Deccan Odyssey, India

Deccan Odyssey is a luxury railway provider that has multiple journeys throughtout India.

Maharashtra Splendor: Mumbai – Nashik - Aurangabad (Ellora Caves) - Ajanta Caves - Kolhapur - Goa - Sindhudurg – Mumbai

Indian Odyssey Journey: Delhi- Sawai Madhopur - Ranthambore National Park- Agra- Jaipur- Udaipur- Vadodara- Aurangabad- Ellora Caves- Mumbai

Maharashtra Wild Trail Journey: Mumbai – Aurangabad (Ellora Caves) – Pench (Ramtek) – Tadoba – Ajanta – Nashik - Mumbai

Indian Sojourn Journey: Mumbai – Vadodara – Udaipur – Jodhpur – Agra – Sawai Madhopur (Ranthambore) – Jaipur – Delhi

Cultural Odyssey: Delhi - Sawai Madhopur - Jaipur - Agra - Gwalior - Orchha - Khajuraho - Varanasi - Delhi

Heritage Odyssey: Delhi - Agra - Jaipur - Sawai Madhopur – Udaipur – Jaisalmer - Jodhpur - Delhi

My preference for a first trip would be the "Cultural Odyssey. This would visit Agra, site of the Taj Mahal, and Jaipur. Jodpur has many interesting sites: a giant fort on a hilltop and some excellent colonial period buildings.

January, February and March are the best times to go. The other months are far too hot.

All are 8 day, 7 night tours. Prices start at $8,330 (USD) for single occupancy.

South American Railways

Rail South America has five railway journeys throughout South America. I've already covered one that they offer: the Belmond Andean Explorer (from the company that runs the Orient Express). The other four are:

• Columbia and Panama: Coffee & Rum
  
• Buenos Aries to Lima: High Andes & Machu Picchu
  
• Patagonian Rail & Cruise
• Grand Tour of Brazil

Columbia and Panama: Coffee & Rum
We combine coffee, rum, and trains in a uniquely unforgettable experience of Colombia and Panama by rail. On this journey you will become familiar with a part of South America largely unknown to most travelers. In addition to adventurous train ride, you'll I.m about coffee and rum production at the very places of their origin, and you'll experience a fascinating passage down the famous Panama Canal.

Buenos Aries to Lima
This rail journey from Buenos Aires, Argentina, through Bolivia and on to Lima, Peru crosses mountainous expanses featuring world-famous high altitude lakes as well as the historic !neon treasure of Machu Picchu. It's a 21-day adventure of a lifetime!

Patagonian Rail & Cruise
Patagonia's unusual geography makes our Tour an extraordinary adventure trip. You will travel on trains, tonics and private vehicles to experience one of the most scenic and breathtaking routes in the world. We'll conclude our tour with a spectacular five-day cruise around South America's southern tip, the Cape Horn.

Grand Tour of Brazil
Brazilians are known for their zest for life, and this thrilling train journey from the north to the south of Brazil allows you to experience the country's electrifying, culturally-diverse metropolises as well as its vast, lush natural landscapes. This fifth-largest country in the world offers some of the world's best museum train railways set along scenic vistas that continually amaze.

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Buenos Aries to Lima

Steam Railways

I like steam railways. Even though I've ridden on only one, the Blaenau Ffestiniog railway in Wales, I'd like to try many more.

There are many steam and heritage railways throughout the UK and Europe. There are about 180 in England, 23 in Wales, 11 in Scotland, 4 in Northern Ireland and one on the Isle of Man.

The website of Railway Touring Company lists many steam rail trips around the UK, Europe and the rest of the world, both day trips and multi-day packages. See their 2024 schedule of UK day trips. They have been in business since 1997.

The Jacobite Steam Train

Running from Fort William to Mallaig, the Jacobite excursion is a great introduction to steam travel in Scotland. The Jacobite also have longer tours up to a 14 day Grand Tour of Scotland.

Inside a dining car on The Jacobite

McKinlay Kidd are a travel company that specialize in holidays in the UK and Ireland. They can organize rail tours like The Jacobite but can also add additional excursions.

The Jacobite - Fort William to Mallaig

14 day Grand Tour of Scotland

European Sleeper Trains

ÖBB, the national rail company of Austria, has launched a series of sleeper trains connecting widely varied routes throughout Europe. From Vienna you can head to Amsterdam, Brussels, Budapest, Hamburg, Paris, Milan, Rome, Warsaw and Zurich. Further lines extend from those cities to Berlin, Bucharest, Nice, Palermo, Prague, Stockholm and Syracuse.

The first map shows the Nightjet and EuroNight routes plus routes supplied by other European railways, see "Weitere Nachtzüge". For example, the route from Vienna to Bucharest is provided by Romanian Railway (CFR Călălatori), Berlin to Stockholm via Swedish Railway and SJ Railway.

ÖBB Nightjet, EuroNight & other routes

ÖBB Nightjet only routes

ItaliaRail has information and a booking portal for Italian sleeper trains. For instance, you can book an overnight train in either a 4 berth couchette or a 1 person cabin from Palermo to Rome for $152.

Also try the .italio Treno app.

Belmond Andean Explorer

From Belmond, the company that runs the Orient Express and the Royal Scotsman, comes two luxury trains in Peru. The spectacular Andean Express is considered to be one of the most scenic rail journeys in the world. The second is the Hiram Bingham that goes to Machu Picchu. These are high elevation journeys.

The Andean Express runs from Arequipa (at 2,335m, 7,661ft) to Puno on Lake Titicaca (3,812m, 12,507ft) to Cusco (3,399m, 11,152ft). The train journey can begin from either Arequipa or Cusco. The train eventually reaches a height of 4328 meters (14,200 feet) at is highest point. (They actually carry oxygen onboard in case a passenger is susceptible to altitude sickness.)

The Hiram Bingham runs from Cusco to Machu Picchu (2,400m, 7,874ft).

And there is a Belmond run hotel near Machu Picchu called Sanctuary Lodge.

From Lima, you can fly to either Arequipa or Cusco, or take a bus to Arequipa. Here is a good video of a couple riding the full length of the Andean Express.

Strathspey Steam Railway

The Strathspey Steam Railway running in the Highlands of Scotland starts from the station in Aviemore, 30 miles south-east of Inverness.