Great Rail Journeys
For over 45 years, Great Rail Journeys has specialised in escorted tours which combine exciting rail experiences with quality accommodation and excursions. Great Rail Journeys have won several awards for their escorted holidays, including the Best Rail Holidays Company at the 2017 and 2018 British Travel Awards, plus Best Rail Holiday Provider at the 2017 Silver Travel Awards.
About Great Rail Journeys
Great Rail Journeys has a thorough understanding of both the UK and international rail networks, allowing them to offer the widest choice of escorted rail holidays in the world. Rail experiences range from journeys on modern trains to heritage rail adventures.
Hotels are carefully selected to ensure that they complement the tours and offer guests a warm welcome and exceptional service. Many of the hotels used have become firm favourites with returning customers, and are located close to popular attractions and railway stations.
Itineraries are meticulously crafted to ensure guests get the most out of every destination visited. Excursions are included and are a mix of cultural and historical experiences, designed to showcase each region and enrich each tour. Examples include a cookery lesson in a rustic Italian farmhouse and watching the sun rise cruising through Halong Bay.
An experienced Tour Manager accompanies every excursion and, in many cases, there is also a local guide offering a true insight into the area. These guides often take guests to sights off-the-beaten-track, which wouldn’t be found without local knowledge. On every tour, there is always the perfect balance of sightseeing and time at leisure to explore independently.
Groups are small to allow guests to get to know their fellow travellers. However, they can choose how much time they wish to spend with the rest of the group, for example whether they want to share a table at mealtimes and go sightseeing together. On a Great Rail Journeys holiday there is all the advantages of travelling in a group, with the opportunity to spend time independently.
Great Rail Journeys have won several awards for their escorted holidays, including the Best Rail Holidays Company at the 2017 and 2018 British Travel Awards, plus Best Rail Holiday Provider at the 2017 Silver Travel Awards.
Featured Great Rail Journeys Tours
Finding & Loading Tours
Provence and The Elegant Rhône - Fly & Cruise
- 7 Nights - Lyon and Back
- Fly Cruise from £1,295
Discover the timeless elegance of France's beautiful Rhône on a memorable cruise which takes you to ancient monuments, enchanting cities, natural wonders and more. Visit quaint Lyon, holy Avignon and charming Beaune, as well as the magnificent Ardèche Gorge as you drift down this peaceful river on a specially designed Five-Star ship. Enjoy excellent food and good company on this superb French adventure.
The Waterways of Alsace & Lorraine
- 6 Nights - Strasbourg and Back
- Rail Cruise from £2,295
On this all inclusive cruise, explore the hidden gems of Alsace and Lorraine, discovering many sights that lie off the beaten path. With visits to the medieval towns of Saverne and Sarrebourg, we travel on board the MS Madeleine, along these scenic waterways.
New York, Niagara Falls and Toronto
- 9 Nights - Washington D.C to Toronto
- Fly Tour from £2,495
Discover 3 fascinating cities and 1 world wonder on a captivating 10-day holiday around North America. From the powerhouse of Washington D.C., we travel by rail to chic New York, absorb the beauty of Niagara Falls from its Canadian side, and explore bustling Toronto.
- 6 Nights - Harrogate to York
- Tour Only from £845
Scenic rail journeys bring to life the history and wild, natural beauty of Yorkshire and Northumbria on this wonderful 7-day tour. Follow in Viking and Roman footsteps with visits to historic York, Bamburgh Castle, Lindisfarne, and Alnwick Gardens before basking in the verdant beauty of the Yorkshire Dales.
A Castle On The Shores Of Loch Fyne
- 6 Nights - Glasgow and Back
- Tour Only from £995
Set in idyllic, undiscovered surroundings overlooking picturesque Loch Fyne, a 19th century Baronial Castle awaits you on this magnificent tour. Cruise the open waters to the southernmost island of the Inner Hebrides, explore nearby Oban and Inveraray.
- 6 Nights - Avignon and Back
- Rail Cruise from £1,245
Discover Avignon, the Rhône, and Provence. Inspiration for artists including Vincent Van Gogh, this region of France oozes history, charm, and atmosphere. Staying in the delightful city of Avignon, we explore Roman Provence and enjoy a lunch cruise along the Rhône.
Western Highlands and Hebrides
- 7 Nights - Edinburgh to Glasgow
- Tour Only from £1,245
Discover the incredibly picturesque Western Highlands and the rugged, breathtaking coastal islands which lie off Scotland's western coast. This tour takes us on some of the world's most scenic railway journeys as part of a truly memorable exploration of the Highlands.
Winter Steam in Saxony's Ore Mountains
- 7 Nights - Nuremberg to Dresden
- Rail Tour from £1,295
Explore Saxony's spectacular highlights by steam on a breathtaking journey that travels on three wonderful heritage railways and discover elegant Dresden, our charming base on the banks of the gentle Elbe River.
Gardens of the Loire and Versailles
- 7 Nights - Paris and Back
- Rail Tour from £1,295
Attend the world-famous International Garden Festival, visit the garden that inspired Claude Monet, stroll through the house Leonardo da Vinci once called home, and experience the grounds of Versailles Palace on this vivid tour of the verdant Loire Valley.
Colditz, Meissen & Saxony by Steam
- 7 Nights - Nuremberg to Frankfurt
- Rail Tour from £1,295
Boasting winding valleys and rugged mountain ranges, Saxony is among Germany's most scenic regions. We discover its prettiest towns and most beautiful scenery on excursions by historic narrow-gauge railway.
Great Rail Journeys Tours Include
- Complimentary rail experience, ranging from Eurostar to a ride on a heritage railway
- Overseas transfers
- Stays in 3 to 5-star hotels, generally located close to the station and places of interest
- Selected meals in hotels and local restaurants
- Complimentary excursions, many of which are accompanied by a knowledgeable local guide
- Services of an experienced Tour Manager from start to finish
