St James Rail offers one day trips and extended tours in Australia, as well as tours overseas. All our tours are planned and organised by the tour leaders who have great passion to introduce and share their unique experiences with you.
Our Next Tours
TOURS IN AUSTRALIA
GREAT SOUTHERN RAIL JOURNEY 2022 &
KANGAROO ISLAND, SA
RAIL FROM BRISBANE TO SYDNEY, MELBOURNE AND ADELAIDE
EXPLORE KANGAROO ISLAND
‘With its rugged coastline, sun-kissed beaches, forested peaks, and exhilarating capital cities, the stunning journey between Brisbane and Adelaide feels like nowhere else in Australia.’ Journey Beyond Rail. Join us for a nine day / eight night tour that includes the Great Southern train journey (4 days / 3 nights) from Brisbane through Sydney, Melbourne and to Adelaide, and then four nights on Kangaroo Island. Kangaroo Island is the third largest island in Australia, and as it is not on the tourist trail, has stayed remarkably untouched by mass tourism. Indeed, a third of the island has been set aside as a Natural or Conservation Park, and the rest of the island is composed of farms, wineries and sanctuaries, and a couple of tiny towns. The island is better known abroad than by Australians – it is a unique destination worthy of discovery.
Date: Sunday 11 to Monday 19 December 2022 - New Tour
DAY TRIPS IN AUSTRALIA
Coming Soon
WORLDWIDE TOURS
GREAT BRITAIN’S NORTHERN ISLANDS
ELINDISFARNE (HOLY ISLAND), ORKNEY, SHETLAND, THURSO, INVERNESS, FORT WILLIAM, MALLAIG, KYLE OF LOCHALSH, ISLE OF SKYE, LEWIS, HARRIS, NORTH UIST, SOUTH UIST, BARRA, MULL, IONA, STAFFA, OBAN AND GLASGOW
Join us on a 29 day tour of Great Britain’s northern islands. From Lindisfarne (Holy Island) to the Shetland and Orkney Islands, through the Scottish Highlands and Inverness to Skye, and across to the Inner and Outer Hebrides. Good quality hotels, freshly caught seafood and local delicacies, beautiful nature and scenery, birdlife, archaeology and history, and the culture and crafts of this dramatic part of the world. The tour is designed so you can join in London and leave from Glasgow, allowing you to enjoy other travel in England prior to the tour, or in Scotland after the tour. Return travel to London will also be arranged.
Date: Saturday 25 June to Monday 25 July 2022 - Departing soon
CANADA’S EAST COAST & NEWFOUNDLAND
BY RAIL, SHIP & COACH
TORONTO, MONTREAL, QUEBEC, PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND, NEWFOUNDLAND, NOVA SCOTIA, CAPE BRETON ISLAND, HALIFAX & LUNENBURG
Join us for a twenty-five day tour of Eastern Canada – from the sophisticated cities of Toronto, Montreal and Quebec, through to the picturesque and stunning landscapes of Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Novia Scotia. The tour features dramatic scenery and nature, the history, culture and modernity of modern cities, and the delicious regional produce and cuisine of eastern Canada. Fly into Toronto and depart from Montreal, or join the pre-tour option – across Canada aboard Via Rail’s flagship train The Canadian from Vancouver to Toronto on a four night journey.
Date: Friday 5 to Wednesday 31 August 2022 - Fully Booked
EASTERN & ORIENTAL EXPRESS 2022
BANGKOK – SINGAPORE
INDULGE YOURSELF WITH A LUXURY RAIL JOURNEY & HOTELS
Enjoy two nights in exciting Bangkok in a luxurious five-star hotel with Executive Lounge privileges, before you experience the Eastern and Oriental Express luxury rail journey from Bangkok to Singapore. Travel from Bangkok across the beautiful scenery that Thailand offers, past the legendary River Kwai and onwards to Malaysia. Enjoy the sights of Kuala Kangsar and towards Kuala Lumpur, before crossing the causeway over the Straits of Johor to the elegant city of Singapore. Overnight in a five-star hotel in Singapore and then to Australia.
