Railbookers New Zealand: All Aboard issue 4

All Aboard Your moving view of the world

Winter / Spring 2015 Issue 4

H I G H L I G H T S

FOR ISSUE 4

AROUND THE WORLD

BY RAIL

DISCOVER INTERLAKEN MAHARAJAS’ EXPRESS

CHRISTMAS MARKETS

Exploring

Galicia Spain’s best kept secret

EVENTS AND FESTIVALS

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Maharajas’ Express

India...... a country with history as old as time. A country where diverse dynasties have ruled through centuries, leaving their mark on the landscape, language and culture of the nation.

Royal Rajasthan on Wheels 7 nights from $4,450 pp Board the fabulous Royal Rajasthan on Wheels for a journey of discovery through the cities and landscapes of India. Start in capital Delhi and travel to Jodhpur, Udaipur, Jaipur, Khajuraho, Varanasi and Agra with fascinating excursions along the way to the Ranthambhore National Park, Mehrangarh Fort, Jaswant Thada and the world famous Taj Mahal.

Experience a different India at every stop as you travel past royal palaces, incredible forts and untamed wildlife.

A journey on the Maharajas’ Express is a journey that memories are made of!

Maharajas’ Express Gems of India 3 nights from $6,352 pp Take a 3 night journey through India’s famous Golden Triangle aboard the majestic Maharajas’ Express private train. Drink Champagne as you watch the sun rise behind the Taj Mahal, take part in an exhibition elephant polo match near Jaipur’s Amber Fort and look out for Bengal tigers in the Ranthambore National Park.

Inclusive of all transfers, sightseeing tours and excursions as per the itinerary, accommodation in single / double / twin bedded cabins with en suite bathrooms on board the Maharajas’ Express; all meals, soft beverages, house brands of Indian wines, beer and spirits; porterage at stations and butler service on train; amateur still camera fee, all current taxes and entrance fees; onboard services of a tour director and medical personnel and an opportunity to meet Indian Royalty!

Prices are subject to change, and route to amendment. Itineraries, destinations, venues and scheduled departures are subject to change without prior notice.

Prices are per person and based on 2 people sharing. Supplements may apply for special dates such as Christmas and New Year.

To speak to an experienced consultant please call:

0800 000 554

Your route calls at...

Welcome aboard...

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ssue 4 of our All Aboard magazine is the first celebrating our new strap line – ‘holidays inspired by you’. We believe we’ve created a phrase that summarises exactly what we are all about – tailor made, unique holiday experiences, created by our customers with the expertise of our team. We hope you like it!

This issue is truly full of ideas: an incredible trip to Europe’s highest railway station - nearly 3,500 metres up and high above the clouds, journalist Louise Roddon’s adventure to Galicia - Spain’s lesser known yet beautiful region, to a suggested recipe put together by the head chef at one of our top hotels in Paris!

We have also put together our top 5 staff moments along the tracks, a few of our customers’ more unusual requests, and our Global Travel Centre Manager and rail holiday expert Matthew, answers your questions on page 29.

Happy reading and, of course, if you have any comments or questions please do get in touch at allaboard@railbookers.co.nz

Lisa

Lisa Pagotto

All Aboard

Summer / Autumn 2015

Design & Artwork by Matthew Murphy

1st stop | P4 Essential Galicia

Journalist Louise Roddon is first to try ‘Essential Galicia’.

9th stop | P16 Interlaken

Our Head of Media and Communications, John Hale, travels to the ‘Top of Europe’.

10th stop | P20 Biscuit Train

Find out about the scenic train route connecting Interlaken, Lucerne, Bern and Thun - with biscuits along the way.

2nd stop | P6 A Taste of Belgium Lucy Holloway indulges in fine Belgian cuisine.

3rd stop | P7 Honeymoons and mini-moons How about a honeymoon or anniversary by rail? We explore the options here.

8th stop | P15 Canada’s Rocky Mountaineer

Discover the panoramic carriages of Canada’s most famous train.

11th stop | P21 Tailor Made by You

Be inspired by some of our customers’ latest trips along the tracks.

4th stop | P8 Top 5 Staff Moments

5th stop | P9 Insider’s Guide Roast Scallops

5 of our staff’s most memorable adventures on the tracks.

7th stop | P12 Christmas Markets Take a magical train ride to the heart of the continent to discover the best festive markets this year.

A delicious recipe from Chef Mathieu Gicquel.

6th stop | P10 A Highland Fling Martin Stanhope discovers luxury aboard the Scottish Highlander.

13th stop | P24 The World by Rail A selection of our most incredible train journeys around the world.

14th stop | P27 Events and Festivals

12th stop | P22 India and the Maharajas’ Express

18th stop | P33 Waiting Room

Nick Boulos explores India whilst aboard the luxury Maharajas’ Express.

Our pick of the best events and festivals in Europe over the next year.

Puzzles with prizes.

19 stop | P34 My Favourite Rail Journey th

Senior Travel Consultant Sam takes the scenic route on the Rocky Mountaineer.

17th stop | P32 Top 5 We explore Europe’s top five scenic rail journeys!

Next Issue

16 stop | P30 Vietnam Inspired th

John Hale discovers the colours of Vietnam aboard the Reunification Express.

15th stop | P29 Ask the Expert

Our Global Travel Centre Manager answers your questions.

Destination | Essential Galicia

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1ststop

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Gal ic i a Louise Roddon, writing for The Times, heads out to explore Spain’s lesser known coastal region, and our new Essential Galicia holiday.

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oon in the pretty Galician town of Baiona. By Spanish standards it’s way too early for lunch, but hunger and curiosity have driven me to the Restaurante El Túnel. Curiosity, because Baiona is famous for its gooseneck barnacles — a tiny gnarled sea delicacy that I’m very keen to try.

“Una parrillada de marisco?” I ask the waitress in faltering Spanish.

She smiles approval, returning with a mountain of mussels, scallops, crab and razor clams, the pile peaking in a cluster of prized percebes that to my ill-educated eye resembles dead men’s thumbs. They even have horny extrusions like blackened nails, and I haven’t a clue how to tackle them, my first squeeze producing a shot of briny orange liquid.

“No, like this!” says the waitress, deftly twisting one end. Out plops a finger of flesh with a tangy sea-flavour. Indeed, the whole platter tastes like a distillation of the ocean: appropriate, because I’m exploring Galicia’s Costa do Marisco, tracing a route part by train, part by bus, from La Coruña in the northwest, south to the Portuguese border.

Galicia is known for Santiago de Compostela but, overwhelmed by tourists on a previous visit, I’ve opted for the region’s lesser-known charms, where rias (inlets) slice into the rocky coastline and Atlantic-hugging towns carry the whiff of brine. My hour-long bus journey from Vigo to tiny Baiona proves mesmeric, uncovering a string of crowd-free resorts such as Monteferro and Panxon, where sloping cottage gardens lead down to dinky crescents of creamy sand.

Beyond, the ocean releases fierce rollers that spume over granite outcrops, foam scribbling their jagged pinnacles with a lacing of white.

Next comes Nigrán’s toy-town harbour expanding out to a gorgeous beach that my bus companion — a motherly woman laden with

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a basket of flowers — informs me is Playa America, one of the best along this coast. A couple of teenagers, surfboards tucked under gangly arms, leave the bus in a burst of chatter and the woman clucks worriedly, shaking her head towards the wind-whipped waves. Actually, I envy the surfers’ daring, but at Baiona the wildness gives way to a nice little harbour where pollarded trees front fin02 de-siècle balconied buildings, the old town rising in a tangle of steep lanes beyond. Baiona has a huddled, Under Milk Wood charm. On a pinecovered headland is a castellated fortress (now dominated by a fine parador) that resembles a child’s drawing in its zigzagged uniformity, and up I scramble, enjoying fabulous views over to the Cíes Islands and to empty beaches below.

Baiona used to be a trading port and, testifying to its former wealth, I find plenty of fine 16thcentury des-res houses scattered around its diminutive squares. But this was also the first place to learn about the Americas when Christopher Columbus’ caravel, the Pinta, creaked into harbour in 1493. A 20th-century replica is anchored beneath the fortress — authentically cramped and child-pleasingly kitted with plaster casts of parrots and slaves, tobacco and spices.

Baiona is not alone in its history credentials, however. Let me take you back to the start of my journey — to La Coruña, a port city some 190 km from here that bristles with equally interesting tidbits: Philip II left La Coruña for England to marry Mary I in 1554, the ill-fated Armada weighed anchor in its harbour, and a year later Sir Francis Drake’s soldiers tried to occupy the town and were quickly seen off by a fiery local lady, María Pita, after whom an elegant square is named.

The credentials continue, encompassing a

Railbookers

Destination | Essential Galicia RAI

rising to six storeys, face the docks — making it easy to understand why the British Edwardians termed La Coruña “The Crystal City”. Yet the origin of these balconies offer up a lovely mix of romance and pragmatism. In Galicia’s temperamental climate they allow maximum light and a sense of outdoors, but it is to Spanish galleons, built in nearby Ferrol, that they owe their panelled good looks.

still-working Roman lighthouse, a trampling from Napoleon and an unexpected British hero in Sir John Moore, who died in battle, fending off French troops. “We are strong people, particularly us women!” laughs my sweet fivefoot-nothing female taxi driver when I mention María Pita.

She says goodbye with a kiss on my cheeks and I’m left to explore this lovely city, not bothered at all by the drizzle that mists the 9 km long sinuous promenade.

