Rail & Road Journeys

The journey is the destination

The Art of Slow Travel

Sometimes, the journey really is the destination. Rail and road journeys let you see the world at its own pace; mountains giving way to coastlines, villages to vineyards, cities to open sky. It’s travel that rewards looking out the window rather than rushing past.

Whether it’s gliding through Southeast Asia aboard the Eastern & Oriental Express, tracing Switzerland’s snow-capped peaks, or watching the Canadian Rockies unfold through panoramic glass on the Rocky Mountaineer, each route tells its own story. The rhythm is different here; unhurried, cinematic, and endlessly beautiful.

Journeys that unfold by rail or road

Journeys that unfold by rail or road

Across the world, we curate rail journeys that capture the romance of travel itself. Step aboard the new Orient Express in the UK, where fine dining and countryside views define a slower kind of luxury. In Vietnam, travel between Quy Nhon and Da Nang aboard Anantara’s The Vietage — two private carriages attached to the national line, complete with bar, chef, and sweeping coastal views.

From Africa’s iconic Rovos Rail to Japan’s Shinkansen bullet trains, where precision and efficiency become an art form, train travel reveals a country in its truest light. In Sri Lanka, ride through tea country as locals share home-cooked food with fellow passengers, or take a classic Belmond journey through the Andes to Machu Picchu or Lake Titikaka, stopping for markets and mountain views along the way.

On the road, we design driving routes that blend freedom with flawless logistics. Cruise the Pacific Coast Highway, wind through the vineyards of Portugal, or follow New Zealand’s dramatic landscapes from one fjord to the next. Prefer not to drive? We’ll arrange a private driver so you can sit back and simply watch it all unfold.

Why choose rail & road travel
with Essential Escapes

With decades of experience, we know the routes that make the journey as memorable as the destination. Our team handles every detail, from luggage transfers on Japan’s bullet trains to scenic lunch stops on a California road trip, or winery tastings mapped along South Africa’s Garden Route.

We arrange the timing, the drivers, the carriage class, and the view. You simply travel, smoothly, comfortably, with every moment considered.

Discover our collection of road and rail journeys; each one is an invitation to travel slower, see deeper, and let the landscape lead the way.

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