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
WORLDWIDE TOURS
SRI LANKA ABOARD THE 'VICEROY SPECIAL'
THE NATURAL WONDERS OF SRI LANKA ABOARD YOUR PRIVATE TRAINN
Few places in the world offer such a remarkable combination of stunning landscapes, pristine beaches, captivating cultural heritage and unique experiences. Boasting eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites, 15 national parks, an abundance of wildlife, 250 acres of botanical gardens, 350 waterfalls, and a culture of over 2,500 years. The island has a wonderful broad gauge colonial-relic railway system very much as the British left it, none of it electrified. The railway reaches the highest summit anywhere in the world of broad gauge railway at an impressive 6228ft. We travel mostly with our private “Viceroy” train and explore the extremities of the island. The tour features culture and natural wonders, bird life, reserves boasting elephants, staying at excellent hotels with a dedicated coach and train.
Date: Sunday 25 February to Tuesday 19 March 2024 - BOOK NOW !
CHERRY BLOSSOMS - JAPAN BY RAIL 2024
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 20 March to Thursday 11 April 2024 - Fully booked
SWISS AND AUSTRIAN RAIL IN SUMMER
Join us for a twenty-three day tour to experience the beauty of the Swiss and Austrian alps by rail during the summer months – we journey on some of the most scenic and spectacular rail lines of Europe; cruise on century old paddle steamers; enjoy mountain rack railways and cable cars; dine on the move; and swim in beautiful lakes. Delight in the wonderful mountain railways to the ‘top of the world’ and stay in lovely hotels - as we travel by rail through the remarkably beautiful mountains, valleys and lake districts of Switzerland and Austria.
Date: TSaturday 9 June to Thursday 4 July 2024 - A few places remaining - BOOK NOW
GREAT RAIL JOURNEYS OF GREAT BRITAIN
Join us for a great rail discovery of Great Britain. Explore the splendid scenery of coast and mountain by scheduled and heritage trains. Beautiful rail experiences with. Good food and comfortable hotels. To Cornwall along the Dawlish sea coast; the North Yorkshire Moor railway to Whitby; the night sleeper to Fort William; the Welsh Highland Railway and the great little railways of Wales and more. A
Date: Wednesday 3 to Monday 29 July 2024 - Fully booked - Contact us if interested in the next tour
THE ARCTIC
GREENLAND, BAFFIN BAY, THE THULE REGION OF THE HIGH ARCTIC, CANADA’S NUNAVIT
Join us to experience an extraordinary journey to the far reaches of the planet. Discover the mythical region of Thule, the territory of the Far North, on a seventeen day cruise along the coastline of Baffin Bay. From Kangerlussuaq, along Greenland’s western shores, to the high Arctic of the Thule Region, revered for its untouched icescapes and sparsely populated Inuit communities. Encounter the region's rich culture and experience its magnificent nature. From the ice cap to the ice floes, via glaciers, icebergs and brash ice, you will sail among the Northern Hemisphere’s largest ice producers. North of the Baffin Sea, in the region of Thule, you will experience a tricky but spectacular sail between drifting icebergs and sheets of ice floe. If fortunate you may observe one of the many polar bears that roam this favourable environment
Date: Friday 2 – Saturday 24 August 2024 - Fully booked - Contact us if interested
EASTERN AND ORIENTAL EXPRESS
WILD MALAYSIA
Enjoy three nights in Singapore in a luxurious five-star hotel before you experience the Eastern and Oriental Express luxury rail journey from Singapore through Malaysia to Gemas, Merapoh and the Taman Negara National Park, as well as through Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Langsar and to Butterwroth to visit Penang Island, and return to Singapore. Over 2,000 kilometres of rail travel in Malaysia, with included off train excursions and all-inclusive dining. Enjoy three nights aboard this luxurious train, with fine ensuite cabins and staterooms, with excellent dining, lounge and observations cars. Overnight in a five-star hotel in Singapore and then to Australia, or join our Autumn Colour & Festivals tour to Japan (…)
Date: Friday 27 September – Friday 4 October 2024 - NEW TOUR - BOOK NOW!
AUTUMN COLOURS & FESTIVALS
JAPAN BY RAIL 2024
Join us for one of our new Autumn Colours tour to Japan – a twenty-three day to experience autumn colours and seasonal festivals on the Japanese islands of Honshu, Hokkaido and Shikoku. The tour begins with the famous autumn festival in Takayama. As well as autumn colours in nature - the tour has a special focus on experiencing the culture, art and regional foods of Japan. Enjoy five nights in lovely hot spring resorts; travel first class on the high speed 'Shinkansen' trains – making your journey relaxed, exhilarating and very comfortable; experience special scenic rail journeys through colourful forests (…)
Date: Sunday 6 October – Tuesday 29 October 2024 - Few places remain - BOOK NOW!
A NEW ZEALAND RAIL JOURNEY
FORGOTTEN WORLD RAIL ADVENTURE
DRIVE YOUR RAIL CART ALONG 142 KM OF RAILWAY AND AUCKLAND TO WELLINGTON RAIL JOURNEYS
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 journey on New Zealand’s Coastal Pacific and spectacular TranzAlpine rail journeys, as well as Christchurch’s restaurant tram, as part of a five day/four night extension.
Date: Tuesday 19 November – Saturday 30 November 2024 - BOOK NOW!
TOURS IN AUSTRALIA
ANZAC SOUTHERN AURORA 2024
GREAT FOOD, WINE AND SCENERY OF REGIONAL NSW
Combine the comfort and elegance of rail travel in lounge, dining and sleeping cars of the Southern Aurora, with the opportunity to experience the fine food, wines and scenery of regional NSW. Explore and taste gourmet foods and wines of the Upper Hunter and Central West, as well as the scenery of the Hawkesbury River, Capertee Valley and Blue Mountains – highlights include a Hawkesbury River luncheon cruise; Hunter Valley Gardens or winery visit;; Hillside Harvest breakfast on the slopes of Mt Canobolas; Anzac Day morning and luncheon in Mudgee; and Capertee Valley scenery.
Date: Sunday 21 – Thursday 25 April 2024 - BOOK NOW