Midway, and I cut through to Ensanche — the so-called new town, though in truth this is La Coruña’s sprawling 19th-century quarter, rich with deliciously stuccoed town houses and glassed-in balconies. The covered market here finds me gawping at langoustines, spiny sea urchins and spider crab, laughing with the fishseller when a couple of langoustines twitch free and fall to the floor. “Very fresh, yes?” she beams.

Football is as close to the Gallegos’ heart as its fish, and each market stall is festooned with purple banners proudly inscribed with the slogan: “My mother made me beautiful, intelligent and fond of Deportivo”. But lacking any sporting nous, I leave this spanking-clean place to the housewives and fetch up at the port.

Countless

glass-balconied

Railbookers

buildings,

some

After a swift lunch of pulpo gallego — paprikasprinkled chunks of tender octopus — I meander through the hilly old town, pausing to admire little squares embellished with palm trees and sturdy-stoned Romanesque churches. Oddly though, in a strange reversal of the norm, this quarter holds less appeal for me than the 19thcentury sector. A sense perhaps in the latter, of breathing space, of light and air — and it is in these grander streets that I find Picasso’s childhood home.

The artist lived here from the age of nine to thirteen — his father taught at the local art school — yet this apartment reveals little of his personality. At the Fine Arts Museum, though, I find an excellent exhibition of Picasso’s adolescent work: an exquisite oil painting of a sparrow, sketchbooks of figure studies alongside typically teenage fine-tunings of his signature.

In fact, this journey becomes an unexpected odyssey to Picasso. A short coast-clinging train ride to Pontevedra reveals a town with a fine museum full of his 1930s Vollard Suite etchings. And how I love this place. Imagine Santiago de Compostela stripped of its trinket shops and tourists and you get some measure of Pontevedra: churches stuffed with dressed saints, knotted alleys where delicious tapas smells waft from tiny eateries — then the pleasantries of rose trees and carefree kids in airy Praza da Ferrería.

That evening, I lose myself in the mesh of alleys. An admirably blithe picture emerges of Spanish

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families FRO M$ 1,0 defying the 09 p p breeze and eating outdoors while their children windmill around fountains.

A similar, carefree quality underpins sprawling Vigo. My train ride here once again offers up mistswathed rias and gentle tide-lines streaking on a calm sea. And how lucky am I? Vigo has its party hat on — celebrating its Reconquest Festival that marks the 1809 uprising against Napoleon. The old quarter heaves with daintily aproned women, raucous hurdy-gurdy bands and young boys clad in soldiers’ garb.

At pop-up outdoor markets hot slabs of pork ribs and spicy chorizo are briskly traded, but I leave the carnivores and head back to narrow Rua das Ostras where for €6 I snaffle up half a dozen oysters and a chilled glass of Albariño. Elegant boulevards and heroic statues fringe Vigo’s core, and later a lung-puffing climb in Castro Park fetches me up at the fort where, alone, I gaze down on to the harbour, past the statue of Jules Verne perching on the legs of a giant squid.

Of course, with new direct flights now opening up Vigo to the UK market, the city will inevitably become a magnet for weekend-breakers. For now, however, I have the place more or less to myself — and very pleasant it is too.

by Louise Roddon, first appearing in The Times - May 2015.

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Images 01 Hercules tower, La Coruña 02 Islas Cies, Vigo 03 Poio Monastery, Pontevedra

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Destination | A taste of Belgium

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taste o f

Belgium Lucy Holloway discovers it’s not just the Belgian cuisine that’s full of flavour.

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n the cartoon, ‘Asterix in Belgium’, Asterix’s big best-friend Obelix is impressed by the Belgian’s love of food. “You have dinner early,” he says to the Belgian leader. “What time do you have lunch?”

“Just after breakfast, of course,” he replies.

Belgium has earned itself a reputation for food, and deservedly so. But exploring two contrasting cities – Brussels and Bruges – reveals just how much more it has to offer.

The architectural and atmospheric highlight of a visit to Brussels is the Grand Place. Splendid baroque buildings are packed around a square dominated by a Gothic town hall. Many are now bars and Le Roy d’Espagne, the old baker’s guild, is my favourite. A warren of medieval streets spill out from the square selling tourist tapestry, lace and chocolates. The Manneken Pis does his business on one of the junctions, and the Rue des Bouchers is a blur of restaurants.

The best place for seafood is in and around Place Sainte-Catherine, and my pick of the bunch is La Marée (www.lamaree-sa.com), a family-run restaurant with the freshest sole and the warmest welcome. Hospitality is also outstanding at the Hotel Amigo, and its central location makes it the perfect base from which to explore the city.

Beautiful Bruges

“It’s a fairy-tale place,” says Ken, the character played by Ralph Fiennes in the blockbuster ‘In Bruges’. He’s right.

Name three famous Belgians, so the game goes. Well here’s one - Victor Horta – the architect who put Brussels on the Art Nouveau map. The city has more than its fair share of sinuous architecture. A great example is his department store in Rue des Sables, now home to the Belgian Comic Strip Centre. It celebrates some of the most famous Belgians of all time – Tintin 01 and the Smurfs.

The Hotel Prinsenhof is on a quiet street set back from the Brueghelian bustle of tourists.

It’s small, family-run and has been recently, and stylishly, refurbished. We join their walking tour to the bustling central square, dodge horsedrawn taxis and stare up at the soaring Belfry; we learn how Bruges made its money and visit Almshouses to see how it cared for its poor. We stop by one of the canals to see a view Churchill loved to paint and end in a peaceful courtyard of white washed houses, the Begijnhof, a 13th century gated community.

Brussels was also home to Surrealist artist René Magritte and there’s a dreamy collection of his work at the Magritte Museum, part of the Royal Museums of Fine Arts.

On day two we do a boat tour and take a look behind some of the stunning facades. Bruges’s artistic claim to fame is the Bruges Madonna, a small marble Michelangelo sculpture in OnzeLieve-Vrouwekerk (Church of Our Lady), but I’m more enthralled by the dazzling Hans Memling paintings in the 800-year-old Sint-Janshospitaal

Buzzing Brussels

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(Saint John’s Hospital). Other highlights include the Flemish Primitive collection at the Groeningemuseum (Groeninge Museum) and the pre-Raphaelite style murals upstairs in the gothic Stadhuis (City Hall).

Fries are not French, they are Belgian, and they have a dedicated museum in Bruges. There’s one for chocolate too. And another for beer. Whether you like your beer blonde, brown, trappist (made by monks) or lambiek (spontaneously fermented), Belgium is where it’s at. The choice is as mind-boggling as the beer itself, and there’s no better place to start (or end up) than ‘t Brugs Beertje (www.brugsbeertje.be) where we meet owner Daisy and sample her very own Special Brew.

Dinner at Den Dyver (www.dyver.be) is an absolute treat – stunning ingredients, sparkling flavours and a superlative setting. And anyone who thinks Belgium is boring should spend a night at Bistro Zwarthuis (www.bistrozwarthuis. be), where delicious steak frites is served with live music and a blues club party vibe that carries on into the early hours.

by Lucy Holloway, a freelance writer. Her arts and travel features appear regularly in ‘Life etc’ magazine.

Images 01 La Marée restaurant facade, Brussels 02 Rozenhoedkaai, Bruges RE CO MM EN DS RA IL BO OK ER S and Bruges Paris, Brussels

e capital famous cities. Th Two of Belgium’s ue Bruges. esq tur pic d an Brussels

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FROM $8 23 pp

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Destination | Honeymoons and Mini-Moons, and Celebration Holidays

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H o ney m o o ns with railbookers

Every bride wants her perfect wedding, with every embellishment and special touch as personal and unique as possible. You’d never choose a typical ‘cookie-cutter’ wedding, yet when it comes to the honeymoon, the off-theshelf holiday often seems to be the easy option.

If you’re looking for something a little different, full of magic, mischief and with a ‘holiday of a lifetime’ feel, how about taking a honeymoon by Railbookers?

Without overshadowing the stunning dress and smart suits, it will certainly get conversation flowing, and surely your first adventure together should be all about the romance – not tarnished with full body searches at the airport and a grouchy looking chap after your liquids!

Romantic journeys by rail are also a great way to celebrate an anniversary. The railway tracks really make the world unfold. You are not limited to one city, or even to one country! Link multiple destinations with ease and sit back and relax as you steam from place to place – take a bottle of wine, enjoy each others’ company and watch the world pass by your window.

Speak to one of our Travel Consultants for some more information and inspiration.

Railbookers

London to Venice via the Alps

5 nights | from $1,338 per person Luxury Al-Andalus

8 nights | from $4,767 per person

Maharajas’ Express Indian Panorama

7 nights | from $9,865 per person European Grand Tour

11 nights | from $2,2200 per person

Swiss and Austrian Alps Tour

11 nights | from $4,467 per person 7

Destination | 5 of our staff’s most memorable adventures on the tracks.

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Top

Staff Mom e nts

From cute tigers to chocolate truffles...

Gareth

Jones

Senior Travel Consultant

5 of our staff’s most memorable adventures on the tracks!

I was offered VIP seats whilst travelling on the Golden Pass scenic train from Montreux to Interlaken. Accompanied to the front of the train, directly above the driver, I looked out right through the front windows. My inner child was spoilt as I spent the rest of the journey imaging that I was driving the train - as well, of course, as taking in the fantastic scenery from the perfect seat!