Date: Friday 30 September to Friday 7 October 2022 - New date - BOOK NOW
JAPAN'S KYUSHU BY RAIL
SCENIC RAIL TOUR AROUND THE ISLAND OF KYUSHU
Join us for one of our new tours to Japan – an day in-depth tour of the southern of Japan’s four main islands – Kyushu. With a combination of splendid coast line (much will rail lines travelling along it) and mountainous hinterland, the natural landscape is spectacular. Add to that the rich culture of the island, with gardens, famed pottery, textiles, art and food, there is much to see. We travel on a range of trains, from the modern shinkansen, to local trains, and special ‘resort’ trains where the train is itself the destination. Experience a variety of accommodations, including excellent hot spring (onsen) resorts in beautiful ryokans. We’ve included meals when it is prudent, and for special locations, but also provided freedom to dine when, with whom and where you wish. Taste local cuisine at ‘Izakaya’ restaurants and fine traditional (Kaiseki) dinners featuring local produce. The tour is led by Japanese speaking expert Takako Ishige and Owen Johnstone-Donnet, who have designed and organised the tour. We are proud and passionate about our tours - we make it possible to experience the real Japan, visiting not only iconic cities and sights, but also ‘off the beaten track’ small villages, meeting local people. The tour is limited to 14 guests – we look forward to you joining us on this special journey around the island of Kyushu.
Date: Thursday 6 – Wednesday 19 October 2022 - 6 places remain - BOOK NOW
AUTUMN COLOUR - JAPAN BY RAIL -
EXPERIENCE THE BEAUTY OF JAPANESE NATURE, CULTURE, ART & REGIONAL FOOD
ENJOY WALKING IN NATURE ACROSS HOKKAIDO, HONSHU AND SHIKOKU
Join us for a twenty-four day tour of Japan to experience autumn colours on the Japanese islands of Hokkaido, Honshu and Shikoku. As well as showcasing autumnal foliage in nature - the tour has a special focus on the culture, art and regional foods of Japan. Enjoy four nights in lovely hot spring resorts; travel first class on the high speed 'Shinkansen' trains – making your journey relaxed, exhilarating and very comfortable. Enjoy special scenic rail journeys through the colourful forest on little known private railways, and options for walking in nature, cycling and canoeing.
Date: Tuesday 18 October – Friday 11 November 2022 - FULLY BOOKED
NZ's FIORDLANDS AND SUBANTARCTIC ISLANDS
DUNEDIN, STEWART ISLAND, MILFORD, DOUBTFUL AND DUSKY SOUNDS, THE SNARES, ENDERBY, MACQUARIE, CAMPBELL AND THE ANTIPODES ISLANDS
SCENIC RAIL JOURNEYS FROM DUNEDIN AND CHRISTCHURCH, AND FROM WELLINGTON TO AUCKLAND
Join us for all or part of our tour from Dunedin, New Zealand, to Stewart, Ulva and Snares Islands; cruising Milford, Doubtful and Dusky Sounds; visiting the Subantarctic islands Enderby, Macquarie, Campbell and Antipodes; before returning to Dunedin. Enjoy rail journeys on the Dunedin Railways, the TranzAlpine to Greymouth, the Coastal Pacific to Picton. Conclude our journey on the Interislander Ferry to Wellington, two nights in New Zealand’s capital, and the Northern Explorer to Auckland. Enjoy a 15 day cruise on Ponant’s superb Le Soléal mega-yacht as we explore the Sounds and Subantarctic Isands of New Zealand. (Cruise only travel is also possible – call for a fare quote.)
Date: Tuesday 27 December 2022 – Thursday 19 January 2023 - NEW TOUR - BOOK NOW
FORGOTTEN WORLD RAIL ADVENTURE, NZ
FORGOTTEN WORLD RAIL ADVENTURE
DRIVE YOUR RAIL CART ALONG 142 KM OF RAILWAY - 98 BRIDGES & 24 TUNNELS
Join us to New Zealand’s North Island to experience a unique rail adventure – driving your own rail cart along the 142 km rail line from Okahukura to Stratford and return. We pass through 24 tunnels, and cross 98 bridges on this remarkable journey, experiencing local hospitality and the beautiful New Zealand countryside along the way. Explore the Taranaki Region of New Zealand – Mt Taranaki and New Plymouth - as well as journeying on the paddle steamer Waimarie on the Wanganui River.
