Touring Holidays

It hardly needs to be said that this is what the train does best - enabling you to tour. With the huge range of rail passes on offer now, at prices to suit every budget, and given the ease of the internet as a research tool, I am surprised that we are not all at it.

It does not matter whether you are gap year backpacking or roving around your retirement, there is a rail product with your name on it out there. Multi-country, single-country, 1 week, 6 month, economy or first class, Europe, Japan, Australia or America. Where exactly do you want to go? You are but a few clicks or a phone call away from making it a reality.

An Inter Rail pass gives you access to unlimited travel in up to 30 countries in Europe. Or unlimited travel in just one country in Europe. You decide.

The Japan Rail Pass does the same for the towns and islands of Japan (funny that).

The North America Rail Pass opens the door to the USA and Canada, while the America Rail Pass gives you the key to all forty whatever states.

And you could try the Austrail Flexipass for Australia and the New Zealand Rail Pass for , er, New Zealand.

These are just a few options that spring to mind.

Hiking & Biking

Why not combine your love of hiking or biking with a touring adventure? Rove or pedal the hills and dales, forests and plains, and then when you are ready for a new frontier, hop on another train, tents and boots and bikes and all. This is an excellent way truly to sample large swathes of a country at grass roots level, and if you have a rail pass, there is the added bonus that if you don't like somewhere very much, you can just go somewhere else with relative ease. There are of course plenty of guided tours both on foot and on two wheels, but the fun and sense of freedom comes from devising your own itinerary.

Best dust off your rucksacks and get your maps out.