Brendan

Martin

Travel Centre Manager - Australia

I distinctly remember gazing out at the incredible scenery from the outdoor viewing area of the Rocky Mountaineer through Canada, and spotting a huge 50 stone grizzly bear just a few metres from the tracks... breathtaking!

Terri Customer Services and Administration Assistant

Sturman

Getting on the train in Chang Mai, Thailand, I was surprised to find my seat had already been taken... by a tiger cub being transported from the zoo to a vet. I didn’t miss the opportunity for a cuddle and a quick tug of war!

Travel Consultant

Liam

Naldrett

Heading to Bruges I ended up enrolled on a walking tour of the city, in order to better experience the excursions available to our customers. Well, little did I know it was a Chocolate Walking Tour! I put on my walking boots, skipped breakfast, and got a real ‘taste’ of this delightful city - yum!

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Matt

Foy

Global Travel Centre Manager

On a journey aboard the Maharajas’ Express, the Maharaja of Jaipur himself watched me score a goal in elephant polo.

Truthfully, I was more excited that I managed not to fall off!

Railbookers

Destination | Concierge - Hotel Recipes

Recipes Insider ’s guide

Delicious roast scallops, green beets cream and chard stalks with dried lemon by Chef Mathieu Gicquel

We recently had a chat with the concierge team at the newly renovated luxury Regina Hotel in Paris, and asked them to share their best recipe…

For 4 persons : Chef Ma thieu Gic 12 scallops | 2 chard leaves | 1 organic lemon | 500 ml of water | 25 g of sugar quel 250 ml of cream | A knob of butter ...................................................................................................................................................................................

Step 1 Zest your lemon and blanch in clear water. After 10 minutes remove the zest and place into a bowl of cool water, in order to reduce the bitterness. Add the zest to a small pan with 300ml of water along with the sugar and allow them to crystallize on a low heat. Remove and allow to dry.

Step 2 Separate the chard leaves and add to salted boiling water for at least 7 minutes.

Then, cool down the leaves with ice cubes, fixing the leaves’ chlorophyll which will provide a nice green colour to your cream. Heat the cream for 3-4 minutes, before adding to a mixer along with your chard leaves, until they blend to a smooth consistency - then just season as you wish.

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10% discount

on Regina Hotel’s ‘à la carte’ or three course menu when staying before 29th December 2015.*

Railbookers

S MMEND S RECO R E K O r R A IL B O your tou Paris in e it with include t in o b n m y o h c W ily e, or eas a Travel of Europ ndon! Speak to o ation.

L rm to fo a trip r more in fo t n a lt Consu

Step 3 Cut the leftover chard stalks into small dices, carefully removing the stalk strings. Pour some water into a large pan, add some salt and the lemon juice and bring to a fast boil, then add the stalks for 2-4 minutes until they soften. Remove from the pan and cool down with very cold water, in order to instantly stop the cooking.

Step 4 Gently add your scallops to a hot pan with a dash of olive oil, taking care not to move them around (in order to maintain an even colour).

Once warm, add the knob of butter to the pan until the scallops turn a nice golden colour. Using the same pan, keeping the delicious scallop juice to cook in, brown the chard stalks and the dried lemon zests.

Step 5 When presenting, create a nice drop of green beets cream using a large spoon, add the roast scallops and the chard stalks and sprinkle your dried lemon over the top. Voilà!

A 10% discount on ‘a la carte’ for a minimum of starter/main dish or main dish/dessert or a 10% discount on Regina’s ‘3-courses menu’ (excluding beverages).

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Destination | Scottish Highlands

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H igfling hla n d Martin Stanhope discovers luxury aboard the Scottish Highlander.

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attalions of wind and rain roll down the hillsides overlooking Culloden. This bleak moor just south of Inverness is the site of the last great battle on British soil; a clash of arms and ideology that changed the course of history and still today holds a certain power over visitors. Our trip there was brought alive by our very own Highland guide – but don’t expect a Disneyification of Scottish history, for this is yesteryear at its most raw.

Our guide took us on a walk of the battlefield, umbrellas straining against the elements, detailing the run-up to the battle, the background of the troops, and its grim denouement on rainswept fields, bringing the momentous events of 1746 to life.

Two ranks of flags, blue and red, mark the positions of Jacobite and government forces, in between lies boggy yielding ground, the site of the notorious but fateful Highland th charge. A stone marks the location

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where the chief of the MacGillivrays fell, close to appropriately named ‘Well of the Dead’, and burial mounds can still be clearly seen where the fallen clans were interred in the wake of the battle.

A recently opened visitor centre gives ample respite from the barren battlefield, providing more insight into the momentous events and a chance for a cup of tea to reflect on a pivotal and tragic event in British history.

Culloden represents just one stop on the twoday Highland tour of the magnificent Royal Scotsman train. Described as a ‘country house on wheels’, the ethos of the train is also that of a home, with the staff succeeding in making passengers feel very much at ease. So much so, it’s almost tempting not to get off the train at all.

Departing from Edinburgh, my trip took the Highland route cutting through the centre of Scotland on a northerly route. And you don’t

have to wait long before the first frisson of excitement; barely 30 minutes after setting off, the train heads across the mighty Forth Bridge.

A vast red cantilever structure, the bridge was born in the crucible of the Industrial Revolution of the 1880s and is one of the most iconic sights in all of Scotland spanning more than 8,000 feet across the Firth of Forth.

The observation car provides a wonderful vantage point from which to enjoy the scenery – you can settle down into a comfy sofa or step out onto the open-air veranda to watch stunning vistas and wildlife whizz by in front of you. It was a particular treat on the first evening, as the on-board team cooked up an extraordinary feast, to see red deer standing on the hillsides as we approached our first night stop-off point at the intriguingly titled Highland village of Boat of Garten. Known as the ‘Osprey village’ it’s an ideal holiday base for exploring the Cairngorms National Park with its multitudinous opportunities for outdoor or cultural activities.

Railbookers

Destination | Scottish Highlands bomb. The tale was subsequently made into a Hollywood movie featuring Richard Harris and Kirk Douglas and so the legend of the ‘Heroes of Telemark’ was born. You can still see the huts where the soldiers lived and stored their ammunition and archive photos, in the splendid settle down into a Drumintoul shooting lodge, which commemorates the visit of the comfy sofa or step King of Norway when he came to out onto the openinspect his troops.

air veranda to watch stunning vistas and wildlife whizz by in front of you

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Our first morning saw a short coach trip out to the Rothiemurchus estate – an absolute treat for those with an interest in wildlife, with an unexpected historical connection.

Visitors are given the choice of clay-pigeon shooting, fishing, a walking tour of the estate or a driven tour, including a chance to feed some of the estate’s red deer. The peaks of the Cairngorms loom large over the estate, but perhaps what’s most striking is the genuine desire to welcome visitors, and balance the needs of man and wildlife. If our visit is anything to go by, they are royally succeeding.

Fans of military history will be fascinated by knowledge that Norwegian commandos trained here before being parachuted back to their home country for one of the most daring and pivotal missions of World War Two: the destruction of the Norsk Hydro plant where the Germans were producing heavy water, one of the vital ingredients in the building of an atomic

The final visit of the day is to the Strathisla Distellery in Keith, the oldest continuously operating distillery in Scotland. You can experience the age-old craft of whisky making at first hand.

Dating from 1786, many of the buildings have changed little, from the old cobbled courtyard to the distinctive double pagodas, making it one of the most charming distilleries in Scotland.

From there, the train begins its southerly track heading towards the granite city of Aberdeen, down the east coast and towards Dundee. But not before another highlight of the trip, the formal dinner, where dinner jackets and cocktail dresses are the order of the night and a flash of glamour and elegance permeates the train’s wood-panelled corridors – matched only by a sumptuous banquet served up by the train’s fabulous chefs.

My only regret? I would have loved another day on that train!

by Martin Stanhope, editor of Countryside Magazine.

Images 01 Sunrise at Quiraing, Isle of Skye 02 Royal Scotsman Carriages 03 The Royal Scotsman on its journey 04 Royal Scotsman Cabin

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The final morning, and a final treat: breakfast whilst leaving Dundee en-route to Edinburgh and crossing the mighty Tay Bridge over the Firth of Tay. Opened in 1887 it spans nearly three miles and is another colossal feat of industrial engineering on this trip of contrasts. Industrial S strength and natural majesty, a trip on ND ME d M O lan the Royal Scotsman train is a step igh REC H S n ER back in time in the most ma OK cots LBO al S I ee. p glorious of fashion. y A o R und 1p oD nd R t o ,86 h 4 g m l r $ u e b y B n rne Edi Jou l from ave Tr

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Railbookers

Two other routes are available on the Royal Scotsman, a three-night ‘Western’ journey taking in Loch Lomond and Ben Nevis, and the longer four-night ‘Classic’ journey which encompasses the best of the Highlands and takes you from Edinburgh through the spine of Scotland to the west coast and Kyle of Lochalsh.

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Destination | Christmas Markets

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clipsed by the glow of lights shining over medieval squares and the scent of cinnamon and mulled wine filling the alpine spiced air, Europe transforms into a wintry and glittery paradise during the festive season.

From the boulevards of Paris to the magical fairy-tale markets of Germany, find the perfect gifts and sample the finest seasonal foods on a Christmas holiday beaming with the spirit of the season. Discover the operatic brilliance of Vienna in a series of ubiquitous and elaborate markets surrounded by the humble glare of stunning Baroque masterpieces. Selling everything from hand-blown glass, jewellery and candles, try local market specialities including honey-infused chestnuts, bratwurst and delicious gingerbread.

