Steam train trips

Country Tours is a well established rail trip company offering a couple of great rides with a taste of history.

California’s Gold Rush Rail Adventure

California, here we come! Our new California Gold Rush Rail Adventure is perfect for anyone who delights in riding the rails and taking a trip back in time. Start your adventure in the City by the Bay where you’ll enjoy the famous sights. Wind your way along the Pacific coast, through beautiful old-growth redwood forests and into the heart of Old Sacramento. Come take a seat and enjoy the ride!

Highlights include

Day 1—San Francisco: Mighty railroads were essential to the success of the Gold Rush miners and loggers in the early days of Northern California. You’re on the right track to relive this glorious era on our exclusive itinerary for California’s Gold Rush Rail Adventure.

Day 2—San Francisco/Sonoma Valley/Mendocino: Board a deluxe motorcoach for an exciting tour of San Francisco—”the City by the Bay.” You’ll see so many famous sights, including Chinatown, Nob Hill, Union Square and Golden Gate Park. Then take in the spectacular surroundings as we cross the world-renowned Golden Gate Bridge to Sonoma Valley, the heart of California’s beautiful wine country.

For more information click here

A fantastic 10 day train journey through Canada starting in the famous cultural center of French speaking Quebec Montreal.

Arrive Montreal
Welcome to Montreal. A city of sophistication and style, where the restaurant guide is required reading. Where fashion calls home and the shopping is hard to beat.

Montreal is a very modern city, the eighth cleanest in the world, yet full of history and vibrancy which give it an old world feel. Check out some of the views of the city on this webcam site, plan a trip using the wiki travel site or brush up on your French to better enjoy your stay.

Here are some highlights of the 10 day train trip:

Montreal to Moncton
You have the full day to enjoy Montreal. Your city sightseeing tour will help you understand Montreal’s history and achievements.

Arrive Moncton
Today would be a great day to visit Water Theme Park, Magnetic Hill Zoo, and Magnetic Hill, where you can put your car in neutral and go uphill!

Bay of Fundy
On the way to the “Rocks” & “Fundy National Park” there is the Salem & Hillsborough Railroad Museum, with an operating 1912 steam engine.

Arrive Montreal
You arrive early morning, leaving the opportunity to spend time in Montreal.

For more information about this fantastic round trip rail journey from Montreal then visit here.

Any excuse to go to Hawaii is good enough. For train fans, taking the island’s only railway is a unique and historical experience.

The trains were originally used for the sugar plantations, taking the sugar to the boats for transport. There were originally seven private companies on four of the islands. Now there is only a band of Haiwaiian railway volunteers maintaining the railroad on Ohau island.

They have three desiel engines and several different cars, and trips run throughout the week around the year. The journey is 90 minutes long and fully guided.

If you’re going to Hawaii then finding something a little exotic and special is almost a prerequisite for this delightful island.

Spectacluar holiday train trip and cruise to some of the most beautiful places in the Carribean. 

11 Day/10 Night Tour Features

Day 1 – Los Angeles Union Station Welcome to Los Angeles! Without a doubt the wide windows of a railroad coach serve up better and more accessible views than any mode of transport. 

Day 2 – Rail Through the Southwest – San Antonio After a leisurely breakfast enjoy the views as the landscape changes from painted canyons to red rock vistas and Texas Longhorn working ranches.

Day 3 – San Antonio Enjoy a leisurely morning along the famous Riverwalk. Today the history of San Antonio comes alive as we are joined by a local guide for a highlights tour. 

Day 4 – San Antonio – Board the Grand Princess Today, board our deluxe motorcoach bound for historic Galveston. View the seawall area and the restored buildings along the Strand before boarding the Grand Princess…our home away from home for the next 7 nights.

Day 5 – At Sea

Enjoy all of the amenities onboard. The Grand Princess has 9 restaurants, 3 show lounges, a Casino, Disco, Card Room, Game Arcade, 4 outdoor swimming pools, 1 indoor pool, 9 Whirlpools, 12 lounges, a putting green, basketball, fitness room, jogging track, volleyball, beauty salon, library, internet café, and even a Wedding Chapel! (All shipboard meals included)

Day 6 – Puerto Costa Maya Puerto Costa Maya is the newest port of call in the Mexican Caribbean. Built around the culture of the ancient Maya, and the rich expanse of the Yucatan Peninsula, enjoy sapphire blue seas, emerald green jungles, and a wealth of experiences ranging from diving shipwrecks to shopping.

Day 7 – Roatan, Honduras

Roatan is the largest of Honduras’ Bay Islands with small towns and fishing villages built along the water’s edge. Ideal for snorkeling, explore the offshore coral reefs inhabited with brilliantly colored fish. (All shipboard meals)

Day 8 – Belize

Belize offers a thousand years of history. Formally known as the British Honduras, this area has the second largest barrier reef in the world. Dive, snorkel, explore the ancient Mayan ruins, take a once-in-a-lifetime canopy tour through the rain forest or visit the sanctuary for Howler monkeys. (All shipboard meals)

Day 9 – Cozumel Sitting off the Yucatan coast, Cozumel revels in its white sand beache

Day 10 – At Sea

Catch up on a good book and enjoy life at sea. (All shipboard meals)

Day 11 – Galveston-Fly to Los Angeles After breakfast this morning, disembark the Grand Princess in Galveston. Our motorcoach driver will shuttle you to the Houston Airport for your flight back to Los Angeles. Welcome Home!

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Fantastic rail/sea trip taking in a California and Mexico resorts.

Trip highlights: 

Round-trip passage and sleeping car accommodations aboard Amtrak’s Coast Starlight from Seattle to Los Angeles

4 nights Baja California Cruise aboard Royal Caribbean’s “Monarch of the Seas”

1 night accommodation aboard the Queen Mary

1 night deluxe accommodation in Los Angeles Local sightseeing

Day 1–Board Amtrak's Coast Starlight

Today we depart from Seattle's King Street Station. Embark on Amtrak's Coast Starlight and enjoy a full day of daylight rail travel through beautiful Washington State and Oregon. Settle into your sleeping accommodations after a wonderful meal in the dining car. (L/ D on board train)

Day 2: Coastline–Arrive in Los Angeles

Another full day of daylight rail including the spectacular coast of California. Enjoy the scenery from the Pacific Parlour Car, complete with afternoon wine tasting. Arrive Los Angeles and check in to the Queen Mary, one time luxury ocean liner, now a floating hotel! (B/L/D on board train)

Day 3: Embark on the Monarch of the Seas

Enjoy an included breakfast aboard the Queen Mary. Explore this grand ocean liner that once sailed the oceans of the world, or the many attractions of Long Beach. In the afternoon, transfer to the cruise terminal to board Royal Caribbean's Monarch of the Seas cruise ship. Settle into your cabin and enjoy the amenities of this intimate ship. (B/D)

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