ASIA RAIL destinations Express service Asia’s landscapes and culture make it ripe for rail travel, writes Laura French

@laurafrench121

here’s something gloriously Among the country’s most Ttimeless about travelling iconic is its cluster of Unesco- by rail – the feeling of being listed ‘toy ’, built by the whisked away to somewhere British and used nowadays to new, sweeping scenes whirling whisk tourists through deep by in window-sized snippets valleys, historic tunnels and that give you a snapshot into bottle-green pine trees. the lives and cultures of others. Newmarket Holidays’ new And nowhere is it all more Kerala & Indian South tour fascinating than Asia, where stops at the plantation town majestic carriages and Coonoor to explore a tea factory, spectacular landscapes blend before continuing on a steam- with a rich cultural heritage, hauled to the town of appealing to everyone from Mettupalayam. time-strapped city hopper to Riviera Travel, meanwhile, take-it-all-in explorer. offers the Kalka-Shimla train So you can sell it to a diverse on its 15-day India & Shimla crowd: whether your clients want for Solo Travellers trip, taking to cover a lot of ground quickly, guests through 100 tunnels lap up some once-in-a-lifetime and over 800 bridges to the luxury or learn the ins and outs picturesque hillside spot where of a country’s history, you can British rulers used to flock for find something to suit. the summer. Away from the toy trains, Paul w INDIA Melinis, director of sales for Home to one of the world’s Insight Vacations and Luxury largest rail networks, alongside Gold, recommends a ride on unique Himalayan landscapes India’s second-fastest train, the and cultures, India is well primed Shatabdi Express. “Not only for rail journeys, and takes the is it the most efficient way to crown as Ffestiniog Travel’s most make the journey, but it’s an popular destination. unexpected and exhilarating

70 travelweekly.co.uk 13 April 2017 13 April 2017 travelweekly.co.uk 71 ASIA RAIL destinations

LEFT: Darjeeling Toy Train, India

RIGHT: Palace of the Winds, Jaipur

BOTTOM: Shinkansen, Japan ; g adventures : gavin hellier s PICTURE

way of seeing the real India up various operators including Great Fukuoka before passing through close,” he says. Rail Journeys, Cox & Kings (on the volcanic landscapes of Yufuin Luxury Gold’s 13-day Classical All a private basis) and Premier and the verdant countryside India with Nepal trip – which Holidays. And like the iconic blue of Kirishima National Park. The passes through Kathmandu, guests have to worry Deccan Odyssey, it features an 14-day trip certainly isn’t cheap, , Agra, Jaipur and about is looking onboard spa, lavish interiors and but it’s worth recommending beyond – features a ride on the out of the window personal attendants – meaning to those with big budgets, with railway from Jhansi to Agra. It’s at the right times all guests have to worry about is prices from £13,160 per person a good suggestion for clients looking out of the window at the (based on twin share). wanting to get a glimpse of the right times. Two new luxury trains are set country’s palaces, temples and to launch in Japan this year. The traditions (from £3,675). w JAPAN art deco, 30-passenger Twilight Great Rail Journeys’ India’s These -style trains feature Over in Japan the Kyushu Seven Express Mizukaze will explore the Golden Triangle tour, meanwhile, extravagant carriages complete Stars, an ultra-luxury sleeper train west side of the country, while combines a trip on the express with exuberant lounges, decked out in wooden furnishings, the Train Suite Shiki-Shima will train with a ride on the Shimla restaurants and bars, making winds its way round this dramatic operate in the northeast region Railway, making it the company’s them a worthy suggestion for southern island, characterised by up to Hokkaido. best-selling itinerary in Asia. couples at the higher end of the soaring volcanoes and bubbling But it’s the bullet trains for But if it’s an epic, once-in- budget. hot springs. which Japan is best known. a-lifetime journey your clients The first winds its way through InsideJapan Tours offers a G Adventures’ new Iconic Japan are after, look to the Palace on the Rajasthan region in the north- four-day trip on the train as part trip features a ride on the Wheels, the Deccan Odyssey west before finishing up at the Taj of its epic Japan Deluxe Railway Shinkansen, and stops off at and the Maharajas’ Express. Mahal, and is bookable through Adventure; guests board at the arts-and-crafts city of

13 April 2017 travelweekly.co.uk 73 destinations RAIL ASIA

Kanazawa, as well as Hiroshima, Kyoto and various farms and villages. Just You’s 11-day Japan Revealed trip also includes a journey on the bullet – costing from £4,999 and taking in Mount Fuji, Kobe, Atami and Kyoto – as does Topdeck Travel’s 12-day Japan Highlights trip, which ticks off highlights including Osaka, Takayama and Hiroshima.

w BEST OF THE REST While Japan and India have traditionally garnered most of the attention, there are other options. Great Rail Journeys says Vietnam is selling especially well and has been for the past few years, while Intrepid Travel highlights China. The latter offers a 12-day Real Food Adventure China trip which combines an overnight train journey from Xi’an which celebrated its 80th birthday to Beijing with a variety of culinary last year. The line has an interesting experiences. But it’s the rail element The ReunificationE xpress to tale to tell after being bombed, that gets people talking, according to abandoned and rebuilt, so it’s a good Andrew Turner, Intrepid’s head of trade has been bombed, suggestion for history buffs and ASK THE sales. “Our travellers tell us the train abandoned and rebuilt, features on Ffestiniog Travel’s new EXPERT journeys are often a highlight of their so it’s a good suggestion Vietnam, Cambodia & the Mekong trip,” he says. The 12-day food tour Delta itinerary. costs from £1,535. for history buffs But for an epic cross-country Andrew Turner, Cox & Kings, meanwhile, has added journey, suggest the Eastern & Oriental head of trade sales, a Taiwan by Rail trip to its private tours, Express, which travels from Intrepid Travel throwing in a three-and-a-half hour ride to via . “It’s “Travelling by train on the narrow-gauge Alishan Mountain In Vietnam, the Reunification without a doubt our best-selling rail is an ideal way to Railway – one worth highlighting to Express is an overnight sleeper that tour,” says David Carlaw, head of experience local off-the-beaten-track types. connects Hanoi with Ho Chi Minh City, faraway product at Premier Holidays. life in Asia. It’s a “Passengers can experience the great chance to see romance of a bygone era, as the train’s people going about hospitality and comfort is influenced their everyday lives by the style of the 1920s and 1930s.” and to strike up Travel 2 offers two nights onboard conversation with in a Pullman Suite, as part of its fellow travellers. Singapore to Thailand Luxury Train The scenery Experience, which costs from £3,899 often offers a new per person. The price includes return perspective on flights from and four nights’ a country away hotel accommodation, and is based on from the tourist a September 12 departure. trail, whether Upping the game even further it’s winding though is Golden Eagle Luxury through suburban Trains and its iconic Silk Road tours. backstreets of The Caspian Odyssey trip takes Beijing or past guests from the Armenian capital of paddy fields in Yerevan through Georgia, Azerbaijan, Vietnam. Overnight Uzbekistan, the Caspian Sea and trains are also the ABOVE: beyond on a once-in-a-lifetime journey best way to travel Sun Moon past untouched vistas and ancient long distances Lake, Taiwan sites. It might be pricey, but for clients wanting all-out style and a voyage while still getting Left: maximum time in Eastern & they’ll remember in years to come, it each place.” Oriental Express doesn’t get much better.

74 travelweekly.co.uk 13 April 2017