For a picturesque wintry wonderland, look no further than the ethereal city of Prague. As the Astronomical Clock rings out its medieval chimes into the crisp winter air, explore markets bursting with unique handicrafts decorated with a chic Bohemian splendour. Indulge in traditional liquors and mulled wines or taste regionally inspired Christmas foods from mouth-watering Christmas breads to cinnamon fried dough, all whilst being serenaded by angelic choirs. So why not exchange the highstreet shops for cosy wooden chalets, and experience local festive cheer on an unforgettable Christmas break streaming with traditions this winter.

MARKET CITIES ANTWERP BA S E L BERLIN BERN BRUGES C O LO G N E DRESDEN

GHENT INNSBRUCK KO B L E N Z LILLE LU X E M B O U R G MAINZ MUNICH

PA R I S P R AG U E REIMS SALZBURG STRASBOURG VIENNA ZĂœRICH

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Railbookers

Festive Brussels and Cologne | 4 nights from $525 pp Discover two of Europe’s most popular Christmas Markets on a magical festive holiday to Brussels and Cologne! Marvel at Brussels’ Grand Place lit up in seasonal galore and perhaps take a ride on the giant Ferris wheel for fantastic city views. Take the train to beautiful Cologne and explore numerous traditional Christmas Markets and indulge in a plethora of festive treats!

Best of German Christmas Markets | 6 nights from $1,166 pp Explore the dazzling and traditional Christmas Markets of Cologne before travelling to the capital of Bavaria, Munich! Indulge in numerous festive chalets selling everything from mouth-watering cinnamon pretzels to fragrant mugs of mulled wine before heading to the exciting city of Berlin! With over 60 Christmas Markets in the German capital, you will be spoilt for choice!

Festive Paris and Strasbourg | 4 nights from $873 pp Take to the rails on a festive holiday by rail! Explore the tree-lined avenues of Paris and perhaps enjoy a fragrant cup of mulled wine in Montmartre before sampling delicious cheese tarts on the Champs Elysees. Then, follow the tracks to the enchanting medieval city of Strasbourg and discover the city’s fantastic array of Christmas villages, museums and art galleries!

Railbookers

BRUSSELS EASTERN BRUSSELS & CO LOG N E & G E R M A N Y & B R U G E

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Destination | Christmas Markets

Festive Brussels and Bruges | 4 nights from $431 pp Enjoy a quintessentially European winter holiday by rail and visit two of the continent’s most stunning Christmas Market destinations! Discover the 250 wooden chalets of Brussels’ Winter Wonderland before gliding the rails to the UNESCO-listed city of Bruges! Marvel at the Ice Sculpture festival and indulge in a variety of Belgian festive treats, including waffles and of course chocolate!

Festive Highlights of Eastern Germany | 6 nights from $1,022 pp Escape the heat of Australia this summer and head to wintry Europe for a stunning festive holiday travelling the tracks to magical Leipzig, enchanting Dresden and the cosmopolitan city of Berlin on a six night Christmas holiday by rail! Explore Leipzig’s historical shopping arcades, Desden’s picturesque UNESCO-listed Elbe valley, and Berlin’s romantic winter magic!

Brussels and Cologne from London | 4 nights from $680 pp Discover the historic cities and Christmas Markets of Brussels and Cologne on a four night festive holiday by train from London. Spend two nights exploring the Christmas cheer of Brussels before catching a train to the beautiful city of Cologne to indulge in gingerbread, mulled wines and baked apples!

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GoldLeaf Service

SilverLeaf Service

Rocky Mountaineer offers over 45 holiday packages, ranging from four to 18 days.

This world-renowned, luxury train travels by daylight through the wild beauty of Canada’s West and is considered by many as the best train experience in the world, and the only way to discover the majestic Canadian Rockies.

Travelling at a leisurely pace, past an endless list of extraordinary landscapes ranging from raging rivers, gorgeous lakes, and lush landscapes, not to mention the staggering mountain peaks that make up the Canadian Rockies. This is a journey guaranteed to inspire the most discerning of travellers.

Renowned for its luxurious bi-level glass dome coaches, Rocky Mountaineer’s GoldLeaf Service features optimal views of epic scenery and wildlife such as black bears, elk, bighorn sheep and moose. In the lower-level dining room, internationally-acclaimed chefs create outstanding dishes, made with the freshest of regional ingredients. Selections include wild Pacific salmon, prime Alberta beef and locally sourced vegetables, accompanied by award–winning wines from British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley.

Since its inception in 1990, the company has grown to become the largest privately owned passenger rail service in North America and has welcomed more than one and a half million guests from around the world. Rocky Mountaineer has received

numerous international awards and accolades for service excellence.

In 2013, the company was honoured with its eighth World Travel Award as, “World’s Leading Travel Experience by Train” and has been recognised by National Geographic as one of the “World’s Greatest Trips.”

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Destination | Interlaken: Switzerland and the ‘Top of Europe’

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INTERLAKEN and the

‘Top of Europe’

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now-peppered peaks, chocolate tasting, cows and cheese - the four ‘hooks’ I’d teased my journalist with. Lisa, a charmingly fiery character with enough anecdotes to keep you entertained for an infinite number of train journeys, didn’t bite, as I tried to entice her with a trip to Switzerland following a conference in Turin.

“How about a trip to Europe’s highest train station...3,571 metres to be precise”, my email ending with an ellipsis...the tone changed, and 2 weeks later we set off!

As we head ‘up hill’ from Turin into the Alps our train swept along the majesty of Lake Maggiore. The tracks hugged the edges of the water as we dodged an undulating landscape. And, as the guards changed, their greetings morphed from ‘Ciao’, ‘Bonjour’, to the occasional ‘Guten Tag’, as Italy gracefully transformed into Switzerland. A fivehour journey to Interlaken flew by. Cosy chalets, turquoise lakes and white speckled peaks entertained, with only the cows missing.

Interlaken ignited as our train drew into the station. We joked – this quaint town jacketed by the Alps seemed untouched for a century, yet awoke as its latest guests arrived. Blue skies bustled through the cloud cover, picnic blankets sprouted from the lush green grass that centred the town, and a man dressed ready for a black-tie soirée waved ice creams in our direction.

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Interlaken is tucked between Lake Thun and Lake Brienz, but dominated by the dusted summits of the Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau.

Relaxed to a point that time barely passes, the town was built as a mountain escape back in the 19th century; marvellous and typically Victorian buildings still proudly mark the town’s history. Following my default travel advice of ‘leave your bags and head out for a walk’, I found Lake Brienze to the east. As the sun set behind me its clear waters transformed from emerald green to dark blue, blending with

Railbookers

Destination | Interlaken: Switzerland and the ‘Top of Europe’ The next stop, Wengen, is the highest point you can use your Swiss pass (included in most Railbookers holidays to Switzerland). From there it’s onwards via Kleine Scheidegg, where you board the classic red wagons of the Jungfraubahn for a further 1,500 metre climb. The train bores its way through the Eiger Mountain, resurfacing sporadically to give bewildering new perspectives on the picturesque scenery seen earlier.

With its sides bleeding out of view between two sister peaks, Jungfraujoch gently dwarfs the town like a watchful ancestor

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the shadowed mountains emerging from its tranquil surface. I found a small jetty jutting into the water, hung my legs over the edge and lost all track of time. Bliss.

When in Interlaken the surrounding peaks allure. My mission, Jungfraujoch, is the most momentous. With its sides bleeding out of view between two sister peaks, it gently dwarfs the town like a watchful ancestor. At Interlaken Ost we hop on a train to Lauterbrunnen, “the valley of the waterfalls” that so enchanted Lord Byron. Local guide Erika Mattle waxes lyrical about the summer walks. I could see why – forests flow through constantly changing views, and as a country lad myself I’d quite happily pick up a stick and head out exploring; quite possibly with a blade of grass between by teeth. But, it was the tail-end of the ski season so our panoramic train was full of skiers catching the last of the flakes. I’d wanted snow, so the body suits and ski-mask RAI LBO OKE RS REC OM ME NDS tan lines were reassuring.

Essential Switzerland

Travel aboard the Golden Pass , Glacier Express and Bernina Express!

It’s from Lauterbrunnen up that the rolling tracks transform into a 6 nig hts FROM $2, 593 pp graceful clog. Pulling out from the station a gentle 20 degree angle confirms this. The journey took a more relaxed pace and frequent gaps in alpine shrubbery treated with framed stills of sweeping valleys. Nowhere have I travelled where the power of water and ice is more apparent. Valleys lurch from side to side, bearing millennia of scraping and shaping as powerful glaciers scarred the landscape. With winter retreating, a graceful carpet of grass cloaked the ground, scattered with shooting flowers competing for space; snowy peaks, dark blue mountain ridges and verdant countryside is a picture of Switzerland never forgotten – well that and the Lindt logo.

Railbookers

At 3,571 metres double doors glowed like gates to a mythical land – beyond, a white world of snow and clouds. What’s known as Europe’s longest glacier, stretching 20 km, stood still before me; a never-ending snow covered river forcing its path through the landscape – and temporary tennis court for 03 Federer when he took his own trip to ‘The Top of Europe’. The summit towered above us, perhaps savouring its path of glory for those who hadn’t taken the train! It was a different land. One protected by its own danger and peril, yet magnificent in its beauty.

by John Hale, Head of Media and Communications.

