Best Holiday Destinations for 2025
26/12/2024 · By Ian Holt
To inspire your travels, Great Rail Journeys reveals our Top 10 best holiday destinations and expert tips for 2025, from luxury trains to hidden gems.
Read moreSouth America possesses a spirit, vitality and passion that is as infectious as its varied landscapes are beautiful. There can be few more pleasureable ways to enjoy the wonders of this captivating continent than on an escorted rail tour of South America with Great Rail Journeys.
Travelling in safety and comfort, some of the marvels that await you include the majestic Andes Mountains, the settlements of ancient civilizations, historic towns with beautifully-preserved colonial architecture and the opportunity to observe magnificent indigenous wildlife.
Combining visits to vibrant modern cities such as Lima and Cusco with excursions to meet remote rainforest-dwelling tribes, a rail holiday in South America provides fascinating insights into the colourful histories and cultures of its people.
There are also opportunities for once-in-a-lifetime experiences; climbing the Cotopaxi Volcano in Ecuador, setting foot onto Lake Titicaca's floating islands made from reeds in Peru or swimming with mischievous and playful sea lions in the Galapagos Islands are adventures that will never be forgotten.
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A once-in-a-lifetime tour of South America's great historic cities, stunning natural wonders and extraordinary ancient treasures. From the intriguing Peruvian capital of Lima, we enter the Sacred Valley and visit the iconic 'Lost City' of Machu Picchu, amid emerald green hills, floating mist and soaring peaks. Explore fascinating Incan relics in...
Mysterious Machu Picchu and the gleaming treasures of the Andes are unveiled on this unique South American adventure. Uncover Lima, Peru's colourful and historic capital, and the shimmering 'White City' of Arequipa before heading high into the Andes to admire the breathtaking Colca Canyon, where majestic condors soar. Sail to the reed islands of...
Discover the sensational sights of South America on an unforgettable tour from vibrant Rio de Janeiro to sophisticated Buenos Aires. Our adventure starts at the Rio Carnival, the party of a lifetime, as we take grandstand seats in the Sambadrome for the Winner's Parade. Our tour continues into the dramatic landscapes of Brazil, Argentina and...
Travelling in South America with Great Rail Journeys, the UK's leading escorted rail tours specialist for more than thirty years, strives to provide our customers with rail holidays in South America that are pleasureable, worry-free and offer the best possible value for money.
Everything including flights, travel by rail and other transport, an itinerary of activities and excursions, overnight accommodation and a selection of meals, is covered in the cost of the trip. Our customers are also placed in the capable hands of one of our experienced Tour Managers who is there to assist, answer questions, and provide additional information and tips relating to the destinations that we visit on our rail holidays in South America.
To enable our customers to capture the essence of South America we create itineraries that showcase the best historical, cultural and natural experiences offered by each destination.
These encompass everything from visiting traditional local markets to touring ancient Incan temples or observing the spectacular scenery and wildlife in a National Park. We also build free time into our itineraries to enable our customers to explore a destination further and pursue activities they enjoy, or for them to relax and unwind if they wish.
We take equal care in the choice of our accommodation, basing our selection upon the convenience of a hotel's location, its value for money and the comfort, facilities and standards of service it provides. Where possible we choose family-run hotels which offer our customers a friendly and informal environment in which to relax.
South America's culture stems from a diversity of influences. Many of the continent's indigenous communities still maintain their ancient customs and traditions, but successive colonisation by arrivals from Europe, Africa and Asia have left their cultural calling cards, shaping aspects such as language, architecture and cuisine.
As with other continents, South America's climate varies depending upon location. Whist the southernmost regions towards the equator experience high temperatures, humidity and heavy tropical rainfall, the Andean areas which fall within Peru, Ecuador and Bolivia have distinct seasons: wet and dry. Again, altitude and location has a bearing upon these but the months from May to October are generally the most agreeable weather-wise.
A South America rail holiday with Great Rail Journeys is both an adventure and an inspirational experience. The combination of awe-inspiring natural beauty, diverse wildlife, ancient and modern cultures and historic treasures that you'll encounter as you travel through this captivating continent ensure that this will be a holiday you'll always remember.