
onward to Frankfurt, then Vienna, to spend
three days exploring the stunning Austrian
capital. Next stop is the Hungarian capital,
Budapest, to enjoy the historic skyline
by night, sprinkled with gargoyles and
gothic bastions. Highlights of the short
stay include a hillside tour of Buda on the
Children’s Railway. Next stop: Prague, to
explore this magical city of bridges and
medieval architecture, before riding the rails
to Berlin for a two-night stay, then taking the
Eurostar from Brussels to London.
DETAILS: The 12-night inclusive trip from St
Pancras has departure dates from March to
October and costs from £2,095 per person.
greatrail.com/tours/grand-imperial-citiesWant to chase the midnight sun, explore Vienna or spot a tiger in the wild?
We pick three train trips where the journey matters as much as the destinationGreat rail journeys
S
now-capped peaks, a glittering fj ord
and a golden spire rising above a
medieval city — just some of the
views that scroll past the carriage
window, giving passengers a tantalising
glimpse of the spectacular landscapes
waiting to be discovered.
Trains have long been the preferred choice
for travellers who know that the journey can
be part of the adventure. While some choose to
travel independently under their own steam,
others join organised tours that include
trips on iconic trains to see world-renowned
landmarks and natural attractions.
Great Rail Journeys, the world’s largest
operator of escorted rail holidays, has been
crafting tours for nearly 50 years. With over
300 itineraries, fi nding the tour to suit you
can be overwhelming; here are three to try.
IMAGES:^ SHUTTERSTOCKCLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE: View from Norway’s Flåm
Railway; Bengal tiger, Ranthambore National , India; Taj
Mahal, Agra, India; Vienna skyline
| PAID CONTENT FOR GREAT RAIL JOURNEYS