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INTERLAKEN TOP TIPS WHEN | Winter sees landscapes transformed by snow and the town is alive with the magic of festivity, hosting an incredible ice rink in the centre. Summer, and the countryside is lush, yet peaks still remain dusted by the white stuff. May – September is perfect for hiking or gentle walks, rail trips to the top of Jungfraujoch and opposing Alpine range, and of course picnics by the lake.

HOW | London to Interlaken by train in a day is a breeze, but an overnight in Paris is always nice. A Swiss pass will whisk you around Switzerland by train, but also on the boats that ferry up and down the lakes.

HOW LONG | Stay a minimum of two days for Jungfraujoch – it is a full day excursion and you will want another day to explore Interlaken. But, there is plenty to amuse for a week if you wished.

CHOCOLATE | Whilst in Interlaken I visited the ’Funky Chocolate Club’. Sounds a little too much like strenuous activity but pop along for a go at chocolate making – it is great fun and you can eat as much as you like!

EATING OUT | Interlaken has a variety of top restaurants, particularly alongside the main park – fondue is always accompanied by breath-taking views. Head off the high street towards the river for more authentic cuisine.

WHERE TO STAY | Interlaken has a great range of hotels

– many, such as the Lindner Grand Hotel, blessed with real DS MEN Victorian character and finesse. Speak to one of our COM E R ch Travel Consultants for more information.

ERS fraujo BOOK Jung y station L d I n A a R a ress railw . r Exp ’s highest press pe Glacie ier Ex c ro to Eu us Gla famo Head e the OM k R a t F and

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Destination | Interlaken: Switzerland and the ‘Top of Europe’

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Railbookers

Destination | Interlaken: Switzerland and the ‘Top of Europe’

Railbookers

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Destination | Interlaken: Switzerland and the ‘Top of Europe’

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Zurich Kambly Biscuit Train Go via the golden Lucerne Pass Line to Bern Interlaken

Thun

Brünig Pass

Interlaken 05

Geneva

Ta k ing th e biscuit train …

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adly, much as the name suggests, the train was in fact not made, Hansel and Gretel style, of gingerbread. But – it rewarded instead with a beautifully picturesque rail journey often not explored.

This circular route can be travelled with a Swiss Pass, so effectively ‘free’, including an unlimited amount of biscuits - more on that in a moment.

The train heads north-east from Interlaken Ost. Interlaken disappeared to the distance as we began to see everyday Switzerland. Perfectly stacked wood piles, lovingly hand-built chalets, children playing in the meadows, and finally, a cow, smatter the lush grass that surfs up the fierce Alpine peaks.

To Lucerne it takes an hour. A city split by the glinting River Reuss, it’s a place of life and colour. I was changing trains with just 50 minutes between, but wished I had more time to explore - it’s on my ‘must go back’ list.

with a tin full for unlimited trying next to each variety. “Lunch”, I thought.

The ‘Kambly Experience’, set on the site of the original factory, is open throughout the year. There are walks around the area if you want to take a biscuit picnic, and activities for young ones as well.

Feeling full I head back for the twice hourly train. The towns of Bern and Thun followed, but with meetings in the evening I was short for time. This circular route is a must-do day trip from Interlaken, or tailor made trip over a few days (speak to a Railbookers Travel Consultant). Fantastic scenery, and some of the best biscuits I have tasted (and I am indeed a connoisseur), makes for the perfect ‘Biscpine’ day out!

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At platform 6 the Kambly train chugged in. After checking we were all bona fide passengers we were rewarded with a gigantic biscuit - of course made

by Kambly. Halfway to Lucerne and the train halts. A wooden platform filled the gaps between the iron rails and a red path marked the way.

Kambly is Switzerland’s best known and loved biscuit manufacturer and now after 100 years has a world-wide distribution. Biscuits come in all shapes, sizes and flavours. Eager tea-dunkers scramble for bargains th as bags of rejected (fractionally misshapen) biscuits line the shelves,

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R A IL B O O KERS RE COMMEN Lake Gen DS eva to La k e A classic Lucerne lakes and

mountains adventur d’s most e to scenic ar eas.

Switzerlan

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Images 01 Rowboats on Lake Brienz 02 Top of Jungfraujoch 03 Jungfrau railway station 04 Centrefold: Interlaken 05 Lucerne 06 Kambly chocolate biscuits 07 Matterhorn biscuits made by Kambly

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Destination | Tailor made by...

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Tailor made by...

you

We’ve picked two of the most interesting journeys our Travel Consultants have put together in recent months – perhaps giving you a few ideas for your own trip!

Tailor made by Liam Naldrett…

Swansea to Turin - by ferry, train and sleeper.

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Starting out in England’s Swansea this trip covered 5 countries, and would see our customers whisked along by ferry, train and sleeper train!

First stop was Harwich on the east coast of the UK. From there, they jumped on a ferry and took an overnight sail up to the Hook of Holland. Taking the train to Utrecht, one of the Netherlands’ oldest cities, they then spent two days exploring.

From Utrecht it was an overnight sleeper train to Basel. With museums galore, and one of the most scenic settings on the Rhine, Basel is a great place to explore. It is also the closest Switzerland comes to having a seaport, with the river wide enough for many seafaring ships. But, for our adventurous couple it was quickly on to the next stop, Bern, where they caught the scenic train to Milan, via the Swiss Alps, and finally onto Turin – a city laid back, friendly, and all about hot chocolate!

It was in Turin that their journey ended, taking the high-speed train through the French Alps to Paris – for a quick stop over before returning back to reality to the UK!

Railbookers

Tailor made by Sam Bridge…

Innsbruck to Podgoria via Vienna, Budapest and Belgrade.

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For some customers a Railbookers holiday can make the perfect add-on to a pre-existing stay.

Our Travel Consultant Sam created the perfect itinerary for a customer who wanted to go from Innsbruck to Podgoria, with scenic views and stops along the way.

First stop was Vienna via the majestic mountain ranges of Austria. Packed with imperial history, contemporary museums, and a vibrant jazz music culture, there’s enough to keep you busy for days! Our customer took 3 nights to enjoy the city in all its glory, before heading on to Budapest on the modern RailJet train.

Straddling the Danube River, with the Buda Hills to the west and the Great Plain to the east, Budapest is a gem of a city. Art Nouveau architecture embellishes every street, and an air of romance flutters around its open parks, and of course apricot jam can be enjoyed with everything!

Eager to carry on, it was Belgrade’s Knez Mihailova next on the list; a lively pedestrian boulevard flanked by historical buildings all the way to the ancient Kalemegdan Citadel, crown of the city. After 2 nights they continued on along the tracks to Podgoria, their final destination.

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Images 01 Vienna Opera House 02 Hungarian Parliament Building 03 Piazza del Duomo Milan 04 Innsbruck 05 Basel

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Destination | Exploring India on the Maharajas’ Express

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W

e boarded with a fanfare that attracted a crowd of curious locals, all trying to push and tiptoe their way to the front. A brass band played loudly as we queued for fragrant garlands to be placed around our necks and scarlet bindis to be dotted on our foreheads.

Ex ploring

INDIA

on the

Maharajas’ E x p ress

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Think silk blinds, marble floors, carved wooden panels and cabins with comfy beds and private bathrooms. The food? It’s better than most restaurants, with regional specialities – everything from Punjabi to Kashmiri dishes – served on gold-plated crockery. The phrase ‘roughing it’ does not exist anywhere near this train.

Suffice to say, it was a far cry from my previous experience of travelling by rail in India, going from Delhi to Varanasi on a crowded local train – a stressful but special journey. I wondered how it would compare.

Pulling out the stops

The Maharajas’ Express – all half a mile of it – rattled out of Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji station late afternoon on a Friday.

Dissecting the city’s sprawling suburbs – a blur of slums and skyscrapers – it sped past stations with packed platforms, including the aptly named Currey Road.

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Our first overnight journey took us northeast towards the ancient rock-cut Buddhist caves of Ajanta. I fell asleep to the soothing motion of the train; I was woken by a gentle knock at the door and an early morning cup of tea, delivered by my laconic valet Gaurav.

I opened the blinds and sat sipping tea in bed as the Indian countryside rolled past the window: endless cotton fields, and villages of small huts with pointy straw roofs that

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looked like lopsided witches’ hats. Orange scarves tied around scarecrows billowed in the breeze; men washed in rivers as the women, dressed in paprika-red veils, carried steel pots on their heads.

After another red carpet arrival at Pachora Junction, we boarded waiting coaches and taken to the Ajanta Caves, 30 cavemonuments carved in a large semi-circle overlooking a lush gorge and the slowflowing River Waghora (Tiger River). First created in the second century BC, Ajanta was once a place of refuge and spiritual reflection. I walked inside, the cool air a heavenly escape from the Indian sun, and gazed up at the faded frescoes painted by Buddhist monks.

My favourite piece, however, was outside cave number four. The stone sculpture of the deity Avalokitesvara – the protector of travellers, perhaps an exotic cousin of St Christopher – was surrounded by carvings depicting the perils of early exploration in India: rampaging elephants, biting cobras, thieves, being sacrificed on burning fires…

Arriving into Jodhpur

Camels, rickshaws, trucks and buses swarmed outside the central bazaar. Inside, the narrow pathways of the market were heaving with housewives closely inspecting the fresh produce on display. Motorbikes and goats squeezed past them with loud beeps and shrill bleats. Elsewhere, stall vendors called out, hopeful of selling their 80 varieties of rice to anyone passing by. I saw a chocolate-coloured bull sauntering past one fruit and vegetable stand; it swiped a big mouthful of green beans, causing the seller to leap to his feet and shoo the hoofed offender away – with the utmost respect, of course.

