Africa &Australia &Peru &Senior Vacations &Train Vacations Frank Harris | 24 May 2010
Grand Train Holidays
Traveling by train used to be the way to go in the days before airline travel became popular for everyone to get to their holiday destination. Train vacations used to consist of long journeys to far off places in grand and elegant train carriages, where one packed a large amount of luggage and hat boxes and at least one servant or assistant accompanied you. Images of romantic journeys such as the Orient Express from Paris to Constantinople (now known as the city of Istanbul), voyages across America or into the dark continent of Africa were the stuff of great romantic novels long lost into history. However, this is no longer the case. Travel for senior citizens presents unlimited exciting opportunities. Consider a train holiday to an exotic destination such as the continent of Africa, the Ghan train in Australia, the train in Peru or even travel from Paris to Vienna. The actual train holiday route called the “Orient Express” no longer exists because the train does not go to Istanbul. The Orient Express train route has been shorted from Paris to Vienna if you are looking for a senior vacations idea to think about. However, if traveling from Paris to Istanbul still appeals to you, you can book a train from Paris to Munich to Bucharest to Istanbul or from Paris to Zurich to Belgrade to Istanbul. These journeys take about 60 hours. Of course, you would book a couchette car so you can properly rest on these long train vacations.
Senior Vacation travel to Australia
I’ve already written about my journey to Australia and that while there, I took the Ghan train from Sydney to Alice Springs in the center of Australia. It was an interesting journey which I even was able to book online since I’ve become good at using my computer. I found the train ride to be not only interesting from a travel perspective, but it was a nice social occasion; they held a dance party in the evening, served good food, and was a wonderful opportunity for meeting other mature travelers.
Since that train holiday, I’ve looked at other train vacations for us seniors that are also glorious journeys into exciting countries and continents. For instance, did you know that in Peru, they also have a grand train holiday from Cusco – Machu Picchu in what they call their “Special Service” by the PeruRail Company? This train journey leaves from Piscacucho in elegantly designed train carriages designed like the Pullman trains of the 1920s.
Train Vacations in Peru
One travels by bus from Wanchaq Station in Cusco and then transfer to Piscacucho to board the train. At Wanchaq Station you are welcomed by native dances in a private waiting room while being served beverages and pastries. You will wait for the private bus that will take you the 82 kilometre distance to Piscacucho (snacks are available on the bus and you will be given freshen up towels when you arrive in Piscacucho). At Piscacucho you will transfer from the bus to the elegant train. On the train ride, you will have a meal and drinks. Then you are taken by private bus to the Machu Picchu Citadel, a true marvel of Inca culture. A buffet lunch is served at the Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge. A three hour guided tour to the citadel is included. Machu Picchu is one of the great wonders of the world and I think if you haven’t visited it in your youth, as a senior citizen with some free travel time on your hands, it’s one of the places I think we should all visit.
Senior Vacations by rail in Africa
Another train holiday idea for senior citizens looking for adventure but from the ease of an elegant train is the “Pride of Africa” train ride. This is scheduled for 2012, so there is time to plan and get ready for this vacation. However, Rovos Rail offers many different travel days and various journeys available for those longing to see Africa by train. Rovos Rail calls themselves as “the most luxurious train in the world” so I think one would have to travel on a few of these luxury trains so as to compare. This train holiday, “The Pride of Africa” is a 22 day train and land tour adventure with a Safari included. From Dar es Salaam to Cape Town, this train vacation begins on January 29 and ends on February 19th, an epic journey which covers 6,103 km in 14 days. It seems overwhelming but you are traveling in the lap of luxury in Pullman trains, described on their website at www.rovos.com. This journey voyages through Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe and South Africa, passing through the Selous Game Reserve, descending into the Rift valley and then climbs towards the Tanzanian – Zambian border between the two Great Rift Valley lakes. The scenery is spectacular! The train then crosses the Zambezi River. Onto Kundalilia Falls, you will stop to enjoy a bush walk and a picnic. There is a one night stop at the Victoria Falls Hotel and a two night stop at a private game lodge. Your train journey will then continue on to the capital city of Pretoria and then on to the diamond town of Kimberley. On the next day, you will visit a historic settlement in Matjiesfontein. The Pride of Africa train vacation will then head to Cape Town station, Cape Town being one of the most truly beautiful cities in the world.
Traveling by the Pride of Africa luxury train will give you an insight into the dark continent of Africa and allow you to travel in high luxury in air conditioned, Edwardian style, wood panelled suites with twin or double beds and ensuite bathrooms. The Royal Suites have a private lounge and are as large as half a train carriage. The dining cars are styled from the 1940s and serve exquisite food to suit the luxury of your surroundings.
If you are pondering ideas for a senior vacation that will suit your needs and show you a part of the world that you’ve never been before and want “ease of travel” without the hassle of air planes, busing to hotels and booking into different hotels and want to travel in luxury, then maybe one of these train holidays are just right for you. Of course, you will still have to fly to the country where your train holidays begin, but after that, you just sit back and enjoy the views from the comfort of your train seat or compartment surrounded by luxury from a time gone by.
If you want to start planning your senior vacation begin by checking on the website for each railway company which is listed on our travel resources page.
Photos courtesy of Rovos Rail, PeruRail, TravelHouseUK.
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