Railway to heaven

If you're worried about how your annual holiday is going to affect your carbon footprint, swapping the plane for the train could be your best option. Claire Coleman investigates some of the world's most spectacular rail journeys

Canada
The Canadian Express

The route: A west-to-east route that starts in Vancouver, goes on to Calgary via Banff and Lake Louise, across the Canadian prairie, through Winnipeg and alongside the Great Lakes, down to Niagara Falls and finally on to Montreal.
The sights: It's hard to know how to pick the highlights of this trip. The scenery—from the Rocky mountain range to the prairies, the Great Lakes and Niagara Falls—is breathtaking. And then, of course, there are the added delights of the wine regions.
The train: Harking back to vintage luxury, the cabins have brass radiators, Turkish drapes, and acres of polished wood, as well as en suite bathrooms with showers. The dining rooms and lounge areas are just as ornate, and the observation cars have open verandas, allowing you a real opportunity to get close to nature.
The reason for doing it: This one-off trip offers a taste of the country-the greatest sights from British Columbia to Quebec have been hand-picked for you, and if any particular area catches your imagination, you can always go back and explore it further.
The cost: Flights to and from Canada aren't included, but £13,550 will buy you an inclusive ticket that covers excursions, meals, drinks, accommodation and airport transfers. The trip will only run once this year, from 13-28 June.
www.royalcanadianpacific.com

India
The Golden Chariot

The route: It's a figure-of-eight-shaped journey. You set off in Bangalore, head to Mysore, then to Hassan, go north to Hampi, across to Badami, down to the coast of Goa and then overnight back to Bangalore.
The sights: The day trips from each station are the real highlights—from Mysore, you can visit the national park at Kabini and look out for elephants and leopards; outside Hassan is Shravanabelagola, home to a 58ft granite figure of Lord Gomateswara, the largest monolithic statue in Asia; then there are the ruins of Hampi; and, finally, there are the beautiful beaches of Goa.
The train: The Maharajahs never had it this good. In your palatial cabin with its carved ceiling, you'll find wi-fi, an LCD TV with six satellite channels, a DVD player and, of course, a private bathroom. There's also a fully equipped gym on board, and a spa car offering massages and Ayurvedic treatments.
The reason for doing it: Rather than just ticking off the Taj Mahal and the Red Fort, this is a way to see the real India. In just seven days, you can pack in everything from sultans' palaces and safaris to temples and beaches, and all in a spanking new train that only hit the tracks in February this year.
The cost: The Luxury Trains Bangalore round trip costs from £1,060 (April to September) to £1,260 (October to March) per person for seven nights based on two people sharing. This includes travel, accommodation, all meals and entrance fees to sights but not flights, drinks or treatments at the spa car.
www.theluxurytrains.co.uk

Russia
The Trans-Siberian Express

The route: Moscow is the starting point for this epic journey. From here you travel east, over the Urals, via Kazan and Yekaterinburg, across the Russian steppes and alongside the shores of Lake Baikal (the world's largest freshwater lake). There's a brief diversion into Mongolia, and its capital, Ulaan Baatar, then it's back into Russia and on to Vladivostok.
The sights: The scenery is stunning. You climb through the Ural mountains-the natural barrier between Europe and Asia-and cross deserted plains. On the man-made front, there's a stop at Irkutsk, dubbed the "Paris of Siberia", a view of the Genghis Khan monument in Mongolia and, in Vladivostok, the chance to explore a restored submarine.
The train: Launched in April 2007, the Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian Express is a brand new train with all mod cons. Gold Class cabins boast LCD screens and DVD players, not to mention power showers and underfloor heating. But if you don't want to shell out for Gold Class, the communal cabins are hardly downmarket. You'll find caviar and omul (a fish unique to Lake Baikal) on offer in the restaurant cars, and a pianist tinkling the ivories in the bar.
The reason for doing it: This iconic railroad, commissioned and designed by the Czars, provides the only real means of understanding the vastness of Russia.
The cost: GW Travel offers a 15-night trip in Gold Class on the Golden Eagle for £6,795 per person. This includes accommodation, all meals, drinks with meals, and transfers, but not flights or additional drinks and charges for laundry services.
www.gwtravel.co.uk