It was as thrilling as it was overwhelming

Railbookers

Destination | Exploring India on the Maharajas’ Express

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– just what travel in India should be. But soon it was back to the comfort and calmness of the train. The valets were waiting with cold towels and fruity mocktails that we enjoyed from the plush leather sofas of the bar. Everyone took stock of the day, marvelling at the madness of this most crazy of countries and exchanging tales of the strange sights beheld.

One of the most significant benefits of travelling on the Maharajas’ Express is the extraordinary access it allows to places usually off-limits. In Jaipur, India’s Pink City, the doors to the private living quarters of the ‘royal family’ were thrown open just for us.

In the drawing room, where crystal chandeliers hung from the high ceiling, dozens of framed family photos were on display. Nothing unusual about that – except that this family was mostly posing beside royalty and heads of state. Taken just yards away from where I was standing, the snapshots featured a range of famous friends, including the Clintons and Prince Charles with Princess Diana.

While they still enjoy a blessed existence, the maharajas of India got a rude awakening in 1971 when Prime Minister Indira Gandhi stripped them of their powers after years of extravagant rule; however, many were permitted to keep their sprawling estates.

Tiger, tiger

The trip was fast coming to an end but two of the most anticipated elements were yet to come: tigers and the Taj.

A dawn chill lingered over Ranthambore National Park. We wrapped up against the cold in fleeces and blankets as our open-top jeep powered along the reserve’s bumpy tracks on the lookout for its most famous resident: the royal Bengal tiger.

Once the private hunting estate of trigger-happy maharajas, Ranthambore became a Project Tiger reserve in 1973 and is now though to be home to around 60 of the critically endangered felines.

But the solitary creatures are notoriously difficult to spot and with time for only one short game drive, the odds were 04 against us. Still, local wildlife guide Ajay remained positive. “We will try. I usually see tigers every two or three days,” he said. Over his shoulder stood the decaying remains of the ancient fort from which the park gets its name.

Long before the maharajas came along, the forest was home to the indigenous Minas tribe, known for marking the forehead of their rulers with blood from somebody’s toe or thumb.

All eyes scanned the dense woods and bushland, hopeful of spotting a striped tail or pair of piercing amber eyes. Peacocks settled in the shade of colossal 300-year-old banyan trees while monkeys somersaulted in the branches.

Hopes were raised when the morning calm was shattered by the loud alarm call of a spotted deer: a tell-tell sign of a lurking tiger, according to Ajay. Perched by a rocky embankment, the jeep’s engine fell silent and we waited with bated breath. The seconds rolled into minutes but the only sign of movement came from a mongoose scurrying in the undergrowth.

The disappointment was DS MMEN shortlived as RECO S R E OOK we pressed R A IL B xpress

onwards towards Agra and India’s most fabled monument, the most fabulous ‘final stop’ on the planet. “For almost everybody, this is the most anticipated stage of the whole journey,” said our guide, Prince. All our conversations came to an abrupt end as the white-marble dome of the Taj Mahal, basking in the warm rosy glow of sunrise, came into view.

Outside, crowds gathered around the colourful flowerbeds and spouting water fountains to take in the sheer majesty. My fellow train passengers and I may have arrived in Agra in the utmost

luxury but here, in this very moment, it mattered not. As we stood amid everyone from scruffy backpackers to big Indian families, we were all united in appreciation of the magnificence before us – a bucket-list topper, no matter how you get to it.

“I’ve seen the Taj more than 100 times but I never tire of its beauty,” beamed Prince, gazing across at the marbled masterpiece. “Everyone should see it at least once in their lifetime.”

by Nick Boulos, first appearing in Wanderlust Magazine – April 2015.

ajas’ E Mahar s of India luxury re India in 2 pp Treasu e colours of th $6,35 FROM Explore

Railbookers

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Images 01 Exterior view of carriage 02 Maharajas’ Express Presidential suite 03 Amber Fort near Jaipur 04 Taj Mahal at sunset, Agra

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Destination | The World by Rail

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Ultimate USA & Canada

Start with a couple of nights in the Big Apple before boarding the Lake Shore Limited for an overnight journey to Chicago, the Windy City.

From here, cross the vast, changing landscapes of the USA to the Pacific Coast and Los Angeles with a stop en route in Flagstaff!

Jasper Kamloops Vancouver

Amsterdam

London

Berlin

Paris Seattle

Venice Toronto Rome

New York

European Grand Tour

San Francisco

Take a Grand Tour of some of Europe’s finest cultural centres, capital cities and awe-inspiring panoramas heading from Berlin to Amsterdam, Paris and Zürich and crossing the beautiful Gotthard Pass through the Swiss Alps to the Italian gems of Venice and Rome!

Los Angeles

South America

Shhhh... Coming soon for 2016!

Discover the Inca ruins at Machu Picchu after descending into the Sacred Valley and skirting the foothills of the incredible Andes... It’s certainly a journey not to be missed so watch this space!

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WO R L D rai l by

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Zambia

Rovos Private Train

Livingstone

Travel aboard the ‘Pride of Africa’ through game reserves, national parks and Zambia’s Rift Valley on a luxury journey from Dar-esSalaam to Cape Town. History lectures, gourmet cuisine, game drives and a trip to Victoria Falls included!

Botswana

Kimberley

Cape Town

Railbookers

Destination | The World by Rail

Trans-Siberian Moscow to Beijing Moscow

Yekaterinburg

If there was ever a trip to validate T.S. Eliot’s credo that ‘the journey not the arrival matters’, it has to be the Trans-Siberian! From the vibrant colours and deep history of Moscow to the compelling buzz of Beijing, travel through Kazan – the historic capital of the Tartars – Novosibirsk, Irkutsk and through Eastern Siberia to the sparkling shores of Lake Baikal!

Krasnoyarsk

Kazan Novosibirsk

Irkutsk Ulan Ude

Ulan Bator

The Himalayan Trails

Start in Delhi with time to experience the city’s ancient and modern masterpieces. Then, take the Shatabdi Express to Kalka where you will board the famous Toy Train through the Himalayas to Shimla. From here visit Pragpur and Dharamsala, home of the Dalai Lama before arriving in Amritsar to see the jewel of the Sikh world, the Golden Temple!

Bejing

Dharamsala Amritsar

Treasures of the Orient

Pragpur Shimla

Delhi

Bangkok

Take 3 nights to enjoy the splendour of Bangkok, a metropolis known for its ornate shrines and vibrant street life before boarding the Eastern & Oriental Express. The train’s opulence is no secret, and you’ll enjoy gourmet dining and sumptuous accommodations on board – as well visits to the River Kwai and Penang Island included en route!

Arrive into Singapore for a 5 star 3 night stay.

Butterworth and Penang Island Singapore

Dar es Salaam Mbeya

Lusaka

New Zealand Grand Tour

Take the Northern Explorer train from Auckland through the ever-changing scenery of the North Island down to Wellington. Continue across the Cook Strait on the Interislander ferry to the beautiful South Island. Admire the views of the rugged Pacific Coastline and Canterbury countryside from the comfort of your seat as you then travel on the Coastal Pacific train down to Christchurch.

Pretoria

Auckland

Picton Greymouth Christchurch

Railbookers

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Destination | Railway Children

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Railbookers

Destination | Events and Festivals

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& Over the course of the year Europe plays host to some of the most fantastic and culturally diverse events in the world. From numerous film festivals, fashion shows, concerts and other theatrical splendours, the continent offers something new for every kind of visitor.

Travelling to Europe’s festivals by train is the perfect way to combine sightseeing and comfort into one, whisking you right into the heart of the cities in which they take place!

During the summer, travellers to Europe can delight in internationally renowned performing artists in numerous beautiful and historic settings. Opera in Greek and Roman amphitheatres, classical concerts in Renaissance churches or aria in grand opera houses and castles are just a few of the experiences in store for visitors this coming year. Opera festivals include Verona’s Arena di Verona Summer Opera Season set in the city’s ancient Roman amphitheatre!

Autumn of course is the season for the wine connoisseur. Take the Bandol Wine Festival in Provence, a joyous affair where wine growers dress up to show off the year’s vintage straight from the barrel, or if that does not take your fancy, head to Ardenne for the Champagne Festival, where you can raise a glass of bubbly in the company of Krug, Bollinger, Gosset and Deutz & Gelderman!

Railbookers

Event Highlights Every winter millions head to the continent for the multitude of Christmas Markets that transform the urban landscapes into winter wonderlands. For opera lovers look no further than Vienna. Home to the Vienna Opera Ball, the city transforms into an operatic tourde-force where the Vienna State Orchestra performs under the baton of distinguished and internationally celebrated conductors.

Once the spring hits the continent, it is overrun by countless wildflower festivals in countries such as Croatia, the Netherlands and Italy!

If you love nature, The Keukenhof Tulip and Flower festival is home to over 7 million varieties of flower including daffodils, tulips and hyacinths. Spanning nearly 79 acres, the Keukenhof Gardens is one of the world’s largest flower gardens boasting a lacework of fragrant paths, charming brooks and idyllic ponds! ..............................................................................

We will be launching our range of festival and event holidays in the coming months - so keep any eye on our site, or speak to one of our Travel Consultants for more information!

