Rail travel is a favorite mode of transportation for many jetsetters exploring opportunities to fully experience the destinations. Some might include days on the trains and others include unique rail and cruise options to get you up close and personal with the beautiful surroundings. As you explore exceptional adventures on the rails for the season, here are five that we feel can provide you with a once-in-a-lifetime getaway.  

The Golden Eagle: The Trans-Siberian Express

Offering you the experience of a lifetime by traveling the full length of the Trans-Siberian Railway, this epic rail journey passes through the remote Russian frontier with stops at Soviet era-cities, small villages and natural beauties such as Lake Baikal and the Great Mongol Plains. Crossing the Eurasian continent from Moscow to Vladivostok in fifteen days, accommodations on board are available in three different tiers. All three classes of cabin benefit from an evening turndown service and the services of a cabin attendant who is on call 24 hours a day. The onboard cabin attendants are highly regarded by the guests for their impeccable service.

Rovos Rail: Dar es Salaam – Cape Town

As one of the most famous train journeys in the world, this epic 15-day adventure travels from Tanzania through Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana and South Africa, departing from Dar es Salaam on The Pride of Africa. The train passes through Africa’s largest game reserve, the Selous Game Reserve, where animals can be seen from the train as well as on foot the following day. Going through the Rift Valley overnight, travelers can enjoy a stroll in Makambako to take in an authentic African town in the beauty of southern Tanzania by day. Other highlights include time at the Chisimba Falls, Victoria Falls, Madikwe Game Reserve and Pretoria; and even a sunset cruise on the Zembezi River.

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Rocky Mountaineer: Great Resorts of the Canadian Rockies

In Lake Louise, stay at the elegant Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, known for its breathtaking setting, comfort, and Old World charm. Here, you can take a leisurely-guided walk along the gorgeous lake to hear about its history. In Jasper National Park, stay two nights at the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, set deep in the Canadian Rockies and the embodiment of peace, tranquility, and natural beauty. Cruise on Maligne Lake and enjoy leisure time in Jasper, strolling through the lovely streets or relaxing at the lodge with its fun opportunities. A highlight of this tour is a journey on Icefields Parkway to experience stunning views of alpine meadows, waterfalls, and glacier masses followed by a thrilling ride aboard an Ice Explorer on the Columbia Icefield, the largest expanse of ice in the Canadian Rockies.

Fjords Cruise & Rail: Historic Cities of Norway

With their towering cliff faces, rugged rocky ledges and waterfalls that drop straight into the sea, the awe-inspiring Norwegian fjords really have to be seen to appreciate their beauty and majesty. You will visit these natural wonders and cross-spellbinding landscapes to visit Norway’s magnificent cities. Traversing the spellbinding Scandinavian landscapes of Norway, this seven-day tour starts in Bergen, a seaside city on Norway’s West Coast and ends in Oslo. Travel from the timber house-laden historic quarter featuring 15th century preserved buildings, and a journey on the Fløibanen Funicular to the top of Fløyen Mountain for a scenic overlook in Bergen; continue to a trip aboard the Flam Railroad, which journeys through stunning mountain panoramas and cascading waterfalls; and then explore Oslo’s abundant parks and museums, perfect for relaxed outings in this culturally-rich city.

Enjoy Switzerland: Montreux with Zurich & Lucerne

A round-trip tour from Zurich, this weeklong expedition takes you from a booming metropolis to a beautiful mountain town then out to a lakeside resort. Your time will be spent gazing upon the picturesque Swiss Alps, riding aboard wonderful railways and seeing sites both modern and medieval. The tour begins in Zurich, where you will have a day to enjoy all the best things that make the largest city in Switzerland famous. From Zurich, it is on to Lucerne for an independent mountain excursion of your choosing, then to the piece de resistance of the tour, Montreux, for three days of sightseeing and excursions that present the very best things this Lake Geneva locale has to offer. Whether it is history, scenery or once-in-a-lifetime experiences you seek, this tour offers something for everyone.

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