These Exciting New Tours Feature Incredible Train Journeys Across Paris, Istanbul, China, and Mongolia

For travelers seeking a more enriching experience that allows them to savor breathtaking destinations at a leisurely pace—with panoramic views of towns and scenic landscapes while sharing the journey with local commuters—Intrepid Travel’s latest trip category could be just what you need (in train form).

Today, Intrepid, a small-group adventure travel company and 2022 Dinogo Vanguard nominee, revealed the launch of a fresh rail travel range featuring over 40 train-centric itineraries, including three completely new routes for 2024. While Intrepid has offered rail journeys before, this marks the first time the operator is officially categorizing them as a distinct trip type.

“A train journey transcends mere transportation from one point to another—many of our rail experiences showcase some of the world’s most legendary train routes, such as the trip from Bangkok to southern Thailand and the Trans-Mongolian Railway,” shared Erica Kritikides, global product manager at Intrepid, with Dinogo. “These journeys are memorable experiences in their own right that we believe travelers will cherish for a lifetime.”

The three new journeys officially launched on Friday, May 31, and are now open for bookings. They encompass all necessary transportation (excluding international flights), lodging, select meals, and various activities. The new itineraries include:

• “Trans-Mongolian Railway Adventure”: This journey takes travelers along the iconic Trans-Mongolian Railway, built in the late 1940s. The itinerary begins in Beijing, tracing the historical routes of ancient tea caravans through China’s hilly terrain before entering the vast grasslands of Inner Mongolia. Here, travelers can explore Khustai National Park (with a chance to stay overnight in a traditional nomadic tent) and witness the stunning dunes of the Gobi Desert, concluding in Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia. This 11-day adventure starts at $3,060 per person.
• “Express to the Orient: Paris to Istanbul”: This itinerary connects Paris and Budapest exclusively by local trains, following the path of the legendary Orient Express, which operated from 1883 to 1977. Along the way, travelers can disembark to discover cities like Strasbourg, France; Munich, Germany; and Salzburg and Vienna in Austria. After Budapest, travelers will take a private transfer to Serbia, where they will begin the historic Balkan Express in Belgrade. From there, they will visit Niš in Serbia and Sofia and Plovdiv in Bulgaria before spending the final two days in Istanbul. This 15-day trip starts at $3,992 per person.
• “Paris to Rome by Rail”: This itinerary kicks off in the City of Lights, where travelers board the Gotthard Panorama Express to journey through Switzerland on a historic train route established in 1872. The scenic trip meanders through the Alps, stopping at Swiss towns like Lausanne, Lucerne, and Bellinzona (offering views of Lake Geneva, a vibrant medieval Old Town, and opportunities for mountain hikes) before crossing into Italy and heading straight for Rome. Guests will enjoy the last three days in the Eternal City, visiting iconic landmarks like the Trevi Fountain and the Colosseum, and taking part in an Italian cooking class. This 10-day journey starts at $3,709 per person.

Each tour accommodates an average of 10 to 12 travelers and is guided by a local tour leader who ensures a seamless travel experience.

Since 2020, Intrepid has been eliminating flights from itineraries wherever feasible and replacing them with lower-carbon alternatives. “We’re critically evaluating our trips to find ways to minimize their impact, and replacing flights with rail travel is a key part of our broader decarbonization strategy. Every effort to reduce emissions counts,” said Kritikides. For instance, on Intrepid’s 15-Day “Scenic Vietnam” itinerary, a flight from Hoi An to Ho Chi Minh City was substituted with an overnight train ride, leading to a 12 percent reduction in carbon emissions per person per day.

Kritikides pointed out that the travel sector contributes up to 11 percent of global carbon emissions, stating, “we can and must improve,” while noting that transportation accounts for one-fifth of the total emissions worldwide. In contrast, rail travel represents only 1 percent, whereas road transport contributes 45 percent and air travel accounts for 12 percent.

The introduction of these new rail journeys comes in response to a noticeable rise in interest among travelers for train journeys and a growing preference for slower travel experiences.

“Slow travel allows you to immerse yourself more fully in a destination and discover places you might miss if you were simply flying to the next major city,” Kritikides explained. “Intrepid’s rail journeys provide travelers with an enriched experience of exploration, enabling them to unplug from their everyday lives and take in the stunning vistas along historic train routes.”