Carnival of Venice (January/February) An annual festival in Venice featuring numerous shows and theatrical performances.

Jazz Festival Vienna (July) Featuring the sounds of soul, funk, pop and Jazz in venues such as the Vienna State Opera!

The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo (August) An annual international celebration performed by the British Armed Forces, Commonwealth and International military bands.

Lille Flea Market (September) Europe’s largest flea market specialising in everything from antiques to modern art.

Copenhagen Blues Festival (September) A city club festival featuring 60 concerts spread out over numerous venues in Copenhagen.

Oktoberfest (September) Oktoberfest is the world’s largest funfair held annually in Munich over 16 days!

Prague Writers Festival (November) A social occasion for great thinkers and eager readers to share important philosophical and academic ideas over a series of talks.

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M

Ess e nt i a l M a l ta 7 nights from $1,491 pp

alta is like nowhere else you have ever been.

Home to an assortment of prehistoric temples, fossil-studded cliffs, glittering hidden coves and a marvellous gastronomic cuisine; explore a history of remarkable intensity in one of Europe’s premier destinations, boasting an unforgettable Mediterranean cocktail of culture and history. Featuring a plethora of historic sites, the 16th century fortified capital, Valletta is the jewel in Malta’s crown; its prestige honoured on an international scale when it was selected as European Culture Capital for 2018. A UNESCO-listed World Heritage Site, the skyline is dominated by the baroque masterpiece of St. Paul’s Cathedral housing two prestigious paintings by Caravaggio. Southern Malta and Gozo are home to some of the world’s most impressive prehistoric sites, including colossal temples set atop sea cliffs, and the Hal Saflieni Hypogeum, the 5,000 year-old necropolis carved perfectly from living rock! Railbookers have put together an incredible holiday to discover Essential Malta, capturing the essence of the country on a 7 night holiday, journeying through the picturesque heart of Europe. Travel through the emerald green valleys of France, through to the cultural capitals of Italy - Turin, Rome and Naples - before catching a ferry to the beautiful paradise of Malta.

To speak to an experienced consultant, please call

0800 000 554

Destination | Ask the Expert

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Q: If I book a rail holiday are meals provided on the trains?

Mrs R Theobald, Manly, NSW

Q: We love the idea of train travel in North

America. Is this something you offer and you would recommend it?

Mrs K Ashdown, Sunnybank Hills, QLD

A:

?

Ask the

This will depend on the destinations that you travel to and the class of service you book. For instance, if you upgrade to Standard Premier Class on the Eurostar you will be provided with a light meal and drinks, however if you upgrade your travel on the TGV between Paris and Barcelona you will not. Buffet cars are available on the majority of services and so even if you are not provided with a meal there is generally somewhere to purchase a sandwich and occasionally a hot dish. Our Travel Consultants are very familiar with the levels of service provided on the individual trains and will be able to advise you accordingly, to make sure that you are not travelling on an empty stomach!

Q: We are active travellers, are we able to

Matthew

Foy

Ex p e r t Your holiday questions answered by our Global Travel Centre Manager

Send your questions for Matthew to allaboard @ railbookers.com Railbookers

add tours and excursions to your suggested itineraries?

A: Absolutely, train travel in North America

often goes under the radar as many people see the only option as to fly. However, this is not the case and some of the most spectacular train journeys we offer are through North America. If it is cities that interest you then the East Coast Explorer between Boston, New York City and Washington D.C. would be perfect, or perhaps you would prefer Chicago to the Grand Canyon for some aweinspiring views. Don’t forget Canada as well, if it is a once in a lifetime experience you are after then look no further than the Rocky Mountaineer. And remember if you don’t see a perfect trip for you, Railbookers can tailor make your holidays, so just give us a call.

Q:

I have read that I need to validate my train tickets whilst I travel – is this correct?

Mrs M Milbourne, Newcastle, NSW

Mr J Cox, Yallingup, WA

A:

Of course, everything we offer can be tailor made to your liking and this extends to tours and excursions as well. If you like to discover destinations on foot, a city walking tour could be perfect and if you are not in the mood for dealing with large queues, skip the line tickets and tours are available at a range of major attractions. For a better idea of what we can offer just head to the website and click on the sightseeing tab in the destination of your choice, or speak to one of our Travel Consultants.

A: Only if your ticket is non-reservable and

only within certain countries. The majority of tickets we provide you with will either include a mandatory reservation, or will have a separate seat reservation to go along with it. If this is the case you will not need to validate your tickets. However, if you have a non-reservable ticket, i.e. for a train where seats cannot be reserved in advance, you may need to validate it. This will only be the case when travelling within France and Italy and validation machines will be found at the end of each platform, for other European countries you will not need to worry. But remember, if you are unsure just ask and we will be more than happy to advise.

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Destination | 1000 Miles of Vietnam Inspired

1000 M I L E S O F VIETNAM INSPIRED Skyscrapers didn’t dominate the skyline. Fast pass tickets hadn’t been invented and T-shirts with love hearts and appalling grammar were nowhere to be seen. Vietnam’s Hanoi was a bustling metropolis of colour and life, and, like the rest of the country, characterised by its people and culture, not glitzy façades.

We whisked off for lunch before a trip that would eventually take us from Hòi an in the North to Ho Chi Minh City. A wooden staircase creaked the way to a seemingly unremarkable room. Noodles laced with garlic, spring rolls that crunched and a watery peanut sauce that we would combine with everything else on the table lay before us.

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01

straight through cities and towns. ‘Go’ or ‘brake’ are the driver’s only two controls I believe, but the experience is endearing and decent sleep is achievable.

Hanoi surrounds the Lake of Hoàn Kiêm, a tranquil basin that grounds the city’s hubbub.

The Temple of Literature (University of Vietnam), with its oriental decoration, much inspired by the Chinese, and lavish embellishments, instantly contrasted with the western world. Streets danced a choreographed routine of eager taxi drivers, minivans ladened high with fruits and traders selling lunch, bracelets and washing machines off the foot square space above their bicycle’s back wheel. Hanoi was the starting point of our journey aboard the Reunification Express, so after a whistle-stop city tour we head to the station.

After a night in former royal capital Hue and a trip down the river in a Vung Tau (a traditional longboat), a short rail journey took us to Hôi An. Men and women wearing ‘non la’ (conical leaf hats) harvest paddy fields as we hurtled by, and shadowed mountains rolled beyond as Vietnam previously seen on postcards revealed itself.

UNESCO-listed World Heritage site ‘My So’n’, is deservedly the main attraction here. A scattering of 4th century Hindu temples (Cham) sit still in lush jungle scored by gurgling streams and overlooked by Cat’s Tooth Mountain. Just 20 of some 68 remain - a mixture of Vietnam’s erosive weather, and airstrikes during the war. Forty years on and the cracks and uneven surfaces now sprouted flowers and grass, as nature started to restore trust in its surroundings.

On board we met Ly and Chao, a young Vietnamese / Chinese couple huddled together tucking into a local snack. Sold in banana leaves it had flavours of liquorice, cake, and something unidentifiable. We said hello, gratefully received a taste, and then proceeded to play language pictionary. The Vietnamese sleeper trains are an experience. Far from high speed, the tracks choose their own path; alongside roads, over rivers, through villages and crops and cutting

“We can make the stone but not the glue”, explained our guide as he pointed towards a restoration project propped up by DIY scaffolding and bits of string. The temples were made from thin red bricks that sat flush against one another, believed to have been cemented using sap from a local tree - a tradition the 21st century had failed to replicate; some comfort I felt in protecting this majestic piece of history from millennial meddling.

Railbookers

Destination | 1000 Miles of Vietnam Inspired

By 3 pm it had reached 32°C degrees. Now on our third day of our adventure in Vietnam it was time for a day of relaxation! We donned our caftans and pastel shorts, borrowed baby blue bikes from the hotel (basket included), and ‘toodled’ our way to the beach. Piña coladas topped off our time in Hôi An, as we sat besides the river watching old traditional boats bob, and the ‘Old Town’ transform from day to night.

From Hôi An to Ho Chi Minh City it was another overnight train. This southerly section of the route benefits from newly fitted carriages. The old shell of the blue and red 1970’s wagons were still authentically underdeveloped – but inside now enjoyed a pop up dining table, LED lights, and plug sockets! Freshly prepared sheets lay neatly folded and an embroidered blanket kept you warm, as the air conditioning took the edge of the humidity.

city Ho Chi Minh, the post war name created by the communist party, but in the South – it’s still Saigon. But, this is a country with momentous beauty and potential. Lived in by people who are scarred by the past, they love their home and each other, and look to the future.

02

“We are like bamboo. We are thin, but strong.

We just want to live in peace.” Chien smiled - he could see that on this occasion, nothing was lost in translation.

by John Hale, Head of Media and Communications.

ITINERARY HIGHLIGHTS University of Vietnam Established in 1906, it is made up of 10 colleges and boasts incredible Chinese inspired architecture.

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RAIL BOO KER S REC OMM END S ess Vietnam and the Reunification Expr City by Travel from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh way. the along stops with train

6 nigh ts

FROM $2,3 56 pp

The City with two names

Ho Chi Minh City was our last stop. Our guide Chien padded the concrete beams that fortified the walls of the Independence Palace. He didn’t seem comfortable. Earlier that day we visited the war museum. Brutal yet vital, it gives an insight into one of the world’s most poignant wars; Agent Orange, Napalm and no less than 7 million bombs pebble-dashed the land.