Africa
The Pride of Africa

The route: Starting in Cape Town, you climb to Johannesburg and Pretoria, and on into Zimbabwe, snaking through the country to Victoria Falls, and across the Zambian border to Livingstone, through Lusaka and Mpika, into Tanzania and then east, ending up on the coast in Dar Es Salaam. The trip can also be taken from Dar to Cape Town.
The sights: Every day, there's something new, from the diamond mine at Kimberley to the wildlife of the Kruger Game Park. Then there's the landscape—waterfalls, the Zambezi, the Rift Valley and the lakes.
The train: A solid combination of old and new. Wood panelling, Edwardian features and Victorian baths meet air con, mini bars, hair dryers and 24-hour room service. But as they're trying to re-create a bygone age, there are no radios or TVs on board.
The reason for doing it: This trip is so oversubscribed that you're advised to book now for 2009. It's not surprising really. In just two weeks, you travel the length and breadth of South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Tanzania. There's simply no other way to see so much of the continent in such a short space of time.
The cost: The dates for 2009 are July 4-17 and August 15-28 for the Cape Town to Dar Es Salaam trips and July 20-August 2 and August 31-September 13 for the trip from Dar to Cape Town. Fully inclusive prices start at £4,000 per person, rising to £7,150 per person. Flights are extra.
www.rovos.com

Australia
The Ghan

The route: From Adelaide in South Australia, through the Northern Territory and Alice Springs right up to Darwin, one of the most northerly cities in Australia.
The sights: The iconic landscape of Australia, i.e red deserts stretching for miles and miles. If you're lucky, you'll see kangaroos bouncing across the scrub and camels kicking the dirt. Near Alice Springs you'll cross the Finke, the world's oldest river, but don't get too excited: it usually looks like nothing more than a dry, sandy bed.
The train: At the moment, the top-level cabins are the gold twins, with a sofa that converts into two bunks and an en suite bathroom. But towards the end of 2008, brand new platinum cabins are planned, set to be twice the size of the gold cabins with double beds, spacious bathrooms and 24-hour room service.
The reason for doing it: Let's be honest, the size and space of the Ghan's current cabins and lounges don't begin to compete with the world's other top trains. But it's only a short trip, so ignore the inside and concentrate on the scenery flashing past. After all, how often do you get the opportunity to traverse an entire continent? If you want to break up your journey, there are mini tours to fit in with the train timetable, from canoeing on the Katherine River (£15 per person) to a helicopter trip from Alice Springs over Simpson's Gap (£80 per person).
The cost: A two-night trip between Adelaide and Darwin costs around £895 per person in a gold cabin. This includes travel, accommodation and meals, but not drinks.
www.gsr.com.au

Closer to home: Five of the best European trips

Venice Simplon Orient Express

Board the British Pullman at London Victoria, speed through Kent, cross the Channel, then hop aboard the Orient Express. Enjoy a four-course dinner and wake the next day to views of the Swiss mountains. A one-way ticket costs £1,475, while a return costs £2,140 per person.
www.orient-express.com

The Royal Scotsman

See the majesty of Scotland in style. Board the Royal Scotsman in Edinburgh and cruise up the east coast. Then head west towards Inverness, pass the Torridon mountains, and wind back via Aviemore, Pitlochry and Dundee. En route, enjoy the traditions of the Highlands-such as a visit to a distillery. £3,190 per person. www.royalscotsman.com

The Glacier Express

It takes seven and a half hours to travel the 180 miles from Zermatt to St Moritz. But why hurry? Going at this pace means you can admire the spectacular scenery at your leisure. A first-class ticket costs £138 in the summer, £128 in the winter, including a three-course lunch. www.glacierexpress.ch

The Riviera Route

If you happen to find yourself in the south of France, why not hop on a TGV from Marseille to Nice for unparalleled views of the Cote D'Azur?
A first-class ticket costs £37.50.
www.tgv.co.uk

Oslo to Bergen

If you can see through the blizzards, you'll get staggering views of the Norwegian countryside-rolling hills, fjords, forests, mountains and glaciers. You can get out and enjoy the air at Norway's highest station. For £7 you can upgrade to a seat in the Komfort coach. A one-way ticket with Komfort upgrade is £76.
www.nsb.no