Bird\u2019s-eye views are beautiful, but seeing the world by rail lets you soak in the journey firsthand.\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n \u2018It\u2019s the climb\u2019, award-winning multi-hyphenate Miley Cyrus once declared. She was talking about how it\u2019s not the start nor the end point of life\u2019s many journeys that\u2019s important \u2013 it\u2019s about how you get there. The same is true with just regular journeys. Sometimes, it\u2019s possible to miss moments in a blur of getting from A to B. But Intrepid\u2019s newly launched rail theme<\/a> is here to bring you the journeys that are just as good as, if not better than, your next destination.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n It\u2019s been a fixture in pop culture for over 100 years. It\u2019s inspired movies and features in books, but while the historic Orient Express carriages might not be running anymore, it\u2019s still possible to trace the trail it laid. Intrepid\u2019s new Express to the Orient: Paris to Istanbul<\/a> trip takes you back in time, using local trains to follow the original train route from Paris to Budapest, then takes the historic Simplon-Orient-Express route from Belgrade to Istanbul. Local experiences abound along the way \u2013 think a traditional Serbian lunch, visits to Buda Castle and more.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Tie together two of Europe\u2019s most iconic cities by train on the new Paris to Rome by Rail<\/a>. If the comfort, smaller footprint and arrivals right into city centres aren\u2019t big enough drawcards, the scenic stops along the way are sure to convince you. In Lucerne, Switzerland<\/a>, you\u2019ll take the world\u2019s steepest cogwheel railway to the peak of Mt Pilatus. Then, the Gotthard Panorama Express train from Lucerne to Bellinzona will show you every angle of the Alps you could ask for. If you want to keep your adventure chugging along, you might add on an extension from London at the start of your journey or time your arrival in Rome with the start of Best of Italy<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Looking for a truly remote rail experience? Intrepid\u2019s new Trans-Mongolian Railway Adventure<\/a> has you more than covered. You\u2019ll first get a taste of the new, seeing the bright lights of Beijing and taking a bullet train to Chifeng. Then, it\u2019s on to the sweeping grasslands of Mongolia<\/a>. You\u2019ll explore the vast steppes of Khustai National Park, see the dunes of the Gobi Desert, go deep into Inner Mongolia and even spend a night in a desert camp.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Trace your way along Vietnam<\/a>\u2019s coastline on the North-South railway line. First constructed in 1899, the line is sometimes called the Reunification Express for its symbolic role in reconnecting the north and south of post-war Vietnam. Travellers can get a glimpse of this history during Scenic Vietnam<\/a> \u2013 on overnight journeys from Hanoi to Hue, and then later hopping back on board as they make their way from Quy Nhon to Ho Chi Minh City.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n If you want to see more of Switzerland\u2019s staggering scenery, Best of Switzerland<\/a> is a perfect way to do exactly that. And just as you\u2019d expect from a land of watchmakers, Swiss trains are a punctual (and fast) means of getting around. You might head to Jungfrauroch, home to the highest railway station in Europe. Trains and cable cars can whisk you to the various viewpoints and hikes of the Jungfrau Region. Or simply enjoy the comfortable ride as they take you from city to city throughout your trip!\u00a0<\/p>\n READ MORE: 5 things I loved about my car-free journey through Switzerland<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n You don\u2019t want to miss a moment of the Italian countryside and coastline \u2013 and with Intrepid\u2019s Best of Italy<\/a> trip, you won\u2019t. Using Italy\u2019s extensive rail network you\u2019ll take in the rolling green fields of Tuscany, stop by the seaside villages that make up Cinque Terre and cover all the ground between the piazzas of Rome to the canals of Venice.\u00a0<\/p>\n Japan\u2019s a world-renowned destination for a lot of reasons, but it being the birthplace of the bullet train (shinkansen) makes it an essential stop for trainspotters. Experience the thrill throughout Ultimate Japan<\/a> \u2013 on trips to the foothills of Mt Fuji, the Edo period town of Takayama and into Hiroshima, to name a few. You\u2019ll also get a taste of more modestly paced trains as you venture from stop to stop, which themselves are one of the best insights into culture (and efficiency!) of the country.\u00a0<\/p>\n READ MORE: Why train travel is the one experience you won\u2019t want to miss in Japan<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n China\u2019s monuments might be steeped in ancient history, but how you\u2019ll get between them sure isn\u2019t. On Intrepid\u2019s Beijing to Hong Kong Adventure<\/a>, travel with ease on China<\/a>\u2019s modern high-speed rail network to the Great Wall\u2019s Mutianyu section, the Terracotta Warriors in Xi\u2019an and more. You\u2019ll also get a taste of different local lifestyles, staying at a Taoist temple in Mt Qingcheng and taking a dumpling making demonstration near the Great Wall.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Not all train journeys are created equal, and the journey from Beijing to Lhasa on Tibet: Beijing to Kathmandu Overland<\/a> isn\u2019t your average commute. Clocking in at a 45-hour ride, reaching altitudes of over 5000 metres and covering over 3700 kilometres, the Train to the Roof of the World certainly lives up to its billing. You\u2019ll travel across the wide-open highlands of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, past snow-dusted black cliffs and onto further adventures in Tibet<\/a> and Nepal<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Toy trains? Sign us up. On Intrepid\u2019s Southern India<\/a> trip, a stop into Ootacamund provides the chance for a delightful ride along the Nilgiri Mountain Railway. The bold blue carriages will transport you to great views over the lush countryside. You\u2019ll also get a taste of India<\/a>\u2019s rail network on journeys between Mysore and Chanai, and Villupuram to Madurai.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Speaking of not doing things by halves, Intrepid\u2019s Paris to Madrid by Rail<\/a> lets you go all-in on public transport. Make your way to the likes of Pont du Gard, Sagrada Familia, Arena of Nimes and Maison Carree all with the knowledge you\u2019re travelling more consciously. If you\u2019re after even more rail-based exploring, choose to extend your journey and start in the UK<\/a> with the optional Eurostar transfer from London to Paris (it only takes 2.5 hours!).\u00a0<\/p>\n READ MORE: Tips and hacks for train travel in Europe<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Kids love trains. The north of Italy has a lot for everyone to love. And when you combine the two, you get a sure-fire good time on the Northern Italy Family Holiday<\/a> trip. Explore the winding canal maze of Venice, dip your toes in the ocean by the beautiful Cinque Terre coastline, get the perfect snap of the Leaning Tower of Pisa and a whole lot more. And with trains as your transport, you\u2019ll do it all while avoiding the traffic and arriving right into city centres.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\nNEW: Express to the Orient: Paris to Istanbul<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h2>\n
NEW: Paris to Rome by Rail\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h2>\n
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<\/figure>\nNEW: China & Mongolia by Rail<\/strong> \u00a0<\/h2>\n
Uncover Vietnam\u2019s history via rail<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h2>\n
Get a window seat through Switzerland<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h2>\n
Experience rail\u2019s renaissance in Italy<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Intrepid-Travel-Japan-Fast-train-2.jpg\")
<\/figure>\nZip through Japan by shinkansen<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h2>\n
Choo-choo your way through China<\/strong> <\/strong>\u00a0<\/h2>\n
Ride the world\u2019s highest railway to Tibet<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h2>\n
Ride vintage steam trains in southern India<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Intrepid-Travel-India-DSC03563-1.jpg\")
<\/figure>\nLeave the car at home and discover France and Spain<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h2>\n
One for train lovers of all ages in Italy<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h2>\n