At its peak more than half a million foreign troops were in the country fighting against the communist supports of the north.

Now, 40 years since the retraction of foreign troops the country still has a hidden divide. Our guide explained that in the North they call the

Railbookers

Imperial Citadel of Hue A walled fortress and palace in the city of Hue, the former imperial capital of Vietnam.

05

King Duc’s Tomb Built to celebrate the longest reign of any monarch of the Nguyen dynasty.

04

Thiên Mu Pagoda Spanning seven stories, it is the tallest religious building in Vietnam seen best from the river!

My So’n This UNESCO-listed World Heritage consists of a cluster of Temples laid by the kings of Champa.

War Remnants Museum A fascinating insight into the Vietnam war including foreign involvement and weaponry.

04 Images 01 King Duc’s Tomb, Hue 02 Boats on the River Perfume, Hue 03 My So’n, Da Nang 04 First train on Reunification Express 05 Ho Chi Minh City

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17stop

Destination | Top 5 European Scenic Tracks Less Travelled

th

5

Top

Europe a n Scenic

Tra c ks L e ss Trave l le d Already travelled on the Glacier Express, along the West Highland Line and through the Rhine Valley?

Here are 5 hidden gems to experience!

2

Belgrade to Bar,

Serbia to Montenegro

The venerable mountains, rolling hills, deep canyons, towering viaducts, countless tunnels and breathtaking riverside vistas make this underrated Eastern European journey a must-do for the adventurous traveller!

4

Porto to Pocinho, Portugal

Pass through pretty towns, around imposing cliffs and hug the curves of the river along the Linha do Duoro (Duoro line), known to insiders as Portugal’s most beautiful train journey.

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1

Munich to Innsbruck, Germany to Austria

Avoid the high speed intercity train that skirts around the Alps and take the slower, regional rail over the top and through the mountain resort of Garmisch Partenkirchen for unparalleled Alpine vistas.

3

Nice to Digne-les-Bains, France

This private, 1 metre gauge railway line captures 3 hours of pure, photogenic bliss! Glide through mountain valleys and over beautiful viaducts from the French Riviera through Provence.

5

Messina to Catania, Sicily

Get an eyeful of the spectacular Ionian coast on your next summer holiday! Witness the joy of your train being loaded onto a ferry and delight in the mesmerising views of the rugged coastline and the azure sea from your seat.

Railbookers

Destination | Waiting Room

S U D O K U

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Waiting Ro o m

P R I Z E

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9 1 2 1 7 8 3 9 7 9 1 3 4 6 4 2 3 8 3 7 9 4 6 9 4 7 8 3 8 6 5 1

WO R D

S E A R C H

One city is missing from the grid. Tell us which one and you could win one of ten $100 Railbookers gift vouchers. Simply email the missing city along with your name and address to allaboard@railbookers.co.nz for your chance to win!

AbuSimbel Acropolis Alhambra Amazon AngelFalls AngkorWat Antarctica Baalbek Bagan

Bali Banff Borobudur Cappadocia ChichenItza Colosseum Damascus Delphi Dubrovnik

Fjords ForbiddenCity Galapagos GrandCanyon GreatBarrierReef HagiaSophia IguazuFalls Jerusalem Karnak

Kremlin Ladakh Louvre Marrakesh Petra Pompeii Portofino Pyramids Yangtze

Closing date 31 December 2015

Railbookers

33

Destination | My Favourite Rail Journey - The Rocky Mountaineer

19th stop

My favourite

Rai l J o urney

I

f we are lucky we will all have a few experiences in our lifetime that take our breath away, that make us sit back in awe and appreciate the magnificence of the world we live in. Unsurprising to some I am sure, many of these jaw dropping moments can be found when travelling by train and none more so I would expect than from the luxury of a GoldLeaf carriage aboard the Rocky Mountaineer.

The

Rocky Mou ntaineer

dome carriages with full panoramic views, giving a great vantage point to view the scenery, from whichever seat you are in. My journey between Vancouver and Jasper was a 2 day affair and from the off the landscape was entrancing. On departure we meandered through evergreen forests before reaching more arid terrain as we ventured further into the wilderness. Highlights included traversing across the Fraser Valley and Fraser Canyon and trundling alongside the spectacular Thompson Lake.

I began in Vancouver and before I had even set foot on board I knew this was not your average train journey. I was greeted at the station, purpose built for the Rocky Mountaineer I might add, by a porter who promptly relieved me of my bags and escorted me to the atrium. Here a pianist was readily entertaining those who had already arrived and complimentary drinks and snacks were laid out for all as we waited to board. Boarding itself was no low-key affair and before relaxing into our seats we were treated to a welcome speech and an impromptu bagpipe performance. Then, just to cap off the whole dazzling display, a red carpet was laid at the steps of each carriage and we stepped on board feeling a great deal more important than when we arrived.

However, if I thought day one was eye-opening, they had saved the best for the second leg. As expected the surrounding areas gradually became more mountainous and after a few hours we were treated to a unique and quite unexpected view of the Pyramid Falls. Streams, gorges and lakes continued in abundance and then, as the sun started to lower, the shadow of Mount Robson appeared on the horizon. We waited with baited breath, knowing that our approach into the Rockies was imminent. The last 2 hours of the journey were truly indescribable and I have not the writing calibre to do it justice. As such you will have to experience it for yourself and I implore you to do so.

The GoldLeaf carriages are stunning two tiered

Although the desire to travel on the Rocky

34

Sam

Bridg

e

Mountaineer is undoubtedly to wallow in the magic of the Canadian landscape, it cannot be overstated how important to the experience the service on board is. The staff are fantastic and provide a running commentary throughout the journey, keeping you informed of where you are at all times, providing a detailed history and geography of the various regions and towns you travel through, whilst interspersing anecdotal stories to add some humour to the occasion.

The food is also exquisite. In GoldLeaf you are treated to your own restaurant on the lower tier of the carriage where you can choose from an Ă la carte menu of dishes comprised from locally sourced produce. All food is prepared on board and is accompanied by an extensive wine list.

On my Rocky Mountaineer adventure I met an array of different people, all of whom will have their own stories to tell. It is a once in a lifetime trip with an everlasting impact, I cannot imagine there is a better train journey out there. If I find one however, I’ll be sure to let you know.

by Sam Bridge, Senior Travel Consultant at Railbookers.

Railbookers

Pretoria to Swakopmund

Passing through: Kimberley, Fish River Canyon, Windhoek, Sossusvlei and Swakopmund

Dar es Salaam to Cape Town

Passing through: Mbeya, Lusaka, Livingstone, Botswana, Pretoria and Kimberley

A nine day journey of discovery by rail from Pretoria, through the Northern Cape and onwards to the red sand dunes and incredible landscapes of Namibia. Visit Kimberley, the centre of the diamond rush, look out for leopards and zebra in the spectacular Fish River Canyon and journey through the Kalahari Desert. Stay in two luxury lodges and spend time on board this magnificent train, the Pride of Africa before ending your adventure in Swakopmund. ....................................................................................................................

Indulge in five-star comfort as you relive the golden age of travel with deluxe accommodations, gourmet cuisine and magnificent sights unfolding outside of your window! Unearth the magic and majesty of Africa as you travel through Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana and into South Africa. You’ll traverse Zambia’s Rift Valley, spot wild animals roaming the plains in Selous Game Reserve and enjoy a visit to the famous Victoria falls along the way! ....................................................................................................................

8 nights from $7,239 pp

16 nights from $20,842 pp

April and May 2016

February 2016

Prices are subject to change, and route to amendment. Itineraries, destinations, venues and scheduled departures are subject to change without prior notice. Prices are per person and based on 2 people sharing. Supplements may apply for special dates such as Christmas and New Year.

To speak to an experienced consultant please call:

0800 000 554

Next Issue In All Aboard Issue 5...

Summer Journeys 2016 Discovering Salzburg, Graz and Vienna Italy’s best city combinations by rail America by rail explored ...Plus lots more!

What our customers say: The rail journey and accommodation organised by Railbookers was faultless which resulted in a perfect holiday. The hotels were wonderful, all conveniently located with friendly staff and excellent accommodation.

The organisation of the train reservations and connections was outstanding. The information supplied by Railbookers for the trip was invaluable and very reassuring. I will have no hesitation in thoroughly recommending Railbookers to anyone who is thinking of holidaying in Europe and look forward to when we will be able to organise our next trip with you.

Sue and Graham Ross – NSW Everything worked perfectly from train tickets, seating, directions to hotels and the accommodation. As “virgin” travellers to Europe and train travel in Europe we could not have selected a better company to handle our travel requirements. We have sung your praises to any and everybody whom we speak to about our holiday. We would definitely use your company again. Thank you very much for the part you played in making our holiday a dream come true and one that we will cherish always.

Thank you very much and keep up the fantastic service that you provide!

Glynis and Stephen Biggar – WA

For more information please contact your travel agent.

For more information please visit www.railbookers.co.nz or call 0800 000 554 to speak with one of our experienced consultants Prices shown are per person, based on two people travelling and sharing a room, subject to availability, correct as of 08/07/2015 and may vary seasonally.

I just wanted to let you know how successful the holiday you organised for us went. Everything went as planned. The trains were all prompt and comfortable, and our accommodation was excellent in all locations. I will be writing a letter to the publication where I first heard about you. I would also have no hesitation in recommending your organisation to anyone.

Muriel and Duncan McIntyre – VIC