Luxury trains revive golden age of rail travel
The golden era of private train travel has been revived in the last few years and these days you can book a luxury train trip on a variety of itineraries around the globe. One of the world’s most spectacular rail trips is a one-week itinerary aboard the Palace on Wheels which takes passengers through Rajasthan state in India. Once the personal rail cars of India’s rulers, the 14 coaches are named after former Rajput states and each has bedrooms and baths with separate coaches for lounging and dining.
Rates run from $270 U.S. to $325 per night depending on travel dates and include meals, private baths and sightseeing tours. Regular departures are offered throughout the year.
The journey begins in Delhi and travels to the pink city of Jaipur for sightseeing before continuing on to Chittorgarh and Udaipur with its palace of the maharajas. Then it’s on to Sawai Madhopur Tiger Reserve and 10th century fort in Ranthambhor National Park, the 12th century city of Jaisalmer with its sandstone fort and the 15th century city of Jodhpur.
The final portion of the itinerary takes in the Keoladeo Ghana National Park at Bharatpur, the palaces of Fatehpur Sikri and the Taj Mahal at Agra before returning to Delhi.
For further details on The Palace on Wheels itineraries contact Sitka World Travel Inc., 1235 Bay St., Suite 801, Toronto, Ont. M5R 3K4, phone (416) 972-1534 or toll-free 1-800 500-5768.
PACIFIC NORTHWEST: A five-night cruise through the islands and waterways off Washington and B.C. can be combined with a four-night rail adventure aboard the American Orient Express through Washington and Oregon states. It is being offered with departures from Seattle Sept. 17 and 27.
The cruise portion, aboard the Yorktown Clipper, sails to the San Juan Archipelago, Cowichan Bay and into Victoria and Roche Harbors. It returns to Seattle where passengers can board the American Orient Express for a trip across the Cascade Mountains to Glacier National Park, through the Yakima Valley and Washington wine country and along the Columbia River Gorge with windup in Portland.
Rates for the nine-day itinerary start at $3,090 U.S. per person, double. It can be done in reverse with the rail option first or the five-night cruise-only option can be booked starting at $1,250 U.S. for each of two.
For information see a travel agent or contact Clipper Cruise Line, 7711 Bonhomme Ave., St. Louis, Missouri 63105, phone toll-free 1-800 325-0010, fax (314) 727-6576.
CLUB CANADA: Sunflight Holidays has introduced a Canadian holiday program that travellers piece together to suit themselves. Tied in with this summer’s affordable charter air fares you can create a holiday that suits the family budget.
For example, you can spend the weekend exploring one of the major Canadian cities, then pick up your rental car and explore the surrounding countryside with lodging already arranged. For instance, you might want to combine a weekend stay in Vancouver with a golf and sightseeing tour in the Okanagan Valley. Or take a western-style holiday in Cariboo country. Or add on a houseboating holiday in B.C. lake country. It’s entirely up to you.
Options are offered across the country from the Maritimes to the west coast and into Yukon Territory. A four-day fly/drive package, priced from $749 per person, double, includes two nights’ hotel in Dawson City and two nights’ in Whitehorse, a flight between Whitehorse and Dawson, a Dawson City tour and tickets to the Gaslight Follies plus a rental car for four days.
And you might combine it with a seven-day gold rush getaway, priced from $399 per person, double, including a rental car for seven days, camping equipment and maps.
Another option is a P.E.I. holiday package that includes four nights’ accommodation with daily breakfast and rental car for four days.
Rates start at $319 per person, double. A similar four-day package on Cape Breton Island is priced from $379.
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