Experience the Northern Explorer rail journey from Auckland to Wellington, and there is the option to continue to the South Island aboard the Interislander ferry, and journe
y on New Zealand’s Coastal Pacific and spectacular TranzAlpine rail journeys as part of a longer tour to explore the Southern Alps and the South Island.
Date: Tuesday 24 January – Saturday 4 February 2023
optional extension to the South Island to Wednesday 22 February 2023
- New date - BOOK NOW
NEW ZEALAND’S SOUTH ISLAND
WELLINGTON, CHRISTCHURCH, FRANZ JOSEF GLACIER, QUEENSTOWN,
TE ANAU, DOUBTFUL AND MILFORD SOUNDS, INVERCARGILL, DUNEDIN,
OAMARU, MT COOK, LAKE TEKAPO, AND MANY GREAT RAIL EXPERIENCES
Join us for an exploration by rail and coach of New Zealand’s south island - from the wine regions of Blenheim, the Kaikoura coast, Christchurch, Mt Cook, Lake Tekapo, Dunedin, the Taieri Gorge Railway, Invercargill, Doubtful and Milford Sounds, Queenstown, Haast, Franz Josef and the TranzApline rail journey.
Date: Thursday 2 to Wednesday 22 February 2023 - New date - BOOK NOW
CHERRY BLSSOMS - JAPAN BY RAIL 2023
EXPERIENCE THE BEAUTY OF JAPANESE NATURE AND CULTURE
Join us for one of our most popular tours to Japan - a twenty-two-day tour to view cherry blossoms on the Japanese islands of Kyushu, Honshu and Hokkaido. Even if you’ve been to Japan before, you’ll visit different locations and have a deeper cultural experience. Travel first class on the 'Shinkansen' trains, enjoy slow trains through the countryside. A range of accommodations from modern city hotels, convenient simpler business hotels and luxury Japanese traditional ryokans with ocean view. Splendid scenery, food and culture. A highlight of the tour is meeting with the local people and sharing a wonderful seafood barbecue with the local fishermen. Learn of arts and crafts, textiles and fabrics, as well as seeing splendid gardens. Join our options cooking class with local Tokyo residents and learn how to prepare a simple home style Japanese meal.
Date: Wednesday 22 March to Thursday 13 April 2023 - Popular tour - BOOK NOW
ICELAND 2023
TEN DAYS EXPLORING ICELAND BY LAND TWELVE NIGHT CRUISE FROM REYKJAVIK TO SOUTHAMPTON ON SILVERSEA’S SILVER MOON
Join us on a twenty-four day tour to explore Iceland’s amazing landscape, from both land and sea. Experience ten days and nights on land in Iceland exploring its scenic beauty, then join Silversea’s luxurious Silver Moon for a twelve-day all-inclusive cruise around Iceland, before heading to the Isle of Lewis, Oban, Belfast, Liverpool, Waterford, Fishguard and Falmouth to Southampton. (There is also the option to continue aboard Silver Moon for another fourteen days to Honfleur, Saint Malo, Montoir de Bretagne, La Rochelle, Bordeaux, Bilbao, Vigo, Oporto and Lisbon – call for details.)
Date: Tuesday 15 August to Saturday 9 September 2023 - New tour - BOOK NOW
ANTARCTICA, THE FALKLAND ISLANDS AND SOUTH GEORGIA
Fly to Buenos Aires, South America, enjoy three nights and local sightseeing, before a flight to Ushuaia. Visit Tierra del Fuego, then join our cruise to the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and the Antarctic Peninsula aboard Ponant’s L’Austral. Colonies of King penguins, Gentoo, Adelie and chinstrap penguins, as well as humpback whales, seals and seabirds, are some of the wildlife encountered on a journey to the White Continent – a land of icebergs, glaciers, mountains and frozen sea. Exceptionally good sole use stateroom fares are available.
Date: 18 December 2023 to 7 January 2024 - New tour - BOOK NOW